Hi everyone! I would like to thank Jeff D for his excellent donation. It will keep tzg.com up and running for about 4 months! If you feel so inclined, please feel free to click on that donation link to help keep the lights on. Much appreciated!


Post Reply 
 
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Votes - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Demon House
03-11-2009, 02:39 AM
Post: #1
Demon House
I was checking out BGG AToE Forms & found a new fan Villain
by Clark Remedies "the House with Red Curtains".

It was so unusual I had to try it,Mater with her old house fetish,
naturally was ready.I ran it through my AToE Generator
& came up with a basic AToE Game played as a Team
of 2.That generated an Illuminati Team of Victor Danforth
& Isabella Von Took.

We have the Game table set up but schedules being they are
probably won't get to start until the weekend.This
is our first Team Game & also the first use of Victor Danforth.

I've written up the introduction to the Game,which i'm posting
now & as we play it out I'll update the Journal.Again as
with my other Gaming Sessions Reports we consider
2 turns a day -Morning Turn & Afternoon Turn.

Here's the Villain

http://www.boardgamegeek.com/image/422048

Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,—
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again:
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
03-11-2009, 02:56 AM (This post was last modified: 06-11-2011 01:14 PM by Old Dwarf.)
Post: #2
RE: Demon House
The Demon House

The Field Journal of Victor Danforth

October 1st,1792 Evening

A post from the Order was delivered to me
after my last performance,what timing.
My run in King Lear has finished & no other
prospects were presenting themselves....
thus its Tally Ho!I shall start drawing up my
expense account.

There is a catch I am to be accompanied by Isabella
Von Took,God have mercy she is a dragon & her
failure several months ago in Dunwich will not have
sweetened her disposition.It will be a constant battle of
wills between us as how to pursue our investigation.

I am to expect her arrival in a fortnight & then we travel
to Shadowbrook,at least her private carriage will
provide some comforts.Shadowbrook ? its someplace
I've heard of,but not sure how,obviously its not a
place that sounds like it has a theater.I am to report
to the Order tomorrow for details of my mission perhaps
their records have something on the village.

October 2nd,1792-Noon

An interesting morning at the Lodge,my mission is
a bit unusual,not the usual evil tainted creature but a
haunting house!
I must smile at the twist on words as I write this
but from the information given to me,it appears its not
a haunted house but a house that is haunting the village!

A certain Deacon Blake a life long bachelor died earlier this
year with no kin and his house,large but ill kept stood
vacant on the outskirts of town.
Deacon Blake in spite of his name was
a rather odd & disagreeable person
& his old house soon attracted the kind of wild
tales that seem to grow up around such places.

The kind that kids dare each other to enter or visit after dark.
Well it appears that some did & never returned home,
when worried parents went out to the house they found
nothing but its curtains previously a dingy white were now blood
red ,its atmosphere was so oppressive that the parents fled.
Later the Village pastor led a group of men back to the house
only to find a vacant lot where it stood.

Within the next few weeks the House was sighted in several
locations in & about Shadowbrook & a couple more children
were missing.Thus it appears Isabella & I will be doing
some house hunting,the Order feels if we can secure
whatever possesses this house it will greatly strengthen our
position.


October 2nd,1792-Evening

Shadowbrook I searched the Orders records & found it.It
seems that several evil influences have been investigated
in the Village going back before the war.It seems to be
one of those places that for whatever reasons,attracts evil.
Well its just another stage for the great Victor Danforth to
tread.



October 14th,1792 Noon

Lady Von Took has finally arrived,it appears she has
opened up her town house.Her footman was over
this morning with an invitation to Sup this evening
& fill her in about our mission.

I'll have to sneak out as the Landlord has been pounding
on the door all morning demanding his rent for this hovel!
The philistine should be glad the great Victor Danforth
deigns to stay in his establishment.

October 14th,1792 Late Evening

How Isabella can put together a full dinner party
within a day of arriving in the city is beyond me!
It was a rather pleasant evening & of course I was
asked to recite some quotations from my famous roles.

I was finally able to get Isabella alone & discussed
our Mission ,she agrees with me it is most unusual.
We will leave tomorrow night for Shadowbrook ,I will meet
her at her townhouse as that Cretan of a Landlord
has stationed himself outside my door & must again slip
out.

October 26th,1792-Evening

We shall be arriving in Shadowbrook tomorrow,the traveling
even in Mrs.Van Took's carriage,has been wearing.The
quality of the Inns deteriorate daily
as we travel farther into the countryside.
Isabella says I complain too much but she
always takes the best accommodations,while
I've been forced to share quarters with any
manner of people.I imagine Shadowbrook
shall be no different.

I have decided to keep our cover story fairly straightforward.
Mrs Von Took will present herself as being interested in
obtaining property in Shadowbrook.
I shall be along as a traveling companion looking
for a chance to refresh myself in the country.
This should allow us to poke around without
revealing the true purpose of our mission.

October 27,1792 Late Evening

Amazing good fortune I have found patrons in this backwater!
We arrived in Shadowbrook this morning,finding the only
Inn was in a Tavern adjacent to the Town Hall.Isabella of
course took the large rooms in the front upstairs & I was
left with a dank little room behind the stairs.The wretchedness
of it caused me to spend the rest of the day down in the
Tavern.

The Serving wench was attentive & I was soon treating the
guest to some of my Macbeth,
well word does tend to spread quickly so later
in the afternoon a servant
presented me with an invitation to dinner from
Lord & Lady Hanbrook. The note indicated they
had enjoyed my Hamlet in Philadelphia last year
& inquired if I would consider spending my stay
as their guest in The Manor.Needless
to say I secured my luggage,informed Isabella I would
meet her tomorrow morning & was into the carriage
they sent within the hour.

The Halbrook's Manor is quite impressive for being so remote,
the couple are congenial host & I spent the most enjoyable
evening.They did in conversation mention a strange
occurrence in the area when the subject of houses came up.
I rather dismissed the matter so as not to seem overly
interested,but they will be worth sounding out later.

So I am now ensconced in grand accommodations &
will pick up Isabella tomorrow at the Inn to start our
investigation.

October 28,1792 Noon

I declined the Hanbrooks offer of breakfast as I intended
to eat at the Inn & outline my investigation plans
with Isabella.Of course Isabella had other plans
& when I arrived I found her in conversation with an
assortment of Locals.She waived me off so I decided
to return to the Manor & see if I could get some
information from the Hanbrooks about our strange house.

Lord Hanbrook over brunch responded to my subtle hints
with the same information the Lodge had provided
me with but then suggested it might be of interest to
me to pursue the matter.He feels I need a diversion
(I guess I rather overplayed my story of seeking
rest in the country) & looking into this mystery might be
interesting.He then presented me with his old coronal's
saber in case things got dangerous.

Isabella's footman came over after Brunch with a note.
It appears Lady Von Took found out nothing from her
chatting with the Locals but that the Inn was suddenly
overrun by rats!She reported them seemed to direct
their attacks on her but she beat them off.

Strange I wonder if this attack was somehow connected to
our mission or just a reflection on the cleanness of
the Inn.In either case I think I shall take the Halbrooks
up on Breakfast from now on.

October 28,1792 Late Evening

Horrific Afternoon,I am amazed my hand is steady
enough to write.I am in Isabella's room at the
Inn recovering.

After Brunch Lord Hanbrook had provided me with
a few local places that he felt might help me with what
he calls "my adventure".He strongly suggested that
I try the Old Windmill as strange things seem to happen
around that place.So taking his trusty saber,
just in case,I set out.

It was overcast but still a fairly mild day,I stopped to
talk with a farmer whose Fields I was passing,to
see if her perhaps might know anything more about
this Windmill.He simply confirmed it seemed to be a
strange place.In passing I mentioned I was staying
at the Manor he,to my surprise told me to be careful
with Lord Hanbrook.I tried to draw him out about why
but the Farmer just got nervous I would not talk
more of it,except "things are not always them seem".
I figured that this was just the natural resentment
of the underclass to their betters .

The man then went on about some of his other
neighbors,so I pegged him as just a sour gossip.
He did have a high opinion of Sophie the local
Midwife,called her a pure angel ,said if she decided
to help someone she would never quit on them.

I then traveled on to the Windmill & the horror that
waited for me.I entered the Mill & was set on by Rats,
scores of them!I finally drove them off with the help of
the saber but was slightly wounded.Then,then....
My Lord it happened my soul was shattered & I can
only remember a Green Glow...then all was dark.....

Isabella tells me I was found on the road ranting &
brought back ti the Inn.She has seen to my wounds
& I have recovered my sanity.Isabella's other news
however shocked me! She has discovered Lord
Hanbrook is evil to the core.She has been questing
Locals all day & finally found a wretched stable boy,
who has indicated Lord Hanbrook in the murder of
his sister in some weird Rite.He has only his word
as proof & greatly fears the wrath of the Lord should
he try to accuse him.

I now see my Patron in a different light,what with this
boys story & the Farmers insinuations.I also see Lords
Hanbrook's insistence I should go to the Windmill as
perhaps a trap?Isabella thinks I should stay at the Inn
from now on but I have overruled her,I shall return
to the Manor.

If Lord Halbrook is in league or responsible for this Demon
House I don't want him to think I'm on to him at this
point.I shall continue to play my part as his guest for
now until I can get real proof of his evil,I wonder if
Lady Hanbrook knows?

October 29,1792 Noon

I returned to the Manor after some morning tea
at the Inn.Isabella & I made it a point to praise
up Lord Hanbrook for the benefit of local gossip
(or spy's).I do not want Hanbrook to suspect that
we are on to him.Isabella then left to go to the
stables to see if the Blacksmith has a good riding
horse for sale.I really don't see her as the riding type
but she says she'll be less conspicuous riding than
in her carriage.

I returned to the Manor to find the Hanbrooks out
inspecting their tenants & took full advantage to
look around the Lords study.I picked up some
useful information & helped myself to a dueling pistol
I found at the bottom of an old chest.Terribly dusty
but in excellent condition ,I think the saber is the
more dashing weapon,so I'll pass it on the Isabella.

Isabella's Footman then came over on her new horse
to report that some of the Locals were very inquisitive
about my incident at the Windmill but she had
satisfied them with the story that I thought it was just
my artistic temperament getting the better of me.
Her note also mentioned more Rats had moved into
Town Hall & the Inn.

October 29,1792 Evening

I left the Rats to Isabella,which she later reported she
drove off & continued to investigate the Manor
(after an excellent Lunch of cold quail,cheese & wine,
Hanbrooks household staff is first rate).I informed
the servants I was rehearsing a new role & need to
wander about to learn my lines.

I found some papers in the Library which confirms,
Isabella's information as Lord Hanbrooks evil doings.
But it really got interesting when I noticed
some books out of place on the shelf & discovered
a latch behind them.

Inspecting further I discovered the case swung
out & revealed a Secret Passage!Carefully shutting
door I went down the passage steps & then
found a small room with a passage leading of
to the east.Lighting a lamp from the room I
proceeded for a great way down the passage
until at length I came to another door.

I stepped out into The Old Windmill!!.Remembering
my last experience here I investigated about
very carefully.The small hidden room the passage
opens into held a lot of interesting papers.A brief
perusal indicated Lord Hanbrook considers Rev.
Harding an enemy & is blackmailing him with
the Rev.activities during our war for Independence.
It appears Shadowbrook has layers upon layers
of secrets.How all this effects our Mission is still
unclear to me.I returned to the Manor least I
be missed & will return to the Windmill tomorrow.


October 30th,1792- Noon

An uneventful,but at least beautiful Fall morning.
I wandered around the roads of Shadowbrook
finding nothing of value.Isabella tried her luck
at an old abandoned Keep just out of town.
She reports no progress either but some local
gossip that Dr.Manning is a coward.

Despite the Fall brightness darkness seems
be advancing,some travelers reported that the
Covered Bridge into town was rat infested.
Isabella found the dueling pistol to clumsy for
her taste & has returned it to me.


October 30th,1792 -Evening

I broused around the Blacksmith's while Isabella
looked around the Doctors Office without
great success but every clue helps.
Evil is indeed afoot,I learned Rev Harding
was found dead under unusual circumstances.
Being a Local Celebrity the Magistrate allowed
me to view the body & inspect the Reverend's
house.The body had been ill used by rats but
from the look on his face it appears the man
died of terror.I inspected his papers & it appears
our dear minister was not above dabbling in
Witchcraft but even more shocking were letters
from my Lodge Master!

It seems Harding was the source of the reports
that caused my mission here in Shadowbrook.
The Lodge maintains many informants &
sympathizers but obviously the Reverend wasn't
considered trustworthy enough to be entrusted
with knowledge of my mission.

Things do seem to be developing slowly,this damn
House doesn't seem to want to show itself.I
wonder if tomorrow being Halloween will make
any difference?The walls between the Unseen
World & ours is suppose to be the thinnest
then,well.we'll see.


October 31st,1792- Noon

All Hallows Eve comes forth bright & cold,
I returned to the Blacksmith's Shop &
purchased a Torch thinking if ever we
encounter this House it might be useful.
Isabella continued her inspection of the
town this time at the Church.It seems
to have fortified her.Still in spite of
the gorgeous weather it seems like a Veil
of Darkness hangs over Shadowbrook.


October 31st,1792- Evening

I Have taken a room at the Inn after this
afternoons events it seemed only proper.
First of all the afternoon seemed to follow
the our usual investigation pattern.I returned
to the Windmill's secret room & found some
vague clues in an old diary while Isabella
followed my advice & went to the Blacksmith's
to purchase a good Torch.

While Isabella was at the Blacksmiths Lady
Hanbrook arrived with her horse that had
thrown a shoe.Isabella took the opportunity
to sound her Ladyship out about the unsettling
events in the town while the Smith took charge
of her horse.Suddenly the horse spooked,
reared up & its failing hoof caught Lady
Handbrook in the head..she was dead before
she hit the ground.

Lord Hanbrook took it badly,ordered the horse
killed & retired to study refusing to see anyone.
I left a note with the butler that I was moving
to the Inn so as not to intrude on his grief.

We shall probably never know now if she was
involved with her husbands evil deeds.


November 1st,1792-Mid Morning

I am shaken ed but alive,thanks to Isabella!
The morning was uneventful I explored the
Fields mainly to spy on the Manor & Isabella
continued her inquiries in town.Upon
returning I was entering the Inn when I
was roughly shoved aside.Struggling in the
arms of Isabella I started to protest
just when several tiles from the roof came
tumbling down smashing at our feet.
An accident...I wonder.I still feel a Creeping
Shadow of evil is upon us.Isabella became
rather deranged after the incident,she left
upon her horse & came back later walking.
I asked about the horse & she calmly said
"sacrifices must be made".Strange woman!


November 1st,1792-Evening

Isabella seems to be her old annoying self
& returned to further investigate the abandoned
Keep.I decided to try my luck at the Doctors Office.
Neither of us made much progress.

I think the whole Town feels a certain wrongness,
the Magistrate has dispatched the Town Militia
to the Covered Bridge to try to roust out the rats.


November 2nd,1792-Noon

The pace has quickened!I went over to the
Magistrates to investigate the rat sightings &
they were there a plenty.I set upon at once
but with my slashing saber drove then off.

Isabella decided to go to the Old Woods
south of town,a place with a rather evil
reputation.She tangled with a TREE!!!
or something anyway.She claims to
have discovered the Lair of or elusive
House its on the Manor grounds.I have
spent several days in & around the Manor
without seeing any evidence of our quarry,
but I trust Isabella instinct on this matter.
It makes sense with what we know of Lord
Hanbrook,still I wish to investigate further
before taking action against the Manor.

I do feel that we must move soon our hour
is late & our enemy grows in evil daily.


November 2nd 1792-Evening

We both spent the rest of the day trying
to find out more information that could help
us in a final Showdown.I went to the Church
to see if the late Reverend had left any useful
papers there,but at alas nothing.

Isabella decided to follow the Militia to the
Covered Bridge on the theory the rats must
be minions of this House.She & the Militia
were set upon at once,the Militia actually fled
in panic from the vicious rats but Isabella
finally destroyed them.She also heard from
helping some of the wounded Militia that Dr.
Manning (who showed his true nature by not
showing up)liked to peek in women's windows
at night.God what a community if not outright
evil they are perverts!.

Talk in the tavern from Locals is that more rat
sightings have been reported especially in the
area of the Manor.....I fear our enemy is waiting
for us.


November 3nd 1792-mid Morning

Rather an action surplus morning,Isabella decided
to backtrack some & investigated the Crossroads.
Her carriage became stuck blocking the road & a
Teamster whose wagon was delayed became so
incensed he made the mistake of challenging
Isabella Von Took.Poor man!

I visited the Dr Office to try to get a better handle
on Manning but was instead set upon by Rats who
seem to be all over.By now I've become rather expert
in dispatching the vile creatures & sent them running.
Dr.Manning was not in but I ran into Sophie & sounded
her out on the evil that seems to grip this town.She
is also concerned & has joined me in my efforts to
find this cursed House.

My good fortune was short lived however,Locals
began to spread the word of more rat infestations.
The feeling of evil is upon is like a blanked.Sophie
withdrew to make sure her family was safe,I fear
she will not rejoin our mission unless things get
really dire.

November 3nd 1792-Evening

This afternoon was rather anticlimactic,Isabella
explored around the Covered Bridge & I the
Abandoned Keep.We gained some more knowledge
and all was quiet.Magistrate Kroft however seems
to have his fill of Locals shooting Rats,he has confiscated
every Pistol in town ,which includes my own.


November 4th 1792-Noon

I feel time is running out,I've explored
the road outside of town to no effect
& Isabella has looked over the Blacksmith's
shop again,she reports that a musket is for sale.
I am tempted to buy it.



November 4th 1792-Evening

I went to the Blacksmiths & purchased the
musket,its not my preferred weapon but with
Kroft impounding all the pistols it will have to do.
Isabella scouted out the Manor & was again
beset by Rats which she fought off.We both feel
we must act ,tomorrow we must storm the
Manor grounds & find the Lair of the House.
I have sent dispatched to the Lodge to inform
them of our decision.


November 5th 1792-Mid Morning

We are ready,Isabella is on the Manor Grounds
& has had to survive yet another Rat attack.She
reports she has found the House in a secluded
meadow below the Manor.

I have convinced Dr.Manning & Magistrate Kroft
of our findings & they have agreed to join us
for the final showdown with this Demon House.
God help us all.


November 5th -Late Evening

Victor darling,you are a Pompous Ass (call me a Dragon!),
but we did work well together.

It's over the Demon has been banished back to Hell,
it was a dreadful fight. Victor has has celebrated with
a massively grotesque amounts of food & drink & shall
be unable to travel for at least another day.I have
therefore taken the liberty of completing his Journal.

I had discovered the House hidden in a small meadow
a mile or so behind the Manor.With it's fading exterior
& blood red curtains I knew we had at last found our
quarry.I sent my footman to summons Victor & what
ever help from the Village he had managed to recruit.
I was pleased to see Magistrate Kroft but Dr.Manning!
It surprised me to see the Doctor given all that I've heard
about his cowardly nature,but help is help.

We divided into two groups,Victor & Magistrate Kroft
& myself & Dr.Manning.Victor would charge the front
of the House & I the back.Before we could start
Lord Hanbrook rode up to join us but as we knew
he was in league with the Demon House we
kept our distance & Magistrate Kroft ordered
him to surrender.Instead he savagely tried to run
us down & then fled into the House.

With all surprise lost we quickly followed Hanbrook
through the front door.The attacks began at once,
The House was alive & threw furniture at our
party at supernatural speeds with Hanbrook
also madly attacking.

The fight was chaotic,the heavy furniture knocked
us about but the flying glass & utensils were far
deadlier.Lord Hanbrook managed to slash my
arm but Dr.Manning tied off the wound & stopped
the bleeding.Victor denied me my revenge by
taking Hanbrook out at point blank range with
his musket.

The House fought on & poor Dr.Manning could take
no more & fled.Besides the physical attacks we were
subject to extreme attacks on our spirit as well
as carefully laid traps,alas to which Magistrate Kroft
fell victim .At one point it appeared the House was
trying to become incorporeal & flee but I put my
torch right against the stairs & the House stabilized
with a terrible wail that extinguished mt torch.

Victor,seeing the House's reaction concentrated
his attack upon the stairs blasting them at close
range with his musket & then chopping with his
saber .I could feel the house weaken & then it
concentrated on Victor.I then jumped in and
began to pound on the stairs enlarging the damage
Victor had done.

Suddenly the whole house shuttered & went still,
whatever had poessed it was gone it was just an
old shabby house .Victor & I pulled Koft's body outside
& set fire to the place to make sure the evil would
never return.

As we gazed on the burning structure I noticed
the curtains blowing out from the shattered windows
...they were a dirty grey.

Isabella Von Took

Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,—
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again:
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
04-05-2009, 12:32 AM (This post was last modified: 06-11-2011 01:10 PM by Old Dwarf.)
Post: #3
RE: Demon House
Well thats overWatchmen02 This game went on for about 3 weeks
due to our hectic schedules,which just left us with
a little weekend time.

Usually about 2 turns a session was all we had time to get in
plus I don't like to do session reports too long after
the session ends (I find my notes almost unreadable
beyond a few hours Watchmen02.

The Villain was unusual & it only had 1 type of minion Rats,
which ae treated as square minions rather than round ones.
We used the Co-op Table using the modification that
before the Mystery round both heros made a cunning
roll if either failed then we rolled the table.Both Victor
& Isabella have high Cunning so we only triggered
the table about 3 times during the game.

We had the Hour is Late Mystery Card working against
us so the Villain picked a couple of extra wounds but
it also gave us extra Inv.Tokens which Isabella
used to shuck off wounds.

Torches are a must against the house otherwise
it can escape anytime no one hits it during a round.
Nice Game....this finishes me on AToE (well until
Innsmouth comes out & I can convert it:P )for awhile.

I'm going Hyborian & playing some miniatures using
HoTT (with some modfications).I painted up a ton
of 6mm figs & created an entire campaign system
for The Royal Hyborian Age about a year ago & then
never played it...so nows the time.

OD

Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,—
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again:
Find all posts by this user
Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Forum Jump:


User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)