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!
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: |
|||
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: |
|||
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 over 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 . 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: |
|||
« Next Oldest | Next Newest »
|
User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)