Rise of the Morloch-Chapter 1

[Old Dwarf]

The following is my first Solo play of Chapter #1.I modified the Backstory from Victorian London
to Simon R.Green's Nightside London. When I checked our SMOG it just reminded me of the
Nightside which has similar characters & powers. I worked out a few AI choices for both sides
including which victory condition were primary to pursue & with Ether allocation & use.

Chapter#1-The Unhappy Hour

The Gentlemen:

Mr.Fox-Dilettante-Leader/Inspiration Upgrade.
Lord Baron Mantes-Mekamancer/Scout/Enhanced Suit
Sir Daniel Home-Samartian /Healing Wave Upgrade
Col.Steel-Monster/Executioner/killer Instinct upgrade
Note the Single Bobby outside the lower door is Sgt.
Chadwick(regular bobby just fluff)

Gentlemen Primary Objective= Rescue Damsel
Nemesis=Eliminate Damsel

Nemensis Powers-Command Minions/Instill Chaos/Pyromantic

The 15 minute times= 1 Round/ the Week date = the Intermission

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London, 20th April 1887-The Nightside


Tobius and Emerson stoke the fires of the great
Bronze statue of their ancient Canaanite God Moloch and
as the idol begins to turn blood red from the fires heat
they celebrate the preparations for the return of their
Master. The High Priest began reciting unnameable imprecations
as the Cult members shuttered in extasy before the rising flames.

It had been a long struggle for Douglas Turnbull since he came across the
Artefacts associated with Moloch in his expedition to ancient Tyr .Subverting
the Immortality Cult into his own Nemesis Cult he had set about preparing
the way for the coming of Moloch and the overthrow of the British Government.

The Cult's monstrous rites with reports of missing children and associated crimes
soon brought the London Constabulary down on them. Before their arrests could be
effected Trumbull revealed to his minions a passage to London's Nightside .

"The Nightside, where it's always three AM. Where you can walk beside myths and drink
with monsters. Where nothing is what it seems and everything is possible. Nightside, a
hidden world in the middle of London wherein all manner of nasties lurk. Fallen gods
and Eldritch Abominations lurk down every dark alley. People are always coming and
going, drawn by need, searching for pleasures and services unforgivable in the sane,
daylight world. You can buy or sell anything in the Nightside, and no-one asks questions.
No-one cares."(Simon R.Green-Nightside introduction)

Now free of restrictions the Cult began to recruit others and began in earnest to take
actions toward gaining control of the Nightside. Once control of the Nightside was established
Victorian London and the British Empire would be next.

London, 2nd June 1887-The Nightside
Unicorn Club Headquarters

The meeting had been somber, the Unicorn Club better know as 'The Authorities"
were the major powers in the Nightside who brought some sense of order and
rough justice to district. During the past months however a series of incidents
had set even the chaotic Nightside on edge seemly unrelated but undermining
the Authorities control. Roving bands of Zombies were assaulting the public and
the results of horrid rituals obscene even by Nightside norms were showing up ,
none of it made sense but the unnerved public was demanding action.

The Unicorn Club resolved to take action against this Nemesis Cult scouring the back
streets and alleys using bribes, threats and applied violence they discovered the true
nature of the growing Cult. The struggle to stop the rise of the Moloch now began
in earnest.

21st January,1888-1-1:15 AM

The Gentlemen's hasty cab ride had left little time to access the call for help from Sgt.Chadwick.
Mister Fox the Leader of the Gentleman had stopped the cab at a vacant building down the street
from the police station to allow the team to help Lord Baron Mantes assemble & get into his
Steam Suit. Fox had gone ahead to the police station to interview the young terrified damsel.

The hooting & low growls outside that soon began outside gave credence to the damsel story,
Fox quickly returned to the vacant building & organized his Team for action. The police
station was now under siege by hordes of Shambling Zombies & the Gentlemen needed to
get the damsel to a safer location so that her information on Prof.Blackmore could be
more fully obtained.

Meanwhile Sgt.Chadwick had barricaded the Police Station stationing some of his bobbies
in front of the Stations doors. However one of the Bobbies guarding the damsel inside
the Station had in his rush to secure a door knocked over a desk lantern which set
the stacks of reports on the desk on fire.

1:15 -1:30 AM-The Gentlemen are mobilized by their Leader Mr.Fox uses Ether to ordered Baron
Mantes to break down the door to the adjoining room & moves to confront the Zombie present followed
by Baron Mantes. Sir Daniel homes opens the door to the street with Col.Steel right behind him.
Sgt.Chadwick takes down a zombie while the Damsel moves to the front door of the Police Station
while the rest of the bobbies form a shield around her. One Bobbie stays to hold the side door of
the Station.

The Nemesis send the Zombies shambling towards the Police Station and one manages to kill Sgt.Chadwick.

The fire started by the fallen lantern spreads out of control into the Police Station.

1:30-1:45 AM- The Gentlemen make an all out to get to the Damsel.Col.Steel moves out into the street and
confronts a Zombie. Baron Mantes attacks the Zombie in the room but fails to take it out. Mr.Fox attacks
the same Zombie & is able to kill it clearing the room. Sir Douglas Home moves & attacks the Zombie
holding Col.Steel at bay but to no effect. Meanwhile the Damsel leaves the Station moving behind the 2
Bobbies Guarding the outside front door to the Station followed by another Bobby.A single Bobby
leaves the side door & runs to the Stations Fire Extinguisher.One of the Bobbies guarding the Damsel
kills a Zombie.

The Nemesis Agent Emerson enters from the South avoiding the main street he proceeds up a side
street toward the Police Station & the fleeing Damsel.The other Agent Tobias enters from the West
and moves toward the Damsel. The Zombies attack Mr.Fox & a Bobbly but both fail. The Nemesis
uses the Power of instill Chaos & summons Shadow Gate.

The fire at the Station rages engulfing nearly 2/3 of the Station.

1:45-2 AM- The Gentlemen realizing an Agent is moving on the Damsel increase their efforts to save her.
Sir Douglas Home kills the Zombie blocking him and then moves to intercept the Agent.Col.Steel
moves to intercept the other Agent Emerson attacking but failing to damage another Zombie along the way.
Mr. Fox moves to open the street door which Baron Mantes moves through expending an Ether to activate
his Scout Ability allowing him to move adjacent to Agent Tobias. The Damsel manages to flee Tobias
taking a wound in damage and move through the Bobbies toward the exit closely followed by a Bobby.
The other 2 Bobbies outside the Station make attacks on Zombies killing one.The Bobby remaining
in the burning Station grabs the Fire Extinguisher & heads toward the door.

The Nemesis now concentrates on killing the Damsel, Agent Emerson continues to move around the
Police Station but the side street he took has left him too far away to threaten the Damsel.Agent Tobias
however is able to move adjacent to the Damsel ,The remaining Zombies move toward the Damsel
one attacks Col.Steel who blocks the attack.Lacking Ether Nemesis is unable to draw on its Power.

The Fire has consumed the Station except for a small section a Bobby is keeping clear with the Fire
Extinguisher.

2:15 AM-The Gentlemen realizing the Damsel Fate is about to be decided throw them selves into
protecting her. Baron Mantes attacks Tobias doing minor damage . Mr. Fox still in the room finds a
weapon cache & picks up a revolver & first aid Lotion. The Damsel saves herself and flees off the
Board via Exit #1. The other Gentlemen regroup with Mr.Fox.

The few Zombies left conduct attacks on 2 Bobbies failing at both. The Agents having lost the
Damsel and unable to take revenge on the Gentlemen or Bobbies fade back into the Fog.

The Fire completes its destruction of the Station with the Bobby preparing to use the Fire Extinguisher
to save himself. The Police express their appreciation to by presenting a Gauntlet to the Unicorn Club
Arsenal.

The Week of 23-29 January,1888- The Gentlemen having interviewed the Damsel but she was
hysterical with terror so no new information about Prof.Blackmore could be obtained. A search of the burnt rubble
of the police station did turn up a servants key ring obviously belonging to the Damsel which had an address
tag attached. The Gentlemen first decided to prepare themselves further by acquiring new equipment to meet
the challenges ahead.

Mr.Fox-picked up a pick axe from Wilkinson's Arsenal
Lord Baron Mantes- also visited Wilkinson's, & sselected a Harpoon
Sir Daniel Home-went to Hardy's Bazaar & secured an Arson Cocktail & a Police Whistle
he also claimed the Gauntlet that the police had given the Unicorn Club.
Col.Steel-was sent to the Shadow Market & picked up an Embryon.

The Nemesis increased it's power with Sinister Purpose, adding 2 Ether to it's Reserve and
beefing up Agent Emerson Health by +5.

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I had a lot of questions with the Rules in general & specific aspects of Chapter #1
but once I got things straight & started the Game things went smoothly.

I was surprised as I had put this Game aside thinking it was too fiddley so I'm glad
I gave it a try.Of course now I'll have to do the entire Campaign & Missions.

OD