GM Note: In the spirit of doing something different and really letting the players in on the story, I decided to do a sort of improv game session. With no idea what to expect, I told the players to write down a suggestion on an index card to determine certain things in the game. The categories were: style/theme, animal, one of the sins, something funny, something nasty, an innocent thing, and a sport. My job throughout the night was to randomly choose a card and then integrate it into the story, not as easy as it turned out.
After all of their run-ins in Minot, North Dakota, Omega 13 was re-stationed to a place of lesser activity. They were commended on their actions and sent to Moose Jaw, Minnesota. They acquired a new vehicle, a deep brown El Camino, always perfect for team transport, and were issued a new cipher as well. This Class IV cipher came with a few personality bugs and quirks but seemed to work well enough, except for the bursts of Japanese.
Settling down in Moose Jaw proved easier than expected. The All American Brent Adams immediately ran off to join/start a local wrestling company that took him away from his Brotherhood duties. Ki went off to search for enlightenment and ‘booty’. Larry claimed he was going to look for treasure in the pockets of the local townsfolk, you know, for research. Apparently you can learn a lot about folks by what they used to carry in their pockets. That left Sera, Wren, Cole, and the Cipher to investigate an anomaly nearby.
They headed towards the Moose Jaw Arena where the possible supernatural activity was occurring. The annual Rhythmic Gymnastics tournament was occurring that same night, rhythmic gymnastics being something Moose Jaw was well known for of course. The place had been sold out due to the great interest of the local population. So an alternative means of entry was needed. Luckily the group could enter as a last minute participant, music would be provided of course so all the girls would have equal advantage. But, the only one that could do it in the group was Cole.
So Cole and Wren would prepare for his routine, they had paid the entrance fee after all, and the Cipher and Sera would look around for clues.
Cole did not feel he had to prepare for much, he was Cole after all and what more was needed? Glitter! And tights! And make-up! Possibly a sock for the balcony seats! Wren was in her element making the already striking looking Cole even more memorable. To add to the mix, she cast a few lighting spells to help his routine. As Cole entered the arena, a rousing Celtic sounding song, March of the Cambereth came on. Cole stumbled a bit at first because that was the last thing he expected to hear, but quickly got in step. He used his flame powers to ignite the torches and dance like he had never danced before. He was a maniac! Cole had become the new Lord of the Dance! Children shriek in joy, women swooned at his power, and even the men shed a tear for his swan-like grace. At the end of his routine, he was showered with roses, phone numbers (guys and girls), ribbons, panties, money, jewelry, boxers, and more. Moose Jaw would never forget this delicate angel of rhythmic gymnastics … ever.
While that was going on, Sera looked around for anyone suspicious. She saw a man in the catwalks above the arena floor. She quickly ran up to confront the strange figure. He breathed heavily and wore a black coat that seemed to darken his entire body. He spoke with a deep, yet noble voice. The figure looked like he was going to loosen a light to fall on one of the contestants, possibly Cole!? Sera did not want to shoot her guns, so she grabbed a pipe and shouted at the man to stop. He turned around with a pipe of his own and now they clashed on the catwalk above the stunning performance of Cole. Pipes hummed like bees every time they were swung, and occasionally, sparks flew when they clashed. This was a minorly epic duel of the fates. Eventually, Sera knocked down the man only to see the light begin to fall. Quickly she rushed over and caught the last of the cord holding the light. Cole was safe and … beautifully dancing. Tired, Sera returned the light only to find that her dark invader had left while she was distracted.
As the Cipher began scanning the area for details, she found herself downstairs, in the boiler room. She noticed some movement. The Cipher closed in to investigate and found a little girl in a white dress. The girl claimed she was lost and that the Cipher needed to help her, the Cipher was her only hope. Feeling an odd sense of familiarity, the Cipher helped the little girl back to the arena where the moves of Cole had brought happiness and joy into even the hardest of hearts. The girl thanked the Cipher and ran off to find her mother.
After all his adoring fans had left and the numbers were put into his Rolodex, Cole was ready to join the investigation. Omega 13 had regrouped and decided to search the rest of the arena for the dark invader. A quick scan by the Cipher was inconclusive as the basement seemed to block all of her sensory capabilities. Logic dictated that was where they should go.
The basement was dark and quiet with a sense of foreboding. Searching all around the only thing they found was the girl that the Cipher had helped bracelet in the trash compactor. Sera pulled the plug on the machine so it could not start up, and helped the Cipher retrieve the bracelet. Suddenly the trash compactor began to close threatening to crush the poor Cipher.
Cole and Wren searched a hallway and found the dark invader, they confronted him, but he seemed to be able to push them back with a mere wave of his hand. Who was this powerful stranger?
Sera tried to stop the compactor, but nothing was working. Thinking fast, the Cipher jabbed her arm into the mechanism and broke it off to buy her time to safely get free of the compactor. It then began to ooze something nasty. Poop.
The Dark invader threatened Cole and Wren with death and then summoned a gigantic wave of ….. poop. (Sigh. There is something wrong with my gaming group.) I filled the hallway as the dark invader left safe and clean. Now all four of the Brotherhood members were faced with a dire circumstance. How to avoid the …. nasty. Each of them jumped, dodged, climbed, and hid from the nasty filth that surrounded them. When the wave of ick was done, they left the place for a shower and some research.
It turns out that the little girl that the Cipher helped had gone missing long ago from a playground nearby. Omega 13 had decided that it would be a good idea to check it out. So, after cleaning themselves off and getting the Cipher a replacement hand, they headed off to the park. When they got there, they saw that the playground equipment had been arranged into a magic circle of a sort, most likely by accident. Cole saw a see-saw and began arguing with it, while Wren saw a good climbin’ tree and had to investigate.
That is when the dark invader showed up and revealed that he was working for his master. The master appeared, robbed and bent over, high pitch cackling erupting every so often. His master was a demonic …. marmoset, filled with lust, and wielding the … (sigh) Ass-Ball Plug. His master was a Demonic Lusty Butt Monkey. (seriously, something very wrong with my gaming group)
DLBM began chanting as the dark invader attacked. Eventually, Cole and Wren joined after they were free from distractions. Just when they were close to victory, dark energy exploded out and healed them. Cole made his pecs dance and challenged DLBM, which got the vile violator very excited. The fight raged on and Cole’s posterior got poked … repeatedly … like it was starting to get uncomfortable … and weird. Anyhow, the master summoned up his ultimate weapon … the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.
It was at this point that the group began to realize something was off (this point? THIS POINT? That’s it I’m outta here. This is some ridiculous crap, I have had enough. I try to do something new, exciting and fun. Bring the player in on the story. Let them have some fun and control and they bring me POOP! Lusty Butt Monkeys!? REALLY?! Yeah something is off, my player need therapy is what it is. I’m done. Droppin’ the mic. I’m outtie like an 8-track!!!!!)
(Ahem, sorry about that. I’m better now.)
It was at this point that the group began to realize something was off and that this was all probably an illusion. Wren began working on a counter-spell while the other provided support. Cole fought off the sugary sweet colossus, dark invader, and the .. Lusty Butt …. Monkey, while the Cipher helped her out with the complex variables in the spell, and Sera provided leadership and spell casting advice. The spell worked and the illusions were banned leaving behind nothing but a small wind up monkey banging cymbals together and a Darth Vader action figure missing his slide out light-saber and bearing a few doggie chew marks. They day had been saved, even though there was really no threat, but a lingering question filled their (dirty minded) thoughts. If this was an illusion, who cast the spell?