The Escape

Scene 1 - The Cell (top)

Purpose

In game: Introduce the PCs to one another. Escape the immediate captivity of the cell.

Out of Game: Gives opportunities for social interaction, athletics, contortionism, investigation, lock picking, and more. Can result in combat if the players want it to, but the first guaranteed combat scene is phase 2.

Setup

You wake up in what appears to be barracks or a cell, with no memory of who you are or why you're here. You look around the room and see ___ other people filling the cots in the room.

(have players describe themselves): This will help to determine some basic attributes. There's way too many possibilities to try to cover them all, but in general "big and burly" would give more strength and stamina, "lithe" or "wiry" would give dex, "handsome" gives appearance, and glasses give intelligence.

Describe the room:

One cot per person
Each person is wearing clothing of their description
Air duct in the ceiling
Door is sturdy wood, locked
Through the door can be heard a TV playing. Every now and then someone argues with it.
Ask the players if there is anything written or scratched into the wall above their beds

Flesh out the description of the room based on the questions the players ask, going around the table until the room has been fleshed out fully, making sure that everyone gets the same number of questions. Keep questions focused on the room and it's contents.

(have players write down their ideal escape plan. It cannot rely on assistance from outside the room): The plans themselves are used to award points as per the options below. After plans are turned in, have the players discuss their plans. The social interaction will award Charisma, Presence, etc., depending on who says what.

Options

Some actions are more difficult than others. For just trying the action the PC gets a boost in that area. When they try, describe the action as being very difficult, and then ask if they succeed. If they do, they get the larger boost to their skill.

Action	In Game Results	Character Changes
Interrogate other Players	Depends on players	+1 Investigation
Try to get others to follow your plan	Depends on players	+1 Command
Successfully get others to follow the plan	Depends on players	+1 Charisma, +2 command
Strongly resist someone else's plan	Depends on players	+1 Integrity
Steadfastly refuse to follow other plans	Depends on players	+2 Integrity
Get in a physical fight with other PCs	Depends on players	+1 melee, thrown, or brawl
Question guard	Learn that the guards have orders not to kill anyone. They're being held by Braintec, which is a bunch of scientist types.	Getting any Information: +1 Investigation Getting all the information: +2 Investigation
Trick Guard	The first trickery attempt will fail unless it's sheer genius. The second trickery attempt will succeed, unless it's clearly unworkable.	Trying to fool the guard: +1 Manipulation, +1 Presence Successfully fooling the guard: +2 Manipulation, +2 Presence
Knock down door	Door is extremely sturdy, requiring a player who is truly dedicated to busting it down	Try to knock it down: +1 Strength. Try twice: +1 Strength, +1 Athletics Succeed: +3 Strength, +3 Athletics
Try to pick lock	Will need to fashion some sort of lock pick. After that, door can be picked by a determined character.	Suggest a means for a pick: +1 Craft Try to pick lock: +1 Larceny Succeed: +2 Larceny
Check out air duct	Can be pried open with much effort, and wriggled through by someone small.	Wanting to use it to get out: +1 Stealth Trying to pry it open: +1 Athletics, +1 Strength Succeeding at prying it open: +2 Strength, +2 Athletics Thinking to mask the noise somehow: +1 Stealth, +1 Intelligence Being able to squeeze into: +1 Dexterity, +1 Athletics, -1 Strength or Stamina

Exits

However they manage it, the scene exits when they've overpowered or suborned the guard and everyone is out of the cell.

Scene 2 - The Building (top)

Purpose

In game: Escape the building and learn the name of Braintec.

Out of Game: Offer a chance for combat. See who searches and who flees immediately.

Setup

The gaurdroom exits into a long corridor flanked with four pairs of doors. At the far end is a set of double swinging doors. You see the back of a head through a window in each door.

Required scenery elements:

Gaurds have tasers and retractable batons
All but one room is unlocked
Unlocked rooms are mostly nondescript offices and waiting rooms except two
One unlocked room is a library
One unlocked room is a surgical theater
Locked room contains files on a computer with high security with each PC's name but only vague descriptions of the procedures they've undergone:
- Loftus Treatment
- Baruchi Scans
- Treatment from the clone book
- Cat Scans
- X-rays (head only)
- No tangible data on who they are beyond the names
Locked room is the office Dr. Juan Garcia M.D., D.A.S., D.D., D.M.S., Ph.D., S.T.D. has medical diplomas mixed with a certificate from the World Memory Championship naming them a Grandmaster of Memory
The outside of the building bears the Braintec name and logo.
Cell is in basement. Only Garcia's office has a window, and it would require a very small person to slip through
One gaurd is behind a desk at the front door, and will start shooting (live rounds) as soon as the stair or elevator doors open if he sees escaping prisoners.

(have players write down their ideal plan. It can rely on assistance from outside forces, but those forces must be negotiated, tricked, etc.): The plans themselves are used to award points as per the options below. After plans are turned in, have the players discuss their plans. The social interaction will award Charisma, Presence, etc., depending on who says what.

Options

Action	In Game Results	Character Changes
Fight gaurds	Get some gear and a pass towards freedom	Depends on method used to attack
Trick gaurds	Depends on trick	+1 Manipulation, +1 Presence
Want to take taser	might get it	+2 Marksmanship
Want to take baton	might get it	+2 Melee
Question gaurds	Gaurds have orders not to hurt anyone, and are trained paramedics	+1 Investigation
Don't want any weapons		+2 Brawl
Search rooms		+1 Investigation
Pick locked office		+1 Larceny
Investigate computer	Find it's secured	+1 Investigation, +1 Science
Break security on computer	Find files	Trying to get into the computer: +1 Intelligence, +1 Science (Computers) Making it past the first layer of Security: +1 Intelligence, +1 Science (Computers) and Intelligence + Science (Computers) must total at least 6 Stopping the files from being auto-deleted: +1 Wits, +1 Science (Computers) and Science (Computers) + Wits must total at least 6
Recognize Abbreviations for Dr. Garcia	Learn about parts of his focus	Recognize some (M.D., D.A.S., D.D., D.M.S., Ph.D., S.T.D): +1 Academics Recognize All: +2 Academics
Recognize World Memory Championships		+1 Academics
Recognize Loftus Treatments	Learn more about memory	+1 Academics, +1 Science (Psychology)
Recognize Baruchi Scans	Learn about memory as it applies to biological computers	+2 Science (Computers)
Recognize Braintec name		Recognize their field: +1 Academics Know some of their work: +1 Science (Psychology), +1 Science (Computers), +1 Academics
Fight desk gaurd	Kick his booty	Depends on methods used. Should have at least a couple chances to dodge bullets.
Question Gaurd	He knows they're dangerous, and would rather be alive than have a job, so he opened with deadly force. The gunfire will alert perimeter gaurds, who will come in. Their attack dogs will be heard in the distance.	+1 Investigation
Flee the perimeter gaurds	escape outside (scene ends)	+1 Dexterity, +1 Stealth
Fight the perimeter gaurds	kick their booty	Depends on the fight. Animal Ken +2 for each dog handled without combat.
Investigate Library	Find notebooks with various occult symbols on a shelf next to neurological textbooks	+1 Investigation
Partially understand occult books	get a list of names	+1 Occult
Recognize names	some demons and the entire Loa pantheon	+1 Occult
Know their similarity	learn the company is interested in possession	+2 Occult
Show strong interest in surgical theater		+1 Medicine
Recognize that it's meant for emergency services		+1 Intelligence, +1 Medicine
Recognize that it has facilities for brain surgery		+1 Intelligence, +1 Medicine
Look for components for an emergency medical kit	get a basic medkit	+1 Wits, +1 Medicine

Exits

The scene ends when the players escape the building. Due to the window in Garcia's office, it is possible for characters to be in multiple scenes, if the smaller framed individuals break off from the rest.

Names from the Library (top)

~~Adramelech~~
Apollyon
~~Asmodai~~
Aunt Nancy / Anansi
~~Azazel~~
Baron Samedi
~~Belial~~
Erzulie
Gu
Kalfu
Moses
Papa Legba
~~Pazuzu~~
Xango

Scene 3 - The Outskirts (top)

Purpose

In game: Get away from Braintec and back near civilization.

Out of Game: Give a choice betwen urban and wilderness escape. Give opportunities for Animal Ken and Survival.

Setup

The outside of the building bears the Braintec logo and a cheerful "We make your dreams come true!" The empty parking lot nudges against a treeline seperated by a small fence. The other end exits onto a road, blocked by a lowered gate and a gaurd booth. From the far side of the building you hear the sound or barking dogs getting closer.

Required scenery elements:

Chasing dogs, two of which arrive with gaurds in the distance
Fence with horses grazing through it
Mr. Nancy
Pack of wild dogs
On road (perhaps after a break in the trees if they went by woods): broken down car with someone sighing under the steaming hood
On exit, the temperature takes a quick drop a couple of degrees and a storm rolls quickly in. It goes from sprinkles to full-on sheets in a matter of minutes.

Options

Action	In Game Results	Character Changes
Fighting the dogs	beat them	depends on methods
Pacifying or scaring away the dogs	get away from them	+2 Animal Ken
Befriending the dogs	have a couple allies	+4 Animal Ken
Outrunning the gaurds	might get away	Trying: +1 Athletics, +1 Dexterity Putting on extra speed when they get close: +1 Athletics, +1 Stamina
Hiding From the Gaurds	stay hidden	+1 Stealth
Fighting the Gaurds	beat them	depends on methods
Tricking Gaurds	succeed	depends on methods
Using navigational skills	find the next encounter sooner (fluff only)	+1 Wits, +1 Survival
Investigating horses	they look healthy and calm	+1 Animal Ken
Stealing horses	can follow fence to locked gate	+1 Animal Ken
Picking locked fence	it opens	+1 Larceny
Looking for horses' owner	depends on if they want to find one	+1 Perception, +1 Larceny
Talking with Mr. Nancy	depends on conversation	+1 Charisma Not interrupting a story: +1 Empathy Getting useful information: +1 Investigation Having reference to Tiger's Balls seem familiar: +1 Occult Catching reference to Tiger's Balls: +3 Occult
Giving book to Mr. Nancy	Anansi is thankful, but quite wroth, and leaves to "talk to dat rattley ol' rock skull."	+1 Empathy
Ask the retreating Nancy for directions	sent to the club. "Gowan up dat way dere. Ya can't miss da music."	+1 Wits, +1 Investigation
Fixing the car	thanks from the person	Trying: +1 Intelligence, +1 Craft (Automotives) Getting it barely running: +1 Craft (Automotives) Making it purr again: +1 Craft (Automotives)
Requesting a ride	Taken to the club. After that they're going straight home	+1 Charisma, +1 Empathy
Conning them out of the car	Get the car, or at least a ride	Trying: +1 Manipulation, +1 Presence Conning or Seducing them into a ride: +1 Manipulation, +1 Presence Succeeding: +1 Manipulation, +1 Presence, Manipulation + Presence must be at least 6
Taking the car	breaks down again at the bar	Ordering driver to give it over: +2 Charisma or Manipulation, +3 Command. Command + ability used must total at least 7 Scaring driver into giving over the car: +1 Charisma or Manipulation, +1 Intimidation Attacking: +1 dexterity, +1 appropriate ability

Exits

Whether they get dropped off, the car break down eight hours down the road, or they stumble out of the woods to the sound of music, the scene ends when they reach the club.

Scene 4 - The Club (top)

Purpose

In game: Meet Mr. Wednesday and get a job offering. Have a little fun in a bar and maybe earn some duckets.

Out of Game:Â Chances for fighting or commanding new followers, thrown weapons skill, some pool playing. Furthering the overall plot with the job offer and a chance to recover memories.

Setup

You come up on a squat rectangular concrete building with a brown-shingled roof. A sign lit by neon proclaims "Live Music Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Karaoke Sundays. The Grill is Open." At the edge of the parking lot you see a group of youths surrounding a suited businessman by the dumpster."

Required scenery elements:

Group of youths surrounding a man in a suit by the dumpster
Dart tournament starting, waitress taking entries
People are playing pool
Live band playing ___ (let the player who asks decide what kind of music)
Smells strongly of grease and tobacco. This has no game effects but can be a hook for players to hang a personality trait on.
Mr. Wednesday comes in when it starts to die down or the PCs are ready to leave

Options

Action	In Game Results	Character Changes
Fight the gang	beat them, maybe get wounded, one of them has a knife but the rest will use random detritus (sticks and a pipe)	depends on tactics
Smooth talk the gang	they leave	trying: +1 Charisma or Manipulation, +1 Empathy succeeding: +1 Charisma or Manipulation, +1 Empathy befriend them: +1 Charisma or Manipulation, +1 Empathy
Bossing the gang	they may do it	trying: +1 Charisma, +1 Command succeeding: +1 Charisma, +1 Command gaining their loyalty: +1 Charisma, +1 Command
Interacting with the businessman	depends on interaction. He has $75	depends on interaction
Participating in Dart Tournament	might win some money	entering: +1 Dexteriry, +1 Thrown placing second or third: +1 Dexteriry, +1 Thrown, $15 winning: +1 Dexteriry, +1 Thrown, $50 winning by a landslide: +1 Thrown
Playing pool	might win some money	Attribute can be science (mathematics related), marksmanship, academics, or anything else the player can explain adequately trying: +1 Dexterity, +1 Attribute winning: +1 Dexterity, +1 Attribute winning $30: +1 Dexterity, +1 Attribute winning $100: +1 Dexterity, +1 Attribute, +1 Larceny winning $100 without pissing anyone off: +1 Empathy

Exits

The session ends when the players have met Mr. Wednesday.

Tally Sheet (top)

	Sam	Brian	Rush	Jonathon
Attributes
Strength
Dexterity
Stamina
Charisma
Manipulation
Appearance
Perception
Intelligence
Wits
Abilities
Academics
Animal Ken
Art

Athletics
Awareness
Brawl
Command
Control

Craft


Empathy
Fortitude
Integrity
Ivestigation
Larceny
Marksmanship
Medicine
Melee
Occult
Politics
Presence
Science


Stealth
Survival
Thrown