To Awaken What Never Sleeps
Author: Daniel Harms; Game Master: Koen Leijten
Description (NYC, 1928): You are enjoying a nice day in NYC when all hell breaks loose when an explosive goes off in the subway. What follows is an investigation taking the players through old-time New York City, where the city slowly seems to descend into madness, unnoticed by most.
High starting Mythos 30: The collective story is that you were all high school friends who got entangled with the mythos shortly after graduation. I imagine you encountered some deep ones off the coast. After that you’ve had mythos adventures from time to time.
Dr. “O” George Octavius, Professor (Brian): physicist professor at Miskatonic University. |
Barney, Bartender (Bill): retired lightweight prizefighter, not by choice…the crooked ref! I serve a mean bathtub gin as I listen to the woes of my customers here at Ginny’s speakeasy. And crack a smile for the ladies who come to admire the scar over my left eye. T’was the life of years gone by when after graduation, encountering those deep ones, I developed Hydromania (irrational craving for water). Water in a bar: yeah, my customers get a good laugh too! |
Alena Falkner, Occultist (Darcey): bookstore owner and dabbler in the arts. |
5pm Friday, Aug 24, 1928: Almost a year since they’d last gathered, Dr O arrived by train from Boston and grabbed a taxi to Ginny’s speakeasy where he found Alena at the bar with Barney serving. “Hope I’m not too late. Are you ready for dinner?” Barney jumped on the opening with a smile, “Sure, if you’re buying.” Rush hour traffic, in the heart of the city near Times Square: yeah, they hoofed it as they chatted. [Sanity check] “BOOM!” The ground shook and the sound of screeching metal drowned out the city noise as the city came to a standstill. All were struck by vertigo and nausea as smoke billowed from the nearby subway entrance. When a few passengers staggered out of the cloudy entrance, they donned handkerchiefs over their noses to rush in to lend aid.
Subway Station: They stepped into darkness randomly illuminated by sparks along the tracks. “Careful! That third rail is electrified!” As their eyes adjusted, they made out the crash of two subway train cars: one laid on its side while the other was crumpled against a far wall. They dodged men scrambling toward the exit, ignoring the screams of a woman trapped under a toppled tollbooth. While Barney looked for anything to use as leverage to lift it off her, Dr. O caught sight of a man crawling from the car towards the tracks. Too late to save the man as he lit up like a Christmas tree when he touched the rails. The smell of burnt flesh mixed with the ozone smell that permeated the subway. “One, two, three.” Barney grunted as he lifted the stall with a metal rod which gave Alena time to pull the woman to safety.
As the woman mingled with other shocked passengers exiting the station, the trio of rescuers laid eyes on the first car. [Sanity check] Dead faces were plastered against the train windows with streaks of blood marking their slide down the windows.
As they turned in revolt, they spotted weird symbols recently (still wet) painted on the track switch box. And that’s when they heard coughing coming from further down the track and soon saw a human form emerge from the billowing smoke, carrying a lantern and dressed in a dust-caked subway uniform. Jeffrey Barton reveals, “I saw 2 men jump off the platform and move along the tracks before the train crashed. I tried to warn them about the danger of the 3rd line. They waved to acknowledge me but suddenly I couldn't move. They began painting that switchbox then move further into the subway tunnel. I didn’t recognize the one with thick sideburns and tall tophat, but the other one dressed in a business suit seemed out of place for the subway- more a limousine type person. He looked like that millionaire guy in the papers a couple of years ago.”
Alena focused on the symbols she recognized as occultist runes, “Astrology? Not certain but could be runes of a gateway spell.” Barney pulled out his camera to take a picture. Dr. O focused on the wreck, “No track damage to explain how the cars were catapulted. But the forced needed to fling the first car against the wall is beyond comprehension.” Even he flinched again as he looked at the bloody paste of gore smashed on the windows.
Mario’s Pizzeria: By now police and medical people arrived to take control of the scene. The trio exited for fresh air and to collect their thoughts. “Are you still up for dinner after seeing all that mayhem?” They slid into a booth at Mario’s Pizzeria. The horror…when Alena used a knife and fork to eat her slice of pizza as Barney and Dr O folded theirs in half! They had to tip extra to get the waiter to bring Alena dessert for her sweet tooth. Alena spoke with a mouth full of gelato, “Like I was saying, couple of years ago, I remember a newspaper article about Edward Wycham, local construction businessman.” Barney was lost in his own conspiracy idea, “Maybe Wycham was targeting someone riding on the train. A rival? But how would he know when the man, sorry Alena, person got on and when he’d arrive. Now that I think about it, forget it. The blast was near Times Square: was he targeting that?!”
Alena’s Bookstore: Barney tried to research Wycham, but such material was not in Alena's specialty bookstore. Alena went straight to her Occult books and found similar symbols that suggested a gate spell, “Drawn in a particular pattern would create a gate that would suck in mythical energy then disperse it in a blast. Was he summoning something?”
“Here’s a September 1920 bombing near the Woolworth Building. They blamed terrorists. But digging deeper, I found this 1910 article describing the structural failure of the original Life Insurance building at the same site with Mr. Wycham proclaiming how the Woolworth Building would take its place! Seems he had blueprints for the taller skyscraper already drawn up AT THAT SITE! Fortuitus events wouldn’t you say?! Almost like he predicted its fall.”
Dr. O even found another newspaper article written by a local journalist, titled Hocus Pocus. “Mentions astrology and even includes a picture retrieved from Mr. Wycham’s trash bin that includes similar symbols. His clerk says he is using astrology to guide his investments. Is that what this is all about? Destruction to line his pockets with more wealth?!” It was getting late, and they decided to call it a night, “Let’s gather in the morning at the library to dig further into this Mr. Wycham.”
Morning: While they all slept soundly, all woke with a startle to the blaring cacophony of street sounds, almost double the intensity of normal days: the trumpeting horns of car traffic, the clickety-clack rattle of trolleys along their tracks, the stampede of foot-traffic. Even the overwhelming smells: spices wafting from local restaurants, body odor from pedestrians, even the stench of excrement from the homeless using the streets and alleys as their personal toilets. [Hypersensitivity = bonus to all sense rolls] Although the boy stood blocks away, Dr. O easily heard the paperboy hawking today’s paper, “Subway accident clears the way for the construction of another skyscraper over the bodies of the dozen dead!”
Library: Dr. O arrived with a copy of today’s paper, finding Alena on the library steps with cotton stuffed in her ears. “You too?! I almost want to shove some up my nose too.” They soon found an autobiography detailing Wycham’s rise from 1883 Auburn, CA as the son of poor sharecroppers. It delved into his “Luck” and shrewd investments that transformed him into one of the nations’ top millionaires dealing with Skyscraper construction within NYC.
Since today’s paper listed the recent death toll as a dozen and climbing. Dr. O wondered if sacrifices were required for the gate spell. [extreme] Barney focused on an astrology angle and soon found reference to a rare book written by Thibaut de Castries, titled Megapolisomancy. “He was a San Francisco occultist.” Dr. O translated the title, “If it’s related to Latin, it means ‘Big City Magic’.” Alena approached the librarian on duty to ask for the book. “You’re the second person to inquire about that book. We never had it in stock. The other? Julius? I seem to recall he was a journalist from the Evening Graphic papers.”
Evening Graphic: Per phonebook research, their cab soon pulled up to the newspaper address in a dingy neighborhood. The editor, Harry Legard looked up from his desk, “Got a scoop for me? Julius? He hasn’t been in for a week. In fact, I’ll fire him as soon as I see him!” Barney tried to pump him for Julius’ address. “I don’t give out such info to the public.” So, Barney asked to be hired. [Hypnosis-extreme] Alena leaned across the desk and coyly waggled her necklace (with the black crystal) to keep his attention, “What was Julius’ latest story? We could finish it for him and make you the most important newspaper and editor in town.” Harry melted under her spell and gave the address. Alena was giddy with delight at her accomplishment and almost pressed her power trip.
Julius’ Address: The cabby couldn’t depart fast enough from this lower eastside address. Cockroaches scuttled across the stained carpet steps as they climbed the stairs to the 5th floor. They flinched at the sound of kids crying or screaming behind closed doors or winced at the off-key musical attempts of someone killing a saxophone. Barney stepped up to knock, “Julius, it’s your brother come a calling.” Silence. Alena knocked, “Mr. Gabriel, it’s your landlady come fer your overdue rent.” Still nothing.
The door easily gave way to Barney’s shoulder when Dr. O falsely questioned, “Did you hear a muffled plea for help?” A one-bedroom pigsty: trash, piles of newspapers near a hotplate, a closet, a mattress laid out on the floor. [Sanity] You can’t call it a body if it’s missing its appendages! Arms and legs ripped off, jaw broken. Bugs crawled in and out of every orifice.
[Sanity] Alena would have gagged and puked had she not been surprised by the face that seemed to bulge from the wall! When she tried to touch it, it shrank back flush into the wall.
Alena checked the closet and found a book taped to the top shelf, “A copy of Megapolisomancy, with a receipt from a San Francisco bookstore.” Dr. O knelt beside the …torso: almost a week old in decomposition. Blunt trauma. Dried blood pattern on the wall of an incomplete pentagram. As he checked the wallet for ID confirmation this was Julius, Barney lightly cut his palm to draw blood to complete the pentagram, “Obviously he was trying to protect himself from whatever is inside the walls.” He never got the chance to complete his work as bricks came out of the wall and began to coalesce into human form: brick monster! [Spontaneous Use of Mythos: 12 MP, 2 Sanity] Barney crossed his wrists in front as he tried to banish the monster, “Back I say! Back to hell or wherever!” He dodged the huge arm swing of the slow brick golem.
Alena thought about the fire-escape revealed by the monster’s emergence. But everyone opted for the front door, “RUN!” It bashed thru the doorway in slow pursuit and soon stood on the steps of the apartment as they ran across the street. The bricks melded into the exterior walls of the apartment as the other bricks shuffled to make space for the face that appeared to watch their departure.
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They were out of breath when they finally stopped in the park, away from any brick walls. While Barney and Dr. O stood watch, Alena skimmed thru the book, “Paramentals exist along the ectoplasmic pulmonaries that pulse within temples, ziggurats, pyramids of ancient times, and the new world spirito-secular monstrosities man calls skyscrapers. Wycham has figured out how to channel these paramental frequencies into a chosen locale and time. By why?! Silver seems to be a disrupting agent.”
Step in Time: And that’s when they recognized the sky overcast, with the scent and low murmuring of cows assaulting their senses. The sound of an old-time fiddle teased them from the northeast. Wouldn’t you follow? Thru emptying streets and back alleys now lit by gaslight they strolled into an earlier century. A thin, tall man (almost cadaverous) but of an age-old noble stance shrouded in a cloak, leaned against the wrought-iron gate that led to an ivy covered 2-story mansion of Victorian age. He tipped his top hat and greeted them with a soft, almost hollow voice, “Welcome. I was expecting you.”
Morgan Atherton chuckled when Alena asked if he was an avid practitioner of the arts. He beckoned us inside and into his library. As we attempted to read the spines of the untold thousands of books, he looked out the window in a trance of remembrance. Alena had to ask, “Are you a vampire?” Morgan turned with a smile, “Just desiring an age of simpler times. What you call New York today is not for a man of refined breeding and taste. I thought Wycham supported my desires to return the city to its former glory, yet he apparently has other devious plans.” Dr. O tried to reason, “Simpler times? You mean the Bubonic plague, Spanish Flu, rampant disease in the streets?” But Morgan saw those as maladies of the lesser man, “Pollution in the air, filth in the child-labor factories, wars, plagues…this industrial age is an even worse killer.” Alena and Barney also failed in their reasoning, “Even the past wasn’t perfect.”
They quickly realized Morgan wasn’t the current problem, “How can we stop Wycham? He plans to destroy the Waldorf-Astoria hotel and build the world’s tallest building as a focus of magical power? The book mentions silver as a weapon against his conjuring. What can you lend to the cause that benefits you too?” They exited the mansion armed with a silver sword and two silver daggers as Barney struggled with the concept, “You mean we have to kill him? Cold-blooded murder?” Dr. O offered the alternative, “He’s already killed over 50 people and will kill even more if he brings down the Waldorf.”
Waldorf: Barney offered, “Give me a few minutes to get into position. I’ll see you inside.” Low credit-rating and definitely not dressed for such a ritzy hotel, Barney opted to enter the service door. “Sorry I’m late. I’ll get dressed and out on the floor as soon as possible.” [Disguise] Like anyone would know he didn’t fit in as lowly staff. He adjusted his bowtie, placed 3 flutes of champagne on the silver tray, and walked into the lobby where he spotted Dr. O leading Alena into the lounge. Barney glided behind the bar and began serving drinks: his specialty! As they whispered their plans, they eavesdropped on nearby conversations. “Did you hear the millionaire Edward Wycham himself has bought this place?” “I heard he’s already wandering around the upper floors.”
Barney looked at the other two and loudly suggested, “You are supposed to meet with Mr. Wycham to discuss renovations? If you’ll follow me to the elevator, I’m bringing up his favorite drink.” And that ‘s when other patrons began screaming and hysterically running out of the lounge. [Sanity] A glass table morphed into a 4-legged glass skull that began to follow the trio! They hustled to the vacated elevator where Dr. O studied the switches (to operate) as Alena quickly drew protective pentagrams. As the elevator rose, the glass skull reverted into a table.
Going up! The doors opened unto the top floor where strong winds whipped across the expanse, propelling a child’s swing-set within a playground. Within the flower garden that occupied the far side, stood a man in the center of a vortex of swirling wood, steel, fire, and bricks. [Sanity: Alena lost 6, extreme success INTsave, Bout-of-Madness: Urbanophobia] Alena became obsessed with drawing pentagrams across every exposed piece of her body.
Dr. O tried to reason with Wycham, more as a distraction for Barney to get into position with his silver sword. [Fast Talk- failed] “Cease this madness. You’ve already killed dozens and surely threaten hundreds more.” Wycham only laughed, “You, investigators. I’ve been keeping an eye on you. Did you recognize my face in the wall and table? Did you find Atherton charming? I have awoken the city to my will and feel its sufferings. I could use you as my lieutenants in my new city to be a conduit of my will to the people. Which of you is willing to join me?”
Barney had no chance sneaking up; he swung his sword but a garden rake sprang up in defense. Wycham taunted with a maniacal laugh, “Fools! I have the entire city at my hands.” Alena rushed at him with hopes to push him off the ledge: the wooden frame of a planter transformed into a wooden figure that attacked. She slashed with her dagger, “You’re just a tree.” Dr. O frantically searched for symbols Wycham must have painted or carved within the area: if he could deface them, he might be able to break the energy link.
The wooden paramental punched Alena hard in the gut. But somehow, prizefighter moves remembered, Barney managed to dip/dive/dodge past the swirling mass of material surrounding Wycham, [extreme- impale: 19 points of damage] and plunged his sword up and into his chest as he put his full strength behind the attack to bullrush Wycham over the ledge. Barney leaned over the side as he watched the lifeless body plunge 16 floors to the pavement below. All came forward to observe as Wycham’s bloody splat seemed to melt into the pavement. As if the paramentals of the city absorbed his energy. They slumped to their knees as their heightened senses seemed to quickly drain. “Don’t leave anything behind.”
EPILOGUE
“That’s him officer! That’s the face I saw leaning over the top wall.” The police escorted the trio back to their cells and continued their questioning for the next 2 days before Dr. O finally secured a lawyer. “What are you accusing my clients of? Witnesses say a man fell from the roof yet there is no body. This is preposterous. Release them at once unless you can afford to be sued.”
Wycham’s corporation continued on without him. They soon had the Waldorf demolished the next year as they began construction of the world’s tallest building. “We’ll call it The Empire State Building.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_Building
Alena moved out of the city and found residence within Central Park and its green spaces. She swore never to ride the subway system ever again! But she did look forward to occasional meetings with the others to compare notes of any Mythos encounters they experienced.
Dr. O leaned into studying the Megapolisomancy book Alena gladly gave up. Soon he was studying magic and practiced the Call Paramentals spell. At their next meeting, Alena flinched when Dr. O demonstrated the ability to move a single brick.
Alena visited Barney’s speakeasy and carved a pentagram into his bar counter. She couldn’t help but ask about his stock of bar peanuts. As she gazed at the sword prominently displayed over the back of the bar glass, she suggested, “Maybe you should call this place The Silver Sword of Service.”
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