Part 1 - Dead Light: Road Kill...almost

Kyle Gunther (Aaron) is a 35 year old independent assassin. Answered an ad from a Guido looking to put a hit on a client who refuses to pay up. Two muscles didn't get the message through, so Kyle is hired to send a message to other clients. That being the death of one Arturo Cabelli, proprietor of Lulu's Diner (aka speakeasy) up in Bolton 4 hours north.

Kyle has his own car, used, but self-maintained since Kyle has Electrical and Mechanical Repair skills. [But his beginning failed Mechanical Repair roll suggests some faulty wiring that will raise its head later.

Leaves Boston around 6pm this late spring evening. AFTER purchasing a map for his drive and destination. Driving rain, horrendous storm... the likes of which hasn’t been seen in a century.

Despite racing against the rain on your way northwards, the storm finally caught up with you in earnest and with it the night has fallen, abyssal black and riven by lightning. Conditions on the rain-swept road force your speed down to a virtual crawl so that your head-lamps can pierce the gloom and keep you on the path. The only thing certain now is that the weather behind you is worse than that which surrounds you, driving you onwards.

Suddenly

a flash of lightning. Close. Damn close! But more importantly, the flash illuminates something in the road [failed Spot Hidden...88 meant he has little to no reaction time]. Kyle slams the breaks while steering away [successful Drive Auto...rolled a Hard result]. A "Thump" before the car stops just short of the shoulder drop-off. He gets out into the torrential rain to discover a body in the road. Unconscious girl. More lightning flashes but Kyle fails to see the city sign announcing "Orchard Run". Drags her to the backseat of the car to then continue north in hopes of finding somewhere to hole up.

Comes upon the gas station/diner, pulling his car under the gas pump overhang for some protection from the wind/rain. Only now does he think to check the girl's vitals...picture him crawled into the backseat, hunched over the girl. Fortunate no diner patrons looking out the window to scream "Rape!"

Sam Keelham - manager	Mary Laker - waitress	Emilia Webb- damsel in distress

Kyle has finally thought to wrap her in a blanket (First Aid to recognize her chills as starting signs of hyperthermia; Luck roll to actually have a blanket) to then carry her into the diner. All eyes turn his way as the door opens. He explains how he hit her [don't you love honesty] which invites accusations of reckless driving and speeding in the storm. Only when she's laid on a booth bench and face uncovered does the manager Sam Keelham recognize Emilia Webb. The waitress Mary Laker recognized her but said nothing, keeping her distance till Sam calls her over. The older couple perk up; Winnie Brewer comes to help Mary tend the unconscious girl keeping her warm and trying to get her to drink coffee.

Everyone notes her soaked clothing, too thin for the freezing cold outside. Clothing torn in spots and scratches on her arms and legs suggest she’s been running through the woods. Once Emilia rouses some, Mary asks to move her to a far back booth away from the windows and lightning flashes. Sam is questioning/wondering why Mary is acting so nice to the girl she so despises. Sam tells Kyle of Emilia living with her grandpa doctor Webb.

Jake Burns - farmer

Meanwhile, Jake Burns is still blubbering about a Dead Light that forced him off the road. The farmer almost crashed his truck while carrying two of his cows to market. Both now mooing loudly; one sounds in pain (injured in the wreck). Kyle only offers to look out the door to determine the racket. Doesn't ask anyone else to help; so, only he sees a light coming from the back of the truck. Goes over to Jake to ask what he's carrying; what could be on fire. Hard convince to get Jake to follow him outside to investigate.

Only when Kyle is at the truck tailgate does he realize Jake has stopped well short (halfway between the diner and truck). So only Kyle lowers the tailgate to find the Dead Light attacking the injured cow. One cow tied to the left railing is kicking and screaming for dear life. The other bull is already reduced to neck and head dangling from the rope tied to the right railing. Light pouring out its snout and eye sockets. The rest of its body reduced to ashes. Failed Sanity check has Kyle retreating toward Jake verbalizing his vision. The Dead Light is pouring from the truck when another lightning flash has it retreating west into the woods. Jake already is in the diner telling all, "I told you there is a Dead Light out there." Kyle comes in confirming the story IN DETAIL which only frightens the crowd. POW checks confirm a sense of dread. Mary preoccupied with Emilia didn't hear so they are OK. Teddy Brewer passed the roll and thus able to comfort his wife Winnie who failed. However Sam is now frightened and definitely not willing to go anywhere.

Emilia is finally starting to come around. [Had anyone been paying attention, they’d have noticed Mary trying to keep Emilia quiet.] Still, the others hear Emilia mention her grandfather. Only now does Kyle think to ask about the grandfather. Sam tells of Godfrey Webb, “Retired doctor from Bolton. Been here a couple years renting that GreenApple Acre cottage just southwest of here; his granddaughter arrived 6 months ago. They stop in every once-in-awhile; him paying cash out of his folded wad. Rich ole coot; gave her that shining black ford roadster. Spoils her with his savings.”

Kyle already wanting to drive up there alone. Doesn't think to ask others to come along. Having frightened most, it would have been a hard/difficult convince. He makes an IDEA roll to ask Sam if there is a phone to call. "In the gas station office." Kyle leaves without asking for keys (Sam has on his watch chain) or the Doctor's number. He circles the building finding everything locked, so he resorts to his Locksmith skill. A Luck roll to have a flashlight...never thinks to look for a switch. Finds the phone but then realizes, "Who to call? What’s his number?

Kyle goes back to the diner to ask for the doctor’s number. Returns only to hear static on the line.

The light has returned drawn by the fear and panic created when Kyle told the diner folks about the Dead Light. It now is hovering over the diner roof.  Kyle steps out of the gas station spying the light. Suddenly a lightning flash.

[I only wanted the lightning to scare the light away. But Kyle's Luck roll of 94 had me take it one step further. I explained the setup to Aaron, "The lightning aim point is here midway between the station and the pumps. Roll your Luck again: succeed and you get to determine the strike location; fail and I determine based on: Roll 2d12 of different colors to determine range-and-bearing from that mark. You or I will decide which colored die equals the bearing while the other die is the range." Aaron succeeded his Luck and decided to put the strike at 7 o'clock and 5 yards...right on the gas pump! {Per Aaron, I was trying to get it as far from me as possible.}]

The southern pump explodes into flames catching the roof on fire. Kyle standing in the doorway is knocked prone by the concussion, sliding to a halt short of the inner wall and thus no injury other than ringing ears. At least the lightning and explosion has scared the Dead Light away.

Kyle is now scrambling to move his car away from the 1st pump. Failed Drive Auto...he's flooded the car in his panic...remember his beginning failed Mechanical Repair roll?

Kyle now desperate begins pushing his car to safety. Failed STR roll gets it 10 feet before it's stuck in mud since the car is no longer under cover.

Sam comes out to investigate the explosion. Kyle trying to get Sam to help push the car, "Screw you, my business is in flames!"

Failed IDEA roll so Sam has to think to grab a fire-extinguisher. But Kyle thinks to suggest the "Emergency Shutoff Switch." I give him credit. Half the pump roof has burned away before the driving rain puts it out. With no more gasoline feeding the 1st pump, Kyle is able to put out the flames (since Sam gave him the extinguisher).

Kyle tells Sam about the Dead Light on the roof of the diner, "Damn well don't tell anyone else. You've already scared the shit out of us all!

Kyle enters the diner asking for volunteers to join him on the drive up to Dr Webb's cottage. Emilia rushes to join him. Sam is quite surprised when Mary volunteers too.

Sam makes excuses, "I can't leave my business. I've already lost the station thanks to you."

Jake makes his excuses, "You guys are crazy." Which sends Emilia on a tirade, “Don’t call me crazy!” Settle down little lady; he wasn’t talking to you specific.

Terry Brewer would be willing to go but, "Poor Winnie."

CONCLUSION: https://rigglew4.blogspot.com/2017/04/entry-2-lights-out.html