Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 3C (Part 1: Museum Investigation)

SCENE 3 – INVESTIGATING THE DISC

SCENE 3C – MUSEUM INVESTIGATION

Note: If PCs have already encountered the beby and gained information on the cult of Set, GMs may need to make some adjustments to the boxed text below. While no new information is gained, and the professor also has a copy of the book, the beby is still summoned to protect it. If PCs have already played Final Battle, that scene does not occur again.

It was surprisingly easy to gain an interview with Professor Angelina McKay. She was ‘between projects, you know’. Her office is warmly lit, and has butter-yellow walls, mostly concealed behind bookcases and display cabinets of curious artefacts.

“Come in!” she says, looking at you, even though it’s like she’s addressing half the museum. “You want something explained? Let me see if I can help you.”

Give the PCs time to explain what they want, then read, or paraphrase, the following when they show her the disc:

Holding the disc, the professor is surprisingly quiet. She turns it this way and that, before opening her drawer and taking out what looks like the sort of monocle jewellers use to have a closer look at gems. “Curious,” she murmurs. “I wonder where you came from.” Taking the monocle off and putting it to one side, she walks over to a series of shelves and takes down a particularly decrepit-looking tome. “This is the one,” she says, coming back to her desk. Silently, but with many glances at the disc, she turns pages until she reaches one that shows a drawing of the same symbol displayed on the disc. “Here,” she says, turning the book towards you.

At this point a successful Earth (Senses TH2) test allows PCs to notice the disc on the desk next to the book is glowing a strange reddish-orange. If successful, PCs are able to take one action before the following occurs:

Before you can do anything else, a light too bright to see through flares around the disc. It is followed by a thunderous roar shakes the book shelves and Angelina snatches up the book and takes two steps away from the desk, her face full of alarm.

Have players roll initiative, then read, or paraphrase the following:

When the light fades you find yourself staring at a creature that looks like some horrendous cross between a hippopotamus, crocodile and lion. Across the top of the creature you hear Angelina whisper: “Is that a beby?”

Any PC may make a Mental (Knowledge: Ancient Cultures or Mythology: Egypt) test (TH4) to recognize the creature as a ‘beby’, the creature that eats the hearts of those whose hearts fail when judged for entry into the Egyptian afterlife. A TH6 success reveals that the devouring god had animal counterparts in earlier mythic ages.

At this point, the beby that has been summoned to protect the disc, and prevent anyone from discovering the identity of the group behind it, attacks.

Battlescape: This room is quite large for an office, but it doubles as Angelina’s work and display space as well. It is about 30 feet long and 20 feet across and, as described before, is lined with book cases and display cases. There are also a few display cases scattered about the center of the room. PCs can draw the creature out of the room, and along several corridors, to the museum grounds if they wish, or they can fight it here. Fighting in this room is difficult because of the small size, and PCs suffer a -1 penalty. This penalty affects all actions, such as dodging, that rely on manoeuvrability for success.

NPC Reactions: The noise (and, possibly, sight) of the battle causes museum staff and patrons to hide from the beby and to call the London Metropolitan Police, one of whom calls LN7. LN7 does not arrive before the battle is over, and the beby has disappeared. Whether they are in time, or able, to note the PCs’ involvement is up to the GM.

Professor McKay: does her best to stay out of the way of the battle, and to not draw the attention of, or to distract the combatants. She does, however, film the battle with her mobile phone, and later posts a number of articles, comments, and video clips to her various social media sites. The beby notices her only if she tries to draw its attention, or if it must move through the space she is currently in during the battle, at which point it takes a quick swipe or bite at her. It will only focus on her if she is the most threatening thing facing it at the time.

Beby

Era: Mythic

Race: Supernatural Animal

APL: 4

Aspects: Fire 6 (4), Water 5 (4), Air 2, Earth 2

Initiative: 8

Health: km; <5 / 10+ / 15+ / 20+ / 25+ / 30+ / 35+

Size/Reach: 1 / 5 ft

Armor: 6

Taint: 10

Stride: 30 ft

Weapons:

—Bite: 18H

—Foreclaw (2): 8M

—Hindclaw (2): 12M (Grab ready requirement)

—Tail: 8M

Sequences: Ravager

Agg—F9/W6/A0/E2—Power + Power + L Foreclaw Strike + Power +R Foreclaw Strike

Skills: Athletics 9, Interaction 2, Melee 7, Stamina 7, Quickness 6, Senses 8, Stealth 4, Will 4

Edges: Action Junkie, Aggressive, Brutal, Daunting

Powers: Undeterred

Traits: Tainted

Tactics: The beby has only one mission: to destroy all those present when the description of the symbol on the disc was found. This includes Professor McKay, who is most grateful if PCs save her life. If successful, the PCs earn the reward Friend of Professor Angelina McKay.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.