Tales from the Darkness: Charmer

Originally published July 21, 2014

A while back I played in an Apocalypse World game using Jamil Vallis-Walkers's Darkness rules. The other players and I explored a world permanently shrouded in a psychic darkness that corrupted the strayed too far from the light. It was an evocative setting but my character died in an unsatisfying way. In the interest of getting past that bad experience, I used the Mythic Game Master Emulator is run a short game for myself, to device a more stisfying ending. I found it pretty therapeutic. Here is some material from that game.

Charmer

On the edge of Salt lies acres of rusted and shattered spires. Atop a few of the towers are several working wind turbines, still spinning and generating electricity. Thanks to them the desert town has enough power to keep the darkness at bay. However, the machines need continual maintenance.

That's where Charmer enters the scene. A mysterious freak who lives on the edge of the town, Charmer trades in brainer tech and stranger oddities. One of the few who will trade with the cannibal nomads who wander the desert, he has a reputation for getting the better part of any deal and messing with people for fun.

Charmer's loose robes and veil obscure his (or her?) features, leaving little revealed to hint at who or what he is. Only the surgical scars seen around his dark eyes hint at the horror of his actual appearance. After a nasty encounter with a Savvyhead and her friends, Charmer lost his right hand. It is unknown if he's managed to replace it.

Threat Type: Grotesque: Mindfucker
Impulse: craves mastery

Custom Moves:

Transmit: Underneath his robes, beneath his skin, wires and electrodes are tied into Charmer's nervous system. He uses this network to tap into the Darkness, using it as a medium for transmissions to his allies and others. Anyone opening their mind to the psychic maelstrom (peering into the void under Jamil's Darkness rules) may receive a message from him in addition to the normal effects of that move.

Receive: Charmer's cybernetics allow him to tap into any mind tied to the Darkness. When peering into the void at Charmer, you must answer one of the following questions. Charmer knows your answer.

• What is one of your secret pains?
• What do you crave forgiveness for and from whom?
• What was your lowest moment?

Gear: Charmer has a collection of devices he builds or alters in his hut. Here are a sampling:

• explosive vest [intimate 4-harm area refill]
• personal EMP [close area refill]: kills all electronics within range

Charmer works with a loose group that is trying to commune with the Darkness. As such he is interested in anything or anyone with power over or access to the Darkness. He has heard about a Dark Room that allows one to isolate and control the darkness. He wants to one for himself.