A Plague of Spiders: The Mall in the Shadows

For the next 2 weeks, I'll be presenting a convention game I ran for DunDraCon 2014. Entitled Retrieval Team Zeta: A Plague of Spiders and using the new World of Darkness 2nd edition rules, it features a cell of Cheiron Group hunters as they engage in one of their first missions as a team. As might be expected casualties may be high. A full listing of available articles on this adventure can be found here.

Today I'm presenting the true horror of the mall, the monsters that lurk there and the final climax.

The Mall in the Shadows

Location: Forest Fair Village at night is kept minimally lit. Security does its rounds but only once every few hours.

NPCs: All the Azlu (except the Queen) and the mortal security.

Action: Once the team breaks in all bets are off.

Security converges on their position and shoots to kill. Robert will try to flee if they seem to be losing or there looks to be enough chaos. The others lose their fight once significantly injured. Use the Beat Down rules, the characters though fanatical are more desperate than deadly.

The Mimic (see below) will try to impersonate a victim to better ambush them. Integrity check at -3 for Breaking Points once revealed.

The Wall Crawler will be the first to attack, sneaking up on the team and hurling spit. She tries hit and run tactics, using the security as cover. Integrity check at -1 when spotted, perhaps another once the goo stops sizzling.

The Scorpion will wait until they get deeper into the hotel or try to escape. Integrity check at -2 once revealed.

Wrap Up

Location: Cincinatti police station perhaps or the Regional Office.

NPCs: Mr. Samson debriefs the survivors.

Action: Rewards for job done well or punishment for one done poorly. Also the survivors learn Dr. Gregory is missing. Based on what the Cheiron Group found at her home, she may be dead. Headquarters is fairly sure they never met the real Dr. Gregory.

Monsters

The Mimic

One of the few people seen to hang out near the mall, this provocatively dressed woman (usually) can be found wandering the area at dusk and early evening, inviting men to get close. She seeks out single people and will avoid any group larger than two. Unless the mall is in danger, it is unlikely that they will do more than spot her in the distance.

If approached she lures them out of sight where she then reveals a mouth of spider parts and tries to eat them. Any damage she takes rips at her skin, revealing cream-colored chitin.

Physical Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 3, Stamina 2
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 3, Resolve 2
Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 2, Composure 2
Skills: Athletics 2, Brawl (bite) 3, Persuasion (Silent) 2, Stealth 2

Initiative: 5 Defense: 5 (Armor 1/1) Speed: 11
Size: 5 Health: 7 Willpower: 1

Essence: 3 (spend 1 Essence to heal 1 Lethal)
Aspects: Chelicerae, Pedipalps, Chitin Skin, Stolen Skin

Notes:

• Bite [8 dice pool, deals 1 Lethal and 3 times per day it can inject a paralyzing venom. This inflicts the Poisoned Tilt dealing 1 Bashing/turn but does roll over into Lethal. Characters must roll Resolve + Stamina at a -3 penalty to do anything. Successes also counter any damage.]

Wallcrawler

This horror lives solely within the mall. Resembling a woman covered in spiky red-brown hairs who can crawl along any surface, she possesses super human athletic skill and is capable of impressive leaps. In addition to her mobility, she can spit globs of boiling spit that hardens instantly into a powerful glue.

Physical Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 5, Stamina 2
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 3, Resolve 2
Social Attributes: Presence 2, Manipulation 2, Composure 3
Skills: Athletics (climbing, spit) 3, Brawl 4, Intimidation 2, Stealth 2

Initiative: 8 Defense: 6 Speed: 14
Size: 5 Health: 7 Willpower: 1

Essence: 3 (spend 1 Essence to heal 1 Lethal)
Aspects: Boiling Spit, Spinnerets, Hydraulic Muscles

Notes:

• Spit [9 dice pool, no matter the number of successes, it deals 3 Lethal damage as the spit burns the victim]
• Brawl [8 dice pool]

The Scorpion

A massive chitinous thing resembling a scorpion with human sized spider legs and two human-like arms covered in stiff black hairs. A woman's head sits where its mouth should be, its hair replaced with the same spiky fibers that cover the rest of its body. A scorpion's barbed tail rises above her body. The thing moves with an eerie grace, with no issues with climbing up walls or slipping through doors.

Physical Attributes: Strength 5, Dexterity 3, Stamina 3
Mental Attributes: Intelligence 2, Wits 2, Resolve 3
Social Attributes: Presence 3, Manipulation 2, Composure 2
Skills: Athletics (running x3) 3, Brawl (stinger) 3, Intimidation 2, Stealth 2

Merits: Fleet of Foot 3
Initiative: 5 Defense: 5 (Armor 2/2) Speed: 14
Size: 6 Health: 9 Willpower: 1

Essence: 5 (spend 1 Essence to heal 1 Lethal)
Aspects: Swollen Abdomen, Protected Abdomen, Scorpion Tail, Additional Legs x2

Notes:

• Scorpion Tail: 9 dice pool, deal 1 Lethal and the Scorpion can spend 2 Essence to inject deadly venom. This inflicts the Poisoned Tilt dealing 1 Lethal/turn in combat. The character has to roll Resolve + Stamina at a -3 penalty to do anything besides scream and die. Successes also counters the damage.