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Miniatures Adventure => Pulp => Topic started by: Sakuragi Miniatures on 08 March 2025, 01:36:23 PM
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Strangers in the Night
(Reskinned "From Another World," Pulp Alley Scenario of the Month #36)
Hanamura Case Files No. 2
?, the Empire of Great Japan (?, Dai Nippon Teikoku)
1932 (Showa 7)
The shortest route between two points is a straight line and with this logic, our intrepid teen heroines have hitched a ride with a complete stranger in a knock-down Model T to cross the island's ominous, wooded mountain interior via deserted road. They bundled up under a wool blanket for warmth in the truck bed; the driver usually drove with it on his lap but took pity on their situation.
Normally it was easy to fall asleep on trains, especially after being up all night solving mysteries, but the rocky dirt road and the car's lack of suspension kept the trio awake.
"I want to learn how to drive," said Yuri. "Flying is what I'd like to do," Tsubaki replied. "What about you, Natsuko-chan?"
"Um, boating, I guess?"
"I thought you couldn't swim?" Tsubaki asked.
"I can't, but if she can drive and you can fly, then I want to be useful in my own way."
"Tsubaki, let's trade Sakura for her," Yuri was referring to their third (or fourth?) sister. The Hanamura girls were quadruplets, but each had their own way. Sakura was as lucky as Natsuko, but impressively oblivious to her surroundings. She compensated with being naturally cuter than her sisters.
Tsubaki disagreed, "That's not a fair trade."
"Throw in a bag of mame, then."
"I don't know how to feel about this conversation," Natsuko interjected.
"Now you sound like Sumire-"
They were interrupted by a bang and sputter; the truck rapidly lost speed and tottered to a halt. The car had ceased to be. The owner went through the engine and its magical motor bits but nothing was wrong with it. It simply refused to run. Even his pocket watch had ceased to tick. It was fair to say that if she was here, the only "tic" still going would be Hanamura Sumire'.
As the sun's light faded behind mountains, distant, dim lights illuminated the empty road. Not physical light the driver could see, but the faint fox fires of the supernatural that could lead to safety or a nasty trick played by bored yokai.
The Sisters Hanamura and Natsuko have come into a forgotten post town with six buildings; it appears to have been recently abandoned with all furnishings intact though none of the electrical lights work nor does the Model AA truck in front of the well-stocked sake shop.
Beside them, four other strangers are in the town. The nearest town is a day away on foot, so for tonight, all will be staying here. The girl in blue, Sakuragi-san, came to see an inn she had inherited. Neko, who swears she is not a poisoner but an apothecary, got lost gathering notpoison, but medicine, and found herself in this town. Inspector Saito came to investigate a rumored disappearance, but his horse spooked and left him here, alone. Finally, there is their benefactor, Yamaguchi-san, who owns a matching black Ford Model T, black suit, and black hat. Was he heading for a funeral?
All is calm until 1 a.m., the Hour of the Ox, when unnerving stirrings begin. Whether for logical reasons, panic or curiosity, the strangers scatter over the next hour. Now, the real terror begins!
The event drawn is 4, Early Warning: Your Leader gains a +1 bonus to pass the first peril they encounter. Every turn either a plot point or the ghost will appear. The ghost will disappear at the end of the round; any injuries sustained by it will be healed at the end of the round until it's final appearance in round six.
Errata: The "teen girls hitch a ride with strangers" bit is inspired by my Japanese wife's childhood in rural Nagasaki Prefecture, when doing that was apparently a normal, logical way to get to Nagasaki City. So I skipped any dialogue pointing out how dangerous this is.
The ominous wooded mountains are inspired by Kyushu's interior, whose lightless country roads we've driven many times after dark. Yes, it's scary. Especially when the snow starts falling and all your headlights see is pitch black and maybe a wild boar. When you're so far in, the radio stops getting a signal and you have to start singing songs from memory to stay calm.
Mame are beans. Sweet beans are a nice snack.
The Hour of the Ox is actually two hours long.
The method of cursing in this story is real, so don't do it.
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-4-Board.jpg)
All characters are shown outside the buildings they will begin inside to show where everything is in relation to each other.
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-10-Natsuko.jpg)
Natsuko is at Yaoya Oshichi Greengrocer
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-9-Yamaguchi-Hanamuras.jpg)
The Hanamuras and Yamaguchi-san are at the Ohina Chaya Tea House
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-7-Sakuragi.jpg)
Sakuragi-san is at Sakuragi-ya Inn
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-11-Saito.jpg)
Inspector Saito is at Matsuura Shuzo Sake Shop
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-16-Neko.jpg)
Neko-san, who is not a poisoner, is at Iseki Shoten Kimono Shop.
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(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-21_1.jpg)
In the first round, a plot point appeared inside Yaoya Oshichi Greengrocer. Natsuko investigated and successfully unlocked a safe the owner forgot to lock. (According to the peril check she passed)
Inside was a gotoku (trivet)? The five-legged metal pot stand was upside down and looked like a crown. Candle stubs were atop each nub and molten wax had hardened down the legs. A shiver went down Natsuko's spine.
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-23_1.jpg)
Brainy Tsubaki attempted to convince driver Yamaguchi-san to join with her investigation.
"Don't take it the wrong way, child. I believe you may have some spiritual power, but power is useless without the strength to use it." He told her; a show of might would be in order. She dodged the challenge by showing him an ofuda and charging it with spiritual energy until it glowed.
"Want to touch it?" She asked with a smile.
Yamaguchi-san has joined the party!
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-24_1.jpg)
Yuri had an easier time with Inspector Saito. Her innocent yet mischievous face reminded him of the younger sister waiting for him back home. It's like she drew a card called "familiar face" and passed a peril check with it.
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-26_1.jpg)
The phantom materialized on the second turn, inside Sakuragi-ya Inn behind Sakuragi-san who, according to her horror check, was completely oblivious to it being right behind her. This is good because that girl is scared of ghosts something fierce.
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-29_1.jpg)
Yuri met Neko-san, who is not a poisoner, at the kimono shop where she was looking for clues on her own. After a rather impressive formal introduction, Neko-san agreed to join her party and work together.
Even Yuri was surprised. "You bought that?"
Neko-san shrugged, "I was impressed by your vocabulary."
"I will take that as a compliment."
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-37_1.jpg)
This touching moment of friendship or something was cut short by the ghost! Yuri ignored the terror of the moment and distracted it to keep Neko-san safe. Neko-san wasn't shaken though and handled the situation with a sense of calm. The ghost was scary, but so was her home life.
Almost as swiftly as it came, the ghost was gone.
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-40_1.jpg)
Natsuko had an easier time convincing Sakuragi-san to join them. She just said "sure."
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-41_1.jpg)
Yuri discovered a strange box in the sake shop. As is her way, she attempted to force it open. When that failed, she tried kicking it. A lot. Stupid box.
"Did you try the latch?" Her sister asked. With a metallic "click" she undid the latch and opened the strange box. The girls peered inside and was greeted with the sight of a round mirror on a chain. As one, they put it together with the trivet Natsuko discovered.
"Oh no!"
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-45_1.jpg)
Natsuko searched the tea shop, looking for something, anything that could help their investigation. Outside, Yuri was blessing Saito's police saber and handing out talismans.
"How's the search?" Tsubaki asked.
"Not good. I can't find anything."
"Did you check the big pot in the middle of the room?"
"Oh! I just took for granted it was there."
Tsubaki reached into the giant pot and pulled out a photograph of a young woman; a bit of straw was wedged in the hole driven through it.
"Oh my!" Natsuko said. "That's cruel."
"It's worse than that, it's a curse," Tsubaki explained. "Judging by the evidence we found, the whole post town was in on it. A woman, dressed in white, her head adorned by a trivet with light candles and wearing a mirror on her chest, goes to a sacred tree at a shrine, like the one beside Oshichi, and nails a straw effigy of the victim to it. It looks like she took it further with a photograph, driving the nail through the heart of it and the effigy."
"Can we go a night without some kind of ghost?"
"You're an honorary Hanamura sister now," Tsubaki looked around for the clock. A large Regulator was on the wall, but it was frozen. Frozen at 2 a.m.
"It happened at the hour of the ox, the cursing time."
A bright flash from outside lit the room.
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-49_1.jpg)
The ghost appeared in the street outside the tea house; Saito-san and Neko-san were struck by madness and Sakuragi-san froze. Though frightened, the party had the means to fight back and it was do or die time. Literally.
Multiple blows struck the vengeful spirit and one even got through, but she sent the four supporters flying and even Natsuko briefly went down during an overtime seventh round.
(https://www.wayfarerdaves.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/250308-51_1.jpg)
As the hour of the ox ended, the spirit's strength waned and with the still standing Sisters Hanamura slowly gaining the upper hand she vanished.
Electric lights glowed throughout the little post town. The Model T's engine rumbled to life on its own. Natsuko reached out a hand to help up Yamaguchi-san.
"Let's get out of here."
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This story is based on “The Visitor,” below are the changes I made for both the rooms (1-6) and their associated scenario cards.
Buildings and Associated Scenario Cards
1 Yaoya Oshichi Greengrocer
THE TRIVET
Bonus: At the end of each turn, you may re-deploy one character to another room.
2 Matsuura Shuzo Sake Shop
THE MIRROR
Bonus: Once per turn, you may automatically pass one Recovery check.
3 Iseki Shoten Kimono Shop
THE REMAINS
Bonus: At the end of each turn, you may re-deploy one character to another room.
4 Sakuragi-ya Inn
THE EFFIGY
Bonus: At the end of each turn, you may re-deploy one character to another room.
5 Ohina Chaya Tea House
THE PHOTOGRAPH
Bonus: Once per turn, you may automatically pass one Recovery check.
6 Goemon Kiln Potter
Bystanders
Neko Cunning 3d6, Finesse 2d6, all others 1d6
Saito Might 2d6, Finesse 2d6, Cunning 2d6, all others 1d6
Sakuragi Finesse 3d6, Cunning 2d6, all others 1d6
Yamaguchi Might 2d6, Finesse 2d6, Cunning 2d6, all others 1d6
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Very original setting for your interesting game! :)
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Very interesting adaption. I like how you use your own experiences to bring the characters and setting to life. :)
Mike Demana
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Very intriguing story. Unusual.
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This is all very interesting. I don't know a lot about Japanese culture, so it's kinda fascinating...
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I'm glad I can share this and everyone is enjoying it. I like to game and share what I know, most of it isn't planned but comes together as I write. I've said it before, but I'm not as creative as I wish I was, so have compensated by trying to live a full and interesting life I could mine for material.
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This is all very interesting. I don't know a lot about Japanese culture, so it's kinda fascinating...
That's exactly what I what thinking. Well done with the posts they're an interesting read with some good ideas to borrow.
Cheers