I know that I, as a GM, sometimes get stuck for ideas, so I figured I?d start a thread where people could post ideas for possible plot lines, using the various characters from the V&V universe. The ideas aren?t full blown adventures, just a short paragraph, or two, outlining a possible adventure or storyline.
For example the characters could be tracking down the suppliers of a new designer drug, that?s recently appeared in their city. In doing so, they come into contact with The Buzzard (Most Wanted, Vol. 1), in his villain guise. Then encounter him in his secret ID as a narcotics officer with the city?s police department. I figure this could lead to some interesting developments.
Dangerous Waters
The PCs are called in to investigate a series of grizzly murders. The PCs may know someone on the local police/sheriff?s department; they may have had contact with one of the victims in their secret and/or hero ID; they might be a renowned criminal investigator brought in to assist in the investigation, etc. (Just use whatever best fits your particular campaign). All the victims appear to have been torn limb-from-limb by a large shark. The only problem is, sharks aren?t native to the area the murders have been occurring in. After conducting an investigation, the PCs are able to determine that the attacks are the work of the villain Jaws (Most Wanted Vol. 1), and set out to capture him. Why he?s in the area, and why he?s been killing these particular people is left up to the GM to determine.
Guerrillas in the Midst
Leo the Lion (Most Wanted Vol. 1) has come to the US, in his role as President of Malaia, to ask C.H.E.S.S. (or whatever government agency you choose to use) for assistance in putting down a ?terrorist organization? (a Malaian rebel group) that?s been conducting attacks throughout Malaia. While the group is dedicated to overthrowing Leo, and establishing a new government, their attacks have killed dozens of innocent people, and caused millions of dollars in damage. Leo?s primary concern isn?t for his ?loyal subjects?, but the fact that the rebels are embarrassing him in the press, and that they mite actually be successful in gaining enough local support to pose a threat to his rule. The US Government, while no fan of Leo, or his methods, is seeking his support (or in classic comic book fashion, Malaia could be the source for some rare element, metal, energy source, or whatever the GM can dream up), and asks the PCs to accompany him on his return. Who?s actually funding the rebels, and what their actual goals are, is left up the GM to determine. How the PCs will react to his presence, and Diplomatic Immunity, should be played out, especially if the PCs have had previous contact with Leo.
Another possibility is that Leo has come requesting assistance dealing with Partisan (Vigilantes International), and her group pf resistance fighters. While Leo could simply try to eradicate them, he's trying to improve his image in the world press, and by asking for assistance from the heroes, he figures he can kill two birds with one stone (put the US and the heroes in an awkward situation, and deal with Partisan at the same time). How the heroes go about handling this situation should be interesting.
Death Warrant
The PC(s) have been contacted by a law enforcement agency (the US Marshals, CHESS, or whoever fits the bill in your game), to help protect a high profile witness from possible assassination. Who the witness is, and who he?s testifying against are left to the GM to determine. While the Feds assure the PCs that every possible precaution has been taken to protect the witness, the witness insists that he?ll only cooperate if the PCs are part of his protective detail. The witness is being stashed at an out of the way motel just outside of town, and has to make it through the weekend to testify in court on Monday morning. What?s unknown by the authorities, is that Crossfire has been hired to kill the witness before he can make it to court. The GM may wish to introduce the witness at some point prior to the above scenario taking place, as they?ll be familiar with him when they meet again. Some suggested identities for the witness include, a local crime boss who?ll turn state witness, a street snitch who witnesses something he shouldn?t, an escort who?s overheard more than she should, or whoever you think would work the best for your game.
Cold as Ice
Over the past few months, local jewelers and art galleries have experienced a series of late night robberies. The highly skilled thieves always seem to make off with their ill gotten gains before police can react. Upon their arrival at any of the crime scenes, the police have been greeted by nothing more than frozen alarm systems, and puddles of water. But, thanks to a tip, from an underworld snitch, the police have discovered that the gang plans to hit a local art museum, and snatch a number of valuable paintings on loan to them from a private doner, the night after next, and plan to stop the gang in the act. The PCs learn of the plan, and make plans to be in the area, just in case (exactly how they learn what?s going on is left up to the individual GM to determine). As the police begin to spring their ?trap?, it rapidly becomes apparent that they may have bitten off a bit more than they can chew. The gang?s leader, is none other than Madame Frigia, and she?s turning the SWAT team into ?Copcicles? one by one.
The Hit
One of the local organized crime families (Exactly who they are is left up to the individual GM to determine, but I?d suggest that it be an organization the PC(s) have had prior dealings with), tired of the hero(es) getting in their business, has decided to do something about it, so they?ve brought in a ?Professional?, to ?handle the problem?. They?ve placed a 5 million dollar bounty on the hero(es) head(s), and every assassin worth their salt is now gunning for them. Local law enforcement, the Feds, or whoever, has gotten word that Simon Shrew, Crossfire, Shadow Jack, and God knows who else, is now targeting the hero(es), trying to collect the bounty on their heads, and things could get bloody.
Excessive Force
The authorities, be it the local, state, or federal officials, have been taking a lot of heat in the media, due to Ebony Angel?s crime fighting activities. She?s been accused of using excessive force when dealing with criminals. During her last encounter, she nearly killed several members of a local drug gang. So, the heroes have been contacted by the local DA (or whoever would fit the bill in your campaign), and asked if they could help in reigning her in. Exactly how she?ll react to this perceived interference is left up to the GM to determine. The hero(es) may have had prior dealings with Ebony Angel, so they may have some sort of history together.
Like a Thief in the Night
A large armored car company (who they are is left up to the GM) comes to the PC(s) pleading for help (The PC(s) may have had previous contact with the company?s owner, or he may have been steered their way by a friendly law enforcement official). In the past two weeks, three of the company?s armored cars have been robbed by the villainous Shadowjack and his crew. While they?ve managed to keep most of the details out of the media, with only a few key company employees, the authorities, and the clients affected knowing the specifics of the incidnts, many of their high profile clients are threatening to walk on them, as they?ve lost fate in the company?s ability to safeguard their assets. What?s so frustrating for the company is that it no matter what they do, Shadowjack seems to know exactly when, and where to hit the trucks with the most valuable commodities. It?s obvious to them that someone inside their organization is feeding Shadowjack and his gang info. The company is asking for the PCs to help root out the mole within their organization, and to stop Shadowjack before he manages to bankrupt them.
The PCs will need to identify the mole, find proof of their involvement, and do so without alerting Shadowjack that they?re onto his source. Who the mole is, and their motivations are left up to the GM to determine. Some suggestions include a security guard, or scheduling clerk. They could simply be in it for the money; they could have been blackmailed into cooperating; or they needed a fast way to earn some cash, for something like a child?s medical expenses. It?s recommended that the GM pay out the reason why the mole would turn to a life of crime. Once they PCs identify the mole, they?ll still need to roll up Shadowjack and his crew. How they go about doing so is left up to them.
Return of the Old Ones
The PCs are asked to help investigate a series of grisly ritualistic murders, that have taken place over the past few months. Why the characters are being brought into the investigation is left up to the GM to determine. But some suggestions include the PCs being renowned occult investigators in either their hero or secret IDs; they could simply have some knowledge of the occult; they may have known one of the victims; or the local authorities could just feel that they need the PCs help in dealing with the situation, as they?re under a lot of pressure to get the situation resolved as quickly as possible.
What everyone is unaware of, is it that the murders are being committed by Murutukku and his cult of followers. All of the murders sites appear to be elaborately staged occult scenes, with strange images, drawn in human blood, depicted on the walls, and the victims seem to have been some sort of the human sacrifice, having their heart?s removed from their bodies. By examining the murder scenes, and the manner in which the victims were killed, anyone with knowledge of the occult, or the ability to search the internet, will be able to determine a link to Murutukku, and possibly determine a pattern linking the victims. Why the cult has chosen these particular locations, how they choose their victims, or what they?re attempting to accomplish isn?t known, and is left up to the GM to determine. The GM should also try to determine some common theme linking the victims and/or murder locales. Some suggestions for crime scenes include old churches, mansions, burial grounds, crypts, etc. Victims could include local collage age girls, members of the clergy, etc.
Brain Drain
The authorities inform the PCs that they?ve recently discovered the bodies of several unconscious assault victims (who they are is left up to the GM to determine). What makes these attacks more than just run of mill assaults, is that while all of the victims survived their attacks, they have no memories of what happened to them, why they?re physically exhausted, or why, even though they can?t put it into words, they feel that ?something is missing?. When tested, all of the victims have tested positive for a mind altering hypnotic drug (any PC with access to a law enforcement database will be able to identify attacks with similar M.O.s). Unknown to all, including the victims, all of the vicitims are mutants with low level psychic abilities, and that they were targeted by the villainous Psi-Phon. He?s recently acquired the psionic ability to detect psychic/mental abilities in others, and has been using his new found abilities to target young inexperienced psychics. In addition to the power descriptions listed in Most Wanted Vol. 1, he has the following abilities:
Powers:
1. Heightened Senses: Psychic Awareness: He?s instantly aware of the use of any mental abilities within INT inches. With a successful detection roll (8 x normal % -1% for every 5[ch8243] distance), he can successfully detect anyone with active or latent psionic/mental abilities. PR=2, Range = current Power x10 score in inches.
2. Mind Scan: As per Telepathy. PR=2.
3. Memory Alteration: Attacks as mind control. Allows him to alter the memories of his victim, either implanting false memories, or erasing others. PR=5 to implant or alter a memory, PR=10 to erase memories. Range = Charisma.
And don't feel as though I've got a monopoly on this thread, feel free to post away.
The Path to Eternity
Rameses (SC&C) has been unsealing long lost burial crypts near the Valley of Kings searching for a magic artifact and finds the prize he seeks: The Pyramid of Ptah, a small 6 inch Pyramid. When Rameses sacrifices a human, he can glimpse a moment in the time stream and make changes.
Running this in sequence behind Sands of Time, Rameses intervenes and plucks Pharaoh out of the time stream before his demise and weaves a yarn about how they are distant relations who must work together to make Pharaoh's original goal come to pass. The adventure takes place in the present and the world has somehow become Egyptopian. The heroes must find the two villains (who are remaking all ages into Egyptian dominance) across many different times and destroy the Pyramid to restore all to its rightful order. If the heroes do not have dimensonal travel abilities, Hourglass will -temporarily- turn to good as his old ally Pharaoh now hunts him so that he cannot undo what Rameses has helped him achieve after Hourglass failed him in the Sands of Time....
hmmm.... maybe
C.R.I.M.E. Wave
Several members of a leading organized crime family (who they are is left up to the GM to determine), have been attacked, and/or murdered by group of super-beings, over the past several months. The attackers are ruthless, in their assaults, and seem to be systematically tacking out members of the crime family, slowly working their way through the lieutenants and captains. Local law enforcement, and the feds are getting nervous as to how this will all end, and have asked for the hero(es) help in putting an end to the situation. Anyone with a knowledge of the underworld will be able to determine through their investigation (be it through contacts, informants, or who ever), that one of the local mobs is making a power play, and has hired C.R.I.M.E. (Super Crooks and Criminals & Alone into the Night), to eliminate the competition. Which members of C.R.I.M.E. are involved is left up to the GM to determine.
One way for the GMs to spice things up, is for the PCs to have a per-existing relationship with members of the crime family being targeted, and it doesn't have to be a cordial one. The PCs could be placed in the difficult situation of trying to protect a known drug dealer, arms merchant, street thug, or mob enforcer from being murdered by a C.R.I.M.E. assassin.
To really make things fun, have C.R.I.M.E. make their move while the their target is in the middle of some sort of criminal activity, like a drug deal with one of the local gangs. And the heroes have to wade into the melee, and sort it all out. It should make for some interesting role play.
Better yet, C.R.I.M.E.'s target could be an undercover law enforcement official, and he can't afford to have his cover blown, as he's still working the case.
My favorite is from "Opponents Unlimited"
As night falls, panic strikes the city; someone has stolen all the street lights!
Now just imagine how hard that would be to pull off and the kind of powers that would be required.
I posted these in "The Plot Seed Thread" on MHG in the "Major Characters" forum:
http://monkeyhousegames.com/?page_id=18&mingleforumaction=viewtopic&t=280.0
During an adventure, one of the players rescues a reasonably attractive lady and drops her off in a safe spot. The woman is so grateful she flings her arms around the player and plants a big one right on his lips. Unfortunately, the press are nearby and get pics, film, etc. Afterwards, the press hound both the player and the lady to get more information about the ?big kiss?. The player will likely downplay the publicity.
The lady on the other hand can either: openly state that the player and her are involved and give interviews, etc. In which case the press will automatically assume she?s tied to the player?s secret identity. Or the lady can downplay the publicity, avoid the press, etc. In which case the press will automatically assume she?s tied to the player?s secret identity.
This might go on for a week or two until one day an ex-boyfriend of the lady comes forward and announces that HE?S the player!? He gives interviews on CNN, Jay Leno, etc and gets his 15 minutes of fame?
?and promptly becomes a target of the player?s enemies.
This can produce several possible reactions: the player?s enemies can form a coalition (like Spider-Man?s Sinister Six or the like) or they can butt heads:
?I?m gonna kidnap you and hold you for ransom and then kill you!?
?No you?re not, I am!?
?Both of you get out of the way because he?s MINE!?
etc. Anything is possible.
After the ex-boyfriend disappears, the government (finally) decides to get involved. They want to investigate the player for possible fraud since they suspect the player registered himself with a fake secret identity. Since the ex-boyfriend is currently unavailable (and strangely, there?s no indication of a kidnapping), they hunt down and attempt to arrest the player.
