The Chosen Spawn

Definitely a work-in-progress...

Overview

This story is set in the world of Shadowfire, deep in the Lands of Twilight.
Fort Kustos lies atop black volcanic cliffs, overlooking the gloomy frontier port of Omberstad, far from the comforts of the mainland Protectorates. Here, the never-setting-sun shines low and weak upon the western horizon. The stone walls are deep in frost, and the sleet that howls in from the Sea of Black Ice cuts to the bone.
Our heroes are apprentices nearing their graduation and the Choosing of a new generation to replace them. They will be confronted by forgotten memories, race to uncover a dread mystery and to save the innocent from a dark terror that threatens them all.

Potential triggers and safety tools

The Chosen Spawn is a horror themed scenario, which involves black magic, sacrifice, mind control, repressed memories, body horror, and the potential death and suffering of underage characters.
It is highly recommended that groups use Lines and Veils and other safety tools for any gaming session. The intent of the scenario is for player fun, not harm.

The dramatic choices

As it is a horror theme, It is likely that many (if not all) of the character themselves will die, be taken over or otherwise overcome during the course of the scenario.
The goals and dramatic choices for the player characters within this scenario could include:

• Save the children of the new Choosing
• Free their dead friend's soul from bondage
• Confront and destroy the dark forces beneath the Fort
• Sacrifice themselves for the greater good
• Abandon others to save themselves
• Give themselves to the dark forces and the power it promises

Background

The harsh and remote border town Omberstad is ruled with an iron fist by your Lord Protector Akron De Kustos. Life is hard on the frontier, and every ten years, the youth of the town is conscripted into service through a ceremony know as the Choosing.
You all went through your own Choosing 10 years ago. Normally a moment for celebration, yours was marred by the tragic death of one of your childhood friends who fell from the high wall of the keep. Today is your long awaited graduation, and the Choosing of a new generation of youth to take your place.
You are proud to have reached the end of your long education, but nervous of the memories that are stirred as a result.

False memories and a horrific truth

Unknown to the characters, is that their memory of the tragic events 10 years ago was altered, and a darker truth hidden.

Show spoiler

The Lord Protector is secretly in thrall to dark avatars of the Elder Gods that lurk beneath the Fort. These creatures, known as a Psilygs, have an insatiable hunger for the psychic and magic energy of living things. Gorias De Soto discovered the psilygs many years previously, and brokered a dark deal with them: to provide them with an ongoing supply of food from the people of the town, in return for magic secrets and power over his Lord.
During the characters original Choosing, Gorias selected their friend as sacrifice to the Psilygs. This unfortunate has spent the last 10 years in near-deth stasis while being constantly drained of their energy to feed the Psilygs. At the conclusion of the Choosing, Gorias used his magic to wipe and replace the memories of the characters and other Masters so that none truly suspect it was anything more than an accident.

The cast of characters

Key non-player characters

Akron De Kustos
The aging Lord Protector of the town, with a reputation for ruling with an iron fist and brooking little dissent. He longs to establish his dominion over these newly conquered lands.
Gorias De Soto
Lord Akron's advisor and architect of the Choosing. He is secretly allied with dark forces and seeks power over others.

The Ghost
To be named by the players
The spirit of the character's dead childhood friend arises to haunt the players, and seek revenge upon Lord Akron. Their body is being kept in a near-death state beneath the castle.

The character's mentors

Each of the characters has a mentor who is in some way unnavailable to help them, but may provide help and clues in some way.

Annika Lux (outcast)
Annika Lux is a famous alchemist in town who often takes on apprentices that are expelled or rejected by Akron and Gorias.
Swordmaster, Fabian Del Mogna (deceased)
Fabian was the head of the Castle Guard until his recent death from a goblin raid while on patrol.

Loremaster, The Masked Grace (senile)
The spiritual leader of the small community, the Masked Grace has become confined to her quarters due to her rapidly declining mental state.
Scoutmaster, Miles Grenfert
The scoutmaster is charged with the defence of the lands surrounding Omberstad, and is yet to return from one of missions.

Incidental characters

The Guard
The general guard of the settlement. They spend their shifts guarding the walls, or keeping the peace in the town below.
The Knives of Kustos of Kustos
These shadowy agents are a secret force under the control of Gorias.

The new Chosen
A handful of young young people from the town have been selected as hopefuls in the New Chooisng. Some of the PCs may know them, and they should be named by the players as part of character creation.

The Psilygs: the ancient evil that lurks beneath

The Psilygs are monstrous creatures that slither and crawl across any surface and through spaces narrow and twisted. The are constantly wreathed in dark smoke-like shadows which brings a smell of sweet rot.
Their bodies are a writhing mass of semi-translucent slug-like muscle within which can be seen a chaotic internal bone structure. These bones extend and morph outwards from the central mass like an unnatural cross between tentacles and spider-legs. The Psilygs clack and squelch as they move, and leave behind trails of rapidly congealing mucous.
Psilyg infection and vulnerabilities

The Psilygs infect those they touch with their mucous, impregnating their victims through the skin and slowly turning their bodies into new Psilygs.
While their victim's bodies degenerate over time, the Psilyg feeds on the energy of their host in order to grow. Their victims slowly lose control of their minds until nothing remains of the original.

Psilyg infection progression

1. fever and a slimy rash that begins spreading from the point of contact
2. paranoid hallucinations and interrmittently losing bodily control
3. becoming a controlled thrall of the Psilygs
4. transforming completely into a new Psilyg

Gorias has learnt to harness the Psilygs, to prevent the full degeneration of the host in order to provide a more stable and ongoing energy source for the creatures.
Psylygs are vulnerable to both acid and salt, and can be repelled and even severely damaged by these substances.

Prelude: Character creation

The one-shot assumes each character is an apprentice to one of the masters of Fort Kustos. There are four roles to distribute, and If there are more players double up as needed, but ensure all roles are taken.
Before the game begins, get the players to choose a role, and answer the questionaires below as part of their character creation. You can get them to do this together - to work out their friendships together and the identity of their long dead friend. It is important that the players establish their connections to the story during this process.

The warrior and braggart

You are apprenticed to the Swordmaster Fabian Del Mogna and have spent the last 10 years perfecting your skills with sword and shield.
Warrior questionaire

• What was the most difficult battle you triumphed in? How do you brag about it?
• What was the moment where you had to defy your orders to protect one of your friends?
• Your mentor died in a recent raid by goblins. Why do you feel guilty about it?
• How do you like to remember your friend who died during your own Choosing?
• You have been chosen as part of Lord Akron's guard for the new Choosing. How does this feel?
• What personal change have you made to your uniform to mark the new Choosing and why?
• What is your name?

The alchemist and rebel

You were expelled from your original apprenticeship and were instead taken in by the local dissident Annika Lux who taught you alchemy and mechanics.
Alchemist questionaire

• What did you do to get expelled?
• How did your expulsion affect your friendships with the others who remained?
• How did you convince Annika to take you on as her apprentice?
• How do you like to remember your friend who died during your own Choosing?
• Even though you were expelled, why is the new Choosing important to you?
• What outfit have you chosen to wear to the new Choosing and why?
• What is your name?

The hunter and loner

You are apprenticed to the Scoutmaster, and spend most of your time in the wilderness tracking beasts and scouting enemy movements.
Hunter questionaire

• What was the noblest creature you ever hunted? How did you feel when you killed it?
• Who among your friends knows you the best? Why do you trust them?
• How do you feel that your mentor is away on a mission and will miss the new Choosing?
• How do you like to remember your friend who died during your own Choosing?
• Someone you know is participating in the new Choosing. Who are they and why are they important to you?
• What outfit have you chosen to wear to the new Choosing and why?
• What is your name?

The acolyte and scholar

You are apprenticed to the spirtual leader of the For, the Masked Grace. You spend your time studying the history of gods, demons and divine magics.
Acolyte questionaire

• How did you react when you were given religious study as your Choosing?
• To progress further within the Church, you will need to sever ties with your friends. How does this make you feel?
• You know your mentor is going senile. How have you used it to your advantage?
• How do you like to remember your friend who died during your own Choosing?
• You have been tasked with assisting your mentor during the Choosing. How does this feel?
• What have you hidden within your religious robes to mark the new Choosing and why?
• What is your name?

Act 1: Ghostly warnings

In the opening act, the PCs are forced to protect their Lord from a ghostly attack that stirs up unsettling memories.

Friends reunited on battlements, where their friend died so many years previous

Lord Akron, Gorias, The Masked Grace and the Guards emerge from the keep for the final ceremony

A ghostly presence coalesces and the party recognises it as their friend, but a wizend and shrivelled child

Gorias retreats with the children

A ghostly plea upon death/exorcism

Lord Akron orders the PCs to track it down

Act 2: A deadly mystery

Seeking help from Annika Lux. What she knows, how she can help. She will not enter Fort Kustos.

Seeking help from Grace - the memory potion, references to the swarm below, Gorias dark books

Investigating the grave - no body, protected by a psilyg

Seek help from Lord Akron, deserted quarters, dust, diary with refs to the dark pact that Gorias has ready to help him

Other actions: Get weapons or support from Guards (possessed), similar medalions

Follow Gorias - knives, his quarters, notes (again the medalion, referecne to the sawrm below, the queen slug (K'chetcka), and fireplace

Act 3: Confronting the darkness

The descent via the fireplace

The Lab - friend's body, release, psilygs

The caverns below: more psilygs, darness and falls

The final chamber: the children, Akron and child on slab, Gorias chanting.

The rise of Kchetka, the swarm of psilygs

characters at risk of possession, death

Gorias' medalion holds Kchetka at bay - potential to destroy it

Kchetcka is controlled by Gorias, if medallion broken it flies into rage, with enough time for escape.

Dread RPG

The scenario is designed to be run as a one-shot for 4 players using Dread RPG, but could be adapted to other systems as desired.
Dread uses a simple central mechanic of pullng block of a Jenga tower to build tension and resolve dramatic moments, and is designed for horror-themed stories.

by Pixahive.com

Character failure and death

A key moments in any Dread game is the collapse of the tower, which usually means a fitting grisly end to the character responsible. It is possible for this to occur in moments that don't suit the game - either to early in the game, or at a moment in the narrative where the tension doesn't quite work.
A way to overcome this, is to 'mark the character' for a more fitting end at a later time. In this one-shot, this means the character has been infected by the Psilygs somehow, such as coming into contact with their mucous. The player should be informed of the infection and they can choose to reveal or hide it as they see fit.

Related locations and articles

Fort Kustos is the main keep in the town of Omberstad, on the shadowside coast of Tokaru. It is the main base of operations for the Protectorates as they inviade the islands of the Uferbrech Archipelago and seek to usurp the traditional owners, the Motu.