The Calvary Baptist Children's Choir
The Calvary Baptist Children's choir appear as haunting specters, their ethereal forms flickering in and out of existence like shadowy apparitions, their innocent faces contorted with sorrow and despair, and their eyes empty and hollow, devoid of the life they once possessed. Tattered and blood-stained choir robes drape their emaciated bodies, the fabric clinging to their skeletal frames. Their once angelic voices now echo through the church as mournful wails and discordant moans, a chilling cacophony that causes the senses to dull and anxiety to rise in those unfortunate enough to hear it. As they move, their translucent feet barely touch the ground, leaving wisps of fog in their wake. Each step releases a chilling chorus of creaks and groans from the old floorboards beneath them, as if the very foundation of the church mourns their presence. Their voices rise and fall in eerie harmony, singing sorrowful hymns that speak of loss, regret, and the pain of unfinished lives.
These ghostly children are no longer the bright and hopeful souls they once were, but twisted and tormented spirits forever trapped in the painful memory of their untimely demise. As they sing their mournful dirges, the very air becomes heavy with grief, and the once sacred halls of the Calvary Baptist Church become a desolate chamber of horrors, haunted by the tragedy that forever lingers within its decaying walls.
Basic Information
Anatomy
In their ghostly state, they become one with the darkness, their forms blending seamlessly with the shadows that fill the forsaken church. The dim light from flickering candles casts a ghastly glow on their spectral faces, highlighting the emptiness in their eyes that seems to stare right through the souls of those who dare to witness their tragic existence. Despite their ethereal nature, they emit a bone-chilling cold that pierces through the very core of anyone who comes near, freezing them in terror. Their presence carries an overwhelming sense of malevolence, as if they are harboring a deep resentment and anger towards the living world for the lives they were robbed of.
Ecology and Habitats
These Spirits are never found outside of Calvary Baptist Church.
Behaviour
The ghostly Children's choir displays a twisted and malevolent behavior, driven by their intense grief and the bitterness of their tragic fate. Their vengeful spirits are fixated on inflicting suffering upon anyone who dares to set foot in the church, with the sole exception of Pastor John. They blame him for the catastrophic event that led to their untimely demise and believe he must endure the consequences of his actions indefinitely. Their collective goal is to prolong Pastor John's life and torment him for as long as possible. They perceive his existence as their only means of retribution, and they are determined to make him suffer the weight of their tragic loss every waking moment. In a perverse and macabre way, they believe that by causing him to suffer, they can somehow find solace for their own unfulfilled lives.
When anyone enters the church, the ghostly choir descends upon them with relentless fury. They manifest as a swarm of apparitions, their haunting voices rising in a chilling chorus of scorn and anger. Their ghastly forms become almost solid as they lash out with ethereal claws and chilling touches, inflicting terror and despair upon their victims.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The specters of the Children's Choir's sensory abilities are on par with standard human ability, though there is an eerie focus to them and the way they move and observe in unison.
Civilization and Culture
History
The Calvary Baptist Children's Choir was once the pride of Midnight. Under the direction and tutelage of Pastor John Fairhope in 1983, the kids not only flourished, but excelled in their craft, earning a number of ribbons at various county fairs and even a few state level competitions. The office wall in the Calvary Baptist Church was filling up quickly with accolades and newspaper clippings, and Pastor John had even been interviewed for the TV. Things were really looking up for the small town, and there was a bustling sense of pride in what these talented kids and the local minister were achieving with good old fashioned, American style hard work and Southern determination.
In the summer of 1984, as the Calvary Baptist Children's Choir was preparing for their biggest performance yet, tragedy struck during a torrential storm that engulfed Midnight. On the eve of their highly anticipated concert, the kids, full of excitement and hope, decided to have a final rehearsal at the church to perfect their performance. Unknown to anyone, the church's ancient foundation had been weakened by years of neglect, leaving it vulnerable to collapse, largely in part due to the pastor continually putting off repairs in favor of making sure his budding fame and that of his young charges maintained an air of outward wealth and success...they had to look good for the cameras, or so he thought.
As the storm raged outside, the heavy rain and wind took a toll on the already weakened structure. During the rehearsal, a sudden and violent gust of wind caused a portion of the church's roof to cave in, crashing down on the young singers and their beloved Pastor John. In a horrifying instant, the talented children were trapped beneath the debris, their young voices silenced forever. Desperate and filled with guilt, Pastor John frantically tried to rescue the kids, but his efforts were in vain. The weight of the tragedy bore down on him, causing him to blame himself for not realizing the dangers of the church's dilapidated state. The once proud and accomplished minister was overwhelmed with grief and self-loathing, haunted by the haunting melodies of the children's final songs that seemed to echo in his mind endlessly. Unable to cope with the unbearable pain and guilt, Pastor John barricaded the church, cutting himself off from the world outside. In his despair, he turned to alcohol as a means of numbing his pain, seeking solace in the bottom of a bottle. His mind began to unravel, and he descended into a half-insane stupor, wandering the decaying halls day and night, tormented by the phantom voices of the children he had failed to protect.
To this day, the once-thriving church stands as a dark and melancholic monument to the tragedy that occurred decades ago. The townspeople speak in hushed tones about the wailing cries and haunting hymns that emanate from the boarded-up church, a constant reminder of the children's restless spirits and the shattered life of their grief-stricken pastor.
HP: 3
Stats:
- Body: 2
- Strength: 2
- Agility: 4
- Mind: 3
- Luck Points: 2
Skills:
- Initiative: 3
- Stealth: 2
- Grappling: 2
- Melee: 3
- Ranged: 1
- Soak: 6
- Dodge: 3
Abilities:
- Vengeful Chorus: The choir's haunting voices resonate throughout the church, carrying their sorrow and wrath. When united in their eerie chorus, their combined spectral wails have a powerful psychological impact, inducing intense fear, despair, and even madness in those who hear it. Individuals may attempt to resist the (9 to 10) Hard Difficulty, Severe Fear Effect this song causes to those who stand within the church.
- Phantasmal Illusions: They can manipulate shadows and create ghostly illusions, making it seem as if the walls are closing in, the floor is giving way, or nightmarish specters are reaching out to grasp intruders. These effects can be seen through if the character suspects them to not be real, they may opt to try and resist the illusory ability with a successful Mind + Luck + 1d6 Roll versus a (11 to 12) Very Hard Difficulty check.
- Intangible: The members of the Children's Choir are intangible and can only be harmed with Eldritch or Blessed weapons.
Combat:
- Spectral Touch: 5' reach, damage: 2 + Strength
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