S&S:Session/2 Unwilling Transformation

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Starring: Big B Wolf, Gerhardt, Mackie, Mindy, Victor
Guest Starring: Russian Werebear
Challenge: Combat with Russian Werebears; Car chase scene
Location: Detroit in the 70s. Abandoned Adventure Park; Car chase across town
Date Played: 02 Nov 2015

Preview by John K

Shotguns and Strings is all new tonight, as Mackie must make a difficult choice. Does he tell his best friend, or will the secret tear the gang apart? Meanwhile Vic's favorite band t-shirt has been stolen, but the thieves ask for something personal from him.

"I dunno, man. I've just always liked Rosemary Tea to beer."

"Damn it! I got that shirt autographed by ALL the members of the Sunshine Band!"

"I don't know what this Disco Boogy is, only that something so good can't be Party Approved material!"

"You're a loose cannon! Turn in your badge!" "I'm a reporter." "....your press badge! Still works!"

"Hey guys! So when are we robbing the bank! I need to know the exact date and time, plus how many officers would be needed to hypothetically arrest them. I mean us. I mean, THROW UP THE TUSKS!"

Montage shots of Mackie crying as he sips from a teacup, Vincent opening up a trunk to reveal a fringed vest and Peace medallion, Gerhardt dancing to Disco Inferno with his Dostovei in his hand, and Big B and Mindy facing off in the Deadliest of Games: Sudden Death Pong!

It's a show TV Guide says is "5 out of 5 Stars-PLEASE BUY US WE'RE STILL CULTURALLY RELEVENT" and which Film Critic Astrids say is "Dee dee! Yay!"

Fighting the Russian Werebears

🎲 DM: The scene opens on the Abandoned Amusement Park, where the Russian Werebears revealed themselves after an exchange with the local gang the Diamond Chainsaws. Big B just downed one of them with a single shot and the shit hits the fan.

The lead Russian dives for Cover as Big B starts shooting up the place. Gerhardt dives right into the thick of things, claws tearing with abandon. Victor roams the shadows as if made of night, working as Death in the Dark.

Meanwhile Mackie is the Biggest Badass in Town and kicks a chainsaw straight at the Russians. It clips the beast to no effect but saws through a wooden support beam for the active rollercoaster, throwing Mindy right into the seat of the Wild Rollercoaster.

The main Russian finds what he is looking for the in the case and turns to face the group, who promptly discover that Russians are as strong and tough as they're portrayed in the movies. After a generous beatdown the Russian Werebear concedes, escaping with unknown information but leaving the (assumed) fissile material and money.

Lead Russian Werebear; Werecreature Mantle; Stressed (6), In Peril (4), Doomed (6), and Wounded (4 Physical). Skills—Fight, Bite, and Rend +5, Everything else +3

Cross Town Car Chase

This was run as a special Chase scene, from the System Toolkit.

🎲 DM: Hot on the heels of the Russian Werebear, Big B and Gerhardt follow in hot pursuit. Big B throws his cover to the wind and puts the police siren and lights on! Mackie's gang has his car engine running, so Mackie, Victor, and Mindy climb inside and take off!

All three cars are racing across town, with generous uses of Shortcuts and Suppressing Fire. At one point the bad guys shoot out a fire escape that takes the roof off of Big B's car, causing the case with the fissile material to go flying though it is quickly recovered.

With some police trained reflexes Big B is able to maneuver the Russians into driving directly into a pole, stopping them dead.

Unwilling Transformation

🎲 DM: Big B and Gerhardt approach the car slowly without waiting for Mackie and everyone else. As they do the big Russian thug says in Russian, "You will not stop the transmission." He produces a pistol and shoots Big B directly in the gut, then turns the gun on himself.

Gerhardt: "As we approached the car we could see the Werebear was heavily damaged. I did not have my sidearm with me but Big B and I approached the vehicle as two polizei would know how to do. As Big B approached the drivers side I could see the Werebear say 'you will not stop the transmission' before firing at Big B and ending his own sorry existence.

As I saw Big B fall back his hand on his stomach and blood filling his mouth I knew he had been hurt. While we are of different worlds, we both work to keep order for our friends, families, even if we face radically different threats. I leaped the car, my feral instincts kicking in and held him in my arms I whispered to him "Auf mich freund sterben nicht... warten...warten... Ich kann ihnen zu sparen!!" (Don't die on me friend... wait... wait.. I can save you! From Google translate so...)

I could see lights.. bright lights approaching. I saw Mindy's face first, shock and horror in her eyes seeing me over a bleeding Big B... Victor always with his cautious gaze... and Mackey in disbelief thinking me a traitorous murderer.

"No!!! No my friends I can save him!" I knew in that moment they didn't understand... they wouldn't believe me... I had only a split second.

I took the knife from my boot and cut my own hand and shoved my bleeding fist into Big B's open stomach. I felt everything immediately grow silent, slow, as time itself seemed to have given pause.

I saw Big B take a long deep breath shuttering him awake from his catatonic state while I began to change, as my hand left his body, bullet in hand, I saw it enlarged, the claws stretched, infinitely more hair. I looked up to the sky and saw the full moon in its infinite beauty and saw Diana herself, goddess of the moon inviting me to the hunt...

When I took her hand I felt my voice howl in excitement as I bathed in this glorious light. I looked down at Big B's body... I looked at Victor, Mackie and Mindy and saw their expressions change.

I looked down at myself and I realized I am what I have hunted... and I will change the world.

🎲 DM Notes

• Big B was Suspended for killing gang members in cold blood to keep his cover. The cops who ended up following during the chase scene positively ID'd Big B and aren't sure what is going on. It is unlikely that this will recover before the end of the storyline.
• Mackie risked his neck for Mindy when she was trapped on the runaway rollercoaster and was hurt, resulting in an In Peril condition. Overcome at +4 and a scene of rest to recover.
  • 🎲 DM Thinking about it further, I think that I'm going to give Mackie a second Fate point for taking the In Peril condition because each Fate point is worth +2 and In Peril is a four stress condition.
• Gerhardt was Wounded in the fight with the Werebear. This will not recover before the end of the storyline. (To begin recovery, another character who is capable of seeing to your injury must overcome an obstacle of Great (+4) or higher, in quiet and ideal conditions (as in, not in the field). You recover fully at the end of the next session.)