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A child is going around running his
little con game on people. ``Hey you! hey you!
You see that carriage, that tree, and that house? I bet you
I can take off my shoes and jump over them. He
holds up two silver coins and insists on seeing the money
first. Then he takes off his shoes and jumps over the
shoes. ``Pay up! He proclaims.
The man he is talking to is a little
drunk and protests. The child says ``I told you I could
take off my shoes and jump over them. Thats what I
did. Now pay up. He holds out his hand.
The man grumbles, but pays. He then stagers off looking for
another tavern. The child goes looking for another mark.
The City of New Orleans is shaped like a
grid siting on the river bank. This bend of the Mississippi
river runs directly east west. The city is a grid of
streets. Five running east west, and ten running due north
south. This creates city blocks of equal size. Twelve
blocks wide along the river, and seven deep going away from the
river.
The buildings are from two to three
stories tall, with balconies as wide as the side walk. It
rains a lot in New Orleans. Almost all of the side walks
are covered by these wide balconies and supported by iron
columns. The balconies are railed with intricate wrot iron
in the pattern of vines and leaves. Some of the black
railing is curves and Fleur-de-liss. At night the streets
pulses with people, the energy of drinking and carousing.
The two of you stand out. Some
people who are looking to indulge in sin, feel nervous when they
see two monk like characters walking toward them. They make
way for you. Occasionally you see Ladies of the night
working a street corner. They call out to you, offering a
discount. A special discount for the clergy. Roget
has been sniffing the air, and poking garbage with the end of his
pole as the two of you walk along. ``I love this city
he confesses.
After the two of you have walked the
length of the main party street Roget tells you something is
bothering him. ``Of all the garbage piles I have poked, not
one had a rat. I havent seen a single rat yet.
Something is wrong. You look back down the length of
Bourbon Street. The black iron lamp poles are flickering
with an oil flame. Masses of people are going in and out of
taverns. Some are staggering with drink. The night is
still young. It will go on like this till dawn.
He continues. ``Theres
always a rat in a garbage pile somewhere. He shakes
his head. There is a drunk man leaning against an iron lamp
post. He seems confused and is talking to the post as
though it was his date. Roget says ``Well, theres
nothing for it. Shall we go into the sewers?
The idea doesnt sound appealing but you agree.
The two of you walk a few blocks back
down Bourbon Street to the intersection of Royal. Down
Royal Street you see carriages with dirvers waiting for their
patrons to return from the taverns and houses of ill
repute. Roget moves to a round iron cover on the side of
the intersection. He inserts the end of his pole in a hole
in the black lid and starts levering it out of the street.
You see some horses tied up outside of a bordello. The same
child you saw before it there running his con game on three drunk
men. ``You see those horses, that lamp pole, and that
carriage? I bet you I can take my shoes off and jump over
them. The iron cover clangs to the brick
pavement. Roget starts to climb down the hole. ``You
ready?
The two of you climb down an iron ladder
mortared into the brick. You step off at a little stone
landing next to a stagnant stream of sewer water.
``Thats very weird. Says Roget. ``I
dont hear any of em. He raises his hand for you
to be quiet. There is a little light shining down through
the round hole above, but not much. Roget speaks with
resignation. ``Nothing. Not a peep.
He takes his robe off and folds it
up. Tucking it into one of the rungs of the ladder he steps
into the sewer. Wearing only boots and a loin cloth the
water comes up to his mid shins. ``Wait here.
He splashed down the tunnel a little then stops. He comes
straight back and climbs out. ``This is
unbelievable. He takes his net-on-a-pole and skims it
through the water. When he hauls it in it has ten or so
stiff rat bodies in it. He sets it down and takes one of
the corpses out. It is stiff, wet, and shriveled.
``Looks like they were sucked
dry. With his thumbs he pulls the fur apart examining
the skin underneath. Soon he finds something. Moving
directly under the hole above for more light he shows you.
Two large puncture marks. ``Lets get out of
here. He drops the rat, takes his robe, put it on and
scrambles up the ladder. When you get up out of the hole he
already has the lid in position and immediately drops it back
over the hole. He looks visibly shaken.
There is a very loud drunk man
shouting. ``I SAID, I want to see you jump over the horses,
THE LAMP, and THE CARRIAGE! You look to see the child
being held by his upper arm. The three drunk men have drawn
knives and look like drunken trouble. The kid nods his head
with resignation. The man lets him go. Roget is
standing next to you. ``What is this?
The child jumps toward the horses.
He doesnt stand a chance. Yet somehow he floats up
over them, the lamp, and the carriage. He lands softly,
turns and takes a bow. The three drunk men have their
mouths hanging open. The child walks up to them with his
hand out palm up. He wants them to pay the bet.
The lead drunk refuses and turns to walk
away. The child leaps on the mans back biting at his
neck. Eight more children come floating down off of the
roofs of nearby buildings to attack the men as well.
Its a gang of little vampire children. Maybe with
their low strength they were easier to turn than strong
adults. As much as you would like to see the drunks get
what is coming to them, you mission is to fight vampires.
You charge. Roget is a step behind you.
Nine Vampire children
ST: 13, 13, 13, 13, 13, 13,
13, 13, 14
DX: 10 Bite 1-1
IQ: 8
MA: 10/10
[total possible experience: 208]
Three drunk men
ST:
12 Knife 1-1, sword is not ready yet 2D
DX: 12(10)
IQ: 8 Running(2), Sword(2)
MA: 12
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d1-2: drunken men
c1-9: vampire children
R: Roget
L: Lubik
The children will fight fearlessly, except for the holy symbol you are wearing. This will have the same effect as an avert spell on them. They must end each movement phase two turns further away from you than the preceding turn. If one of them is slain they will go berzerk. Roll 3D vs. IQ to see if it works for each child. This gives them DX+2, MA+2, they will not react to injuries, and will fight even at 1 point of ST instead of going unconscious. If, on the other hand, they slay one of the drunk men first they will take the body and fly away with it. To feed on later and to plunder. Roget will try to trap one of the children in his net. He is not wearing a holy symbol and has a high DX so he will probably succeed.