Bivius - Slasher Funnel Adventure!

After being away due to some very busy months, I'm back! I'll catch up on my Xena adventure soon. Meanwhile, I'm going to enjoy Lost Pangolin's latest Bivius goodie: the Slasher Funnel adventure!

"What's a funnel adventure?" some of you may ask. Well, it's a very fun but deadly setting. The idea is to create a series of 0 level characters (i.e. mere peasants or common folk) and have them face a mini-dungeon. Many of those characters (if not ALL of them) are probably going to die (hence, the funnel aspect of the adventure!). However, the lucky few that manage to survive will immediately be considered "hero material" and will be promoted to lvl 1 adventurers! The cool thing is that because of their first experience, they will all have some sort of story to tell. So, they automatically receive an interesting backstory!

Now, for today's adventure, I'm using the suggested theme of slasher-movies. Again, visit Lost Pangolin's blog for more info.

My resulting characters for this session are as follows:

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A new bad guy has come to town!

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SLASHER:
Mask: Welding mask
Outfit: Black robe
Weapon: Machete
Special power: Teleport
Hunting territory: High school

VICTIMS:

• Victim 1: WARREN
  Stereotype: nerd (low)  
  Advantage: dexterity (low)  
  Tool: nothing
• Victim 2: OWEN  
  Stereotype: jock (low)
  Advantage: willpower (low)
  Tool: car key
• Victim 3: IAN
  Stereotype: nerd (low)
  Advantage: intuition (low)
  Tool: baseball bat
• Victim 4: SEBASTIAN
  Stereotype: nerd (low)
  Advantage: luck (low)
  Tool: flashlight
• Victim 5: CHARLOTTE
  Stereotype: cheerleader (low)
  Advantage: intuition (low)
  Tool: nothing
• Victim 6: SADIE
  Stereotype: cheerleader (low)
  Advantage: reflexes (low)
  Tool: nothing

All students at Eldvale High have left for the Summer. However, 3 intrepid members of the Paranormal Club, as well as the school's Football Team captain and two of his cheerleaders, have decided to stay behind. The first ones because they want to investigate a creepy urban legend of an old ghost that walks around the school's campus at midnight.  The latter because they want to have some sexy time in the locker rooms. What all of them ignore is that chaos is about to ensue, for the school grounds ARE cursed and a VERY REAL threat is coming their way!

• A)<Paranormal Club's meeting room> B)<Locker rooms>
  RESULT= A
• A)<Warren> B)<Ian>
  RESULT= A
• A)High-Level Threat B) Low-Level Threat
  RESULT= A
• A)Pursuit by the Slasher B)Ambush by the Slasher
  RESULT= A
  Describe the scene and let the chosen victim face the threat
• A)survived victim recover 1 lost level B)nothing

After arriving at school, Warren decides to go to the Paranormal Club's meeting room to pick up some printed articles he and his pals are going to need for the night's investigation. Both Ian and Sebastian stay behind, near the school's cafeteria, to set up their operations center.

As Warren calmly enters the club, the lights in the hallway outside start titillating. Sensing something weird, he turns around only to see a tall intimidating figure standing in the distance. It looks ominous, and to make things worse, it seems to be holding some sort of weapon.

RULE #5 High VS. Low
    A <Slasher, teleport (high)> VS. B <Warren, dexterity (low)>

Round 1

•     A <In the blink of an eye, the Slasher teleports right in front of Warren and cuts him open with his machete>
•     B <Warren closes the door of the club, barricades it with a nearby chair, and tries to find cover>
•     B.R.O. = A (No need to check any further)

Before Warren can react, the figure seems to vanish, only to materialize right in front of him. The next thing he knows is that an intense pain fills his guts and his blood starts pouring over the floor. A few seconds later, Warren is dead.

• A)<Paranormal Club's meeting room> B)<Locker rooms>
  RESULT= B
• A)<Owen> B)<Charlotte>
  RESULT= A
• A)High-Level Threat B) Low-Level Threat
  RESULT= A
• A)Pursuit by the Slasher B)Ambush by the Slasher
  RESULT= B

Meanwhile, in another area of the school's campus, the Football Team captain is getting it on with his two cheerleaders. He's been dating them both simultaneously for a month and has successfully convinced them to join him in his ultimate fantasy. At first, he wasn't sure where to take them, but after finding out that school becomes pretty much desolate during the Summer, his perfect plan was ready to be executed.

As he enjoys the show while his two gals play with each other, a sudden chill goes down his spine.

RULE #5 High VS. Low
    A <Slasher, machete (high)> VS. B <Owen, jock (low)>

Round 1

•     A <Silent but deadly, the Slasher takes the edge of his machete and cuts around the jock's neck. Owen arteries burst open, splattering hot blood over the cheerleaders, the walls, and pretty much everything in the locker room>
•     B <Owen reacts just in time and avoids the machete. Using his quick reflexes, he pushes the killer aside, and tries to process what the hell is going on!>
•     B.R.O. = A (No need to check any further)

It takes both cheerleaders a few seconds to process the gruesome scenario they're now trapped in. Owen's body falls to the floor, lifeless, as his blood gushes from his severed neck and bathes the whole room. Both girls can't help but scream as the killer stands still with his blood-covered machete right in front of them. Owen is dead.

• A)<School's cafeteria> B)<Locker rooms>
  RESULT= A
• A)<Ian> B)<Sebastian>
  RESULT= A
• A)High-Level Threat B) Low-Level Threat
  RESULT= A
• A)Pursuit by the Slasher B)Ambush by the Slasher
  RESULT= B

While testing their ghost-hunting devices, Ian suddenly stops and looks around alarmed. He tells his pal he seems to have just heard something, like a faint faraway sound that resembled a woman's scream. Sebastian dismisses the idea because he heard nothing, but Ian insists. His keen sense of intuition is clearly telling him that something's not right. He decides to go to his backpack and take the baseball bat he brought along with him.

RULE #5 High VS. Low
    A <Slasher, black robe (high)> VS. B <Ian, baseball bat (low)>

Round 1

•     A <Just as he reaches for his bat, Ian sees a set of black robes that seem to materialize from behind his backpack. Puzzled, he follows the clothes and sees that they belong to a tall creepy figure that's just in front of him. The figure reaches out with his machete and stabs Ian right in between his eyes. He then pulls back the weapon. Ian's body falls face down, lifeless and silent>
•     B <Ian grabs his bat quickly and lets out a scream of sudden rage as he notices he has company>
•     B.R.O. = B (Round 2)

Ian grabs the baseball bat just in time to notice there's someone else in the room. He lets out a scream and walks a few steps back to have a better look at whatever it is standing in front of him. He sees a tall figure, all dressed in what seem to be black robes, with what looks like a welding mask for a face, and a machete in one hand.

Round 2

•     A <The Slasher moves next to Ian, and without giving him a chance to do anything else, he stabs him repeatedly with the machete. Because of the length of the blade, the operation is chaotic and extremely painful. In the end, Ian's torso is nothing but a mess, full of torn muscles, bits and pieces of organs, and blood.>
•     B <Ian swings his bat and manages to send the killer's machete flying across the room. This gives him a few seconds to run like hell, away from the scene>
•     B.R.O. = B (No need to check any further)

As the figure approaches Ian, he uses his bat to swing around and send the machete flying. The figure seems to be at loss for a few seconds, which is more than enough time for Ian to make a run for the exit and escape. Ian lives.

• A)<School's cafeteria> B)<Locker rooms>
  RESULT= A
• A)<Sebastian>
  RESULT= A
• A)High-Level Threat B) Low-Level Threat
  RESULT= A
• A)Pursuit by the Slasher B)Ambush by the Slasher
  RESULT= B

Sebastian works on his camera while Ian goes for his bat. However, in just a matter of seconds, he hears Ian scream followed by a wooden thud. He turns around to see what's happening, but all he gets is a glimpse of his friend's back as he runs out the cafeteria doors. It is at that moment that he notices additional movement around where Ian's backpack was placed.

RULE #5 High VS. Low
    A <Slasher, teleport (high)> VS. B <Sebastian, luck (low)>

Round 1

•     A <The Slasher retrieves his machete. However, instead of going after Ian, he decides to target Sebastian who's now in full view. Teleporting right next to the nerd, the killer pierces the lower portion of the poor guy's stomach and swiftly moves his blade all the way up to his chest. Another gruesome death caused by the supernatural assassin>
•     B <Sebastian throws his camera in the direction of the cafeteria doors causing a temporary distraction>
•     B.R.O. = A (No need to check any further)

Much to Sebastian's dismay, the unknown movement he just saw was nothing else but the Slasher from whom Ian escaped. The killer teleports next to the nerd in what seems to be a fraction of a second and proceeds to degut him with the sharp blade of the machete. Sebastian is dead.

• A)<Locker rooms> B)<Gym>
  RESULT= A
• A)<Charlotte> B)<Sadie>
  RESULT= B
• A)High-Level Threat B) Low-Level Threat
  RESULT= A
• A)Pursuit by the Slasher B)Ambush by the Slasher
  RESULT= A

Back in the locker rooms, Owen's body lies in a pool of blood. Charlotte, one of the cheerleaders, cries desperately next to the cadaver, unable to move due to the intense panic that has taken over her. Sadie, the other cheerleader, knows well better than giving into despair and chooses to run for her life. Despite not having any clothes on, she decides her best bet is to go directly to the football fields. If anything, she may be able to encounter a gardener or someone else from maintenance around, modesty be damned.

RULE #5 High VS. Low
    A <Slasher, machete (high)> VS. B <Sadie, reflexes (low)>

Round 1

•     A <Sensing more fresh blood around campus, the Slasher moves to the football fields where Sadie is running to. The girl soon arrives and being the only one there, she makes for an easy target. The Slasher decides to hunt down the girl, and right when he has her at a range, he throws the machete at her. The blade catches her right in between her breasts, effectively killing her.>
•     B <Sadie gets to the football fields. As she runs through the artificial grass, she feels something ominous approaching. Using her quick reflexes she throws her body to the ground, and she does so just in time: the machete passes harmlessly flying over her head>
•     B.R.O. = A (No need to check any further)

The cheerleader runs for her life through the football field. Because her frantic pace makes it hard to breathe, she slows down a bit, which is more than enough to make her an easy target. The Slasher notices this, and instead of going for a fast kill, he decides to hunt her down like a duck in a shooting range. When the girl is in the area the killer needs to claim his prize, he throws the machete at her with deadly precision. The blade enters the girl's back and exits her body from the other side, protruding out from in between her naked breasts. The girl drops dead a few beats later. Sadie is dead.

• A)<Locker rooms>
  RESULT= A
• A)<Charlotte>
  RESULT= A
• A)High-Level Threat B) Low-Level Threat
  RESULT= A
• A)Pursuit by the Slasher B)Ambush by the Slasher
  RESULT= A

Charlotte's tears mix with the jock's blood. She is in shock and unaware of her surroundings. She doesn't even know the other cheerleader, Sadie, has left. A ghastly sensation of cold is what brings her back to reality.

RULE #5 High VS. Low
    A <Slasher, welding mask (high)> VS. B <Charlotte, cheerleader (low)>

Round 1

•     A <The Slasher approaches the girl from behind. He takes off his welding mask, and in a swift movement, he hits her in the back of her head with it, right at the base of her skull. The impact is so precise he doesn't need to do anything else. The girl's gone>
•     B <Charlotte's hair stands in her back as she senses someone behind her. She turns around only to see an unnatural face looking at her with intense evil eyes. The man, if that's what he is, is holding a welding mask in his hands. She recognizes him. It's the killer that took Owen's life>
•     B.R.O. = B (Round 2)

The girl turns around in time to see an unnatural presence looking at her. It looks like a man, but much more evil. He has hideous features covered in blisters and burned skin. He also seems to be holding a welding mask in his hands. Charlotte's gasps for air as she realizes this is the killer that took Owen's life not long ago. A spark of proud recognition seems to glow behind the demonic eyes of the man. Is he pleased with her reaction?

Round 2

•     A <A lecherous smile forms behind the Slasher's deformed lips. Then, without warning, he reaches for the girl's neck with both his hands and strangles her>
•     B <A lecherous smile forms behind the Slasher's deformed lips. Then, without warning, he vanishes in thin air, leaving the girl alone to live another day>
•     B.R.O. = B (No need to check any further)

Apparently so. The man smiles a hideous lecherous smile that makes Charlotte's innards to revolve in both fear and disgust. Then, he vanishes. The cheerleader seems to wake up from trance she was in and hurries to wrap herself in a discarded towel that was next to the locker room's door. Then she runs out of that cursed place. Charlotte lives.

SURVIVORS:
Victim #3 (Ian), Victim #5 (Charlotte)

Ian was quick to find a police car that was patrolling the streets of a nearby neighborhood. He immediately asked the officers for help because he knew something weird had happened at school. After the police arrived, they found a bloody machete inside Ian's forgotten bag near the cafeteria, along with the corpses of 4 students, including his two friends, a jock, and a cheerleader. Ian was immediately arrested as a prime suspect of the massacre.

Charlotte left campus that night and was found three days later, walking around a nearby town almost naked and covered in blood. She was unable to utter any words because she seemed to have eaten her own tongue. She was sent to a psychiatric ward not long after.

THE OUTCOME:
All murder cases were considered closed after Ian's arrest. A welding mask was retrieved from the school's locker rooms five days after the events took place. Reports of a mysterious figure with burned features and long black robes were filed several times that year by different students that stayed until late for extracurricular activities and sports. No one seemed to know who the figure was.

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Aaand, that was it! Funnel adventure complete! I did not add a lvl 1 character sheet for Ian and Charlotte because I have no interest in developing their stories further. I'm definitely more into Fantasy than into Slasher-movie stories so I won't be using their characters. Nonetheless, feel free to do so if you want.