MARCO INSTITUCIONAL

The Chosen Two

The Chosen Two

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The good news is that severing any of Fiag’Rah’s limbs provides more than enough True Demon blood to empow- er Circe’s Cleansing (see p. 127).

The bad news is that, unless the Slayer has been cured already, the team has a weak Slayer on their side (the fake Slayer is still in full fighting trim though).

The other good news is that Fiag’Rah does not have a lot of time. If the Cast can keep it from killing anybody (victim, Cast or any other human) for eight Turns, the portal closes and sends the critter back home. The Children of Fiag’Rah drop dead at the same time, the penalty for failing their master.

The other bad news is that the end of the fight marks the climax of the curse on the Slayer. She collapses and starts to die. If the Cast does not try Circe’s Cleansing, their only other choice is to determine who lives or dies.

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Thhee DDjjiinnnn’’ss CChhooiiccee:: The Djinn isn’t going to let our heroes just cast a spell or two and fix everything. If Circe’s Cleansing or the reversal attempt works, the Big Bad intervenes. The Djinn uses its powers to disrupt the crew’s magic, and both Slayers are wracked by pain again. They collapse—and find themselves in their living room, having a conversation with their TV, where some television char- acter is speaking for the Djinn. Each conversation takes place at the same time, but the characters are dealing with the Djinn sepa- rately (this may require you to take each player aside so their con- versation isn’t overheard by the other, or you can just trust the play- ers to not act on any information they overhear).

The Slayer meets the Djinn for the first time. “Hello, little girl,” says the Djinn. “Would you like some candy? How about your life? Say the word, and the other sucker dies and you get to live.” Yeah, right, like the Slayer is going to let an innocent die. Right? Right?!?

The fake Slayer is offered the same choice, except in even harsher terms. “It’s not gonna be an easy death, kiddo. Even after your body dies, your soul is going to undergo unspeak- able torments.” Pain unlike anything the character has expe- rienced courses through him. “See what I mean? Do you want it to stop?”

Dale—poor misguided Dale, who just wanted to be a hero—breaks under the pain. He gives up, and screams, “Yes, make it stop. Please! I’ll do anything!” The Slayer hears his words, and realizes she’s out of luck.

The pair’s minds return to their bodies. The Slayer’s powers leave her body completely; she looks like a with- ered skeleton and her heart is about to stop. “I’m sorry,” Dale says as he stands up, feeling normal again. “I’m . . . “

“MINE!”

A fiery pit opens up near Dale. A blazing hand reaches out, plucks him, and takes him away into a pool of flames.

“Don’t worry,” the Djinn says. “It won’t hurt a bit.” Dale is gone, his soul claimed by the Djinn to become another tool in his quest for freedom.

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CHAPTER 5

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_{CHAPTER 5}

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Afftteerrmmaatthh:: With Dale’s death, the curse is lifted. The Slayer regains all the weight she lost (those curse diets just don’t have lasting effects appar- ently) as well as her youth, vigor, and good looks (we’re assum- ing your Slayer looks good; we’ve never known one who didn’t). Problem is her Slayer powers are gone. That’s right, remove all Attribute bonuses, skill bonuses, extra healing and all those other Slayer goodies. She won’t be using them for the immediate future. Now, don’t go getting your panties in a bunch (or worse still, your player’s panties).

It’s not a permanent effect. Of course, that fact will take a good deal of research (15 Success Levels) or time to reveal (didn’t think we were going to make this easy,

did you?).

The precise timing on the return of her powers is up to you. (Now it’s time to get your Slayer-player all psy- ched out.) The Slayer should be getting them back eventu- ally. If you want the Slayer to be powerless for a couple of Episodes, here’s a perfect opportunity, with lots of Plot and Subplot potential. If you want to bring the Slayer back full strength more quickly (‘cause the bads that are com- ing will require that she be at full capacity—you fiendish so- and-so), make it so. Give it a day or two, and the Chosen One is back to her old tricks. If the fake Slayer sacrificed him- self and still managed to survive, you may want to award him with a couple of Attribute bonuses. Maybe he gets some residual powers from his contact with the Slayer power. Or he should get a generous Drama Point award. All that should depend on how you rate his performance, particu- larly the crucial decisions he makes when

the Slayer’s powers are on the line. That’s all she wrote. All that’s left is to roll the credits and say “Grrr Arg!”

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