[UA] Stalker Avatar and my adventure plot.

[Niall Sweby]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Chris Cooper [mailto:insectking at yahoo.com]
> 
> Hey Niall
> 
> Have you thought of just making your Stalker a
> Messenger whose message is making his Object of Desire
> understand and thus love him too.
> 
> The Stalker seems to have a similar modus of abilities
> and themes - both deal in the trafficking of
> information.

I hadn't really thought of it, but looking at the book I see what you
mean. My problem with the Messenger is that within the plot I want the
stalker to be quite passive and haunting. The Messenger seems very
direct to me - the focus is on interacting with the target ' bringing
the news', while I wanted someone who would be present, hard to shake
and scary but not be active. 

The plot of the story revolves around a Living Doll avatar (taken from
the UA website). She is a prostitute in London, and has been for several
years having fled an abusive step father. A consequence of this has been
her refusal to 'grow up' and a need to please. Her success at channeling
the archetype has only reinforced this. Even the sex she rationalises as
'games'. As such a strong avatar, she has attracted the attention of a
member of the stabiliser cabal (UA2 211). Although the cabal isn't too
worried about strong avatars generally, this guy is part of the 'this
world is shit' faction, and is concered that she could become a
godwalker for the Living Doll, and even ascend twisting the archetype to
a more sexual aspect. Certainly media developments seem to be indicating
to him that someone is promoting the idea of the Living Dollas a far
more sexual archetype. Even if she doesn't ascend, a strong avatar has a
way of twisting the world around them. 

So he has called in one of the cabal's Executioners. To protect the
executioner from the attacks of the archetype, which is going to be
pissed that someone is targeting such a strong avatar, he has given the
executioner access to a ritual the cabal has developed for exactly this
situation. The ritual is GM fiat and plot hook - its never meant to be
used by players and in fact breaks the rules but I think it fits in with
the theme of tilts and proxies. The executioner has ritually murdered 6
teenagers with the same birthday as the avatar. There are other links as
well - 3 of them were child actors, 2 of them (sisters) were killed as
they were going to a school disco [this sort of school disco
http://www.schooldisco.com/Home/default.aspx] and one worked as an
assistant in a toy shop. All of them were forced to put on a blond wig
(like the avatars hair) and carry a lollipop, as well as 'act out'
obeying the executioner. Finally he killed them all in the same way -
four direct stab wounds at 3.33am while he sung the theme tune to Annie.
The ritual has the effect of muddying the mystical waters around the
avatar, making it hard for the archetype to intervene. 

However the Living Doll has already been spooked by the presence of a
stalker. The stalker can't really interact with her, being pretty much
insane but is able to constantly follow her. His only form of
communication is to send her pictures torn from 'House and Garden'
magazine, which reflect his obsession of having a 'grown up' life with
her - obviously not something that appeals to the avatar. So she fled
her pimp and 'by luck' met up with Bo Jingles. Bo can't understand why
she feels compelled to help the girl, but suspects the work of the
invisible clergy. It may even be a message from the Goddess. She will
conclude that it is the stalker who has been killing the other girls and
try and take action against him. 

The PC's enter this merry triangle at the behest of the avatar's real
father. He was unaware of the abuse until she left her mother's home and
has spent the past 6 years looking for her. With the spate of murders he
is obviously very concerned and asks them to try and find her. 

Oh, and the Living Doll's old pimp is trying to find her. 19 year olds
who can do a fantastic impersonation of 13 year olds are worth a lot of
money to someone in his line of work. 

Currently I'm working on the themes (caring, duty) and the clues. Its a
street level campaign, so even when the players meet Bo Jingles, I'm
going to keep everything as chance, synchronicity and happenstance. If
anyone has ideas for general wierdness to throw in there or ideas on
improving it then feel free. its my first UA adventure so I'm keen to
try and get it right. 

Niall

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