PARALLAX, Session 19: Obsession

Scene setup

Scene Expectations

The surviving team members recover from the ordeal.

Expected scene test

Interruption Event
PC negative
Assist+Protection
NPC list roll: Hastur & Associates
My interpretation: the sniper is killed at the hotel. With him, all leads to Hastur are dead.

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Playing the scene

I wake up staring at an unfamiliar ceiling. I look around and recognize the walls of an anonymous motel room. Pariah and Robertson are talking quietly in the corner, their expressions grim. Pariah hears me groan and turns her head toward me.

Pariah: “And he’s back among the living.”

Her smile is strained.

Then, the memories of the events at LaRoux’s house come rushing back. Phalanx. For a moment, my mind shakes under the weight of it, but I manage to fight for control and maintain my grip on reality.

Pariah: “Deep breath, my friend. What you just went through is far worse than the average first mission. You did well.”

Placebo: “I don’t feel like I did well. If I had, Phalanx would still be here.”

Pariah: “No. Look at me—NO. Do not blame yourself for what happened. We were in over our heads. That thing… there was no way we could have beaten it.”

Her words sound hollow. I was right there. I even shot Phalanx by mistake just before that creature took him. I should have done more, dammit!

Overwhelmed by guilt, I start hitting myself on the head with my bare hands. Pariah grabs my forearms gently but firmly, forcing me to stop.

Pariah: “It was not your fault, Lawrence. The universe is a shitty place, no matter what you do.”

She can see that her words mean nothing to me.

Pariah: “We accomplished the mission, Lawrence. The book is gone. Think about how many people we saved from that curse.”

I look at her. That thought actually provides some small measure of relief. I nod slowly.

Robertson: “There’s another thing. The sniper at the hotel—Hastur killed him. Some kind of hypergeometric shit cast from afar. There was nothing I could do.”

Pariah swears under her breath. “Damn it. He was our only direct lead to Hastur.”

Robertson: “Still, I count this whole mess as a victory. The fact that the two of you survived it is nothing short of a miracle.”

Pariah: “Agreed. You did well, Lawrence. You should be proud of this. Go back to your family and rest. I suggest you take some vacation time if you can.”

Placebo: “Shit… Sally. I didn’t call her. She’s going to be absolutely furious. I’ll have to lie to her. Again. I hate doing that.”

Pariah nods in understanding. “That’s the worst part of the job—lying to your loved ones. But it’s for their protection. Always remember that.”

Placebo: “That doesn’t make it any easier.”

We finally take our leave. Pariah promises she will recommend Robertson to the higher-ups as a potential recruit.

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Scene bookkeeping

Skill improvements

Lawrence improved the following skills by 1D4%:

• Firearms: +4%
• Medicine: +1%
• Persuade: +1%
• Unarmed Combat: +3%

Lawrence has a new permanent psychological disorder: obsession (Phalanx). He is now deeply obsessed with the fate of Phalanx, the mechanics of his disappearance, and the crushing guilt of the friendly fire incident.

Lawrence has a new breaking point: 38

Notes

This is the final scene of this scenario. A home scene will follow, then a blog post with some thoughts about how this scenario went overall (spoiler: I had fun!).