OK, here's the fourth prelude for my epic Gehenna musical. This one is LONG, spanning seven songs plus comments (OK, who said quantity over quality? WHO WAS IT?). Never fear, it has action, intrigue, romance and humor.
Three things:
1st: SPOILER WARNING
Unlike the previous musicals, this one handles RED SIGN, a fairly new book that is not necessarily common knowledge. Luckily the book doesn't have a plot, so I can't spoil it. It does, however, have a multitude of characters, so if you are playing a Red Sign chronicle and don't want know the secret motives of major characters, STOP READING NOW.
2st: ABOUT THE MINI-MUSICAL
Because Red Sign is so open-ended, I had to make up most of the plot myself. I also had to drop a bunch of characters out to keep the thing from becoming over-complicated. Also, some characters are reduced to mere statists (like Agent Revere, Emma Dodd, Percival and Natacha) while some minor characters get bigger roles (mainly Cecilia Lyons). Gawd, I feel like some evil movie producer...
3rd: UNFAMILIAR WITH RED SIGN?
That's OK, I made a quick-reference lexicon for ya! (Not many jokes there, so if you know your RS, feel free to skip it.) Anyway, here it is:
THE TOMES
Ritual of the Red Sign:
Turns vampires into mortals. The actual ritual is kind of funny, but you'll see what I mean later.
The King in Yellow:
The "Lovecraftian Horror"-bit of the chronicle. A ritual that makes the reader delusional enough to believe she's part of a fairy tale. Ultimately used to summon the Man in Pallid Mask who will grant a wish. Handy for fixing the soul of a newly mortalized vamp.
Ex Libris Necro:
A ritual to raise the dead, or in this case, insert a human soul into the brand new human.
THE PLAYERS
Ambrogino Giovanni:
The vampire leader of the Conspiracy. An insanely arrogant rogue Giovanni bastard. Occultist, necromancer and a conspiracy enthusiast.
Agent Geary Mendel:
The mage leader of the Conspiracy. A somewhat arrogant rogue Technocrat bastard.
Rutor:
A vampire conspirator. An arrogant rogue Tremere bastard.
Themistocles:
A vampire conspirator. Ambrogino somewhat trusts him. Secretly planning to sabotage the ritual because he believes it's blasphemy. Maybe a True Brujah. (You'll have to wait and see...)
Jean-Paul Joreau
A mage conspirator. Secretly a Nephandus (really evil mage) who believes the ritual will cause chaos and devastation.
Natacha Dimitriva Radocara:
A vampire conspirator. Jaded Ventrue Prince who's in the conspiracy for fun.
Percival:
A vampire cospirator. Mad Lasombra Archbishop.
Duality:
Percival's right hand. A 50/50 man/woman Tzimisce metamorphosist koldun.
Philippe de Marseilles:
A vampire conspirator. A penitent Toreador who wants to become a mortal again. A volunteer for the ritual. Good friends with Pierre.
Pierre de Calice:
A mage conspirator. A member of the Maison Liban, a faction of Tremere who were never vampirized. Wants to save the Tremere by making them mortal again. Good friends with Philippe.
Cecilia Lyons:
Pierre's little helper. Thinks he is like, so cool and like, dreamy *giggle*!
Agent William Revere:
Agent Mendel's little helper.
Dr. Emma Dodd:
A mage conspirator.
Frater Anson:
A mage vampire-hunter. Current owner of the Ritual of the Red Sign.
Jen Smith:
A Marauder (seriously insane mage) in possession of The King in Yellow, which, incidentally, is also the source of her madness.
Melissa Chong:
A young mage who owns a martial arts dojo. Has a copy of Ex Libris Necro lying around.
And now the musical. Ladies and gentlemen, please turn off your cell phones and set your seats in an upright position!
ACT I
HOW IT BEGAN
or ONE MORE DARK CONSPIRACY BEFORE IT ALL ENDS!
Ambrogino is walking alone on a dark alley. He is shaking his fist heavenwards, ranting at god
AMBROGINO
To be You I aspired
But again I grow tired
Is it time for something new?
Just something full of bliss
A cool plot with a twist
That is all I ask of You
Agent Mendel steps into picture, dressed like a Chicago mobster, chalck stripes and all. He lifts his hat at Ambrogino
MENDEL
Dear sir, I overheard
Your ever single word
My masterplan I'd care to share
To cure your condition
Is my self-made mission
And might be quite fun, if you dare...
Ambrogino is startled. Then a mischievous smirk appears on his lips
AMBROGINO (Coyly, Southern Belle accent)
Why sir... If I'm not mistaken, I do believe that quite sounds like a CONSPIRACY?
They both laugh light-heartedly and join hands as they skip down the alley and sing the chorus
AMBROGINO & MENDEL
Dark conspiracies are such fun
All should partake in at least one!
Let's find members for this team:
Some to fight and some to scheme
So let's make real this dream!
A medley of Ambrogino and Mendel meeting, phoning an writing letters to promising conspirators, while singing:
AMBROGINO
Those hungry for power
This chance now discover
Jaded elders, take note too
MENDEL
All of curious bent
Join this experiment
Yes, willworkers, this means you!
A medley of answers:
PHILIPPE
Yes, I share your goal
It's to redeem my soul
That's my single motivation
NATACHA
I'll do it just for kicks
RUTOR
I for power!-
PERCIVAL
-I for tricks!
JEAN-PAUL JOREAU
I to bring down ALL CREATION!
Everyone stops singing and looks at Jean-Paul, even people in other places during the medley. He looks embarrased, but then shrugs and goes 'or whatever' The chorus starts again
CONSPIRATORS
Dark conspiracies are a hoot
Cool and hip and sexy to boot!
Let's help this old vampire
His pulse to re-acquire
And sunbathe without fire!
More vampires and mages join the singing
PIERRE DE CALICE
Yes, you can count me in
To rescue my lost kin
Is reason enough for me!
THEMISTOCLES
I'll join them as a mole
A part of bigger whole
Then I'll end this blasphemy!
PHILIPPE
It is fine I am sure
When my motives are pure
And my heart is free from lies
Ambrigino is sitting alone in his study
AMBROGINO
And it's never been done...
Talaq, the mortalized Assamite, and Children of Osiris the mortalized bloodline, jump into frame
TALAQ
Except by this one!
CHILDREN OF OSIRIS
And a bunch of other guys!
Ambrogino sighs and hides them in a closet
CONSPIRATORS
Dark conspiracies are all right
Secret meetings in shades of night!
So let's start making plans
To bring wisdom in our hands
Let's make our minions dance!
The conspirators send their minions out in a giant parade to search occult lore
END OF ACT I