The Briefing: Harry Stearns is investigating the spa in Redding. A group devoted to "Winter Solstice Restorative Yoga" has purchased the property and recently contracted with Iron Star Security for an event. Harry hired Kiara Banks to infiltrate the group, which she has done. She is requesting additional help in preparation for this event, which is happening the night after tomorrow. They meet Harry Stearns at his office, which he has clearly also been living in. The walls are plastered with crazy conspiracy theory boards with strings going everywhere. He wants the players to show up at a guided meditation event, reconnoiter with Kiara, and provide whatever support she needs. He can provide background on the spa, the Winter Solstice group, and Iron Star, but doesn't know details about the current members or their plans. That's what Kiara is on site to find out.

The Guided Meditation: The spa is in a secluded area of Redding, surrounded by remote forest. The actual spa seems modern, lively, even warm. Kiara Banks is there, and will fill players in on the major players. She will also reveal her goal: getting a pass to the silent meditation retreat happening this weekened. Bernadette Ross will lead everyone in a guided meditation, and Alethea Williams will distribute the cursed coins.

The coin for the Third Living Tone will always be given to Oskar Hudson. Kiara Banks is always guaranteed a random coin, as well. The players must succeed on Luck saves to not receive a coin, but at least one player should always receive a random coin. The remaining coins not given to Oskar, Kiara or players will be given to random NPCs.

Kiara is excited; receiving one of these coins, which represent an invitation to the silent meditation retreat, was her goal here. She thinks some sort of criminal or cult activity will happen here. Kiara suspects the supernatural, but hasn't seen anything yet. She and Harry will encourage players to attend the silent retreat. They will either need coins or to purchase a ticket (spending the entire sum of an Average investigator, or a single Affluent one can cover the entire party).

The Ritual: At the retreat, the first night is a "vegan feast" night and sort of a party. Bernie will reveal that the coin-bearers will need to attend a "special ritual." She acts as though this is all in good fun and part of the festivities. The ritual, however, which takes place in the woods, is deadly serious. Overseen by Alethea Williams, she refers to the event as the "Tanistry of Lights" and asks for respectful silence during the ceremony.

All participants are handed candles, except for Oskar who is handed a sword. She begins a short speech:

A foolish king gathered his sept to discuss succession and the division of his many kingdoms. The foolish king had many sons and many daughters. He arrayed them in a sept of stars, and proclaimed foremost among them a tanist. The fool's progeny received their fief, but the tanist received a sword.

The day of banners came, the day of horns, and the sept of stars gathered to cast their lots. The tanist-pretender lopped off their hands, so they could not raise their hands in vote, and demanded the keys to all kingdoms.

The foolish king said: "They still have eyes, and I still desire their vision."  The tanist-pretender put out their eyes, so they could no longer see the banners or the course, and demanded the keys to all kingdoms.

The foolish king said, "They still have loyal hearts, and I still desire their blood.". The tanist-pretender split their hearts with his sword, and with his sole vote, inherited every key to every kingdom and threw wide the gates of light.

The spell ends with Alethea shrieking something in Gaelic and throwing three daggers to the ground. Witnesses will need to make Magic saves to resist saying the foolish king's lines. Failing one of these saves means they are frozen in place for the duration of the ritual.

As soon as it's over, Oskar will attack, swinging his sword. Alethea will leave the daggers for self-defense, and not fight herself. She will attempt to watch any fighting and return to the spa if it seems dangerous.

The Contest: Here's where the true chaos happens. Oksar will attack indiscriminately, and other NPCs including Kiara will grow violent as they grow increasingly desperate to escape the curse. Kiara has smuggled in a pistol, too. No one else is armed beyond what the investigators bring and the daggers and sword already mentioned.

The Escape: Getting away from the site removes the individual from the running, though Kiara will react poorly to this. Bernie will send Carmichael after fleeing tanists, though, as they're not sure how escapees will affect the outcome of the ritual. He will be accompanied by an Iron Star driver. Investigators that escape can either go to the spa to talk to random NPCs for more help (Bernie can be convinced to back the tanist of the Pale King, and generally give background info on the Outer Powers, and there might be a representative of the Wilcox Agency there if that becomes relevant). Otherwise fleeing into Redding at large becomes a constant chase scene with Carmichael in hot pursuit, targeted by Bernie's telepathy.

The Aftermath:

If the Howl Wins: There is a twisting, shimmering in the atmopshere all around. A week later, a massive wildfire erupts on the spot, consuming the spa and much of the surrounding woods, including the fane.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:19, Sat 02 Nov 2019.

The Friendlies

Kiara Banks - Harry Stearns' accomplice in his investigation of the Winter Solstice Spa. She always receives a (random) coin and is dead set on attending the Tanistry ritual.

Harry Stearns - Grizzled detective who walks with a cane. Has been slowly blowing his life up investigating the spa.

Bernadette Ross - "Bernie" is the friendly public face of the Winter Solstice Spa, a cult member but one who has maintained a connection to the outside world. Secretly she has become a devotee of the Pale King Ascending after a near death experience. Her goal is to put her thumb on the scale so the tanist of the Pale King wins the contest. She has Telepathy-2, and will seem to know if PCs mean to investigate her, do her harm, or otherwise harm her.

The Cultists

Alethea Williams - The mystic guru in charge of the spa, she knows a great many black magic spells. She directs and casts the Tanistry of Lights, and also knows the spells Word of Winged Ruin, The Dappled Mask Damask , Lesser Rubric of Higher Mirrors, and The Ravenous Worms of Hazai. She has two of the manikin-tokens on her person, and will gladly die in hopes that the spell will spiral out of control. She is irrevocably insane, and utterly devoted to creating a Way to the River of Roads.

Clayton Carmichael - Former military who has earned The Dappled Mask Damask in service to the cult. He is sequestered in a former steam room unless "needed." He knows the Lesser Rubric of Higher Mirrors and is armed with a silenced handgun.

Oskar Hudson - Fitness workout bro who got indoctrinated into the cult. Is being groomed to be the "ringer" for the Tanistry. Will be given a sword while everyone else has to fight over two knives. Utterly devoted to the cult, will attack others before quickly transforming into an angel.

Extras
Michael Yiu - Late twenties high school teacher at a charter school. Tries to understand and study what is happening to him. Of scientific mind but quickly accepts that this is supernatural.

Lucian Macguire - Early thirties, slightly overweight with brown hair. Hangs onto skepticism as long as he can. Graphic artist.

Cecilia Burris - Early forties, tall woman with big hair. Accountant who was bored with her life. Might enjoy the curse if it comes with power, otherwise will do her best to stop it.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:54, Sat 02 Nov 2019.