Gehenna: Wafflewood
Rating: R | Roleplaying System: Chronicles of Darkness (2nd Edition) | Skill Level: Experienced
Trigger Warnings: Suicide, Religion, Hallucinations, Bullying, Gore, Emotional Abuse, Depression, Death
Synopsis:
“If you get there and the Waffle House is closed? That’s really bad…”
— Craig Fugate, Former Head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency
For those who knew how to look, the signs of the end of days were there for people to see. However, as in every story, there are the majority who just did not care. These are the ones whom the God-Machine did not need to influence to look the other way. The ones who were skeptical, afraid, or cruel. The God-Machine knew they were not a threat to the exposure of Gehenna. As such, these souls continued to live their lives blissfully ignorant of the ticking clock above their heads. As the walls of their existence prepared to collapse around them. This is a different story from the one normally told of the end of days and the God Machine’s Judgement. This is the story of a different group of survivors, without preparation, without a guide, and with a host with a completely different intention.
This universe had always been a pale imitation of the universe Lucifer left behind for those he united in the face of the Earthbound. When the last light of the last universe was shown, Lucifer escaped oblivion with a well-timed spell. When he arrived here, he saw that this universe was managed by a machine. A machine that was left to its own devices to follow its own programming. Most of what the God Machine created was similar to what Lucifer was used to. So, when the Red Star appeared in the sky, all Lucifer could do was let out a heavy sigh. The God-Machine has set up the end of the world in a similar way to how his father had in his world. This time, however, all Lucifer could do was enjoy himself with the time he had left with these mortals. And that was exactly what he was going to do. Lucifer began to travel around the world to see what the God Machine’s game was going to be. Finally, after weeks of searching, the broadcast from Alia came on the television. That was the game: gather people in one place, test their resolve, judge the survivors, and a new world will come from the “worthy”. Yawn. Lucifer can play that game as well and then some.
Lucifer decided to find a location that would have around 20 people, block them from the effects of the God-Machine’s Armageddon, and see how they fare with some “hardship” and if they survive, let them loose in the new world. If there happened to be a few supernaturals in the mix, all the better. He had a plan; now he needed the stage. Fortunately, Lucifer happened to be reading a newspaper regarding the reopening of the Waffle Houses after the Earthquakes in the south a few days prior.
According to FEMA, there are four businesses used to gauge business recovery in the South in the event of a natural disaster. Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, and Waffle House. This fact has led to the unofficial metric known as the Waffle House Index. The index is based on Waffle House’s reputation for having good disaster preparedness and staying open during extreme weather or reopening quickly afterwards. This looked like a perfect stage for Lucifer to play his game on.
It’s October 31st, at a Waffle House at 618 Beach Blvd in Biloxi, MS. Down the road from the Waffle House at Reynoir St, and not to be confused with the one down the road at 1938 Beach Blvd. Just up the road from the Golden Nugget Casino, which is also near the Palace Resort & Casino, and a block away from the Hard Rock Cafe & Casino. Now comes the important question: what kind of waffle goes with the end of days?
This module is a side story that takes place at the same time as Gehenna: Wormwood. However, unlike Wormwood, this group of survivors has very little information about what is happening, why it is occurring, and how long it’s going to last. They will face a different set of challenges with a different host who does not have their best interests in mind. Inspired by Stephen King’s “The Mist”, Alfred Hitchcock’s “Lifeboat,” and the movie “Devil”, this story is designed to test the resolve and sanity of a group that is an anomaly in the God Machine’s plan.
Character Requirements:
- Characters can be made from any of the systems in the Chronicles of Darkness 2e. (Vampire: The Requiem, Werewolf: The Forsaken, Mage: The Awakening, etc.) This includes making a character out of any of the Core CoD Books, such as Hedge Witches, Psychics, Skinchangers, Slayers, etc. This also includes playing a mundane mortal survivor.
- Characters can be any creature that was designed for players. Creatures intended for use by the Storyteller, such as VII, True Fae, Liches, and Angels, are off-limits for player creation.
- Characters are built on up to 100 Experience in addition to the standard build of the creature you are making. If you are playing a character template that has two different types of experience, then you can distribute the experience between the two types. Experience should be spent as if the character developed naturally and not as if they are preparing for the end of the world; however, due to the nature of the plot, be prepared for some of what you spend to be nullified.
- All Merits / Abilities must be chosen from the core system or the system you are making the character from. For Example, if you are making a Vampire, you cannot take Mummy Merits. However, all merits designed for mortals can be taken by any character, provided your character meets the prerequisites for the Merit.
- Characters must have at least one Touchstone and one physical item that has meaning to the character in some important way.
- Characters, while not necessarily good, must have that glimmer of Love, Hope, or Mercy deep in their soul. In addition, characters can not come in with a Morality score less than 5.
Players should also be aware that this story is designed around psychological horror, dark themes, and personal choices between groups that tend to strongly dislike or are fearful of each other. While physical combat can occur, it is not the focus of the game.