The Kitsune Hunters
Grant Zurkrieg is out to capture some Kitsune (Japanese fox spirits) so that he can figure out how their magic works. He's sent out his Men in Black, along with "capture-bots" (5' diameter silvery floating spheres with dangling metal tentacles) to bring back Kitsune for study and dissection. The Kitsune are hiding as best they can by assuming human form – but they have business to do, and they can't spend all of their time hiding. Perhaps they can get some help from the players?
The Setup
It's a rare foggy and rainy day in Phoenix, and the players, for their various reasons, find themselves drawn to an authentic Japanese noodle cart parked just outside the entrance to the Japanese Friendship Garden. There, as the fog closes in on little fox feet, they are enjoying the best noodles they've ever had, served by an old Japanese man and his pretty young daughter. Suddenly, from out of the fog come the Men in Black, followed by the capture-bots, and they're after the old man and his daughter! What will the players do? Will they help the noodle venders (who are lesser kitsune)? Or will they just try to stay out of the way? And will the Men in Black let them?
Characters
- Men in Black: (Extra) Strong +2, Tough +2, Dumb -3, Emotionless -3, Servitude (Grant Zurkrieg) -3, Slow -2. [Health 30; Endurance 10; Attack (Pistol) 2-Dice/x1 Damage; Attack (Unarmed) 2-Dice/x3 Damage; Defense 2-Dice; Initiative 0 Dice]
- Improved Men in Black: (Extra) Armor +1, Combat Skill +2, Strong +2, Tough +2, Weapon (Pistol) +2, Dumb -3, Emotionless -3, Servitude (Grant Zurkrieg) -3, Slow -2. [Health 30; Endurance 10; Attack (Pistol) 4-Dice/x3 Damage; Attack (Unarmed) 4-Dice/x3 Damage; Defense 2-Dice/-2 Damage; Initiative 0 Dice]
- Capture-bots: (Secondary) Agile +3, Armor +3, Flight +3, Power Move +3 (Stun Blast: Endurance Drain, Ranged, Stun, Low Penetrationx2 – 15 Endurance), Vitality +3, Bizarre Appearance -3, Dumb -3, Emotionless -3, Servitude (Grant Zurkrieg) -3. [Health 20; Endurance 60; Attack (Stun Blast) 5-Dice/x7 Damage (Endurance); Defense 2 Dice/-6 Damage; Initiative 2 Dice] Can also pick up to two unconscious characters and store them inside.
- Lesser (two-tailed) Kitsune: (Secondary) Charisma +1, Invisibility +2, Quick +2, Shape Change +5 (Fox/Child/Adult-only), Vitality +3, Code of Conduct -2 (Will not break promise), Compulsion -2 (Curiosity), Impulsive -1, Special Weakness -3 (Priests/Holy Men – see when invisible or shape changed). [Health 20; Endurance 60; Attack (Unarmed) 2-Dice/x1 Damage; Defense 4-Dice (2-Dice when not dodging); Initiative 4 Dice]
- From book: Grant Zurkrieg, Nazo. (Both are off screen, but could show up).
Assuming the players defend the Kitsune, the following branches are possible:
- One or both of the Kitsune are captured –
- The players pursue;
- The players don't pursue, later they are contacted by Nazo for help.
- The player's demonstrate supernatural powers, which makes the Men in Black and Capture-bots try to capture them:
- One of them is captured, and has to be rescued;
- Grant Zurkrieg shows up personally to take a hand.