Dead Men Tell No Tales

Heroes: Jag, Atobe Keigo, Pacci, Dust and Lord Flash
Enemies: The Ghost of Glenn Beck, the Basilisk, Goblins and Witches, the Hedgemonster, the Ghost of Bubbleman, the Ghosts of the Founding Fathers, the Ghost of Lord Flash and the Ghost of Exavur


Jag – Officer’s Dispatch 30

Recent Duties: Hah hah hah: Conventionals! While some might attribute the re-unification of the Special Forces and Conventionals to Kilant’s dare-devil solo battle, you know that it was the implacable logic and authority of an expensive legal education that won that battle. The world would certainly be a more sensible place if there were more educated people like you around. Of course, you can’t really fault anyone for that, for you know better than anyone that such higher learning doesn’t come easy, and it doesn’t come cheap.

Troop Status

-Supplies: Schmitzer SMGs, Armored Flak Vests, Deluxe Laywers’ suits, and briefcases full of legal documents.

-Morale: Your men are cynically outraged at the rampant superstition that seems to be sweeping the Electran military base. After all, only the uneducated could possibly believe in something as silly as a ghost.

-Health: Your men may not believe in ghosts, but some of them certainly believe in comas. Shellback has been doing more research on the subject, and is growing more apprehensive by the day.

Military Communiques

-Due to the sheer size of their force and their heavy equipment, the Conventionals don’t move as quickly as the speedy Special Forces. The main Conventionals column isn’t expected to arrive back in the city for another day or two.

-For reasons that come across as a little superstitiously flaky to you, Kilant has become concerned with any and all military reports of the Strasveck rebellion, 50 years ago. He’s even sent a request to the Senate for them to search some of the government archives stored there.

Personal Notes

-McMason has been working non-stop editing your anti-Exavur documentary, and has produced a masterpiece. With the recent success of certain documentary films, he’s even talked about releasing it to a major network. With this kind of publicity, there’s no way you can lose this case.

-Speaking of cases, Harvey Birdman has recently come up with one of his own. A pair of Special Forces soldiers have been accused of marijuana possession and have asked Harvey to defend them. While you sympathize with their case, you find their claim that the Hedge-Monster is really the one behind it all to be rather questionable.

-There seems to be no shortage of ghost stories floating around this city. There are reports that the Ghosts of the Founding Fathers have been haunting the Electran Senate building. According to some, the spirits of Electra’s most venerable elders, such as James Watt and Georg Ohm, have been angered by the ousting of the rightful Senate, and will not rest until their vengeance is wreaked.

-Perhaps most troubling of all, there are fearful whispers that the Ghost of Exavur, the former Special Forces commander, has returned from the dead to enact his vengeance. Even your own subordinate, Officer Jenny, claims to have caught glimpses of an ominous pirate skulking around the base…

-Given all this so-called paranormal activity, it didn’t surprise you at all to see Ecto-1, the vehicle of those ridiculous Ghost-Busters, parked in the base parking lot. Of course, since ghosts aren’t real anyway, you have no use for hacks like them.

Mini-Objective

-Solve the Mystery of the Hedge-Monster.

-Solve the Mystery of the Ghosts of the Founding Fathers.

-Debunk any and all supernatural myths floating around the base.

 

Atobe Keigo – Officer’s Report 29

Recent Duties: While you could only approve of Kilant’s tactics in the battle against the Conventionals, you are a little less than pleased with the results. Far too many good, tennis-playing boys are dead from a battle against your own troops. At least if they’d died fighting Spherans, it would have been worth something.

Troop Status

-Supplies: FLAME-THROWERS, crimson uniforms, kamikaze headbands, Crimson Armor of the Republic, your original Coca-Cola hat, and a gold, skull-shaped medallion that is eerily cold to the touch.

-Morale: Seigaku is in mourning for the passing of their fallen comrades. Given this black mood of despair, you’re really not surprised by the number of ghost stories that have begun to circulate among them.

-Health: No one in Seigaku has been sleeping well since the last battle, least of all you. In fact, Stenda has already picked up on the tired, feverish look in your eyes and the dark circles beneath them. She blames your poor nutritional habits, but you suspect otherwise...

Military Communiques

-Due to the sheer size of their force and their heavy equipment, the Conventionals don’t move as quickly as the speedy Special Forces. The main Conventionals column isn’t expected to arrive back in the city for another day or two.

-Likely due to your own warnings of Senator Calamus’ activities, Kilant has become concerned with any and all military reports of the Strasveck rebellion, 50 years ago. He’s even sent a request to the Senate for them to search some of the government archives stored there.

Personal Notes

-The past two nights, your sleep has been plagued with recurring nightmares. These dreams always begin shrouded in mist, punctuated by the snapping of a black skull-and-crossbones flag in the wind. You see a ghostly figure in a long seaman’s coat and dark tricorn hat walking slowly towards you out of the mist, and there is no doubt in your mind who it is. With a hiss, his blade is drawn, and you feel the cold steel pressed to your throat so that you can barely breath. What happens next, you cannot be sure – all that you know is that always awake in a cold sweat, your right hand clasped in a death-grip around the medallion about your neck...

-Rumors of the supernatural are everywhere about the base. Just this afternoon, Echizen came screaming into your room about some poor kid being turned to stone. He claims to have seen some kind of snake at the scene that he calls a Basilisk, which will turn the entire base to stone with its deadly gaze if it is not stopped.

-On the march back from the front-line, you managed to hit it off rather smartly with 1st Lt. Ivy, and the two of you have become reasonably good friends. Unfortunately, it’s unlikely you’ll be seeing much of her today, as she told you she was expecting ‘family company.’

-Rumors have come floating in from the city’s waterfront of a mysterious Ghost Ship haunting the misty Crystal River. Given your recent dreams, the last thing you need is a phantom pirate ship – surely there must be some kind of other explanation for this supernatural sighting.

Mini-Objective

-Solve the Mystery of the Basilisk.

-Solve the Mystery of the Ghost Ship.

-Burn away any and all myths of ghosts and phantoms. There’s enough in your dreams already, you don’t need any in real life.

 

 

 

Dust – Officer’s Report 27

Recent Duties: Some might say it’s the Denchulli in you, but you were rather glad not to have to participate in the battle against Gol Draam and the might of the Conventionals. Electra City may not be your favorite place in the world, but at least it was quiet with all the usual trouble-makers gone. Unfortunately, now that they’re back, things are liable to get scary again in a big way.

Troop Status

-Supplies: SIR Rifles, Camouflage Scout Uniforms, Sniper Scopes, Rifle Tripods, Field Mortars, Climbing Spikes, and a whole box o’ good luck in the form of Fortune Flakes cereal.

-Morale: Rumors of the supernatural are flying all around the military base, and unsurprisingly, this has your Boyos – err, the few that remain – in their usual panic. In fact, some of them gone so far to ground even you don’t know where they are. As usual, it looks like you’ll have to deal with all this blarney to coax them out of hiding.

-Health: It’s hard to determine your Boyos’ health, since you are unable to find them all.

Military Communiques

-You’re not sure how it happened, but somehow Kilant has convinced Gol Draam and his Conventional army to join forces with the Special Forces once again. Nevertheless, all is still not well within the Conventionals ranks. Certain high-ranking officers, notably Grand-Marshall Vonderveck and Major-General Edward Byrne-White, continue to reject the alliance. However, due to Draam’s legendary status, the majority of the Conventionals are expected to follow his lead in returning to Electra City.

Personal Notes

-The Special Forces are back from their confrontation with the Conventionals, and they seem to have brought all sorts of supernatural stories back with them. One such tale is that of the Green Goblin, who is allegedly haunting the Military Library. With green being the national color of Denchul and all, the existence of this monster is not only a threat to your Boyos, but also a potential slur against your homeland, and the truth must be unmasked.

-Not surprisingly, Mahmood is worried about ghosts himself. He claims that the acquisitions centre is being haunted by the Ghost of Glenn Beck, who has been sighted muttering bitter comments and arguing economic philosophy with anyone who will listen.

-Word is out on the base of a mysterious man dubbed ‘the Preacher,’ who has been wandering around vigorously quoting scripture. Apparently, he’s even preaching the approach of the end of the world in some form or another, which needless to say can’t be any good for your Boyos’ morale.

-There is a rumor that the Ghost of Lord Flash is on the loose, terrorizing the base. Poor Flash, you can only assume he must have been shot down in a blaze of glory against the Conventionals Forces if his ghost is now haunting the base.

-There is a witch on the base!! Or at least, so says O’Shaughnesy, who claims to have been turned into a newt by said witch. Fortunately, he seems to have since gotten better, but he still refuses to come out of hiding until the witch has been dealt with.

Mini-Objective

-Solve the Mystery of the Green Goblin.

-Solve the Mystery of the Midnight Witch.

-Put an end to any and all talk of supernatural blarney around the base.

 

 

 

Pacci – supreme Commander’s Report 21

Recent Duties: Wakka-wakka!! It’s good that you won’t have to be fighting your fellow Conventionals anymore. You’re sure the whole misunderstanding was orchestrated by mad scientist Dr. Wily in the first place. Now they are free to join the Pac, for much as eating food makes you healthy, absorbing more men into your unit makes it even more powerful. Which is especially important when there are ghosts on the loose.

Troop Status

-Supplies: PK-33 Handguns, SIR Rifles, Bright Yellow Deluxe Uniforms, Combat Helmets, and a fashionable European carry-all which no longer contains several Energeon Cubes, a Verizon wireless cell-phone, an amazing vintage Pacman arcade machine, and Protoman’s whistle.

-Morale: Not only is the Pac excited about the return of the other Conventionals, but they’re also in a frenzy over all the ghost stories that seem to be floating around the base. After all, the Pac knows all about running from ghosts, and they’ve had a lot of practice at it.

-Health: You’ve mostly recovered from your Vanilla Coke-related headache. You could really go for a hamburger, but Protoman seems to be awfully slow in making them.

Military Communiques

-Due to the sheer size of their force and their heavy equipment, the Conventionals don’t move as quickly as the speedy Special Forces. The main Conventionals column isn’t expected to arrive back in the city for another day or two.

-In spite of the success of your recent battle, all is still not well within the Conventionals ranks. Certain high-ranking officers, notably Grand-Marshall Vonderveck and Major-General Edward Byrne-White, continue to reject the alliance. However, due most likely to your legendary status, the majority of the Conventionals are expected to follow your lead in returning to Electra City.

Personal Notes

-Once again, magic and mystery surrounds the amazing Zeke’s Haunted Tent of Horrors. Strange lights have been seen flashing from the tent late at night, and the members of the Wheel claim that a new ghost has taken up residence. And of course, your first inclination upon hearing of any ghost is to catch it, and that’s precisely what you intend to do. If only the admission price wasn’t so steep…

-On a more dangerous note, it appears the spirits of Dr. Wily’s evil robots do not rest easy. In fact, Protoman has reported to you that the Ghost of Bubbleman, who you once defeated at this very base, is on the loose and seeking vengeance. You must put a stop to this menace as soon as possible.

-According to certain sources, the Ghost of Lord Flash is on the loose, terrorizing the base. You personally don’t know how this could be the case, since last you checked Flash was still very much alive.

-You’ve heard fearful rumors around the base that the Ghost of Exavur has returned to wreak vengeance on the soldiers who once served him. Of course, given your star performance in a recently filmed documentary, you wouldn’t be surprised if people were simply confusing you for Exavur.

Mini-Objective

-Solve the Mystery of Zeke’s Haunted Tent of Horrors.

-Solve the Mystery of the Ghost of Bubbleman.

-Catch any and all ghosts who are haunting the city of Electra.

 

 

 

Lord Flash – Officer’s Report 8

Recent Duties: Great news for Electra city: YOU’RE BACK!! Some people might pretend it was Kilant’s showy little fight against Gol Draam that convinced the Conventionals to come back to your side, but you know it was really the fact that they all got a look at YOU!! There’s no doubt, you truly are a living legend, as everyone should surely know. And if they don’t, they will soon.

Military Communiques

-Due to the sheer size of their force and their heavy equipment, the Conventionals don’t move as quickly as the speedy Special Forces, or of course your plane. The main Conventionals column isn’t expected to arrive back in the city for another day or two.

-In spite of the success of your recent battle, all is still not well within the Conventionals ranks. Certain high-ranking officers, notably Grand-Marshall Vonderveck and Major-General Edward Byrne-White, continue to reject the alliance. However, due most likely to YOUR legendary status, the majority of the Conventionals are expected to follow your lead in returning to Electra City.

Personal Notes

-You continue to keep tabs on the production of “F,” Flash’s (and by extension, Electra’s) ketchup. Apparently, it’s selling even better than you anticipated, and ‘your’ lab (as you now call it) has even recently hired some more scientific personnel. Of course, who needs science when you’ve got FLASH on the label?

-Since your return to the city, the entire base has been filled with the talk of the supernatural. Superstitious reports of ghosts and goblins are springing up all over the place, and everyone who’s not you seems to be scared silly.

-One such rumor is that the Ghost of former Acquisitions Captain Glenn Beck is haunting the base’s supply depot. The extent of this ghost’s terror seems to consist of his bitter rants about economics to anyone that it comes across.

-Another myth is that of the Ghost of Exavur, who has allegedly returned to wreak vengeance on the men who once served him. Some men even claim to have seen a mysterious man dressed like a pirate skulking about the base, but most likely their eyes were still dazzled by getting a glimpse of you.

-The most important ghostly rumor is that of the Ghost of Lord Flash. Or at least, it should be! The fact that you aren’t dead yet is quite irrelevant, your ghost obviously just couldn’t wait for you to die, since it knows it will never happen. Clearly, any other ridiculous hauntings are secondary next to this most auspicious phantom.

Mini-Objective

-Perpetuate the legend of the Ghost of Lord Flash as much as possible.

-Discredit any other ghostly legends that might detract attention from your own.


Adventure Summary

  • The heroes meet in the O.C. for supper. With the influx of new soldiers, all there is left is bat-wing soup.
  • They are met by Shaggy and Scooby-Doo, who are looking for the "hedge monster".
  • Jag, and to a lesser extent Dust, are annoyed at all the "superstitious nonsense" pervading the base, and the former is very vocal in making his mind known. Flash, meanwile, contests that the only ghosts are LEGENDS, and warns the others that the ghost of himself might be out on a rampage.
  • Jag and Pacci, along with the Scooby gang head out to Mahmoud's office. They find him, and he says that the ghost of the supply officer is around, and has been planting "some sort of green, leafy substance". They find some marijuana leaves in among the partial supplies.
  • They check the hedges out back, and find all sorts of strange statues of children.
  • They see the "hedge monster", and try to chase him down, but he escapes. They devise a masterful plan involving a greased skateboard and a tripwire to try to lure him. Eventually, they catch him, and find that the hedge monster is in fact Glenn Beck. Given the marijuana, few are surprised.
  • Dust and Pacci head off to the library, where there's been "ghost sightings". There are, in fact, no ghosts, just some green slime over a bunch of books.
  • They head to the tent of horrors, pay the admission fee, and find nothing - just Funky pretending to be a ghost, and a glowing cauldron. Pacci is not impressed. Going to Hermione's quarters, though, they find out that she is, in fact, the "midnight witch" who turned one of Dust's boyos into a newt (he got better).
  • Calling the Ghostbusters, they head to the library. But the green goo was in fact just left by a boyo.
  • Asking around about all the creepy child statues around the hedge area, they find out that it is in fact just the work of van Gogh.
  • Keigo seems very interested in reports of a "basilisk", though the others seem quick to laugh at such an old Electran myth.
  • After much detective work, she finds out that the stone-producing creature is in fact just Onyx, which Brock had let out for a while.
  • Pacci heads off to the light vehicle hangar, where he finds the skewered body of Ricky Santaro. The ominous phrase 'Dead Men Tell No Tales' is written in blood on the wall. The other officers arrive, and Kilant and Xelme are visibly shaken. Some suspect the Ghost of Exavur, as there is no doubt it is Exavur's trademark sword pinning the body to the wall, and Kilant confiscates Keigo's mysterious skull-shaped medallion after Raphael mentions she has it. Pacci is not convinced though; thinking it the work of The Ghost of Bubbleman, he heads off to the research lab, where Flash had mentioned that he saw a man matching Dr. Wily's description.
  • Once there, he finds Bubbleman's "ghost", and must fight him. Ekeing out a victory, Pacci leaves in triumph.
  • For Jag, however, there is one mystery worth investigating - the Ghosts of the Founding Fathers. Ah, what a perfectly Electran mystery for a perfect Electran patriot! Several others come with Jag to the senate house.
  • In the basement, they find none other than Senator Camilla dead, in the same manner as Santaro. The constitution is nearby, leading some to believe that the ghosts of the founding fathers are behind it, but Jag and Dust will have none of that, and Lord Flash informs them that his ghost is the only ghost in existence.
  • Going around and talking to other senators, they find out that Senator Gracchus is the one who pretended to be the ghosts of the founding fathers, citing a lack of interest in history by the younger crowd
  • On the back of the constitution, they find a map to the dreaded Isla di Muerta. Keigo seems particularly interested.
  • Later, Keigo heads off to the docks. On one ship, she finds a somewhat familiar man -- Bikke the Pirate, who had been on the Raiders hockey team. Suddenly calling together a rather dubious crew, he orders them to fight Keigo. They are little match for her flame thrower, but still inflict a lot of damage on the girl. But, with the victory, Keigo gets the ship.
  • The ship, though, seems to require an actual crew to use, and Keigo, despite trying to man it on her own, is unable to get it to go. Her fellow officers catch up with her, and she reluctantly takes their help. And with that, they sail off.
  • After a long voyage on the water, they see a ship in the distance, which Keigo proclaims to be a Ghost Ship, heading to an island, and two figures rushing towards a mansion on the land.
  • They dock in a small harbour, and head towards the mansion. Entering it, they find none other than Orangebeard, and his first mate, Odie the Stupid.
  • Searching the place, they find nothing else other than an old sword. Back in the living room, they meet an old man, who tells them about the ghosts of the pirates that are due to come back tonight. As he says this, there's a knock on the door, and Orangebeard and Odie the Stupid hide in a cabinet.
  • Into the house comes Raphael, officer in the Special Forces. He accuses Keigo of treachery and of being behind the recent murders, and while most of the other officers are willing to accept this, given her former actions, they require proof, and demand a trial should proof be given.
  • But Raphael, seeing that he is not convincing them to hand over Keigo, tells the truth, and declares that her treachery is not to Kilant, but to Exavur, and he draws his sword.
  • A fierce battle ensues, with the group slugging it out in the narrow confines of the "haunted" mansion. Keigo and Pacci, exhausted from their earlier fights, find it difficult to stay on their feet, and Keigo drops quickly to Raphael's delta-strikes. After all, how can anyone block cheap moves like his?? Flash goes down as well, never known for his defensive prowess.
  • Pacci, Dust, hidden in the cabinet with Orangebeard and Odie the Stupid, and Jag continue the fight with Raphael, raining gunfire on the Exavur loyalist. Jag goes down, leaving Pacci and Dust to face the Special Forces officer on their own.
  • Raphael, realizing the ferocity of his opposition, declares that he would be back later for them, and runs out of the mansion towards his boat. Dust tries a parting shot, but misses in the darkness.
  • The group quickly revive Keigo, Jag, and Flash, and head for Keigo/Bikke's ship. They make chase after Raphael, over sandbanks, open water, through storms, and between barges, but aren't able to make up their lost time. Raphael escapes down the river, as they are left wondering what else they could have done.
  • Returning in dejection to the base, they decide to see what's on TV. They are shocked to be welcomed by the old man from the island, who introduces his All Night Pirate Movie Festival, which opens up with Jag and Pacci's pirate documentary. For the rest, Keigo especially, they've had about all the pirates they can stand and head to bed with a groan.

Major Characters this Session

Shaggy and Scooby Doo
Race: Electran and Canine
Rank: Privates
Affiliation: Republic Military, Conventionals Division

Shaggy and Scooby Doo hardly require a description, such is their renown. The former is a skinny, cowardly man with scraggly whiskers and a tasteless green shirt, while Scooby appears to be a (badly) talking brown dog. The two are known for their voracious appetites, lack of backbone and conviction that mysterious ghosts are behind any unusual appearances. They contracted Jag's lawyers to protect them from marijuana possession charges, which they claimed the mysterious 'Hedge-Monster' was responsible for.



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