When Nightmares Come - First Campaign Ideas

 When Nightmares Come – A Short case set in the 1920s Egyptian Desert.

I recently got my copy of When Nightmares Come, the latest Osprey Blue Book, by Patrick Todoroff. It is essentially a monster hunting game, in the vein of Buffy The Vampire Slayer meets Call of Cthullu.

A Full Case (mini-campaign) normally consists 6 games, or Incidents, but I wanted to run a smaller campaign, just to try the rules out and familiarise myself with the mechanisms. I will play this solo over the next few weeks, although I might involve one of my gaming buddies in one or two games.

When Monsters Come is set in the modern world, but I am setting this in the 1920s, mainly because it fits with my existing collection.

First of all, to introduce the Hunters.

THE HUNTERS

Emmett Swanson: Warden (Fighter)

Of Anglo-Egyptian heritage, father was a nco in British Army, who had remained in Egypt after the Mahdist Wars and married a local girl. Spending several years as a guide/translator/bodyguard for various archaeological expeditions, Emmet has seen some bizarre things in his short life. After a few drinks just ask him about what Howard Carter really found in the tomb of Tutankhamun!

Onur Turkay: Warden (Fighter)

A former Ottoman policeman, stationed in Judea, Onur is the only survivor of his police outpost, who were bloodily massacred in the last months of the Great War. The official report blamed Arab guerrillas for the attack, but Onur was convinced that the attackers were not human. His account was dismissed and he was given a medical discharge. Since then he has devoted himself to hunting down the creatures that killed his comrades.

Doctor Kingsley Ogley: Weaver (Magician)

Studying the History of the Occult at University, the young Kingsley discovered a rare ancient tome and inadvertently summoned a demonic creature at his graduation party. Blaming himself for the death of several of his colleagues, he made a deep study of ancient mystic lore, as a result most of his academic acquaintances consider him “a bit odd”. Kinsley divides his time between his academic research and hunting down the other worldly monsters that have come through into our world.

Akil Malik: Wright (Researcher/Artificer)

Tracing their lineage back to the times of the Pharaohs , the Malik family have been fighting demons and monsters for over 2000 years. Akil learnt from his father and uncle the skills required to create devices to use against the monsters that creep around the edge of night!

Campaign Background

During his latest research at the British Museum, Doctor Ogley stumbled across a reference in an ancient papyrus to strange events occurring at a little-known pyramid, deep in the Egyptian desert. They seem to recur every couple of centuries and his calculations indicate it is due again in the next few weeks. Travelling to Alexandra, then on to the town closest to the pyramid, he learnt of strange sightings at night in the desert, and even sometimes in the town. Several local people had mysteriously disappeared and the local police are baffled. Whilst there, he met the rest of the party who had all been drawn to the area after reading reports in the press.

Scenario One: The Meeting

Following reported sightings of strange creatures, the party have all congregated at the site of the most recent sighting.

Location: A small square at the edge of the town.  At the edge of the table are small buildings, mostly with walled gardens/compounds. In the centre is an open space around a fountain/pool, used for watering animals. There are a scattering of carts, wooden crates and pottery urns etc, proving areas of cover.

Time: Early morning – Lighting conditions are Well Lit

Deployment: As the party have arrive independently, deploy one Hunter on each edge.

 

Scenario Two: First Blood

Agreeing to cooperate together the Hunters returned to their lodgings and gather their possessions, arranging to meet up at a café that evening. The Hunters have spent the evening sharing information and planning their route to the pyramid. Just as they had decided to call it a night, a sudden shrill scream rang out. A pale-faced woman ran from a nearby alley, screaming that monsters were killing her neighbour. Grabbing their kit, the Hunters rush down the alley.

Location: A side street running parallel to the main thoroughfare. Buildings line either side   of the street with narrows alleyways between them. There are a scattering of carts, wooden crates and pottery urns etc, proving areas of cover.

Time: Night – Lighting conditions are Dark (ranged attacks limited to 6”)

Deployment: The party arrive together, place all the Hunters in the central alleyway.

 

Scenario Three: Oasis of Blood

Grateful for the party’s assistance in the previous night’s attack, local people have been offering information on recent sightings. Dead animals have been found on repeated occasions at a small oasis that lies mid-way between the town and the pyramid. The Hunters decided to inestgate the oasis first, them travel on to the pyramid.

Location: a small oasis, currently deserted. Around the central pond are a scattering of palms and clumps of vegetation. There is a low-walled stock enclose next to the pond.

Time: Mid morning - Lighting conditions are Well Lit

Deployment: The party have split up to approach the oasis. Place 2 hunters on each of two opposite table edges.

 

Scenario Four: The Pyramid

According to Doctor Ogley’s calculations, the next manifestation will occur around sunset that same day. The Hunters rapidly move on to the pyramid, hoping to prevent the manifestation from occurring.

Location: The approach to the pyramid, an area of scattered ruined walls, statues and broken columns.

Time: Early evening - Lighting conditions are Well Lit for turns 1-3, Gloomy for turns 4-6

Deployment: The party arrive together, place all the Hunters on the table edge opposite the pyramid.

I now just need to decide on what their opposition will be. Dark Spawn come in 5 classes and I am inclined towards the Restless (Undead), as mummies are bound to feature at some point in the campaign.