The scenario opens with the investigators attending a Christmas party in midtown Manhattan for the Morgens Institute. Various reasons and connections can bring the investigators together on the evening, for example investigator hooks refer to The Story. The evening is shattered when a young women bursts into the celebrations, and quickly the investigators are caught up in a bizarre murder.
Immediately below are resources directly supporting the opening scene; floor plans, guest lists, likely conversation topics, and then the specific course of events. Afterwards are the additional resources.
Quality Hotel, West 44th Street[^Hotel Algonquin: Refer to page 62 of Secrets of New York^]
Floor plans for the hotel are included below.
Below TAB(keyguests) outlines individuals from Morgens Institute attending the Christmas party, along with staff from the hotel and members of the band playing.
| Company Guests | Hotel Staff | The Band |
|---|---|---|
| Ambrose Morgan (CEO) | Head Waiter (Randolph) | Trumpet (Joey) |
| Eugene Vander Klei (Research Director) | Waitress (Millie) | Saxophone (Clark) |
| Joel White (Finance Director) | Waiter (Jules) | Guitar (Benjamin) |
| Rolf Eriksson (Security) | Clock room (Craig) | Bass (Ivor) |
| Martha White (Age 23) | Barman (William Clay) | Drums (Kurt) |
| Sigrid Eriksson (Age 45) | Kitchen Hand (Munro) |
The involvement of Ambrose Morgan[^Ambrose Morgan: Refer to page 52 of Secrets of New York^] (and Eugene Vander Klei[^Eugene Vander Klei: Refer to page 53 of Secrets of New York^]) in the scenario is solely to establish his inclusion in the narrative and bring the investigators close to the Morgens Institute - thereby laying the ground work for future potential scenarios.
Investigators will have an opportunity to speak with the party guests during the evening, detailed below are a range of likely topics of conversation for the night.
The two detectives attending the murder scene are Jock Stapleton TAB(stapleton) and Cory Hyatt TAB(hyatt). They operate out of NYC Police Head Quarters on Centre Street, the Detectives Division.
| Str 11 | Con 15 | Siz 14 | Int 16 | Pow 14 |
| Dex 10 | App 9 | Edu 16 | San 63 | HP 15 |
| Age 42 | Dam +1d4 | Idea 80 | Luck 85 | Know 80 |
| Combat= | Fist 65% | Pistol 55% | Head butt 50% | Nightstick 40% |
| Skills= | Solve Murder 70% | Interview 60% | Dodge 50% | Drive Auto 50% |
| Psychology 50% | Spot Clue 50% | City Lore - NY 45% |
Jock is a broad man of plain appearance. A sombre quiet thinker he is excellent at blending in to the background but he does have a temper. He has no time for women beaters and as a WWI vet he has a lack of patience for pacifists. His gut instinct is brilliant but he's uncomfortable outside of Manhattan and relays on his old school skills & attitudes completely.
| Str 12 | Con 12 | Siz 11 | Int 15 | Pow 11 |
| Dex 17 | App 15 | Edu 15 | San 64 | HP 12 |
| Age 29 | Dam 0 | Idea 75 | Luck 55 | Know 75 |
| Combat= | Fist 35% | Shotgun 65% | Pistol 40% | Kick 35% |
| Skills= | Forensics 55% | Chase Suspect 50% | Solve Crime 45% | Drive Auto 40% |
| Handle Animal 40% | City Lore - NY 35% | Socialise 15% |
Cory is a new Detective and this is his first homicide coming from burglary. Although green when it comes to the blood & guts of the street, he is a meticulous investigator and trained in the latest crime fighting techniques. Terrible with women he is a prone to saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.
The man attacked in room 11 is salesman (and army veteran) Robert Williamson.
His briefcase contains contracts, sales briefs, brochures and newspaper ads - all for the WNYC radio station. Business cards confirm he is an ad salesman for WNYC. The station is in New Jersey, his apartment is in Queens.
Has a Brand / Tattoo on his right arm - FIG(tattoo). A carpetbag in the cupboard is an overnighter with a few clothes.
WNYC radio will confirm he works the Manhattan area and is rarely in the office. He is an average salesman, known for his arrogance.
The Queens apartment will shed little on his death. A successful Spot Hidden roll will highlight his purple heart and a framed photo of the Alpha Squad, taken at the Pennywell Barracks. Names are noted on the back of the photo. The full squad is present.
All who come in contact with the black water suffer fatigue with symptoms apparent after about one hour dependant upon an individuals constitution. Keepers may wish to manage this without player knowledge or can apply the following rules - a Con Roll is required every hour otherwise Con is reduced by d2 for each failure. Individuals affected required 2 hours sleep to recover each Con. The effects will wear off naturally after 48 hours, or sooner if treated at the Pennywell Barracks.
The hearse that recovers Williamsons body is a NYC County vehicle and takes the body straight to Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center[^Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center: Refer to page 63 of Secrets of New York^]. This is the office of Dr Joseph Gerber TAB(gerber).
| Str 8 | Con 9 | Siz 9 | Int 16 | Pow 10 |
| Dex 14 | App 10 | Edu 19 | San 42 | HP 9 |
| Age 57 | Dam 0 | Idea 80 | Luck 50 | Know 95 |
| Combat= | Scalpel 40% | Bonesaw 30% | Drill 30% | Fist 28% |
| Skills= | Forensic Pathology 85% | Medicine 75% | Library Use 50% | Latin 45% |
| Credit Rating 40% | Psychology 35% | Academic Lore 25% | Taxidermy 25% |
Joseph is a very thorough professional but dull in the extreme and he has no tolerance for delays or mistakes. He will suffer badly from the effects of the Black Water, especially later with the visions and his already low Sanity.
The purse, dress and shoes of Siobhan TAB(gilbert) are in the bathroom. The purse contains $15, rent book (Apartment 13 Drury Tenement), cigarettes, a sterling sliver hip flask with whiskey (this is expensive) and two cards for the Sugar Cane Club.
| Str 7 | Con 10 | Siz 8 | Int 11 | Pow 13 |
| Dex 14 | App 16 | Edu 13 | San 45 | HP 9 |
| Age 23 | Dam -1d4 | Idea 55 | Luck 65 | Know 65 |
| Skills= | Dupe 'John' 70% | Socialise 65% | Faint 50% | Photographic Memory 50% |
| Art - Sketch 40% | City Lore - NY 20% |
Siobhan is not your average street walker, none of Theodore's quartet of ladies are. They play a part most nights, and get paid well for it - whether that be dilettante flapper, struggling actress, carefree chorus dancer or even sultry sorority girl.
Siobhan is badly effected by the sight of the Byakhee due to her photographic memory. When medication and treatment is received she will be responsive after a day. She can be persuaded to draw what she saw and will produce what will be the single best image of a Byakhee captured in history.
The room will be occupied by Police and investigated until approximate 1am at which time it will be locked. The broken window has been boarded and the cleaners have been advised not to enter.
