Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Dread Night Vale Secret Identities

Everyone in Night Vale has secrets. So I thought it was only fair to give my Dread players secrets of their own to match the setting. Just like any one character question, they could use these to try to avoid pulls. I also encouraged them to use these to obtain equipment in the early stage of the game. For example, it made sense for the member of the NRA wanted a rifle, s/he would have easy access to one (a single pull) rather than another character who might have to get around pesky things like a background check and a three-day waiting period (two pulls). Characters might even choose to reveal their secrets to their teammates, if doing so might advance the plot.

Background: Your secret identity is just something you don’t necessarily talk to about with strangers or casual acquaintances, for whatever reason. This is not something that you must keep secret - in fact, you will likely want to reveal your secret at one point or another, in order to gain a bonus in gameplay. If you wish, one or more of your team members can be aware of your “secret.”

Ex-CIA agent. You received a letter from a Night Vale resident, a former colleague who was burned for his theories about a “World Government.” Your colleague urged you to come here to help with his/her investigation of “the black helicopters.”

Member of the NRA. You attended the local chapter meeting the other day and were handed a bumper sticker that says, “Guns don’t kill people. It’s impossible to be killed by a gun. We are all invincible to bullets and it’s a miracle.”

Scout. You are a proud son/daughter of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, on your mother’s side. Your grandfather taught you everything he knew about being a scout. There is apparently some white guy in Night Vale who calls himself “The Apache Tracker,” but who knows what that’s about.

Eagle Scout. You wanted to get involved with the local chapter of the Boy Scouts. They do things differently here in Night Vale… for one, signup is automatic and random; families receive a scarlet envelope informing them their sons have been selected.

Connected. When you left your mobster family to become a scientist, you never dreamed that you would run into your Uncle Rico again. He owns the only local pizza shop that hasn’t been burned down in an unsolved arson case…

Related. You are the third cousin twice removed of John Peters - you know, the farmer. He has no children, and is hoping you’ll move to Night Vale and take over the farm someday.

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