METHUSELAH

This is an isolated Branch that has had no contact with the outside world for about three years.  It is tucked into a little valley in the far north of Faith controlled lands.  The valley location alone was a good reason to keep Methuselah isolated, but a large group of hostile Mountain People moved into the area immediately around it about three years ago.  While Methuselah was not molested by these hostile "renegade" mountain people, they effectively sealed the town off from the outside world.  Two traders were able to get in and out: Guillarme Coulier, a francophone from even farther north, and Mr. Matricardi, ostensibly from Back East.  Only Coulier went in and out, Matricardi stayed and opened a small store.
   Mr. Matricardi is a vampire [Appendix], and knew the head of the hostile tribes in the area whom he convinced to circle the town while Matricardi planned and plotted.  

SOMETHING'S WRONG

   Two weeks ago, the Mountain People Warband was destroyed by the Territorial Army.  A small force, led by Lieutenant Homer Brockton, was dispatched to Methuselah with a wagon load of food to "render aid."  The soldiers were ordered to catch up when their mission was complete.  Lieutenant Brockton has been rather taken with Matricardi's way of thought and has become another overseer.  The soldiers hoard the food and dole out only enough to keep people "healthy."  
   The Cadre rules the town at night, and Matricardi's dream of turning Methuselah into a feudal vampire resort is a success.  The people are completely broken and faithless, and almost utterly without hope.  Some cling to the idea that the King of Life may not have abandoned them, but most assume He has; others are planning on murdering their own children to save them from this hell.  

PRIDE

Most people in Methuselah have lost faith in everything: Family, the King of Life, and definitely community.  Many feel they can survive this alone, or at least toady to The Cadre and live a little longer.  Many feel they are damned already for what they have done to survive.

INJUSTICE

The people who are not part of The Cadre or Overseers eat poorly, and steal from one another without thinking on it.  Fields are watched during the day and patrolled at night by Cadre members.  Some eat well, but many go hungry.  Some will go hungry to feed their children, but some have stopped doing even that, and are letting their own children starve.

SINS

Jealousy and the horrible existence has led to a community rife with deceit.  The people rarely tell the truth any more, if they can help it, because reality is too much.  Blasphemy is rampant, as many feel the King of Life is gone.  Apostasy is practiced openly, although many do not feel they are doing anything wrong, since it's not "really" worship.

DEMONIC ATTACKS

The vampires are here in unknown numbers.  One or two are outsiders, but most are residents of the town.  They feed at night, not enough to kill, unless it's an intruder.  Mr. Matricardi seems to be mostly an Atheist, although he seems to have no opinion on any god.  Many felt he was the Adversary when he showed himself.

FALSE DOCTRINE

A minority opinion feels that the King of Life does not exist.  Many feel they have been abandoned by the King of Life.  Most feel they are worthless, and no longer worthy of the King's love.

CORRUPT WORSHIP

Everyone in town is required to be present at Sundown Service, led by the Steward Paul Vampire (a known vampire).  Steward Dearborn perverts the scriptures and prayers, and the community must feed some of the Cadre during the service.  Some people hide during Sundown Service, and this is tolerated as long as they don't stop coming altogether.  Steward Dearborn has been reading less and less from the Book...even if he perverts what he does read.

FALSE PRIESTHOOD

Lt. Brockton, Monsieur Coulier, Steward Dearborn, any of the Cadre, and Matricardi himself.  The two living collaborators (Brockton and Coulier) keep watch over the people during the day, overseeing chores and the crops.

SORCERY

The vampires, especially Matricardi, have powers that make them seem unstoppable.  They are inhumanly fast and as silent as the grave.  They are also incredibly strong and all seem sadistic.  Matricardi is so puissant that he seems almost omnipotent at night.

HATE AND MURDER

Clara Radcliffe killed herself before Sundown Service yesterday, leaving behind her child, Betsy.  The Bakers, Dearborns (the brother's family, not the Steward's who are all dead), and Schumachers are seriously discussing the murder of their own children and plan to do it "soon."  The children actually know something is up, and have overheard some things...

WHAT DO THE TOWNSPEOPLE WANT FROM THE DOGS?

The people want to not live in fear, and they want the vampires gone.  More than that, they want the King of Life's forgiveness...they want to saved again.  

WHAT DO THE DEMONS WANT?

Mr. Matricardi wants Methuselah to be a resort of sorts for his western kin.  It is a place where he can live openly, and he really enjoys that.  He wants to keep the town secret at all costs.

WHAT DO THE DEMONS WANT THE DOGS TO DO?

The demons want to the Dogs to die, or better yet, to have never existed.  They want the Dogs to not get out alive, and so not be able to spread the word.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE DOGS DIDN'T COME?

Mr. Matricardi's plan would be complete, and everyone in the town would die slow, agonizing deaths...Except the children, who would die afraid, but quickly.

WHO'S WHO (AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM THE DOGS)

Mr. Matricardi:  An old vampire from over the ocean, Matricardi wants to lull the dogs into thinking they can save the town, and then kill all of them so none escape.

Steward Paul Dearborn: After becoming a vampire two years ago or so, Steward Dearborn wants to rule the night-to-night business of the town and let Matricardi attract more power here.  He hopes to move Back East and live in a city again...he will show those evil people the power of Faith.  He hates the Dogs because of some nascent shame he gives them.

Jacob Dearborn: The brother of the Steward, Jacob has lost his faith.  He no longer believes in anything, but still loves his family.  He would rather see his children dead than living here.  He wishes the Dogs had not come and given false hope to everyone...he may even try to kill them.

Sally Dearborn: Sally retains her Faith, and thinks the King of Life is going to return.  She feels this is the End Times, and she was unworthy.  She wants to get the Dogs out of town before they see anything horrible, and she wants them to go far away...and tell everyone what's going on and maybe bring an army back with them.

Lt. Homer Brockton:  Homer wants to be a vampire, and is doing his duty to his new master: Matricardi.  He detests the Faithful as weak, and does not like the Steward.  He feels the vampires are God's vengeance against these cultists.  He is sadistic, vain, and enjoys raping young girls...he hasn't gotten to many of the youngest.  He wants to see the Dogs shot down in the street, and feels their name is apt for that purpose.

Sgt. James Hatfield: James grew up faithful, but in a different faith.  He does not agree with the Faith, but doesn't want to hurt anyone.  He is trying to save his skin while this is going on, but sees the Dogs as his chance to try and stop this madness.  He wants someone to get out and tell this story, even if he must die to secure that.

Samson Baker: Sam has some remnants of Faith left, and thinks killing the children is a bad idea...but not the worst idea.  He feels weak and abandoned by the King of Life.

Lynn Baker: Lynn needs to kill her children.  They cannot live like this, and she is going to kill herself too, but first her children must be safe.

Upton Schumacher: Upton is a convert, and was converted on the road to Methuselah.  He believes that the King of Life is testing them, and they will come out of this better for it.  He sees the Dogs as the way of bringing everyone back to the light, and is desperate to prove that he's more strong in his faith than everyone else.

Kimberly Schumacher: Kimberly is best friends with Clara Radcliffe, and has taken in Betsy.  Kimberly was raised in the Faith, and politely listens to her husband as he prays with her and the children.  She has not told him about killing the children, and plans on killing them and Upton before killing herself.  The Dogs offer her a glimmer of hope, however.

Guillarme Coulier: A Francophone trader from way up north, he speaks many Mountain People languages and traded his way to Methuselah with his wife, Francoise.  He likes being charge of the town during the day, and he doesn't mind Lt. Brockton too much.  He doesn't quite understand anything about the Faith.  He tries to be popular by sneaking food to people, and always has sweets for the children, which his wife makes.  He doesn't know what a Dog is.

Francoise Coulier: Francoise does not speak English.  She is completely in the dark about what's going on in town.  She had seen some things at night, and so stays at home at night.  She feels bad that food is so hard to come by, and wishes the famine would stop.  She also wants to go back up North.

Betsy Radcliffe: Betsy knows that Mama is dead and that she is five years old.  Mama was singing to herself and had a knife, and started crying.  While mama was crying Betsy started too, and then Mama got real mad and picked up Betsy so it hurt and raised the knife...and then Aunt Kimmy was there and screaming, and Mama dropped Betsy and Aunt Kimmy hugged Betsy.  Mama hurt herself with the knife and Aunt Kimmy was crying, and Betsy was Crying and Mama was bleeding all over the floor.  Betsy is gonna live with Aunt Kimmy now.

APPENDIX

The Vampires I envision for this game are horrifying.  They are similar to the Vampires in "30 Days of Night" (although I never saw they movie, so they're the ones from the graphic novel in my head), and similar to the "vampir" from China Mieville's "The Scar."  They owe a lot to "'Salem's Lot" as well.  

They are not afraid of holy symbols, mirrors, or garlic.  Water doesn't bother them.  The sun will burn them to horrible stinking goo or ash, depending on how old they are.  Fire will hurt them, and decapitation will kill them.  They need blood to survive, and heal themselves with said blood.  They heal rapidly when wounded, but anything can wound them for a few seconds.

Dice wise, use Demonic Influence with every conflict involving them, and I consider them possessed people (pg. 85-87 in the non-illustrated printing), so they can have an edge with claws and such.  Matricardi gets 5d10 Demonic dice, the Steward gets 4d10 and all other vampires get 3d10.  Any other roll requiring Demonic Influence, should be based on what the Dogs know, per pg. 46 of the non-illustrated edition of the game.

THOUGHTS

I can't wait to run this.  It's not set in stone, so if you have any modifications or suggestions, please post them here.  I will produce an Actual Play of this game when it happens, and if you run it, please do the same.

Please don't tell me Dogs in the Vineyard sucks.  I really enjoy the game, and don;t shit on my thread.

It sounds pretty good, but I don't know what else to say. I'll be looking forward to the AP. Do you think the vampires are strong enough to destroy the Dogs?

Quote from: droogIt sounds pretty good, but I don't know what else to say. I'll be looking forward to the AP. Do you think the vampires are strong enough to destroy the Dogs?

Oh yeah.  The stakes are pretty much always going to be their lives, and a couple of vampires with 3-4 d10 each is gonna ruin anyone's day.  I'll elaborate later, if you like.

It kind of gives me a Demon Hunter X vibe, except with Mormans and not anime ninja.