GURPS Encounters: The Old Spook House on Riley Hill
First post of the new blog series, GURPS Encounters, aiming to make flavorful locales with a main hook and some inspiring story fluff besides! Some weeks will focus more on the location, others the events relating to them. I’ll try to get at least one npc statted up each post. This first one is the…
Old Spook House on Riley Hill
For years the legend has been told, a terrible storm in the sixties, and ever since it has been active with a quirky spirit. No one is real sure who the ghost is, but the spirit is terrible at haunting. Appearing as an adorable vaguely humanoid sheet of white mist, very similar to Halloween decorations. Most don’t believe in the tale, but those that do, mainly children, hang out quite a bit here in the hopes of catching a glimpse of the Spook.
Key Features: Burnt out old single floor house on Riley Hill (fits well in any suburban environment, haunted by a mysterious tiny spirit, called affectionately the Spook.
At one point a pretty nice suburban one floor house. Set up a lush hill, and flattened top of course, a covered porch, once pristine white paint and red shingle roof. Now sagging, faded, and tattered.
Yard: Wild and unkempt, as one would expect with an abandoned house. Bits of rubble still pokes out from the ground here and there.
Room 1 (Covered Porch): Now huge holes are visible in the covered porch, the front door the only really interesting thing here. Solid oak, though badly charred, topped off with a large ornate knocker shaped like a fist holding a ring.
Room 2 (Parlor): Where the family used to mingle and relax. A large pile of rubble is here, beams and the like. The local children leave ‘offerings’ for the Spook here, candy, toys, just what kids think of as necessary.
Room 3 (Bedroom): The home really only has one bedroom, so whoever lived here was quite cramped, or there wasn’t very many of them. The corner of this room is sagging, the sky partially visible through here.
Room 4 (Master Bath): At one point this was the bathroom, and quite a lavish bathroom at that. With a large clawed bathtub in the corner, huge sink with vanity mirror, and plenty of closest space. The main here is collapsed, able to walk from here to the Parlor.
Room 5 (Kitchen/Dining): A few old style appliances and kitchen necessities are in here. All burnt quite badly of course. This room’s wall is sagging as well.
No one is real sure who this ghost was, or what it was. The thing appears mostly like what kids think of when they think ghost. A misty white sheet that floats, occasionally with visible arms. Spook tries very hard to be scary but well, it is tiny, has a high pitched voice, and is quite easily scared itself. Much of this is purposefully done though, the Spook likes having fun with the children.
Supposedly those kids fleeing from abusive parents or other dangerous people speak of a terrible rage in the creature, some tormentors have just completely disappeared. At no real lose to the neighborhood.
ST 0; DX 14; IQ 12; HT 14
Will 12; Per 12; Speed 6.50; Dodge 9
Traits: Appearance (Pitiable), Bad Temper (6) (Bullies Only), Dread (Property Line), Flight (12 Move), Insubstantial (Always On), Invisible (Switchable), Sense of Duty (Kids), Reputation +3 (Locals), Telekinesis (Affects Substantial) 30, Vow (Protect those in Need).
Skills: Acting-16, Detect Lies-14, Empathy-14
(While the exact nature of the Spook is left up to you, the following is a suggestion.)
Though it is true that the “Spook House” burnt in the early sixties, strangely enough the legends date back before that. With nearly every child raised on the property reporting, “A floating sheet, glowing white, of such a friendly nature.” Over the years many have disappeared on the property, mostly drunks rumored to be abusive. Seemingly the Spook has been a staunch protector for decades.
Further digging reveals that the original owner of the property was one, William H. Mares, in 1894. Said to have been a foremost occultist, as well as a family man. Six years after construction a terrible fire started, William survived, however his pet dog did not. The dog gave up its’ own life to save the children’s. Many newspapers say that William had a special funeral on the property before leaving, infusing the land with Spook’s protective nature.
It was mostly quiet, just subtle help, until another fire struck. That riled the spirit back up, this time the Spook won’t go back to rest, it refuses to let another get hurt on the property again!
Hunting some beast preying upon the suburbs the pcs decided to strategically flee, seeing an abandoned house, with not too many curious civvies they bunker down. With the beast still on their tails. Lucky for them they found the Spook House, when the terrible thing in the night inevitably busts through the wards to feast upon the wounded and exhausted party members, the Spook butts in! Giving the pcs some much need combat support, or keeping the creatures off a helpless party member. Afterwards the pcs may even learn the history of the Spook, from the creature itself!
(I heartily recommend not having this encounter steal the party’s glory, just minor help, enough where they get a better chance but not so much where they were passive viewers.)
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