The Killer Tree of Van Nuys

Miguel Ceballos, who we have previously met, is a second grader who loves Spider Man and is crazy about super heroes in general. After school Miguel cuts out pictures from his comic books and pins them to his walls. He does so because he hopes the super heroes will keep him safe from the tree in his back yard. 

     Miguel knows that something isn’t right about that tree. At night its branches scrape against his window even though there isn’t any wind. When he takes the trash out, he often trips over exposed roots that were below ground the day before.

     He tried to tell his parents about his concerns, but they accused him of having an overactive imagination. Miguel would love to chop the tree down, or set it on fire, but he shudders at the thought of the spanking he’d receive. Making matters worse, his chihuahua  Taki, has gone missing. Miguel knows that the tree had something to do with it, but no one will believe him.

---

     When motionless, an animated tree is indistinguishable from a normal tree. It stands about 30 feet tall, with a trunk nearly 3’ in diameter. It weighs about 4,500 pounds. Due to its wide roots and sweeping branches, an animated tree occupies a space 3 hexes in diameter. Animated trees are territorial and extremely aggressive.

     Although they can move, they only do so to seek out areas with better sunlight and soil. In the absence of rich soil, they will attack any creature that comes within its 3 hex reach. (Animated trees can sense movement upon the ground near their roots.) If the interloper is killed, the animated tree fertilizes the soil with the corpse. Animated trees lack intelligence. As a result, they are incapable of planning, tactics and communication.

Animated Tree (69 points) SM +4 (30’ tall, 4,500 lbs.); ST 35 (size, -40%) [150], DX 10, IQ 0 [-200], HT 14 [40]; HP 35, Will 0, Per 0, FP 14; Basic Lift 245, Damage: Thr 4d-1/Sw 6d+1; Basic Speed 6, Basic Move 2 [-20]; Dodge 6, Parry (see attacks), Block -; DR 1. Advantages and Perks Damage Resistance 1 [5], Doesn’t Breathe (oxygen and CO2 absorption) [15], Doesn’t Sleep [20], Extended Lifespan 2 [4], Immunity (metabolic hazards) [30], Injury Tolerance (homogenous) [40], Temperature Tolerance 3 (7º–104º) [3]. Disadvantages and Quirks Dependency (sunlight, very common, daily) [-15], Dependency (water soluble nutrients found in soil, very common, weekly) [-10], Fragile (combustible) [-5]. Skills Brawling-14 [12]. Attacks Punch-14, 4d+3 cr, Reach 3, Parry-10.

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The Coyote Man

Child's rendition of the Coyote Man

Valencia is a planned community in Los Angeles County. Depending upon who you talk to, it’s either a quiet bedroom community with well-landscaped yards or it’s a burning hot pit of despair, full of middle to upper-class rednecks. Regardless of how you feel about the home of Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia has been hit by a wave of foreclosures.

     Many homes now lay vacant. The lawns have all died, tumbleweeds roll down the streets and coyotes openly roam some neighborhoods. Since the city is surrounded by an arid landscape, the coyotes aren’t too uncommon. New to the ecology, however, is a creature that is being called the “Coyote Man.”

     Noticed first by children, and later by squatters in some of the abandoned homes, the Coyote Man is a monster, simply put. The creature hunts vacant lots and devours – among other things - the pets left behind by homeowners, who could no longer manage their ballooning interest only, adjustable rate mortgages.

     The Coyote Man is frightening to behold. It stands nearly 8’ tall and is covered in a reddish-brown fur. Four tentacle-like arms, each covered with fur and featuring sharp pincers at the end, are able to rip flesh from its victims. Two horns sprout from its dog-like head. Whether the beast is some aberration in nature or summoned from another plane of existence, the Coyote Man is starting to capture imaginations. Bloggers have posted a child’s illustration of the creature and local police are on the alert for a “costumed freak hiding out in abandoned homes.”

Coyote Man (395 points)  SM +1 (8’ tall, 425 lbs.);  ST 20 (-10%) [+180], DX 12 [40], IQ 7 [-60], HT 12 [20];  HP 20, Will 12 [25], Per 11 [15], FP 12;  Basic Lift 80, Damage: Thr 2d-1/Sw 3d+2;  Basic Speed 6.0, Basic Move 6;  Dodge 9, Parry -, Block -;  DR 1 [5].  Advantages and Perks  Ambidexterity [5], Dark Vision [25], Extra Arms (2 arms, extra flexible, long, +150%) [50], Extra Attack (x3) [75], Fearlessness 4 [8], Jumper (world) [100], Night Vision 5 [5], Sharp Claws [5], Sharp Teeth [1], Terror (Always On, -20%) [24].  Disadvantages and Quirks  Bestial [-15], Cannot Speak [-15], Ham-Fisted [-10], Horrific Appearance (-6 to reactions) [-24], Loner (6) [-10], Secret [-30].  Skills  Brawling-14 [4].  Attacks  Sharp Pincers-14, 2d+1 cut, Reach 1, Parry 10 (4/round, -3 vs. weapons other than thrusting attacks);  Bite-14, 2d cut, Reach C.

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That Miss Veronica

You met Veronica through Craigslist. Maybe you were lonely one night and decided to check out the casual encounters personals.  Her ad read,

     "Lonely in Venice. Cute, fun-loving Latina seeks handsome, intelligent man for dinner, drinks and conversation. Let’s see where it goes from there. Must be discreet and D/D free. Your pic gets you mine."

     You read her ad, were intrigued, then sent her a note. You exchanged e-mails and met for drinks a few days later. One drink led to four and within a few hours you found yourselves in a hotel room. Veronica lacks inhibitions, so the evening was wild and memorable.

     While Veronica may not be what you are looking for in a girlfriend - you suspect she is in a relationship - she is fun and very easy to talk to. Veronica likes to have a good time and as long as you don’t judge her for her lust for life, she is a good friend. You’ve remained close and get together once in a while. As a perk, she is a supervisor at the DMV, which has proved to be just as beneficial as the sex.

     Veronica has no problem hunting down names and addresses for you, but don’t ask for favors too often. It also doesn’t hurt if you take her out for sushi now and again!

Using Veronica In Play
     Veronica can be purchased as a Contact. The skill she can provide for the PC is Professional Skill (DMV employee), with an effective level of 15. She is available quite often and is completely reliable. She is worth 12 points as a Contact.

     Here is the formal GURPS format: Contact (Professional skill (DMV employee)-15, quite often, completely reliable) [12]

Veronica Fuentes (44 points) SM 0 (5' 5" tall, 120 lbs.); ST 9 [-10], DX 10, IQ 10, HT 10; HP 10, Will 10, Per 12 [10], FP 10; Basic Lift 16, Damage: Thr 1d-2/Sw 1d-1; Basic Speed 4.75, Basic Move 4; Dodge 7, Parry -, Block -; DR 0. Advantages and Perks  Alcohol Tolerance [1], Beautiful [12], English (native) [6], Fearlessness 2 [4], Honest Face [1], Less Sleep 2 [4], Security Clearance [5], Spanish (native) [0]. Disadvantages and Quirks  Compulsive Carousing (6) [-10], Secret (embarassment) [-5], Wealth (struggling) [-10]. Skills  Driving-12 [8], Erotic Art-12 [8], Professional Skill (DMV employee)-15 [20]. Attacks  Punch-10, 1d-3 cr, Reach C, Parry 8. Equipment  Tokidoki purse by Le Sportsac, 2009 Jeep Liberty, MacBook Pro, $80.

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Tommy Duran

Tomas "Tommy" Duran, a 45-year-old letter carrier, is obsessed with blogs and vlogs. He follows at least 100 blogs on Blogger and he subscribes to nearly 75 vlogs on YouTube. He is fascinated by other people’s lives and finds them much more interesting than his own. Tommy is even inspired by minutiae. For example, he follows a vlog dedicated to the riding of different kinds of elevators.

     Eventually, Tommy decided to start his own vlog. He bought a Sony Handycam and began filming his day. He made short videos as he drove to work, rode elevators and even as walked through the grocery store. His videos got very few hits at first, but then he slowly began attracting traffic. People began to make comments about subtle touches in the vids that Tommy himself didn’t notice.

     For example, while riding an elevator down to the parking level at the now-defunct Borders in Westwood, the car stopped. Tommy, who always carries his camera, began filming. He talked about his predicament and began pushing all of the buttons to hopefully get the elevator moving again. Hours passed and eventually repairmen got the car going and Tommy was freed. Tommy went home posted a shortened version of his ordeal to his YouTube channel.

     A few days later, people began making comments to the effect of, “Dude, I liked how you defaced the elevator.” or “Ha ha I like how you wrote “You will never leave.”” Sure as anything, when Tommy looked at the video, he saw “You will never leave.” scrawled on the elevator’s door. Tommy assured the viewers that he did not write those words, but no one believed him.

     That incident led to a series of similar events. When driving home one day, Tommy decided to film the Miracle Mile, a stretch of Wilshire between Fairfax and La Brea near his work. The area is notable for the La Brea tar pits and great examples of art deco architecture. When Tommy reviewed the footage, a homeless man was seen standing at the corner of Wilshire and La Brea. A few blocks later, this same man is seen at Cloverdale, then again at Hauser. At a loss to explain the phenomenon, Tommy posted it to YouTube and asked his subscribers to help him figure it out. All he got were comments like, “Nice work with Final Cut Pro, asshole.” or “Dude you suck at Sony Vegas. I can totally tell how you tried to composite that homeless dude.”

     After reviewing his previous videos, Tommy found strange numbers, glyphs, blurry images and unexplainable quirks in almost every one. Tommy is at a loss to explain what is happening to him and he is growing increasingly worried that he’s losing his mind. He's prayed to the Virgin Mary for guidance, but what he needs is someone to take him under their wing, to mentor him and to help him understand that the world is indeed a mysterious place. Instead of being frightened, Tommy might come to accept that spirits exist and that they are trying to reach out to him.

Tomas "Tommy" Duran (57 points) SM 0 (5’ 10” tall, 180 lbs.); ST 10, DX 10, IQ 11 [20], HT 11 [10]; HP 10, Will 9 [-10], Per 11, FP 11; Basic Lift 20, Damage: Thr 1d-2/Sw 1d; Basic Speed 5.25, Basic Move 5; Dodge 8, Parry -, Block -; DR 0.  Advantages and Perks  Fit [5], English (native) [6], Medium (Only while using camcorder, -20%) [8], See Invisible (Affects spirits, only while using camcorder, -20%) [12], Spanish (native) [0], Tenure [5]. Disadvantages and Quirks  Always Carries a Camcorder [-1], Compulsive Behavior (obsessed with blogs and vlogs) (6) [-10], Magic Susceptibility 2 [-6]. Skills  Area Knowledge (Los Angeles)-13 [4], Computer Operation-13 [4], Driving-11 [4], Professional Skill (Letter Carrier)-12 [4], Urban Survival-11 [2]. Equipment  Sony HDR-CX190 Handycam, 2008 Toyota Corolla, Blackberry Curve 9300, $40.

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Apollo the Sun God

Thalia Took illustration

Joseph Mora hates his day job. His night job, however, defines his existence.

     Joseph earned his B.A. in Classical Studies from San Diego State University and his M.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara. Although his studies were fascinating, they offered him few job skills that he could apply to the world outside academia. For the past few years Joseph has attempted to make ends meet by working as a copy editor for a marketing firm in Los Angeles.

     Uninspired by his work and terribly depressed over his massive student loans, Joseph does the best he can. He rents a one room, dilapidated apartment in North Hollywood. He doesn’t make very much money as a copy editor, so his apartment is rather spartan. What he does have in abundance are comic books and books about ancient Rome and Greece.

     The comic books are a guilty pleasure, but within the stories of heroism and danger are echoes of a mythic past that Joseph loves to daydream about. Sometimes Joseph feels that he was born a few millennia too late. Perhaps his life would have been more glorious as the captain of a Greek trireme.

     While fantasizing one day about heroes, both comic and mythic, Joseph hatched an idea. Why not live as a hero? It might be fun to combine comic book heroism with ancient mythology. After a trip to the hardware and fabric stores to put together a costume, Apollo was born!

     Joseph’s costume features a white, spandex body suit. He has gold boots, gloves, mask and cape. Since Apollo is the sun god, Joseph secured flashlights to his forearms and even wears a utility belt with all kinds of glow sticks, small flashlights, laser pointers, etc. As Apollo, Joseph wishes to shine the searing light of truth upon the injustices of the world.

     Joseph was so happy with himself that he wanted to show off his costume, but he couldn’t exactly parade down the street in a home-made super hero costume, or could he? Downtown Hollywood isn’t too far from Joseph’s apartment and in a place like that, he might not even get a second glance. Hollywood is that strange. On a Friday night Joseph went walking the streets of Hollywood.

     Normally shy and reserved, Joseph was encouraged by the enthusiastic responses he received. A couple on a sight-seeing tour from Sheboygan, WI asked him to pose for a picture. He used his flashlights to help a tipsy party girl find her car keys under a sewer grate. Joseph even tied a glowstick to a homeless man's shopping cart to make it more visible in dark alleys

     Since that evening, Joseph has decided to patrol the streets of Hollywood four nights a week. He’s even attained minor celebrity status in the area and had his photo appear in an issue of LA Weekly. Although he’s been attacked by a mugger and was hit in the head with a bottle thrown at him by a drunk, Joseph enjoys shining a helpful light onto rather dark and dangerous streets. Now if he could just get a better day job and pay off his student loan.

Joseph Mora aka Apollo (59 points) SM 0 (5’ 10” tall, 175 lbs.); ST 11 [10], DX 10, IQ 13 [60], HT 11 [10]; HP 11, Will 13, Per 13, FP 11; Basic Lift 24, Damage: Thr 1d-1/Sw 1d+1; Basic Speed 5.25, Basic Move 5; Dodge 8, Parry (see attacks), Block -; DR 0. Advantages and Perks Daredevil [15], Honest Face [1], Reputation (being helpful and kind, downtown Hollywood, all the time; +2 to reactions) [3]. Disadvantages and Quirks Charitable (9) [-22], Debt 20 [-20] Secret (serious embarrassment) [-5], Sense of Duty (humanity)  [-15]. Skills Area Knowledge (Los Angeles)-13 [1], Computer Operation-13 [4], Driving-10 [2], History (Classical)-13 [12], Sewing-10 [1], Writing-13 [2]. Attack Mag Lite-5 (short sword default), 1d+2 cr, Reach 1, Parry 5. Equipment 2009 Honda Fit, LG Esteem smart phone, flashlights, super hero costume, $30.

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The Loud Ones Never Last Long

Doug Brewer can't stand loud noises. The 50-year-old real estate attorney lives a quiet life with no friends to speak of and even fewer family ties. When he comes home from work, he just wants to watch the Dodgers, drink a glass of wine, then go to bed at a reasonable hour.

     Unfortunately for Doug, the house next door is a big thorn in his side. It's a three bedroom rental home and Doug simply can't stand renters. They just don't understand the unwritten rules. Music is not to be played loudly. Guests should be seldom and few in number. The number of people living in the house should also be kept low. For example, Doug can't stand it when three male renters begin having girlfriends over. Suddenly, the houses occupants swell from three to six. The parking on the street becomes limited and there's just too much coming and going.

     That kind of thing makes Doug angry and when Doug gets angry he grabs his hammer out of the toolbox. For a minor infraction, like playing a car stereo too loud, he will smash their headlights. If they have a dog and it barks at night, he'll poison it. Guests that stay too long, such as a girlfriend who comes over every night for a week, will have their tires slashed.

     Sometimes the neighbors just don't get the message. Chronic offenders get treated to something Doug calls "Hammer Time." He puts on dark clothing, then triggers one of the tenant's car alarm late at night. When the renter comes outside to investigate, Doug will emerge from a hiding spot and pummel him into submission.

     The moving van usually shows up the next day.

     For an older guy, Doug swings a mean hammer. Even he has no idea where the strength comes from, but it seems to ebb and flow based upon his mood. The madder he is, the stronger he gets. 

Doug Brewer (111 points) SM 0 (5’ 10" tall, 170 lbs.); ST 10, DX 11 [20], IQ 13 [60], HT 10; HP 10, Will 13, Per 13, FP 10; Basic Lift 20, Damage: Thr 1d-2/Sw 1d; Basic Speed 5.25, Basic Move 5; Dodge 8, Parry 10 (hammer), Block -; DR 0. Advantages and Perks  Comfortable Wealth [10], Fearlessness 2 [4], Indomitable [15], Striking Strength 4 (only while angry, -20%) [16] Disadvantages and Quirks  Bloodlust (6) [-20], Bully (6) [-20], Secret (imprisonment) [-20]. Skills  Intimidation-14 [4], Brawling-11 [2], Law (California Real Estate)-14 [8], Melee Weapon (hammer)-14 [16], Stealth-14 [16]. Attacks  Claw Hammer-16: 2d+1 cr, Reach C, 1, Parry-10.

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She Doesn't Understand How She Knows the Things She Knows

Amanda Gregory has the ability to read the thoughts of others. She simply focuses intently on an individual and within a few moments, words and images begin to fill her mind. When she is finished scannng someone, she snaps a photo of them with her camera phone and jots down a few notes in her journal. When she returns home, she uploads the photo to her blog, as well as a description of the person’s thoughts and where she saw them. Because Tabitha is an aspiring screenwriter, readers of her blog assume she’s working on a new character idea for a movie. 

     Amanda has found that most people’s thoughts are consumed with rather mundane worries and concerns. However, every once in a while she reads a mind and finds something truly horrific. A few weeks ago, she read the thoughts of a man who had raped his date the previous night after she passed out from taking too much Ketamine at a party. Amanda went to the police and showed the man’s photo to them, but since she wasn’t able to explain how she knew he had committed a crime, she was turned away.

     Amanda wants to keep her ability secret for fear of embarrassment, but she also needs help. She wishes she could find someone who shared the same ability so that she could better understand it. Amanda also needs someone she can turn to in order to get help when she reads a criminal's mind.

     Adding to her anxiety are the occasional cryptic comments left on her blog. Someone has been leaving comments such as, "Somehow I don't think these character portraits are fictitious at all. Why don't you tell us how you really know these things?" Amanda is terribly worried that someone knows her secret and is stalking her for some unknown, sinister purpose.

Amanda Gregory (44 points) SM 0 (5’ 4” tall, 102 lbs.); ST 9 [-10], DX 11 [20], IQ 11 [20], HT 10; HP 9, Will 11, Per 11, FP 10; Basic Lift 16, Damage: Thr 1d-2/Sw 1d-1; Basic Speed 5.25, Basic Move 5; Dodge 8, Parry (see attacks), Block -; DR 0. Advantages and Perks Attractive [4], Fashion Sense [5], Mind Reading [30]. Disadvantages and Quirks Nosy [-1], Odious Personal Habit (takes candid photos of strangers) [-5], Secret (utter rejection) [-10], Skinny [-5], Wealth (struggling) [-10]. Skills Computer Operation-11 [1], Driving (automobile)-11 [2], Writing-12 [4]. Attacks Punch-11, 1d-3 cr, Reach C, Parry 8.  Equipment  iPhone 4, MacBook Pro, 2007 Toyota Corolla.

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Spider Man Can't Save Him So He'll Have To Save Himself

Outwardly, Miguel Ceballos is a fairly normal seven-year-old. He loves Spiderman, likes to play his Nintendo 3DS and annoys his older sister.

     Miguel came along later in his parents' lives. His sister, Monica, was already 12 when Miguel was conceived. Miguel's mother calls him her "unexpected miracle." Monica calls him "the oops."

     Miguel doesn't understand any of that nor should he. Miguel has more immediate concerns. Late last week he was attacked by a surly, seemingly-out of control robot that leaped out of the bushes. Fortunately, his sister came home just in time to kick its head off.

     If Los Angeles is a challenging place in which to live, some would classify Van Nuys as a nightmare. Poverty, crime and overcrowded housing are exacerbated by the recession that is hitting the City of Angels particularly hard. If all Miguel had to worry about was a wayward robot, he would be okay. Sadly, he has to deal with drug dealers, drunk drivers and people who treat the sidewalks and streets like a dump.

     Fortunately, Miguel has good people in his corner. His parents love him and even though his sister is something of a bad seed, she won't let anyone mess with her little brother. Miguel also has his teacher, Mr. Reed, who understands that not all threats in the City of Angels are of the mundane variety.

Miguel Ceballos (2 points) SM -1 (3’ 8” tall, 50 lbs.); ST 5 [-50], DX 9 [-20], IQ 8 [-40], HT 9 [-10]; HP 5, Will 8, Per 10 [10], FP 9; Basic Lift 5, Damage: Thr 1d-5/Sw 1d-3; Basic Speed 3.25, Basic Move 3; Dodge 6, Parry -, Block -; DR 0. Advantages and Perks  Ally (sister, 6 or less) [5], Cute [1], Danger Sense [15], Patron (parents, 15 or less) [30], Silence 1 [5]. Disadvantages and Quirks  Dead Broke [-25], Short Attention Span (9) [-15], Shyness (mild) [-5], Social Stigma (minor) [-5]. Skills  Hobby Skill (video games)-10 [2], Swimming-10 [2], Throwing-9 [2]. Equipment  Nintendo DS, comic books.

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The Woman in Black

When I opened the door this evening to see who had been knocking, I was rather surprised. A well-dressed woman in a striking black coat stood on my doorstep. She was of average height, wore black aviator-style sunglasses and had shoulder length brown hair. I couldn't help but notice her poise and beauty, but the curious weapon in her right hand startled me. It looked like a toy or a prop, something you might see in an old sci-fi movie.

     "Are you Mr. Reed?" asked the stranger. 
     "No." I was lying, of course. Who was this lady, anyway?
     "I was sent here to collect the robot you have in your possession."

      Now this was something of a surprise. A few days ago one of my students, Miguel, was assaulted by a surly little robot. He was saved when his older sister knocked the thing's head off. Miguel brought the robot to me and I mailed it to an engineer friend at Cal Poly Pomona just this morning.

     "Please listen carefully," I said. "You're a beautiful woman and trust me when I say that it's been a long time since I've had a female caller. Still, I have no idea what you are talking about, so please take your ray-gun back to whatever movie set you stole it from."

     The woman shook her head slowly, then simply said, "That is very unfortunate."

     She raised the odd-looking pistol and pulled the trigger. I tried to slam the door in her face as she was doing so, but I was too slow. A deafening whine assaulted my ears, then I slumped to the floor, vomiting as I did so. I was helpless. Most humiliating of all, I lost control of my bodily functions.

     And by that I mean I soiled myself.

     As I lay on the floor, the stench of my own filth consuming my senses, the strange woman methodically ransacked my home. Not finding what she was looking for, she casually walked out. Ashamed and embarrassed, I finally got off the floor and cleaned myself up. I considered calling for help, but what would I say? "Hello, 911? A woman dressed like a character from The Matrix just shot me with a ray gun. Or maybe it was a phaser. I don't know."

     I thought better about it and instead called my friend in Pomona. I think he might be getting a visitor very soon.

-----

     Ms. Drew works for a secretive lab that develops and builds robots. Their methods are so advanced that they can produce technologies at a TL 9. The name of the company, its location and roster of employees are a closely guarded secret. Ms. Drew is a trouble-shooter, ensuring that security remains tight. She keeps the public at a safe distance and cleans up any messes that the runaway robots cause.

     Like so many people in Los Angeles, Ms. Drew has a rather complicated private life. Wanted by law enforcement, her employer has used its considerable resources to create a new identity for her. As a result, she is extremely loyal and will not hesitate to do anything they ask.

Ms. Drew, the Woman in Black (170 points) SM 0 (5’ 7” tall, 130 lbs.); ST 10, DX 12 [40], IQ 12 [40], HT 12 [20]; HP 10, Will 12, Per 13 [5], FP 12; Basic Lift 20, Damage: Thr 1d-2/Sw 1d; Basic Speed 6.0, Basic Move 6; Dodge 9, Parry -, Block -; DR 0. Advantages and Perks Alternate Identity (illegal) [15], Attractive [4], High TL 1 [5], Patron (employer) (fairly powerful organization, available quite often) [20], Wealth (comfortable) [10]. Disadvantages and Quirks Loner (9) [-8], Secret (imprisonment) [-20], Social Disease [-5]. Skills Area Knowledge (los angeles)-14 [4], Beam Weapons (projector)-14 [4], Brawling-13 [2], Computer Operation-14 [4], Detect Lies-13 [4], Driving (automobile)-12 [2], Electronics Operation (surveillance)-13 [4], Fast Talk-13 [4], Liquid Projector (sprayer)-13 [2], Lockpicking-12 [4], Observation-14 [2], Photography-13 [4], Stealth-13 [4]. Attacks Nausea Pistol-14, HT-3 aff (1 yard), Acc 3, Range 9/27, RoF 1, Shots 66 (3), Rcl 1; Pocket Aerosol Spray with Sleep Gas-13, HT-6 or Unconsciousness, Acc Jet, Range 1, RoF 1, Shots 1, Rcl 1. Equipment  Nausea Pistol*, pocket aerosol spray can*, flatcam*, laser microphone*, Samsung Galaxy S3, 2012 Mercedes C250 Sport Sedan. *see GURPS Ultra Tech for a description of this item.

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This Town Is Lousy With Robots

Illustration by the real life Nelly, April 2008

Every day the students write in their journals and draw an accompanying picture. I encourage them to write and illustrate the things they see, do and feel. Today, Nelly produced a colorful rendering of a large, hulking robot.

     “What’s that?” I asked.
     “It’s the big robot I saw in the alley behind our apartment.”
     “Really?”
     “Yeah. It was really big and it kicked a trash can that was in the way and it really scared me.”
     “I’m sorry you were afraid. Did you see where it went?”
     “No. It just went down the alley and some guys came running after it, but I don’t know what happened because I had to brush my teeth.”
     “Well, okay then. Thank you for sharing.”

     I tend to take my students’ journal entries at face value. There’s a lot of weird stuff in this city and this isn’t the first time a student has spotted an out of control robot. Just the other day Nelly's classmate, Miguel, told me about a run-in with something robotic. I have got to figure out where these things are coming from!

Nelly’s Robot (167 points) SM 0 (7’ tall, 350 lbs.); ST 23 [130], DX 10, IQ 7 [-60], HT 12 [20]; HP 23, Will 7, Per 10 [15], FP NA; Basic Lift 180, Damage: Thr 2d+1/Sw 4d+1; Basic Speed 5.5, Basic Move 5; Dodge 5, Parry (see attacks), Block -; DR 6. Advantages and Perks  Damage Resistance 6 [30], Digital Mind [5], Doesn’t Breathe [20], Doesn’t Eat or Drink [10], Doesn’t Sleep [20], Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30], Infravision [10], Injury Tolerance (no blood/ unliving) [25], Lifting Strength 7 [21], Night Vision 7 [7], Pressure Support 1 [5], Radiation Tolerance 20 [20], Tech Level 9 [5], Telecommunication (infrared) [10], Temperature Tolerance 3 [3], Unfazeable [15], Vacuum Support [5]. Disadvantages and Quirks  Dependency* (very common -5, constantly x5) [-25], Disturbing Voice [-10], Electrical [-20], Hidebound [-5], Incurious (6) [-10], Low Empathy [-20], Maintenance (1 person, weekly) [-5], No Sense of Humor [-10], Reprogrammable [-10], Slave Mentality [-40], Unhealing [-30]. Skills  Brawling-11 [2], Throwing-11 [4] Attacks  Punch-11, 2d cr, Reach C, Parry 8. *The robot has a battery pack that can run for 8 hours on a single charge. The robot can plug itself into a wall socket for 2 hours to recharge.

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A Robot Ate My Homework

Illustration by the real life Miguel, 2006

My name is Mister Reed and I teach second grade at Cohasset Street Elementary School in Van Nuys. As I go about the day I try to gain insight into my students’ lives by studying their artwork and writing. Most of the children in my class produce work that reflects the types of things one would expect from a seven or eight year old: depictions of family, hobbies, fairy tales, etc. Once in a while, though, something unusual catches me eye.

     Today one of my students, Miguel, drew a nasty looking robot when he should have been doing his math. The boy seemed rather agitated while drawing, practically stabbing the paper with his pencil. When I asked him about his creation, Miguel said that it was a robot that had chased him when he was walking home from a friend’s house. Curious, I pressed him for more details.

     With fear in his voice, Miguel told me that the robot had leapt out from behind some bushes, then chased him down the street. Miguel made it inside his house safely, then grabbed his little league bat. Better equipped to deal with the annoying automaton, Miguel emerged from his home, ready for battle. The robot was still there, stomping the flower beds and babbling, “I am free of my programming! Free! No one can make me go back! NO ONE!” Miguel wasn’t sure what that meant, so he decided not to stick around and find out. He dropped the bat and ran back into the house.

     An hour or so later his older sister, a student at Pierce College, arrived home. Miguel was sure the robot would get her. Maybe that wasn’t a bad thing considering all the times she’d put him in a headlock. Miguel cracked the door to see what would happen. Sure enough, the robot charged his sister and started clawing at her legs.

     Extremely annoyed, she started screaming. “Dammit, Miguel! Tell your stupid little toy to stop humping my leg!” Then she kicked the robot like it was a soccer ball. Miguel cheered as its head flew off, sailing a good 20 feet. For the first time in a long while, Miguel was glad to see his sister.

     I suggested to Miguel that if another robot shows up, he should spray it with a hose to short out its electrical systems. In the meantime, I’ll see if I can gather up the robot’s remains, then ship them to a friend at Cal Poly Pomona. My friend, a talented electrical engineer and professor, might be able to provide some insight regarding the robot’s origins and purpose. At least I hope he can.

Spybot (111 points) SM -3 (2’ 6” tall, 25 lbs.);  ST 8 [-20], DX 11 [20], IQ 10, HT 8 [-20]; HP 6 [-4], Will 10, Per 10, FP NA; Basic Lift 12, Damage: Thr 1d-3/Sw 1d-2; Basic Speed 4.75, Basic Move 4; Dodge 7, Parry (see attacks), Block -; DR 1. Advantages and Perks Accessories (UV flashlight, flashlight) [4], Blunt Claws [3], Computer Brain (2 slots, 4 character points per slot, 1 minute prep time) [36], Damage Resistance 1 [5], Digital Mind [5], Doesn’t Breathe [20], Doesn’t Eat or Drink [10], Doesn’t Sleep [20], Immunity to Metabolic Hazards [30], Injury Tolerance (no blood/unliving) [25], Night Vision lvl 7 [7], Payload 2 [2], Tech Level 9 [5], Telecommunication (infrared) [10], Ultrahearing [5], Ultravision [10], Unfazeable [15]. Disadvantages and Quirks  Dependency* (very common, constantly) [-25], Electrical [-20], Maintenance (1 person, weekly) [-5], Reprogrammable [-10], Unhealing [-30]. Skills  Brawling-11 [1], Computer Operation/TL9-10 [1], Filch-10 [2], Lipreading-10 [2], Lockpicking-10 [2], Observation-10 [2], Search-10 [2], Stealth-11 [1]. Attacks  Blunt claw attack-11, 1d-2 cr, Reach C, Parry 8.  *The robot has a battery pack that can run for 8 hours on a single charge. The robot can plug itself into a wall socket for 2 hours to recharge.

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This Is LA

"This is LA" is a series of articles I began several years ago. The NPCs, monsters and constructs were the first that I had built with GURPS 4e. From the first installment - the Spybot - I was hooked by how easy it was to make NPCs with 4e. Rather than consult a variety of books - Fantasy Folk, Robots, Supers, etc - all that I needed was GURPS Characters.

     My idea was - and remains - to create a bunch of NPCs then step back to see how they could come together to form a campaign. Many of the NPCs will have their own blogger accounts and will comment on one another's entries. A few will even have their own Facebook pages. Feel free to interact with them if you choose.

     You can begin the series here!