by Mike Young
and Scott David Grey |
This game was written at Intercon XIV in Boston, Mass during
a particularly interesting and enlightening opening ceremonies. At
least, I assume it was enlightening and interesting; Scott and I were busy
writing this game. For the record, Scott prefers the name Heiferdammerung.
Feel free to refer to the game in any way you wish.
The game explores the last minutes of a herd of
cattle as they travel through the Abattoir. It probably shouldn't
take longer than 10 minutes to play. You might want to have two GMs
working in concert, one to handle player questions and one to describe the
things that are happening to the kine.
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Game Prep
All you need to do is cut out the handouts below and give them to the players.
The game starts in an open field where the cows can congregate for a
few minutes and build up relationships. Explain to them that they
all understand each other except that none of them understand Spooky.
After a few minutes, the GMs lead the players (with the Udan Calf in
the lead) down a hallway. They should tell the Udan Calf that the
passageway is new and strange. (The abattoir has recently been mechanized,
but the players don't know that).
The following things then happen in order. Give a bit of time
between each event.
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The cows get ropes slipped over their necks
(including the Udan Calf) and led past sluices filled with blood.
There is the smell of fear. Booster and Looie can break free of
the ropes and free the others. Don't tell them they can do this;
wait until they try. Do, however, tell Georgia that this place is
strange and unfamiliar.
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They come to an automated nailgun.
However, it fires nothing as the farmhands forgot to fill it.
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Winches come with meathooks.
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The winches try to grab the cows by the
hooves. Cows who try to dodge aren't grabbed, but there is no
place to walk, but ahead. Byron and Bessie cannot dodge the hooks.
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The hooked cows are hoisted up and swung upside
down and continue along the corridor. Free cows have the option of
continuing on or waiting here. There is no place to walk but
ahead.
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The cows are told of slashing, rotating knives 3
minutes ahead. What do you do? What do you do?
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Heiferdammerung.
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Print these,
cut 'em out,
and give them to the players. |
Handouts
You are Bessie
You were the Prime Milker of your herd. But times are hard and
your milk has dried up. People just don't appreciate you as they
did before. Just once more, before the end – you can sense the end
is near – you would like to be loved. Then you would be happy.
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You are Laika
You are a young female cow, just entering maturity. You have such
hopes and dreams. You want to be a Prime Milker someday like Bessie,
or a leader like Georgia, or have a calf like Elsie. You have so
much to look forward to.
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You are Boomer
You are Elsie’s calf, a young male cow.
You are happy to play and frolic in the fields with your best
friend, Looie. Suddenly today, some gruff farm hands came by
and snatched you up. You saw them rounding your mother up
too. You wonder what is going on.
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You are Spooky
You are the old ghost cow, killed just… Well,
cows (even ghost cows) can't tell time… Anyhow, you were killed in
this place, before you could rescue your own beloved calf... You try
to lead the cows to safety, but they cannot understand your eerie
mooing.
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You are Booster
You are a steer. You aren't that smart,
but you are pretty strong. You like to eat grass and pretty
flowers. You are in love with Laika, but are too shy to tell
her.
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You are Elsie
You could have been the Prime Milker.
You should have been leader. No. Those jobs went to
others. You still have that chance. You donut know where
you are heading, but you are sure that you can lead. You have
a calf named Boomer whom you love and wish to
protect.
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You are Looie
You are a young calf and a natural
follower. You will do what you are told to. You get very
upset when cattle argue and fight. Your best friend is a young
calf named Boomer.
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You are Byron
You are an older steer. You have seen
many herds enter this place and never leave. Last month, the
humans made changes to the inside, so your trip might be different
but you aren't sure how. You are old and depressed; a good
characterization hint would be Eeyore.
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You are Georgia, The Udan Calf
You know the way. You are experienced
and the natural leader of the herd. It is very important that
all follow you. You have been here before with different
herds. It isn't so bad, really, and you get yummy grass and
Purina Cattle Chow when it’s all over.
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