Here is another of the mysteries I made for Monster of the Week.

Yes, I know Crit Show has a Macbeth based mystery, but I honestly hadn't listened to that episode yet when I ran this. I enjoyed watching my players perform little rituals to null the curse. Though you might want to change the name of one of the NPCs or you'll beset by cries of Stella throughout the session. You've been warned!

Content Warnings: witchcraft

"The Scottish Play"

Overview

A local theater is putting on Macbeth, but the production seems cursed. Unexplained accidents, strange occurrences, and even a death have befouled the local repertoire theater at the behest of a local coven of witches. The hunters must break the curse or the theater is sure to close.

Cold Open

Hooks

Countdown

Threats

Monster

Type: Torturer (motivation: to hurt and terrify)

Simon was an inmate at the asylum. Simon delighted in discovering other people's fears and preying on them. A burlap scarecrow with the initials S.C. stitched in can be found in the asylum.

Powers:

• Touch of Fear: Instill a great fear within a hunter, forcing them to take an act under pressure to take action.

Attacks:

• Telekinesis: 0 to 3-harm ignore-armor magic. Simon can throw objects or push victims. The harm rating depends on the danger level.
• Knife: 0 to 2-harm ignore-armor close magic. Simon pummels those who get to close.

Armor: None

Harm Capacity: 8

Weakness: Rock salt, big magic exorcism, burning of the scarecrow.
Rock salt will damage Simon Crane, or prevent him from crossing a line of it. However he will remanifest if the scarecrow still exists or an exorcism has not been performed.

Dr. S. Milgram

Ghost: Executioner (motivation: to punish the guilty)

Dr. Milgram was the head doctor at the asylum before it was shutdown. During his time at the asylum, Dr. Milgram conducted dangerous and highly-controversial experiments on his patients without their consent. The doctor came to believe anger was the key to overcoming insanity. Thus he strove to drive his patients angrier and angrier so they could overwhelm their psyche and achieve sanity.

Powers:

• Hand of Rage: Drive a character mad with anger, forcing them to pass a +COOL roll to regain their composure.

Attacks:

• Electric Shock: 0 to 3-harm electric close. Dr. Milgram can send bolts of electricity through characters close to him.

Armor: None

Harm Capacity: 8

Weakness: Rock salt, big magic exorcism. Rock salt will damage Simon Crane, or prevent him from crossing a line of it. However he will remanifest if not exorcised or his bones burned.

Someone failed a COOL roll!

Locations

NEED MORE LOCATIONS

Cedar Grove Sanitarium

Location: Lab (motivation: to create weirdness)

The sanitarium is rundown from decades of disuse and a damage from a patient riot. Hunters and bystanders should feel disoriented and off-balance while in the asylum.

Custom Moves

• Manifestation: Anytime a hunter fails a +COOL or +WEIRD roll, Dr. Milgram or Simon Crane manifests nearby respectively.

Bystanders

Max Burton

Bystander: Skeptic (motivation: to deny supernatural explanations)

Max is a brash teenager who does not believe any of the rumors about the dangers of the asylum. Max tries to show his bravery by convincing his girlfriend to spend the night in the asylum with him.

Fears: Being naked in front of everyone at school, being seen as weak

Vanessa Hart

Bystander: Innocent (motivation: to do the right thing)

Vanessa is high-strung do-gooder who is going along with Max despite her own trepidations.

Fears: claustrophobia, being all alone

Charles Young

Bystander: Gossip (to pass on rumors)

A sharp-tongued bully, Charles has dared Max to spend the night in the asylum to show he isn't scared.

Fears: clowns, being caught flat-footed.