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The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:25 am
by Cybermancer
Those of you over at the Lazlo Society might be wondering about the origins of the Hallway Monster.

It's REAL!

Well, no, not really. It's based on the real imaginary monster I made up as a kid. I didn't like going into the stairwells of that building because they stank. So my childish mind anthromo.... made up a monster that lived in the stairwells. It looks like the creatures from the Planet of the Apes, because I had watched those movies recently with my parents.

There really was a silo across the street (and across a feild) from my old home. A little girl really did die in there. Long before I was ever born.

Anyway, I was driving by the old neighborhood a little while ago during a trip home to see the family. My folks live on a farm now, well into the country while this old neighborhood is now solidly within the city limits. There were changes of course and I wondered idlely where my old monster friend was living these days, what with all the development that had occurred in the intervening years.

Then it occurred to me that it might make an interesting story/adventure idea so I used Nemesis to introduce it on Lazlo. As time went on, I realized that Nemesis probably wouldn't sit idle about the situation overly long. So that's how we came to where we are now.

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:35 am
by mrloucifer
Ive been digging the Hallway Monster idea, you should consider fleshing out stats and whatnot.

Did you ever figure out what the smell was from in that hallway?

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:14 pm
by Cybermancer
I'm pretty sure it was chemical cleaners combined with weed. It's hard to be sure, 20+ years later, you know? :)

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:27 pm
by mrloucifer
Cybermancer wrote:I'm pretty sure it was chemical cleaners combined with weed. It's hard to be sure, 20+ years later, you know? :)


Much nicer than my memory then. I knew a guy who lived in this rancid aprt building, there was a stairwell that smelled of urine (think the restrooms at a dive bar but with poor ventilation).

I think my memory is much more fitting to the horror aspect of this game. :-P

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:20 pm
by Cybermancer
Thank you, Petite Elf-Girl. I do try to be entertaining. :)

I suppose I should work out some crunchy bits for this thing.

One of the toughest things to get around is why it haunts stairwells and maybe hallways but doesn't like the elevator. This made perfect sense to me when I was, like 7 or 8 but not so much now. I reasoned to some extent that it liked stairwells because they're like it's home, the Silo. but an elevator shaft is like a silo also. Maybe it's afraid of the carriage? One or two bad encounters might have convinced it to stick to the stair wells.

It would avoid halls because it wants to avoid being seen, especially by adults. While it's scary to kids, I think the thing is weaker than your typical adult (2D6 for Strength and endurance maybe). Somehow, as a kid I always knew that any adult could protect me from this 'stranger'.

The fact that I never actually saw this thing as a kid (because it's not real) got me to thinking that in the BtS setting it would avoid being seen and project it's image into the minds of children (who are more receptive). So it's definitely a psychic. It either enjoys or feeds on fear. Though I want it to be mostly mortal so I think 'enjoy' will be the way to go.

I've decided that it's stink helps reduce a victems natural defenses against it's powers. Plus have some physical properties in it's own right.

I'll try and work out some more crunch and fluff this weekend if I get a chance.

I almost feel sorry for Nemesis. The Assassin is making all sorts of mistakes and feeling entirely too vulnerable right now. Which is how I figure someone who is more or less normal (from their perspective, anyway) should feel in a situation like this.

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:37 pm
by Cybermancer
Suggestions are more than welcome. :)

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:39 pm
by mrloucifer
Cybermancer wrote:Thank you, Petite Elf-Girl. I do try to be entertaining. :)

I suppose I should work out some crunchy bits for this thing.

One of the toughest things to get around is why it haunts stairwells and maybe hallways but doesn't like the elevator. This made perfect sense to me when I was, like 7 or 8 but not so much now. I reasoned to some extent that it liked stairwells because they're like it's home, the Silo. but an elevator shaft is like a silo also. Maybe it's afraid of the carriage? One or two bad encounters might have convinced it to stick to the stair wells.

It would avoid halls because it wants to avoid being seen, especially by adults. While it's scary to kids, I think the thing is weaker than your typical adult (2D6 for Strength and endurance maybe). Somehow, as a kid I always knew that any adult could protect me from this 'stranger'.

The fact that I never actually saw this thing as a kid (because it's not real) got me to thinking that in the BtS setting it would avoid being seen and project it's image into the minds of children (who are more receptive). So it's definitely a psychic. It either enjoys or feeds on fear. Though I want it to be mostly mortal so I think 'enjoy' will be the way to go.

I've decided that it's stink helps reduce a victems natural defenses against it's powers. Plus have some physical properties in it's own right.

I'll try and work out some more crunch and fluff this weekend if I get a chance.

I almost feel sorry for Nemesis. The Assassin is making all sorts of mistakes and feeling entirely too vulnerable right now. Which is how I figure someone who is more or less normal (from their perspective, anyway) should feel in a situation like this.


This is good material... keep working this lead amigo, it will take you somewhere.

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:28 pm
by Sir Neil
Cybermancer wrote:As time went on, I realized that Nemesis probably wouldn't sit idle about the situation overly long.

I'm glad. I really wanted him to go back there.

Also, he ought to buy an XDM9. It is a 9mm pistol that holds 19+1 rounds.

Re: hee hee

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:57 pm
by mrloucifer
Petite Elfgirl wrote:
Sir Neil wrote:
Cybermancer wrote:As time went on, I realized that Nemesis probably wouldn't sit idle about the situation overly long.

I'm glad. I really wanted him to go back there.

Also, he ought to buy an XDM9. It is a 9mm pistol that holds 19+1 rounds.

:lol: I'm going to quote Huntress here.
Huntress wrote: “You boys and your toys.” :roll:

:-P :wink:


Wow... you doing Huntress proud :)

Re: The devil's workshop . . .

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:26 pm
by mrloucifer
Petite Elfgirl wrote:
Lazy hands may be the devil's workshop, but a bored girl at a computer is the devil's playground. :twisted:


That's hawt.

Re: Thanks!

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:30 pm
by mrloucifer
Petite Elfgirl wrote:
mrloucifer wrote:
Petite Elfgirl wrote:
Lazy hands may be the devil's workshop, but a bored girl at a computer is the devil's playground. :twisted:


That's hawt.

Thank you. 8-)


No, thank you ;)

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:36 pm
by Cybermancer
Sir Neil wrote:I'm glad. I really wanted him to go back there.

Also, he ought to buy an XDM9. It is a 9mm pistol that holds 19+1 rounds.


Well, it's not like Nemesis could let any one else handle this (something I realized after I posted). It would reveal entirely to much about their background. The Assassin may yet learn right from wrong.

I suspect that Nemesis will be sticking to larger caliber rounds for a little while yet. Although a back-up weapon might be procured at some point.

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 4:54 pm
by Cybermancer
Yeah, I suppose now that I've sent Nemesis down that path, I have to follow up. Right now, I imagine it's bedtime for the Assassin. This gives others a chance to respond before I have to post the next sequence.

Prolly have the hunt for the creatures lair start tomorrow morning (ie: When I wake up).

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:00 pm
by mrloucifer
I look forward to watching it unfold :)

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:03 pm
by Cybermancer
Thanks mrloucifer,

I didn't think Nemesis had any fans, to be honest. I didn't actually set out to start a story arc or RP at all. It was just one of those things that once started, from a character perspective, made sense to continue.

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:04 pm
by mrloucifer
Cybermancer wrote:Thanks mrloucifer,

I didn't think Nemesis had any fans, to be honest. I didn't actually set out to start a story arc or RP at all. It was just one of those things that once started, from a character perspective, made sense to continue.


Those are usually the best kind of stories.

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:39 pm
by Cybermancer
Well, this being based on my experiences as opposed to those of Nemesis, the old neighborhood would be a good deal east of where you're thinking, Mephisto. As in London Ontario (so a wee ways south as well).

As for where it's happening for Nemesis... I have no idea. I do picture a city somewhere out east with a population of 200,000-400,000. Maybe in the USA or maybe in Canada. I haven't narrowed things down that much yet.

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:10 pm
by mrloucifer
I dunno, it seems to match several rural areas I know of out here in the Nebraska/Iowa area.

Re: The Hallway monster

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:48 pm
by Cybermancer
That's the great thing about being vague. It allows the reader to fill in the blanks in their own mind.