One Night in Swamptown

Agents investigate a crashed plane carrying biohazardous waste in a Floridian swamp

Introduction

Burning Blood

A sub-cellular form of life similar to virus that is capable of infecting animal bodies by replacing all fluids. In vertebrates, when the cerebro-spinal fluid is replaced, the burning blood will take over its host’s body by stimulating the brain and nervous system. An infected host becomes steadily more hostile, violent, and tough. Left to their own devices, hosts will simply hide away, emerging from hiding only to kill and eat, but they will react violently to discovery by any people or animals they encounter. In late stages of the infection, more of the burning blood will seep from an infected person’s pores and orifices. In its free-standing form, it is a red liquid similar to fresh blood. It does not clot or change color, but it will dissipate quickly and become inert in water.

Agents who come into direct contact with the blood of a victim have a 50% chance to be infected in turn, losing 1d6 INT per hour until they reach zero. There is no cure.

The burning blood initially appeared in Spain in the 1970s, spreading slowly in Europe and South America. Knowledge of the disease was quashed by international agreement, and knowledge of the unnatural nature of the disease is limited to the US and a few other countries which were able to preserve samples of the liquid. To the few members of the public health services aware of its existence at all, the burning blood is simply recognized as a severe symptom of various hemorrhagic fevers. Anyone who witnesses a late-stage transformation is forced into silence.

Geodesica

A biotechnology company founded by Glenn Marsh, a former member of a FEMA Disaster Medical Assistance Team. He witnessed an infection by the burning blood in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita that appeared to cure a victim’s paraplegia and has been trying to locate a sample ever since. He was warned off by federal agents early on and has been keeping a low profile, so his activities have never been flagged by the Program itself.

Geodesica bribed the pilot of a flight carrying samples of the burning blood (detailed below) to bring the plane down and has hired mercenaries to retrieve the samples. The mercenaries may know the name “Geodesica,” but nothing more.

Recent events

A late-stage burning blood infection was recently discovered in Panama. The victim, one Camila Garcia, was killed by local police when she attempted to attack them. Per agreement with the US, her body was transported to the Soto Cano air base in Honduras. From there, the body was transported via courier plane to the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases. It never arrived. The plane apparently crashed at 1:00 AM in the Big Cypress National Preserve, just north of the Florida Everglades. No transmission was received before the plane went down. The weather was stormy, and the storm will continue until morning.

Briefing

The agents are gathered in the Miami FBI field office at 3:00 AM. They are told about the plane’s disappearance and its cargo - agents who are part of the program will get most of the story, but outsiders will simply be told that it is a highly infectious virus. They are instructed to secure the site. No outside interference is expected to have played a role, but if it did, they are instructed to retrieve the samples and contain any possible victims.

Agents will be provided with a swamp buggy and wilderness survival equipment by the National Park Service at Tamiami Ranger Station. Minimal support is available, as it is the middle of the night. Local police will be blocking the roads, and additional federal support to contain the crash site is expected to arrive in the morning.

Big Cypress

Big Cypress Preserve is hot, humid, and dark. It smells of greenery and decay, and the thunderstorm makes visibility low. The preserve is also mostly flooded due to the storm. The agents can attempt a Drive or Navigate roll to arrive at the crash site quickly - or, at less risk, a non-driver may attempt a Search roll while riding. If these attempts are successful, the agent will notice the sound of a motor coming from an unidentifiable location ahead. Agents may attempt to track these sounds down before seeing the crash site; if they do, they will find the oil field. Remember that time is passing during this operation - as the sun comes up, driving will become easier.

The Crash Site

The plane, a U28-A Draco, is half-sunk into the swamp, with its wings sheared off and bits of metal dangling from nearby trees. A hole gapes from the rear of the fuselage. Investigation reveals the hole was made with explosives, from the outside.  Close to the crash site, a human hand is found buried in the swamp, wrapped in plastic. The plastic wrap is stained with blood and tattered, and the hand appears to have been bitten off at the wrist. The cockpit is mostly buried in the muck, but by cleaning off the outside, agents will be able to see that the inside of the windshield is covered in blood at a cost of 0/1d4 SAN from violence. A few dozen feet away there are tracks heading through the trees towards the oilfield (described below).

Inside the plane, agents will find a large metal casket, bolted to the floor, open, packed with dry ice, and steaming. Within the casket is a plastic chest, and inside the chest are a human left arm and both legs, each individually wrapped in plastic, sitting in a pool of burning blood in liquid form. The chest smells sour, but not like decay. Looking in the chest causes 1/1d4 SAN damage from unnatural.

Beyond the casket, there is a door to the cabin. Within, the pilot and copilot are sitting dead with bullets in their heads. Two 9mm bullet casings can be found on the floor. The scene causes 1/1d4 SAN damage (unless the agent has already investigated the windshield). The pilot has a map in his pocket, on which are marked “radio cutout,” “engine failure,” and “field” at three different subsequent locations along the flight path.

If the pilots stay at the crash site until backup arrives, they are stalked by the infected alligator until day breaks.

The Oilfield

If the agents decide to search for the mercenaries or follow the tracks near the crash site, they will find their way to an abandoned oil field. Across an open field, they can see a ramshackle building with metal siding and a flare stack, both close to the opposite treeline. There is an SUV parked near the building, in which are Camila’s head and torso, packed in a cooler. Careful observation will reveal a figure standing atop the flare stack looking down across the field. This is Albert, who is currently infected with the burning blood. He will open fire if he catches sight of the agents.

If the agents sneak around the treeline to the back, they will overhear Conrad and Damien arguing inside. They are discussing a fourth person named Bearnice who Albert locked into the bathroom - it becomes apparent that she murdered the pilots against orders. Conrad and Damien feel they are in over their heads, but they are afraid of Albert, who is their commander and who is the only one with keys to the vehicle.

If the agents have not taken any steps to guard against the alligator and stop to listen to the two argue, it  will attack. In the ensuing confusion, the agents may attempt to sway Conrad and Damien to their side.

If Conrad and Damien are approached quietly, they can be persuaded to help take Albert and Bearnice into custody. Bearnice is indeed locked in the bathroom. She is a psychopath who murdered the pilots in cold blood, but is not infected. Albert will come down from the tower if he hears any noise from the building. Alternatively, at dawn, as his infection progresses, he will come down, planning to kill everyone and disappear into the swamp. If confronted at any time before this, he will attack.

The Alligator

After finding the crash site, the agents will be stalked by an alligator infected by the burning blood who consumed most of Camila Garcia’s arm. Agents with a Survival above 70 should notice they are being watched automatically, and agents can roll Search or Survival to notice as well. If they succeed, they will also notice a sour smell similar to the chest in the crashed plane. They will be attacked if one of them is ever alone, if they try to leave on their buggy, or at dawn, if the alligator is nearby. The alligator will not attack Albert, but will attack anyone else indiscriminately.

Statblocks

Conrad, Damien, and Bearnice (Geodesica mercenaries)

STR 12 CON 12 DEX 10 INT 10 POW 10 CHA 10

HP 12 WP 10 SAN 50

SKILLS: Alertness 60% Athletics 60% Drive 60% Swim 60%

ATTACKS:

Assault rifle, firearms 60% lethality 10% KR 1-3 meters

Grenade, heavy weapons 60% lethality 15% KR 10 meters

Albert

STR 15 CON 15 DEX 13 INT 5 POW 10 CHA 5

HP 15 WP 10

SKILLS: Alertness 60% Athletics 70% Swim 70%

ATTACKS:

Assault rifle, firearms 40% lethality 10% KR 1-3 meters

Grenade, heavy weapons 40% lethality 15% KR 10 meters

Unarmed, 70% 1d8 damage (with 50% chance to infect with burning blood with skin-to-skin contact)

Infected Alligator

STR 30 CON 20 DEX 15 POW 10

HP 30 WP 10

ARMOR: 5

SKILLS: Alertness 50%, Stealth 60%, Swim 70%.

ATTACKS:

Bite 70%, damage 3D6 and hold, plus 50% chance to infect with burning blood.

HOLD: A bite attack that rolls an odd number for damage also pins the target.

Credits

One Night in Swamptown was written by HoopyFreud for the 2024 Shotgun Scenario contest.
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vlm3omoUysnf7vkvjeBEe0rDKAhdyZ2PIz53eBC7mmA/edit