OPERATION TWO-HEADED VENUS
LOVE BEGETS VIOLENCE BEGETS LOVE BEGETS VIOLENCE BEGETS LOVE
Overview
Astronomer Victoria Reynolds has found a second Venus, hanging high above Flagstaff. After publishing a paper, which was swiftly and silently taken down, she has become absorbed in her research of this odd anomaly. None of them know it, though this is the Second Head of Venus, a cult symbol of an ancient and long forgotten god. In tandem, a string of murders begin along a local Lover’s Lane, akin to serial killings of the 80s, linked back to a frequenter of the LOVE club. An illicit nightclub, stowed away in the abandoned old buildings across the tracks that were once a bustling red light district. The old streets hold a small cult of hedonist lovers. They wish to join everyone in blessed love and matrimony, mentally and physically, no matter the cost. The Second Head of Venus is their god and their instrument.
Briefing
After a scientific paper outlining a strange astrological anomaly above the city of Flagstaff Arizona is published, the program is alerted to a cover up that must be put in place. Agents are given plane tickets to Flagstaff, Arizona, and given FBI credentials. They are told to masquerade as part of an ongoing FBI investigation into the local murders. The agents have three objectives.
- If possible, return the sky to one Venus.
- Stop the murders and find someone to blame.
- Convince Victoria Reynolds not to pursue the anomaly.
Lowell Observatory
Arriving at the observatory, the Agents find that it is closed for the early winter night, the sun having just set as they arrive. Now a national historic monument, the place is open to visitors. The Clark Reflecting Telescope, 24 inches long, is the center point of the building. Victoria Reynolds stands at the telescope, staring through it as they arrive up into the darkened winter sky. Except for her, only a couple of security guards and cleaning staff inhabit the building. She will not interact with the agents until they draw her attention from the telescope. She is completely absorbed in observing the second Venus.
Victoria Reynolds
Victoria is a studious and focused woman, wanting to spread the truth of anything she finds. Dark brunette hair trails down her shoulders, covered in a faux lab coat. She will not relent to let the information die easily, and will take thorough convincing. She is not fazed by shallow threats, though if shown to be capable and willing to execute said threat, she may be swayed. If convinced that it will help her learn of the second Venus, she will help the agents with their other objectives.
Anomalous Planet
The second-head of Venus hangs high above Flagstaff, though closer than it appears. At first glance it seems equidistant to the true Venus, though a successful search, physics, or something similar will reveal it is much closer though only a fraction of the size. It is around as large as the town itself, and may have already entered the atmosphere, impossibly floating above. As time goes on, the second-head of Venus will drift toward the city. The second-head does not fade in the day or night, always visible. It moves during sunrise and just after sunset, when the real Venus is visible. As soon as you leave the bounds of the city, the second-head disappears. 1/1d4 sanity damage for watching the silent sky.
Lover’s Lane Deaths
There is a small street through the Flagstaff city park, cloaked in trees even in winter. Teenagers and cheating couple alike visit here to makeout (or go further). When the Agents are called, three people have died in attacks within this lover’s lane, always just after sunset. Two teenage couple have been attacked, one of which both individuals were killed, the other a teenage boy named Andy Lawson survived the attack. He is currently recovering in hospital care, wrapped head to toe in bandages. He can barely talk in his torn apart state, but if interviewed will gladly give information to the agents through a pained voice.
Andy Lawson
The boy is in an awful state, cut into dozens of times. The bandages he wears are always bloodied, and he is in immense pain. The boy will inform the agents of the night of the attack. He was spending time with his girlfriend Sally down at the park, having fun in the car. At one point Andy stepped out to have a smoke, wherefore he saw a bulky figure in the woods approaching, a shoddily pink painted raincoat drawn over themselves, hood down. The killer. The figure struck forth and knocked Andy to the floor before continuing to murder Sally inside the car. Andy was barely able to drag himself away, dozens of scrapes and cuts along with a deep stab wound in his gut. The boy has little information on the killer, except for one crucial detail, they were a pair of conjoined twins.
The Killer(s)
The Killer is a united pair, Arthur Morgan and Stephanie Morgan, lovers and followers of the cult that resides in the LOVE club. A ritual to the Second Head of Venus has joined them mentally and physically, into one being with two heads, though a shared mind. The new being calls itself Astur. Two heads is quite the obvious feature, so locating the killers should not be overly difficult in theory. However, the killers prefer to stay within their hedonistic den, partying, dancing, drinking, and more.
The motive for their killings is linked to both the cult and the second Venus high above Flagstaff. Each murder allows more of The Second Head’s power to be drawn into the cult, allowing more Marriages and progressing toward the ritual. They are also the cause of the planetary body descending toward the city, drawing in the arrival of their beloved Venus.
LOVE Club
The nightclub itself lies in the basement of an abandoned WWI era building across the tracks from the city of flagstaff. Techno music blasts through the halls and dozens of people are crammed into the relatively small space. Anyone attending believes in the Second Head of Venus and the goal of the ritual. Their hedonistic nature and thirst for pleasure may impact their work, however, as they may be too caught up in the substances they’re consuming to impede the agents’ investigation.
The Ritual
The cult, naming themselves Venusians, have somehow come into possession of an ancient stone age statue. The Venus of Willendorf, a small idol that is 30,000 years old, is their object of worship and power. The only difference from the real life statue, is another head branching off to the neck of the idol. The cult will never give up the statue, no matter what threats or convincing are attempted. The statue is the source of the second Venus, allowing them to bring this object of their goddess toward Flagstaff. If allowed to touchdown, it will merge every human being within the town into one amalgamous blob of flesh. Currently, Marriages are hard to come by within the cult, as they have very little power to work with. Only Astur is permitted a Marriage, allowing to draw the Second Head closer and empowering their goddess.
Marriage of Flesh and Being
A Marriage is a rare ritual that allows for two lovers, united under Venus, may stitch themselves into one being. In theory, this can be replicated an infinite amount of times. The Venusians are banking on this theory, bringing the Second Head of Venus down onto Flagstaff in an attempt to ‘spread the love’ and unite all in a grand marriage. If desperate enough, Venusians may forgo their initial plan and use the power drawn from the murders to marry themselves into a monster of swirling flesh. They can marry as many people as there have been victims.
The Second Head Of Venus
The planet high above contains no facial features indicative of a head, though it is part of the ancient and unknown god the cult attempts to summon. Some call her the Lady of Love, Ishtar, Venus, and more names than can be listed. The planet itself is not a threat, though it is a good tracker of how long the agents have left to solve this ritual. In the unlikely event the Second Head reaches Flagstaff, every human alive within will be merged into a horrible writhing mass of flesh, including the agents. Good luck explaining that one.
Handler’s Notes
The Second Head itself should not be a direct threat, only a looming reminder of what they have to deal with. It will approach as more are murdered. I suggest consistently killing off people in the city with Astur to add tension or create a feeling of constant pressure. Remember, these cultists are feverishly attempting to bring the Second Head down upon Flagstaff, they will prioritize speed and efficiency over any sort of subtlety. Touchdown in 3 days.
Stat Blocks
Astur
STR 18, CON 16, DEX 15, INT 8, POW 10, CHA 10
HP 17, WP 10, San 00
Appearance: Two conjoined bodies made into one, four arms, four legs, two heads, but one heart.
Skills:
Awareness (80%),
Melee Combat (75%),
Unnatural (30%),
Unarmed (60%)
Armor: 3-points stolen police kevlar vest.
Attacks:
Hatchet(75%, 1d8, 3AP)
Unarmed(60%, 1d4)
Sanity Loss: 1/1d4 To Witness
Marriage of Many
STR 24, CON 26, DEX 9, INT 10, POW 12, CHA 8
HP 30 (10/member of cult that assimilates), WP 20, San??
Appearance: An Awful conglomerate of flesh, all beating with one heart.
Skills:
Unarmed Combat (60%),
Armor: 0-points flesh and bone.
Attacks:
Tear(60%, 1d8, 3AP)
Grab(60%, Restrain)
Rip(Upon restrained target, 60%, 2d10)
Credits
Two-Headed Venus was written by Bruxa for the 2024 Shotgun Scenario contest.
Source: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-baHZZAMXNEQKfjRwnx322N4XPjzwPIzahWYRbYQVRg/edit