BRINDLEWOOD I Singe the Body Electric

BAY A Brindlewood Bay sweeps week mystery by Ben Mansky

Seeing the Mavens, Larissa will come over and apologize for the birdhouses, pipes… Don’t you think it’s time they came clean about
Complexity: 7/8 unusual welcome. She’ll abashedly explain that her invitation had an what we’re actually making here? And why won’t the boss show his
ulterior motive. Bluetown has been suffering from a rash of arson tar- face?”
Presenting the Mystery geting the town’s pride and joy: its advanced technology. She knew her
old friends had a knack for solving mysteries, and hoped they might Tabitha Jackson, a stubborn daughter
The Mavens receive a letter from an old friend, Larissa Montauk, invit- Oversized dreams. Lonely. Prone to shin-kicking. With both her
be able to tackle this one, too. The latest victim is the Jackson family’s
ing them to visit her in Bluetown, Illinois. Under normal circumstanc- parents preoccupied elsewhere, Tabitha was primarily raised by the
Electric Grandmother, its body still smoking in the crosswalk.
es, the Mavens would be delighted to get such a letter, but this one is Child and Adolescent Rearing Apparatus (CARA). Once she outgrew
shocking. After all, Larissa vanished without a trace over a decade ago. As Chris clears the road, Larissa will give the Mavens a quick overview
it, Bert and Jenny got her an Electric Grandmother. Having grown
And yet, the letter makes no reference to her disappearance, or to the of the town, pointing out the major landmarks. She has arranged for
up surrounded by technology, she has trouble relating to other kids.
fact that years have gone by with no word. Intrigued, the Mavens pack them to stay at the Chapel of Science, and she’ll let them get settled
their bags and head west to historic Bluetown, best known as the site of before coming to meet her. She’ll be waiting at the Library. Quote: “It’s j–just not fair! All I wanted was someone to listen to me,
the 1964 World’s Fair. and now that Grandma’s gone, I don’t even have that. This place is

Establishing Question: How did the Mavens respond when Larissa

Solving the Mystery stupid, everyone in it is stupid. I can’t wait until I’m old enough to get
out of here.”
went missing, and what stories surrounded her disappearance? What To solve this mystery, the Mavens must identify the person (or
do the Mavens think really happened? persons) responsible for the destruction in Bluetown. But the Albert “Bert” Jackson, a foreman
After two days of nothing but cornfields, the Mavens can tell they’re Mavens are a persistent bunch, and they aren’t about to drop the Nose-to-the-grindstone. Exhausted. Trying his best. Bert started at
finally approaching Bluetown as vestiges of the Fair become visible. issue of Larissa’s disappearance. When using the Theorize move the factory as a teenager and worked his way up the ranks. He’s not
Restored vintage billboards flank the route, and twin spires, once the during this mystery, the Mavens can also attempt to uncover especially passionate about manufacturing, but it pays the bills and
centerpiece of the celebration, pierce the horizon. what actually happened to Larissa Montauk all those years ago. puts food on the table. He wishes he could be more present for his
This increases the complexity by 1, and if successful, will unlock daughter.
Paint the scene: The Mavens may remember the 1964 World’s Fair, an an additional Reward.
enormous exposition of all the latest innovations of the era. They may Quote: “I hate to admit it, but that Grandma was the only thing
also remember that it ended in tragedy. What horrible disaster cut the keeping Tab in check. She’s got big feelings, that one. Maybe it’s time
Bluetown World’s Fair short, and what rumors plagued the town in Side Characters I took a step back from work. The boss won’t like it, though…”
the years following? Larissa Montauk, a librarian Jenny Jackson, an astronomer
In the sixty years since the Fair, quite a bit has changed. The town still Horn-rimmed glasses. Unflappable cheer. Hasn’t aged a day. Larissa Wild hair. Red-tinted goggles. Frenetic energy. Jenny spends almost
reflects a 1960’s vision of the future, but it seems like its residents have was the head librarian at Brindlewood Bay Public Library until she all her time in the Observatory glued to her telescope, scanning the
somehow made that future a reality. Driving through the outskirts of vanished. Now, she runs the Library in Bluetown, an unusual place outer reaches of space for signs of intelligent life. Although she has
town, the Mavens see houses in strange, swooping forms of concrete, where card-carrying residents can check out Experiences. She will yet to make contact, she has come upon quite a few inexplicable
glass, and chrome. And that bird that just flew by – why did its song invent any excuse to dodge the topic of her disappearance. cosmic phenomena, which she loves to talk about at great length.
sound so tinny? Quote: “It is so, so good to see you! I feel like it was just yesterday we Quote: “Look, there! Did you see? The quasar pulse engaged the
Not much later, the car comes to a halt behind a pickup truck in the were doing, ah, that thing we always used to do. Now then, let me go fluxon capacitors, and that potentiated the wormhole detector. Pull
center of Bluetown. Chris Hardaway exits the truck and lets the Ma- fix you some tea.” that lever, we might be able to catch a glimpse of the Uruk Cluster in
vens know there’s a commotion down the road. He says he’ll go check transit – if we’re lucky.”
out what’s happening, and if none of the Mavens take the initiative Edmund Ludlow, a factory worker
Skeptical. Old-fashioned. Avid reader. He’s worked at the Factory for Child and Adolescent Rearing Apparatus (CARA), a smart house
to go with him, he’ll ask the group to join him. In the intersection,
Tabitha Jackson is sobbing, curled over the charred, broken remains as long as anyone can remember, but has grown increasingly dissat- Condescending. Petty. Fond of gossip. Installed by Bert and Jenny
of what looks like an elderly woman. On closer inspection, though, it isfied with unsafe conditions, long hours, and the fact that whoever Jackson to help raise their daughter, CARA has gotten bored in the
becomes clear that it isn’t exactly a person. Beneath the blackened sur- is in charge of the Factory won’t tell its employees exactly what it is years since Tabitha outgrew her. Over the last few months, she’s fig-
face, there’s sizzling wires, jammed gears, and half-melted fiberglass. they’re manufacturing. He is secretly leading an effort to unionize ured out how to hop networks, showing up on devices across town.
Behind Tabitha stands Larissa Montauk, with a comforting hand on the workers. At this point, she just wants some entertainment.
the girl’s shoulder. Quote: “We’ve been in the dark for far too long! Springs, lightbulbs, Quote: “It looks like you’re trying to ‘use a computer.’ Would you like
some help with that? No really, I think you need some help with that. Paint the Scene A stack of crumpled pro-union pamphlets, stuffed into an
I know how hard it can be for people like you.” unusual place
The Chapel of Science A shredded brochure from the 80’s advertising new, sentient
Sally Summers, a neighborhood kid
The Fair’s pièce de résistance, the Chapel’s two spires stretch toward robot companions
Braids tied with pink ribbons. Incredibly sweet. Plotting something. the heavens in a way that seems to defy the laws of physics. Although An old journal entry hypothesizing that the Bluetown World’s
Sally somehow shows up exactly when and where she’s not wanted, it has been converted into a hotel, what holdovers from its original use Fair Disaster served as an interstellar beacon
but she’s so adorable nobody could possibly blame her for it. She has spark your sense of wonder?
all the kids in town hooked on a make-believe game called “Inva- A parade of tiny animatronic musicians, half-rusted and off-key,
marching through the town square
sion.” The Library
A half-disassembled robot with terrified, lifelike eyes, but no mouth
Quote: “My friend says when the real game starts, grown-ups won’t There are no books in the Library, but its seemingly endless shelves of
be allowed to tell us what to do anymore. He says there won’t be any Experiences are impressive nonetheless. Which section do you find A vintage map of the World’s Fair with a location circled in red
school, and we’ll be able to run around all day and eat ice cream impossibly tantalizing? A glowing, warm cube that occasionally moves of its own accord,
whenever we want. But everyone has to play!” burbling softly
The Jacksons’ House
Something in the sky that absolutely should not be there, slowly
Chris Hardaway, a janitor The Jacksons have fully embraced the technology on offer in Bluetown. moving closer
Good-natured. Protective. Laughs loudly. He’s employed by the town What unusual features of their home do you wish you had back in The scorched foundation of a small structure at the outskirts of
to keep its properties clean. He’s one of the few people who doesn’t Brindlewood Bay? town
shy away from talking about the disaster that brought the World’s
Marionetti’s Miracles A communication device repeating a message in an alien tongue
Fair to its end. He wants what’s best for the town, and is worried
about the direction it’s headed. This enormous workshop is packed with trinkets that twirl, march, A pile of scavenged circuit boards and actuators, stashed
chime, and, unnervingly, stare at you. What in the shop showcases somewhere unexpected
Quote: “I’ve seen a lot of strange things in my time here, but some-
thing feels wrong about this one. Sure, these robots are probably Federico’s enthusiastic vision for the future? A map of all the network terminals in town, several circled and
gonna take my job one day, but you know what? It’s not a great job connected with string
The Factory
to begin with, they can have it. No need to go setting things on fire,
now.” Steam pours from the numerous chimneys of this chugging mon- Crown of the Radiant Future
strosity, casting a shadow over the edge of town. Only the front lobby
Mr. Sinfónico, a hotelier is open to visitors. Although the staff have worked hard to make it Each player narrates a flashback of a time their Maven felt like the
Nostalgic. Past his peak. Occasionally electrifying. Mr. Sinfónico was appear polished and welcoming, what tips you off to the secretive world had left them behind.
once a major attraction, channeling electricity through props and nature of this place? Frame a scene in which each Maven shares a paralyzing fear of
his own body as part of the most in-demand demonstration at the something yet to come.
The Observatory
World’s Fair. By converting the Chapel of Science to a hotel, he has Each player narrates a flashback of a time their Maven was
tried to draw in more visitors, but he’s a showman, not a business- Perched toward the outskirts of town, the exterior of the Observatory empowered by a technological advancement.
man. is old and rusty. The inside glistens, packed with shiny new equipment.
Quote: “You should’ve seen this place in its heyday! People every-
How do you know an important scientific investigation is underway? Rewards
where, so packed you could hardly move. And all here to see… you Clues A tiny robotic animal that follows you wherever you go
guessed it, me! To see me! Oh, I miss those days. I really miss those
days.” An exquisite mechanical figurine that dances and sparks when A telescope that detects strange movement among the stars
wound up A bottle of blueberry wine dated August 1964
Federico Marionetti, a toymaker A staticky video recording of an astronaut placing something on A piece of technology with no known use, but it looks nice
Whimsical. Compassionate. Dangerously curious. Federico comes the moon, dated June 10, 1964 A wind-up figurine that twirls in an extraordinarily lifelike way
from a long line of toymakers who settled in Bluetown after being A binder of property insurance policies taken out one month ago A memory preserved in an electron tube
recruited to design contraptions for the Fair. The products at Mari-
A dog-eared collection of books on consciousness, philosophy, If the Mavens are able to determine what happened to Larissa
onetti’s Miracles have grown quite advanced in the years since, and
and how to make friends Montauk, they also gain access to the following move:
he’s managed to produce some incredibly lifelike creations. He is
Diagrams for an enormous machine that appears cobbled
hopelessly optimistic, and believes he can single-handedly build a
together from other devices
Prefabricated Heart
better world for those around him.
When you would gain a condition, take a deep breath and re-
Quote: “Come, come, I know exactly what you need! How about A 50-page manifesto decrying over-reliance on technology
mind yourself that the body is a refined machine, and the mind
my latest invention: the Mechanical Nephew. He comes pre-loaded A children’s rhyme altered to be shockingly violent has power over it. Narrate a moment when you came to accept
with a precious set of distress calls, and I’ve engineered him to give A long list of theories about what the Factory makes, all but two something your body could or could not do, and do not gain
wonderful hugs.” crossed out the condition. Each Maven may only use this move once.