A chance to create characters for Changeling: the Dreaming, trash a lot of police cars and affectionately send-up John Landis' 1980 cult comedy-musical. The story has two parts: "Gettin' the Band Together" involves the central PCs recruiting the rest of their troupe; "Sweet Home Chicago" involves a big chase. Since some players won't be involved at the beginning and end of the story, they get to play several characters each.

The PCs are all Kithain musicians. I'm assuming R&B musicians, but this can be altered to folk, heavy metal, rave, whatever you like. Catch is, they've all succumbed to Banality and have forgotten their Fae nature. All except Elwood, who is collecting his Banal brother from the Joliet Correctional Centre.

THE BAND

The band haven't played together in 5 years. Encourage each player to create a few band members, with the emphasis on attitude and style rather than mind-bending Fae powers. Most will be Unseelie, but not particularly evil. You can go with the easy stereotypes (phallic guitarist, self-destructive drummer, laid-back bassist, egomaniacal lead singer) or borrow from the film, below:

Elwood Blues (Vocals, Harmonica)

Unseelie Redcap who is still in touch with the Dreaming. This character is essential to kick-starting the story by collecting his brother and seeking to reawaken his Fae nature.

Jake Blues (Vocals, Gymnastics)

Unseelie Satyr who went Banal in prison. He'll go through his second Chrysalis at the Rev Cleophus James' sermon.

These are the two central characters. The rest are secondary:

Murphy Dunne (Keyboards) Unseelie Knocker, currently very Banal and fronting "Murph and the Magic Tones" at the Armada Room of Holiday Inn.

Steve "The Colonel" Cropper (Lead Guitar, Beard) Seelie Troll, currently knocking out The Girl from Ipanema with Murph's Banal band.

Duneild "Duck" Dunn (Bass Guitar, Smoking Pipe) Unseelie duck-Pooka (complete with bill) playing with Murph's Magic Tones.

Willie "2-Big" Hall (Drums, Attitude) Seelie Redcap playing with Murph's Magic Tones. Jake owes him money.

Tam "Bones" Malone (Trombone, Perm) Unseelie Boggan playing with Murph's Magic Tones.

Mr Fabulous (Trumpet, Charm) Unseelie Sidhe of House Liam, currently being outstandingly Banal and working as a Maitre-D' at Chez Paul, an upmarket French restaurant.

"Blue" Llew Marini (Saxophone, Hair) Seelie Sluagh who don't say much but fries burgers at the Soul Food Cafe.

Math "Guitar" Murphy (Rhythm Guitar) Unseelie Eshu who settled down and married the manageress of the Soul Food Cafe (a Heavy Sleeper). Optionally, Math's still Kithain and so's his domineering wife, a Seelie Boggan.

PART 1: GETTIN' THE BAND TOGETHER

In this section, Elwood needs to reawaken Jake to the Dreaming then recruit the rest of the Band, bringing them back to their Fae natures. Jake needs to be collected from the Joliet Correctional Center and brought to the Saint Helen Orphanage. The quest starts there.

THE NEW BLUESMOBILE

"Where's the Cadillac? You traded the Bluesmobile for this?"

Jake can't see it yet, but this old Mount Prospect police car has chimerical powers. A point of Glamour can be spent to (1) double its speed for a turn, (2) fly through the air for a turn, (3) execute any mind-bending road manoeuvre. Otherwise assume 8 Health Levels, Safe Speed 90mph, Max Speed 150mph, Manoeuvre 7, Brake 1. Treat it has a level 3 Treasure, currently charged with 10 points of Glamour. Let Elwood have fun demonstrating on the drive downtown.

SAINT HELEN OF THE BLESSED SHROUD ORPHANAGE

"You're such a disappointing pair . . . Two thieves with filthy mouths and bad attitudes"

The Orphanage is a small Freehold in a rundown neighbourhood. The darkness of Banality is encroaching and the only Kithain left here are the Penguin and Old Curtis. Give them to two players to roleplay in this scene.

THE PENGUIN (Sister Mary Stigmata)

Kith: Boggan,
Court: Seelie,
Seeming: Grump,
Legacies: Philanthropist/Humbug
Glamour: 5,
Banality: 5,
Willpower: 8
Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 2, Charisma 3, Manipulation 5, Appearance 2, Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits 2
Abilities: Alertness 3, Empathy 2, Etiquette 2, Expression 1, Intimidation 4, Kenning 3, Leadership 1, Melee 2, Mythlore 2, Politics 2
Advantages: Naming 4, Sovereign 5, Fae 3, Scene 3
Image: A large nun in a severe habit, usually carry a painful switch for keeping rascals in line. Fae mien is shorter and fatter but no less grim.
Role: The Orphanage cannot pay its rent and unless the money is at the Cook County Assessor's Office in 11 days they'll close you down and Banality will overcome the Freehold. You Sained both Jake and Elwood and now they can pay their dues. Give them a hard time about their disreputable Unseelie lifestyles and knock them about with your stick (difficulty 4, damage 1, stuns for one turn) every time they swear or show disrespect. Use a Geas to get them to tow the line.

CURTIS

Kith: Troll,
Court: Seelie,
Seeming: Grump,
Legacies: Sage/Rogue
Glamour: 4,
Banality: 4,
Willpower: 6
Attributes: Strength 4, Dexterity 2, Stamina 3, Charisma 4, Manipulation 3, Appearance 1, Perception 2, Intelligence 2, Wits 4
Abilities: Athletics 2, Dodge 2, Empathy 2, Expression 1, Intimidation 2, Law 1, Medicine 1, Occult 3, Performance 4, Stealth 2, Streetwise 3
Advantages: Chicanery 3, Primal 2, Pyretics 2, Fae 1, Scene 4
Image: The grizzled and irascible caretaker at the orphanage, in Fae mien you are unusually shrivelled and stooped for a Troll. Banality has had its effect on you.
Role: You've guarded the Freehold and mentored young Childlings for decades. You taught Jake and Elwood everything they know by singing Elmor James tunes and blowing the harp. Now Jake has to be reawoken to the Dreaming. You know there's a lot of Glamour going down at the Triple Rock Baptist Church. Jake should check out the Reverend Cleophus James' service.

THE TRIPLE ROCK BAPTIST CHURCH

"Yes! Yes! Jesus H Goddamn Christ, I have seen the light!"

The Rev Cleophus leads an inspiring service of gospel music and praise. The experience is a fount of Glamour for Kithain who participate in the Rapture (Charisma+Performance, difficulty 8, one Glamour per success). If Jake gets any Glamour out of this, his Fae nature will reawaken amidst a burst of light. Jake can roll Gramayre to gain a brief vision of "The Band" playing to a packed auditorium of adoring fans.

If you wish to roleplay the Rapture, it's simple. A naked Indian enters the building and gestures for Jake to follow. Outside, the landscape of the dreaming is a huge desert. Jake follows the Indian until he meets the spirits of Jim Morrison and Sammy Davis Jnr who tell him to reform the Band: "If you sign them, they will come!"

NO MA'AM, WE'RE MUSICIANS

"You were the backbone, the nerve centre, of a great rhythm and blues band!"

This is what the first half of the scenario is really all about. Jake and Elwood get to track down their old band members (by rolling Gramayre, Intelligence+Streetwise or using Soothsay) and shake them out of their Banal lives. The player for each musician gets to decide where they are and what they're doing when the Brothers arrive - most of these people are not going to be too happy to see Jake and Elwood. The Fae can be reawakened by the following means:

GLAMOUR FRENZY

Anything that produces a burst of Glamour (like a really good impro jamming session or street dancing) may awaken the Banal Fae. If you're stuck, take them to Ray's Music Exchange to buy instruments and get the master to show you how to play the Hammond Organ. Chimerical party-goers will appear from nowhere to do the Twist, the Fly, the Swim, the Bird, the Monkey, etc.

CREATIVE INSANITY

Banality can be shattered by an overdose of Cantrips that turns the victim's safe little life into something magical. Alternatively, the victim can be enchanted and exposed to some mind-bending Chimera.

BANALITY OVERDOSE

Alternative, the Banality of the victim's life can be rendered unbearable. Go to their workplace, adjourn to the nearest table, overlook the establishment's board of fare then behave repulsively by offering to buy your neighbour's wife and children. If that doesn't do it, threaten to come back tomorrow.

SCMODS

"They're not going to catch us - we're on a mission from God!"

Don't let anyone get bored waiting for their turn. Give two of them dumb cops to play. Tell them that SCMODS (the State County Municipal Offender Data System) has the following information on the Bluesmobile:

BLUES, ELWOOD
ILLINOIS LICENSE : B263-1655-2187
CURRENTLY UNDER SUSPENSION
WARRANTS OUTSTANDING : PARKG. 116
MOVING VIOLATIONS : 56
ARREST DRIVER ... IMPOUND VEHICLE

DUMB COPS

Banality: 9,
Willpower: 3
Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 2, Charisma 1, Manipulation 2, Appearance 2, Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 1
Abilities: Alertness 3, Brawl 2, Dodge 1, Drive 2, Intimidation 1, Law 2, Melee 2, Streetwise 2, Subterfuge 2
Role: You're a couple of Autumn People who just love pulling guys over and checking their driving licenses. Once an offender crosses you, however, it gets personal. It doesn't matter how many cars you have to trash - you'll get them!

The cops are losers, but their high Banality makes them dangerous, since Cantrips fail around them and, if they start listing your offences at you, this is a Berating Oration which causes chimerical damage (see Players Guide, p189-90).

THE GOOD OLE BOYS

"We like both sorts - Country and Western!"

You don't have to play "Rawhide" at Bob's Country Bunker, but it's likely that the PCs will run into this band of rednecks at some point (probably while awakening a friend from Banality). Tucker McElroy and his group are a bunch of pointy-headed Heavy Sleepers whose music actively enhances Banality (roll their Banality vs the Kithain's Glamour: PCs gain a point of temporary Banality for each success the rednecks get). As with the Dumb Cops above, the Good Ole Boys have a large van with which to chase PCs on destruction-strewn pursuits. If anyone's getting left out, pass Tucker over to them to roleplay for a scene. He'll be back in Part 2.

TUCKER McELROY (Heavy Sleeper)

Banality: 8,
Willpower: 4
Attributes: Strength 3, Dexterity 2, Stamina 3, Charisma 2, Manipulation 1, Appearance 2, Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 1
Abilities: Alertness 2, Brawl 2, Dodge 1, Drive 2, Etiquette 2, Intimidation 1, Performance 3
Role: You just love Banality and it doesn't get any more Banal than your music. Spread the word. Oh, and if some city-trash weirdoes with degenerate tastes screw with you, make 'em suffer!

There are 4 other Good Ole Boys with similar traits. Their van has 5 Health Levels, Safe Speed 70, Max Speed 120, Brake 3, Manoeuvre 5.

ILLINOIS NAZIS

"I hate Illinois Nazis!"

Problems. While rounding up the Band, the PCs will run across the American Socialist White People's Party - an organisation of decent, law-abiding white people (just like YOU!). The leader is addressing a crowd of furious civil libertarians:

"White men. White women. The swastika is calling YOU!"

The Banality of this speech is like a slap in the face (strength 7, resist with Glamour or gain temporary Banality) but Unseelie Kithain will see easy Ravaging in disrupting the proceedings or sparking off a riot. Whatever the PCs do, they'll probably come to the attention of the Nazi leader, a dangerous Dauntain. Play him as an NPC or give to any player who's feeling a bit left out. After this scene, he won't appear again until Part 2.

NAZI DAUNTAIN (Henry Gibson)

Doom: Lost,
Court: Unseelie,
Legacies: Schismatic/Regent
Glamour: 3,
Banality: 7,
Willpower: 5
Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 2, Stamina 2, Charisma 3, Manipulation 4, Appearance 2, Perception 3, Intelligence 3, Wits 2
Abilities: Alertness 3, Computer 2, Dodge 2, Etiquette 2, Expression 2, Firearms 2, Intimidation 1, Kenning 3, Law 1, Occult 1, Politics 4, Subterfuge 2
Advantages: Stultify 3, Conversion
Image: Impeccably groomed silver-haired gentleman in jackboots and Nazi regalia. Strut a lot and listen to Wagner. Fae mien is hard to spot (-1 die from Kenning rolls) but vanished Sidhe grandeur is still apparent.
Role: You've pledged allegiance to Adolf Hitler, immortal leader of your race, and no degenerate freaks are going to stand in your way. You'll bring the whole weight of your organisation to bear on stamping out the Band and their racially-questionable music.

There are any number of Nazi stooges on tap to join the chase - use the same traits but with no Advantages and Willpower 3.

YOU MISERABLE SLUG!!!

"For me and my mother and my grandfather, my uncle and the common good - I must now kill you!"

Problems, problems. Jake has a Banal Chimera which will start pursuing him as soon as he reawakens to the Dreaming. This poor creature, one of the Abandoned, was once a Nymph but, grieved at being jilted by Jake, has embraced Banality and is out to kill her former sweetheart.

Glamour: 7,
Willpower: 6,
Banality: 7
Attributes: Strength 2, Dexterity 4, Stamina 2, Charisma 3, Manipulation 1, Appearance 4, Perception 3, Intelligence 2, Wits 2
Abilities: Alertness 2, Dodge 1, Empathy 3, Firearms 3, Stealth 4
Powers: Weapon Escalation - by spending a point of Glamour and gaining a point of Banality, the Chimera can create a chimerical weapon, starting with a rifle and moving up. Each weapon will be more overpowered than the last one (flamethrower, bazooka, assault rifle). The weapon lasts for a scene.

The Chimera appears as a starved and emaciated Nymph with soulful eyes and fierce features. She will turn up mysteriously throughout the story, always at inconvenient moments, to try to kill Jake's Fae mien. If an attempt fails, she disappears for a while (and gains more Banality). She may (perhaps) by "cured" if Jake can convince her he still cares for her, really (roll Manipulation+Empathy or use Chicanery or the Gift of Pan).

Part 2: Sweet Home, Chicago