The following is tentatively located in the “Mesopotamia”
region of what was once Argentina,
this dinosaur ranch is a location to give an idea of what
the day in the life would be and to set up potential plot hooks and a bit of
drama for entertainment. Feel free to
move it locations as needed.
Overview
The family of Brachiondez, has owned this location and has
become wealthy and prosperous because of it.
They are essentially a cross between an old school hacienda and a robber
baron ranch. While the family has its
hands in many investments, their claim to fame is that of dinosaur
ranching. They tamed the land by
building a diamond in the rough and polishing it. Their preferred dinosaurs are sauropods, but
they have experimented with other species.
The land they claim control of is simply immense for this
era. They claim about 500 acres of land
in this heartland, but a lot of it is grazing and barely controlled land. A large barb wire fence covers the main habitual
area for day to day affairs and is separated into two sections. One is the Brachiondez main compound where
the family lives like royalty. The other
is the “workshop” where most people are hired to do the daily day to day work.
However, in recent years it has gone through a severe
transformation. There was a raider gang,
known as the Pteroduerros that harassed the family by stealing their cattle and
otherwise complicating their lives.
However, all that came to end when the patriarch of the Brachionedez
family married the leader of said raider clan, thus making them related and
having the local in-laws move into the main Cortijo. They have then entered a sort of uneasy
alliance that causes strife between the two families that could very easily end
up very bloody for both sides.
The Brachiondez Family
This family has managed to tame the land through their
influence, power and swift retribution to their enemies. They have softened somewhat since the
marriage, but there is still a drive to ensure that those that survey bend to
their will. The family has a coat of
arms that has a sauropod on it to represent an enduring presence forevermore.
Obed Paulos Brachiondez
Relationship: The original patriarch of the clan, he died in a mysterious hunting
accident.
Description: The paintings that remind the family of
them are of a moderately tall, well-built human in his mid-fifties, with black
curly hair, a goatee and blue eyes. He
is usually shown in a business suit and smiling in the paintings despite never
been seen to be smiling when alive.
Disposition: Despite the whitewashing due to being dead, he was a beast of a man
known for his greed for money and power.
Plot Hook: They never found the body so there are continuous rumors ranging from
he’s not dead and may return, to he’s a ghost whom will destroy everything when
the time is right.
Giselle
Priscilla Ligia Pteroduerro-Brachiondez
Relationship: Originally a Pteroduerro she
has charmed her way to her deceased husband’s heart to become the matriarch of
the family.
Description: While not physically imposing, the Good
Lady Brachiondez leaves an impression that she’s always ready to fight even if
it is often verbally. She is of medium
height, lean build, and her well-kept black hair is starting to turn silver.
Disposition: The matriarch of the Brachiondez Family,
she wields her power with a sarcastic wit.
She demands good manners from any within her presence and is willing to
stave off any affronts to her power. If
contested in her relationship, her sarcasm turns into punishment and nobody is
safe.
Plot Hook: She is always hiring for “special
missions” that often include checking on rumors of her dead husband. She very obviously wants him not to return
but will never say it blatantly.
Ángel Heliodoro Brachiondez
Relationship: As the oldest son of Obed and Giselle,
he is the enforcer of the current status quo.
Description: A tall muscular human with fierce blue
eyes and blonde hair. He commonly
dresses in a business suit to honor his dead father.
Disposition: Despite his misgivings about the current
situations as he cares deeply for his mother ad will usually defer to her
judgment. He is very giving to those
under his charge, but skeptical of outsiders.
He is also well known for not remembering things as others do, but woah
be the person whom calls him a Liar.
Plot Hook: He made this deal with a local tv station
to create this reality tv show called Los días inquietos que guían. This was to ensure honesty and to add another
revenue stream to the family. However,
cameraman seem to always go through “accidents” and they are always hiring.
Lola Táhirih Nereida
Brachiondez
Relationship: The wife of Ángel, she was
originally from the Gazebo, but travelled south. She saved his life during a cattle drive and
it was love at first sight. With her
awesome arcane skills, she makes it rain.
Description: A short, athletic woman, whose gets
a real kick out of wearing colorful ponchos. She also likes to have electricity
crackle between her fingers while she quotes obscure weather-based puns and
references.
Disposition:
She comes off friendly, but it’s more just being nice then actual
helpfulness. She has a bit of an ego
that often makes her come off as foolish.
Still this veil of foolishness often gives her wiggle room to cheat
people that wouldn’t see it coming.
Plot
Hook: She found an egg on her last time in the fields
and brought it home. She can’t recognize
it and may ask the party to find out what it is. Is it quite literally a golden egg, a new
unknown species or a hibernating terrorsaur egg of doom?
Celeste Rosita Esperanza Brachiondex
Relationship: The daughter and the middle child of
the family, she became a devout follower of the Cybercult after an accident
which had a good chunk of her body replace by mechanical parts.
Description: Tall with a wiry frame that now includes
actual wires, she is energetic, and active.
She has had her left arm and right leg replaced with a bionic
replacement and often wears chrome colored attire to make it seem more
extensive.
Disposition: She was a selfish child, often cruel and
flippant. After her accident, these
traits remain, but they are more subtle as she is like a cobra: always waiting for the right time. She hates the Pteroduerros with a passion,
but would prefer it be an accident, not unlike the one that befell her. She demands people to be punctual.
Plot Hook: She has handed you an usb stick after
smiling sweetly and told to take care of it.
Is it a reward, a trap or something in-between?
Esperanza Luisita Roberta Brachiondez
Relationship:
She is the youngest daughter, but slightly older than Ptolemy.
Description: She is a platinum blonde that most
likely comes from a bottle, and a pair of contacts that turn her brown eyes into
sparkling blue eyes.
Disposition:
Energetic and an incurable Romantic, she also has a Grim fascination
with death that oft included in her chronic writing of poetry.
Plot
Hook: When she was a young child, she claims to
have gotten lost in another dimension and came back from the dreamtime and
claims to have powers of the fey. Did
she make this up, or is it based on fact? Why does she always seem to disappear when
chores are to be done?
Nicolas
José Manuel Ptolemy Brachiondez
Relationship: He is the youngest child and
therefore the baby of the family.
Description: He is skinny and somewhat lanky
with a slight beard to make himself older. He prefers checkered shirts and blue
jeans to seem more manly. Somehow, he
manages to make a “real man” look to be somewhat foppish. It’s probably the excessive use of cologne.
Disposition:
He is somewhat unenthusiastic about day to day life, but he can swing
from suspicious and violent if something surprises him. He is psychic empath that often digs for
people’s feelings.
Plot
Hook: The witch Octavia says he knows his secret,
and he has been paying her regular payments, but he is nervous about this truth
and wants to use the party to resolve the issue. What is the secret and why is he getting
aggressive now?
The Pteroduerro Family
These were essentially a clan of dinosaur rustlers, bandits
and never do wells until the marriage.
They claim to have been reformed since they moved into the ranch, but
their degree of reform varies. They even
presented themselves as old money by creating a coat of arms with a Pterodactyl
on it, that was doodled up by Berto in Crayon on the spot.
Berto Sofronio Pteroduerro
Relationship:
The Brother of Giselle Brachiondez, he has made himself the
leader of this family at least until his beloved sister puts him in his
place. Still he knows a good thing and
is “mostly” reformed.
Description:
A Man in his mid 50’s with dark eyes and a black mustache and
goatee. He used to have dashing long
hair, but he started to develop a widow’s beak and had to cut off his wonderful
locks. He’s still a tad bitter about the
experience.
Disposition:
Affably Evil is the best description. He is argumentative and a liar, but also a romantic. He is almost always trying to do a quick rich
scheme, to varying results. He is also a
master cook and appreciates those that enjoy his meals.
Plot
Hook: About a week ago, he led a group of cowboys
to scout out new grazing lands for the Sauropods. Half of them just disappeared along with 5 of
the Sauropods. He wants some independent
trouble-shooters to find out what happened as the Sauropods were most likely
acquired from a nearby ranch. What
really happened and what is Berto isn’t telling them.
Susanita María Pteroduerro
Relationship:
This is the wife of Berto.
She is his partner in crime but often has her own agendas and schemes.
Description:
A slightly heavyset woman, but with her fair share of muscle from living
on the range. She enjoys the colors of
black and purple and often incorporate it into her attire.
Disposition: She often appears as the cool aunt
to the younger members of the Brachiondez, but she is very meticulous
and exact. She does this because it
allows her to be manipulative and cruel.
Plot
Hook: She is positive that there is a meeting ground
outside the ranch where her husband Berto is having an affair but is unsure if
it’s somebody on the ranch or somebody outside.
She wants to find out whom it is and arrange an accident for the
would-be adulterer. Is she referring to
the husband or the woman and if it is not an affair, is it something far better
or far worse?
Nazario Juan Bautista Pteroduerro
Relationship:
The older son of Berto and Susanita,
Description:
Slightly slovenly in his work clothes, but with a slight noble
statue. He is trying to grow a mustache,
but it’s not going very well. You can
see a lot of his father in him.
Disposition: Saturnine and somewhat depressed,
he has this tendency to suck the energy of out of the room. He prefers to be on the range then in the
home.
Plot
Hook: He is fed up
with the ghost tales of the dead Obed and wants a more permanent solution. Is the Ghost real? Is it something more dangerous such as an
entity anchored into position that dealing with may make things far worse?
Francisco Javier Pteroduerro
Relationship:
The middle brother of Berto and Susanita
Description:
You see a young man in paramilitary clothing, often topped by a Beret.
Disposition:
He is a thuggish bully. He is
prone to violent outbursts and generally crass.
This is absolutely contrasted by his doting of the animals in his
charge. His pet raptor Pepe, who’s
about the size of a chicken, rarely leaves his side.
Plot
Hook: Pepe has started developing the ability to end
up in strange locations, stealing food and attacking people, but always getting
away. Is Pepe becoming a fey, a
terrorsaur or something else and can it be dealt with without Francisco not
going on a rampage?
Rut Yessica Pteroduerro
Relationship: The youngest and only daughter of
Berto and Susanita
Description:
She seems like a dangerous, abet attractive woman who has a violet
spiderweb tattoo on her right arm. She
dyes her hair red and often wears them in bangs.
Disposition: She is a loner that loves to hunt
from the shadows. She is very antisocial
and often only her brother Francisco badgers her into dealing with family
situations. Still the moment she has
done she disappears without a trace. She
is suspicious and slightly immature when she does speak.
Plot Hook: Ever since she went on that run where the
people disappeared with her father Berto, she has been acting
differently. Is she possessed by something demonic or
disillusioned in her dear old dad and if so, is she willing to kill family for
this change in personality?
Other People of Note
Ligia
Relationship:
This is the chambermaid of the main villa. She is a Trollitariot that
showed up and after demanding a job.
Giselle was so impressed by her attitude that she hired her on the spot.
Description:
She is rugged and often wears a simple grey dress with a splash of
color.
Disposition:
She is a bit distracted and often responds to be calling out with it
with a sharp tongue and even violence if she can get away with it. Still she seems to have an infatuation with Óscar
and often puts up with things from him that she does no one else, not even her
employers.
Plot
Hook: When cleaning she found a Moody Ooze that she
has decided to make her pet. Unfortunately,
the thing is ravenous and is growing over time.
Can the PCs either kill it before it’s a threat or find it a happy home?
Octavia
Relationship: She has lived on the ranch all her
life. She is not related to anybody but
has not been removed out of respect as well as fear. She is rumored to be a witch, but also acts
as the local wise woman on the ranch.
Description:
She is an elf that pretends to be human and wears makeup to appear far
older than the locals realize.
Disposition: She is cynical, but if approached
with respect, she can be quite friendly.
She loves to setup puzzles to test and tease people she likes.
Plot
Hook: A new type of Brush started growing around
her house this season. As of this night,
it started glowing and creating a hedge maze around the home. Is it a dimensional gauntlet and why did all
the alcohol disappear at the same time?
Óscar
Relationship:
He is the Butler of the Families
Description: A dusky man whom is usually dressed
in a dark suit with a splash of red.
Disposition:
While most of the time he is monosyllable and keeps his words short, if
he is asked a question, he is not likely to stop. He has an opinion on just about everything
and is not afraid to give his advice, much to the chagrin of those within his
charge. His eyesight is starting to fail
which is only making things more difficult.
Plot
Hook: Óscar has discovered Ligia’s moody ooze of
unusual size and has started extorting the troll on her pet, using it as an
excuse for low supplies he has been selling under the table for profit. Is he just a greedy fool or is it for more
noble reasons?
Pedro
Relationship: He is the simple, but strapping
stable hand
Description:
He is an Ungo that is slender with large smoldering eyes that seem to
make people question their attraction to other species. Usually dressed in simple work clothes but
really likes large hats.
Disposition: He is a quintessential tough guy
whom enjoys physical challenges of all sorts and is often picked when an
outsider needs to be tested.
Plot
Hook: Lately he has been hearing words in his head,
talking to him about joining the cybercult.
He is wondering if he is getting a calling, or going mad? He has yet to confide this with anyone but
may blurt it out in the PCs presence.
Names of other people on Staff: Humberto, Marcela, Regina
The Ranch Map
1. Bunkhouse
This is the location where the wranglers live for day to
day. It is an elongated rectangular
building that is one main room that is lined with bunkbeds.
Possible NPC Interaction: Nicolas likes to watch the new
hires and see what impression he gets off them and is telling Pedro to
take care of “the thing” before Pedro leaves.
2. Storage and Tool Shed
This adjoining shed to the bunkhouse contain any tools
needed for day to day jobs.
Possible NPC Interaction: Lola just dropped off a letter for somebody and didn’t want to be
discovered. Berto was just grabbing a
lasso for some reason at about the same time.
3. Paddock
This enlarged paddock is made of concrete blocks and metal
posts, as well as chain link fences mainly because it must be strong enough to
contain Sauropods.
Possible NPC Interaction: Ptolemy and Pedro were in a heated argument
that immediately soften when the PCs showed up.
4. Dairy Farm
This metal building is the main milking station. The milk,
after being pasteurized, are contained in giant tanks that are then transported
to market.
Possible NPC Interaction: Octavia and Susanita seem
to be having a conversation in the dairy farm about milking that seems to have
multiple connotations.
5. Nursing Station
This adjacent building is where young sauropods are birthed
and taken care of. It is lit by a heat
lamp and are checked regularly.
Possible NPC Interaction:Esperanza
and Nazario are seen sneaking off together covered in
blood.
6. Maintenance Yard
One of the main means that Sauropods are herded by Gaucho,
power armor that is designed to guide dinosaurs without being trampled. This is the warehouse where the main armor is
maintained.
Possible
NPC Interaction:
Francisco seems to be whispering softly to one of the Gaucho Mecha a single
word: Soon.
7. Well
This deep well is connected to a windmill to pump water for
the herd animals and for personal use.
Possible
NPC Interaction: Every
couple of hours Rut Yessica keeps heading to the well, pulling up a
bucket of water getting a drink of water and putting the bucket back down the
well. She looks like she doesn’t want to
be seen doing such an act.
8. Raptor House
This enlarged warehouse is lined with small raptors that are
primarily there to lay eggs. It is a
stinking mess, but mostly profitable venture.
Possible
NPC Interaction: This is one of the places where Obed has been
seen haunting the area according to the ranch hands.
9. Atlascopcosaurus Stables
These Euornithopods act as horses on the ranch. They are a cheap way to travel and are often
used instead of the Gaucho power armor, but they can be somewhat jittery.
Possible
NPC Interaction: Berto confronts one of the pcs and claims
that they stole one of the Euornithopods. However instead of accusing them in front of
a crowd, he instead says they “owe him” and leaves.
10. Barn
This massive red barn is a place to move the herd when
dangers apply, whether they are raider or weather related.
Possible
NPC Interaction: Gisielle, the matriarch, who rarely leaves
the house, is drawing a pentagram in the dirt with a stick before leaving. She obviously doesn’t want to be detected.
11. Company Store
This building is where the company sells the workers
directly to give them less reason to go to town.
Possible
NPC Interaction: Óscar is doing inventory of the company
stocks and is saying that they are short 3 cans of lamp oil and is harassing
the staff to find it.
The Brachiondez Main Compound
The main compound is a world of its own. This location is located on the top of a hill
and is well defended.
1. Solar Farm
East of the Compound is a massive solar farm that provides
most of the power concerns of the Ranch
Possible
NPC Interaction: Nazario has attached his laptop and the
solar panels are flashing. Is it some
sort of message and to whom?
2. Guest House
When the Brachiondez has a special guest, they stay at the
guest house. While this is a very
comfortable place to be, part of the reason they stay here so they can be
guarded “for their own protection.”
Possible
NPC Interaction: Berto and Giselle are seen in the guest house
where they are in the middle of deciding whose to be heads or tales on a coin
flip.
3. The Winery
This small land of grapes was a successful way to make wine
which has become a hallmark of the Brachiondez ranch. Rumor has it that the grapes are crushed by a
small Sauropod giving it a distinctive flavor.
Possible
NPC Interaction: Francisco and Octavia are discussing something
in the wine seller. Francisco has tears
in his eyes.
4. Beehives
Separated but kept on the main compound grounds, bees are
raised for both honey and to pollinate many of the various vegetation so that
the sauropods can feed.
Possible
NPC Interaction: Ángel
is meditating in the middle of the beehive field wearing no protection against
the bees. He then gets up abruptly and
drops a single coin where he was sitting.
The Cortijo
This main building will remind you of a Roman Villa but
built with proper amenities and fortifications.
Main Floor
1. The Gates
The gates of the Cortijo are an old-fashioned portcullis
that is usually automated by motor, but also has a hand crank should the place
be out of power.
2. The Front Garage
The front bay is a pair of 4 car garages that any vehicles
will have to go through the courtyard before leaving the compound.
3. Storeroom
This local storeroom is where the food stores and other key
provisions are located behind a locked door.
4. Maid’s Bedroom
This is the servant room for Ligia, the live-in maid of the household. It is very spartan and has a hammock instead
of a bed.
5. Butler’s Bedroom
This well-kept, but simple room has a large chest at the
foot of the bed. On the headboard is a
small picture of Ligia.
6. The Security room
This room is filled with screens connected to the various
cameras throughout the villa and the ranch.
It usually has a security chief that also doubles in processing footage
for the radio show.
7. Bunker Checkpointw
This concrete bunker is where the line of site is blocked if
you enter. Inside are several hired guns
in case the gates are rushed.
8. Washrooms
A series of guest washrooms, complete with showers.
9. The Dining Room
This room is dominated by a large wooden red table. When in use, it usually has a tablecloth and
fine silverware when in use.
10. Cybercult Shrine
This section of the room is dominated by the holy symbol of
the cybercult: A human skull made of metal and painted as if split in white and
blue. This is further enhanced by a series of led lights for prayer and
reflection.
11. The Kitchen
This is a modern-day granite countertop kitchen is designed
with all the modern amenities and a large walk-in freezer.
12. The Library
This room is covered in bookshelves and is a small
maze. There are a pair of ornate chairs
with a coffee table between them in the middle of the room.
13. Conservatory
This room has an old-style grand piano and a series of
chairs as if ready for a concert.
14. Atrium and Pool
In the back yard is a swimming pool with sparkling blue
water.
15. The Garden
This is an ornate set of flowers that have been
painstakingly cultivated for maximum aesthetics. There is a fountain in the middle of the
pattern that is a sauropod spitting water.
16. Berto’s and Susanita Quarters
The lavish room is dominated by a bright red four poster
bed. It usually is contrasted with work
gear.
17. Nazario’s Quarters
This bedroom has a single small bed and headboard but looks
as if recently emptied
18. Francisco’s Quarters
This room
is covered in flags instead of wallpaper and has a gun cabinet behind the bed. The bed is made out of black metal as if
wielded together.
19. Rut Yessica’s Quarters
This bedroom is colorful with a wooden bed with green
bedsheets. On the far side of the room
is a menagerie of small crystalline statues.
20. Garden Storage
This door is locked.
If opened, contains a green barrel with a series of long handled
tools.
21. Pool Supply Storage
The first thing that happens when you open this door is a
rather large yellow plastic duck falls on you.
It is pretty much wedge into the closet with the other Pool cleaning
supplies.
Second Floor
22. Guard Tower
The tower rooms all require you to up a small staircase to a
opened room. All of these rooms are where sentries are posted to check over the
horizon. They are further augmented by a
camera that can turn 360 degrees.
23. Angel’s and Lola’s Quarters:
This lavash room has its own built in bathroom and is filled
with a cabinet with a series of binders in it.
24. The Master Bedroom
This room is opulent as fitting of the Matriarch of the Ranch
but is dominated by a portrait of Obed that smiles at you when you come into
the room.
25. Celeste’s Bedroom
This room has been completely redecorated in chrome and has
1’s and 0’s wallpaper in green lettering.
All furniture is made from gun metal grey and contrasted with a glowing
blue for soft material.
26. Esperanza’s Bedroom
This room is filled with girly things and is done in a pink
motif, where even the rood has a pink shine.
Not a single piece of metal is to be found.
27. Ptolemy’s
Bedroom
This is a room defined by brown fabric furniture. There is a collection of “action figures” on
the headboard.
28. Gallery
This room is filled with oil Paintings that cover the entire
room. Of note is the picture of Obed
that Smiles and whose eyes follow you in the room. Other portraits in this room include a farm
picture showing ranch hands taming a sauropod, a series of color changing eggs
done in a Andy Warhole type style, and a reprint of Edward Munch’s the Scream.
29. The Billiard Rooms
This room is dominated by a pool table, but it can be easily
flipped to allow for table tennis. It
also has a corner that has a gaming console with various attachments.
30. Guest Bedroom
This grey uniform room has a chest of drawers for any
guests. You might find a trinket left behind by a
previous guest.