TEXT: Something for Christmas 
   
  Introduction 
  The games stats and 'truths' behind the various elements will be revealed in the addendum - not all of 
  them as obvious as they might seem. There's at least one red herring in there… 
  This scenario finds the agents at the end of an assignment that has them in New York on Christmas 
  Eve. The only prerequisite is that the characters have recently worked with a 'Friendly' in the 
  medical/biochemical field, in the New York area. He is a thirty-something year old doctor called Dr 
  Martin Dowe, whose passion is the field of genetics and related chemistry. Aside from his talents in this 
  area he is relatively quiet and unremarkable, and can be tailored as you see fit. The players should be 
  familiar enough with the character that they should actually care about the character enough to want 
  to help him. 
  The players' previous experiences with the doctor should have allowed them to recognise his amazing 
  knack for recognising and manufacturing chemicals that can be used to stabilize the typical 
  'disintegration process' often associated with the Mythos. In this regard the doctor has proved 
  invaluable in securing forensics evidence. However, these 'treatments' are assessed as and when - 
  there are currently no pre-packed problem-solvers that the characters can pick up in his absence. 
  Those who get to know the doctor a little better learn that he came to Delta Green's attention during a 
  rare sighting of a Deep One at New York Harbour, where agents had to step in when it attacked him. 
  Starting Up 
  Regardless of what individual agents are planning, their evening will be interrupted by a phone call. 
  They'll be asked to meet outside the St. Patrick's Cathedral in Manhattan - anyone who stated 
  previously that they're watching TV or are out on the streets of New York can make a Luck Roll to have 
  learnt about the Midnight Mass at the magnificent Cathedral, due to be televised on a local network. 
  The senior agent will also be told the nature of the assignment. There has been a security breach - 
  someone matching the description of Dr Martin Dowe has emptied a little-used Green Box in New York 
  of its contents. These items are an old tome (its exact nature is not important) and a Mask (photos of 
  which can be supplied if the character is near a computer or fax). 
  The doctor entered St Patrick's at around eight this evening, confirmed by a police officer. He was 
  carrying a briefcase that contained an old book, though the policeman didn't search him beyond that. 
  The agents have been secured entry, the police warned of an FBI operation concerning the 'dangerous 
  fugitive' Martin Dowe. The most important thing is to get him out of the Cathedral without alerting the 
  public, and to secure the stolen items. 
  St. Patrick's Cathedral 
  It's an hour or so before midnight when the characters arrive. There seems to be a small police and 
  media presence outside, a van with a local TV network's logo on the side parked just outside. Within 
  the van are a few monitors showing the camera angles within the Cathedral, as well as an external 
  shot, although at the moment none of this is going out live. The main entrance to the Cathedral is 
  
  secured by a policewoman, who'll let them in once they reveal their operative names. They will be 
  ushered in quietly, and asked not to interrupt the service. The Cathedral is impressive, the massive 
  main hall an awesome sight, especially with a full house. 
  The Archbishop of New York is most likely leading the service. A number of cameras have been set up 
  at the back, plus a number in higher galleries. 
  The agents are free to explore, but it turns out that Dr Dowe is sitting in an aisle seat a couple of rows 
  from the front. You can play this out as long as you want, but even once the doctor is spotted it should 
  still be hard to get to him. He hasn't actually got any plans until midnight, when the cameras will go 
  live, but if the agents act too hastily, however, he will act ahead of schedule. 
  What's Going On 
  For one reason or another, the Dr Martin Dowe has snapped. His exposure to the Mythos has simply 
  made him have to face up to some dark truths. With his world falling apart, he plans to expose the 
  Christian teachings that he held so dear as illusions that hide the horrible truth. He plans to hold the 
  Archbishop and congregation at gunpoint and recite from the stolen tome. If the cameras are running 
  he'll address them (and the Delta Green conspiracy), demanding that they tell the world the truth. In 
  reality whilst the cameras are still running, the live link will be cut at the first sign of any trouble. That 
  doesn't make it any less terrifying for those present. 
  Dr Dowe doesn't really plan to use the gun - he wants the threat of violence to buy him enough time to 
  tell the world the truth. However, should the agents use guns of their own, he'll retaliate, even if 
  they're standing near innocent by-standers. He's not violent, but neither is he completely sane. 
  Essentially, however, he's here to deliver a message, and there's more than one way to do that. If 
  subdued but still conscious he'll be able to play his trump card. He'll bend his head down, hiding his 
  face momentarily, before suddenly tensing up. Then, in a matter of seconds, his clothes will shred as 
  his skin bursts open, falling apart as the slick red muscles beneath expand, bubble, and turn dark, 
  warping him into a horrific monster. Anyone making a Spot Hidden roll sees his human face falling 
  away like a perfectly intact mask. The transformation costs all those who see it 1/1D10 SAN. This 
  includes the whole congregation and anyone watching on camera. 
  Anyone right next to the doctor when he changes is covered in blood and ruptured skin, making a 
  further SAN roll or else losing a further 1D6 SAN. In any case, the agents need to deal with both the 
  monster and the panicking crowd. 
  If killed or knocked out before he changed it becomes apparent that he wears a mask, not dissimilar to 
  the one they've been asked to collect, but undoubtedly featuring the face of Dr Dowe, and solid despite 
  the fact the agents have all seen the face talking and blinking mere moments before. SAN cost 1/1D6. 
  Retrieving the Stolen Items 
  Anyone who picks up the Mask is subject to a vivid vision that no-one else sees. The agent must make 
  a SAN roll as they pick up the almost perfect replica of the doctor's face with its eyes closed, cast in 
  what appears to be porcelain. Failing costs the character another 1 SAN. 
  As they study the Mask, they become aware that the Cathedral has become silent. Turning to look 
  around them they see the congregation is, once more, seated, their faces all hidden behind white 
  masks, eyes closed. The agent's companions sit in the front row, wearing the same masks. The 
  
  character must make a further SAN roll or lose 1D6 SAN. Whatever the result of this roll, the character 
  hears someone clapping, slow but constant, with obvious sarcasm. 
  It takes little time to locate the source, a finely dressed gentleman without a mask seated near the 
  back of the assembled church-goers. He offers a smug smile seconds before the vision ends, and the 
  agent finds himself staring once more towards a panicking crowd, his hand holding thin air where it 
  previously held the Mask. 
  The agent's companions all see their friend bending down, then turning to face the crowd, the blood 
  draining from his face as if he's seen a ghost. His hand holds out slightly, as if reaching for something 
  no-one else can see. It requires a Spot Hidden roll to notice the Mask disappear almost the second the 
  character touches it. 
  The tome can be retrieved from the stand, where the doctor was reading from it. 
  Wrapping up 
  The agents must, of course, arrange for the dead or unconscious doctor to be removed from the 
  premises. They must also tend to the bystanders. The whole episode will have to be kept under wraps 
  by Delta Green for fear of exposing one of the world's most terrible secrets. The characters should also 
  confiscate any recordings of the event. 
  Finally, if the agents search the Cathedral at any point later, they will find a box wrapped in glittery 
  green paper, sitting on the pew where the unmasked gentleman appeared. A tag addresses the gift to 
  the agents by their codenames, with the message 'Many Happy Returns'. Unwrapping it reveals the 
  mask, now reverted to its original more sculpted appearance, a faint smile upon its lips. 
   
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Delta Green [multi]/adventures/Fairfield Project Shotgun Scenarios/CoC - Delta Green - Adv - Something for Christmas.pdf