====== Foundation of Secrets ======

{{:vignette:foundation_of_secrets.png?nolink&450|}}

===== Content Warnings =====

  * **Extreme violence and gore**.
    * This Vignette has a realistic, gritty tone. Light horror may occur in the form of extreme gore, body horror and excess violence.

  * **Indiscriminate violence**.
    * The creature the Foundation is hunting may engage in indiscriminate violence against the citizens of Fox Lake.

  * **Self-harm**.
    * Ritual bloodletting may occur in order to cast magic, though this will not occur to a player character unless they have specified that they wish to do so.

===== Plot =====

Magic is real – and terrifying. The Foundation is a secretive organisation which has been operating from the shadows for many years, working to keep the public safe in ignorance. They operate as plain-clothes agents who seek out and neutralise magical threats to the civilian population. Most are trained to some degree in the magical arts, though they are never to reveal the use of magic to anyone outside of the organisation. This Vignette follows a small team of Foundation agents as they investigate an unusual death, and a young journalist who gets caught up in the hunt for the creature responsible.

===== Landscape =====

This Vignette takes place in Fox Lake: a small town in Canada. The town is relatively remote, surrounded by conifer forest on three sides and a lake on the fourth. It is present day, though the remote location of the town means that mobile phone reception and other modern-day conveniences are not always available.

===== Key Impressions =====

Note that "Witch" is used by the Foundation as a gender-neutral term to refer to any agent with significant magical ability.

  * **Detective Kesler**: <color blue>**Playable**</color>. The most senior member of the local police force.

  * **Ylva Berglund**: <color blue>**Playable**</color>. A Foundation Agent. Nominally the leader of the team.

  * **Melissa Gyasi**: <color blue>**Playable**</color>. A Foundation Witch. Well-versed in combat magic.

  * **Antonio Garcia**: <color blue>**Playable**</color>. A Foundation Witch. Specialises in protective wards and the like.

  * **Amelie Dupont**: <color red>**Not Playable**</color>. The young journalist.

  * **The Creature**: <color blue>**Playable**</color>. An inhuman monster comprised mainly of claws and teeth.

  * There is scope for additional <color blue>**Playable**</color> Foundation agents, though the team cannot exceed five people.

===== Scenes =====

  * **1**: A body has been found. The local police put it down to a bear attack, but a plucky young reporter thinks there’s more to it. An unusual newspaper headline attracts the attention of the Foundation agents.

  * **2**: The journalist continues to investigate. She is intrigued by the appearance of the mysterious individuals – the Foundation agents – who she sees talking with the police. The agents try to keep the journalist at arm’s length.

  * **3**: The journalist follows the agents into the woods at night. They are all attacked by the creature responsible for the earlier death. They attempt to flee, but the journalist and one of the Foundation team are injured.

  * **4**: The unhurt Foundation Agents immediately return to banish the creature before it can cause more havoc. They struggle without the full team and the creature does more damage before it can be eliminated.