Task Group Michigan – Campaign Notes #5: The Nuns of Lunar Convent

The Lunar Convent is one of the major powers in Traverse City.

The nuns have a strong economic powerbase (the Convent owns extensive amounts of property).  They also have extensive political influence because they run schools and provide spiritual/financial/medical help to the poor and the outcast.

First Impressions

The Convent is based in an old water-park resort at the edge of Traverse City and is surrounded by well-kept fields and gardens. In summer, a few crop-marks indicate the possible presence of pre-collapse buildings, but the convent structures are all in good repair and there is a general air of peace and tranquility

What everyone knows

The Nuns regard themselves as Roman Catholic and try to follow the teachings of the Church as best they can. However, their rules of celibacy are a little “different”. Nuns wishing to become mothers can be (temporarily) released from their vows and can rejoin the convent once their youngest child reaches the age of 13.

The convent is a sanctuary for abused women (ranging from “battered wives” to prostitutes and escaped slaves).

There are numerous jokes about visitors who mistake the convent for a brothel.

what some people know

They have 3 patron saints

Saint Cyprian
Our Lady of the Lakes
Our Lady of the Night

Sailors (including some Lakers/Shipmen) and fishermen make offerings to Our Lady of the Lakes.

Our Lady of the Night is the protector of those who are in danger during darkness.  Candles are lit in her name

What very few people know

The Lunar Convent is a sanctuary for Witches/Warlocks.

Saint Cyprian of Antioch is the patron saint of occultists

What Nobody knows

A few of the Nuns are psionic.

They deliberately select candidates who have psionic ability and encourage these women to have children.

Our Lady of the Night is Santa Muerte, or Saint Death. Yes, the good sisters of Lunar Convent are Inquisitors, but they do not torture. Their “official” theology is that – just as women can’t be catholic priests – they can’t be Inquisitor torturers

The main Inquisitor church has a grudging respect for the Lunar Convent but is unsure of how to deal with these nuns. There will undoubtedly be a problem in the future but – for the moment – the Church hierarchy is unwilling to confront the situation.  They want to avoid any risk of schism within the Church.

Breeder/Slaver weaponry: gas grenades

Small “pocket-sized” grenades… that can be launched from a revolver.

Because sometimes it’s not just the good guys who get the weird stuff.

 

 

Task Group Michigan – Campaign Notes #0. Before the Module: Briefing the Team – Commander’s Intent

This is a suggested briefing for the Recon Team that will be involved in “Liberation at Riverton”

“OK, people.  Thank you for coming”

“In case you didn’t know, I am the Regional Group Leader for Task Group Michigan.  You’re here today so that you can understand my… and the Project’s…intentions for Reconstruction in Michigan.  You’ll be doing Recon in the lower peninsula, so we’ll concentrate on that”

“First of all, I want you to remember the old Real Estate slogan ‘Location, Location, Location’.  Michigan has a LONG shoreline and access to 4 of the 5 Great Lakes.   This will be of major importance for communication and transport.  So… we will need to know about surviving port facilities and any functioning shipyards”

“Second… we’ll want you to check out the economy and resources. Obviously, Michigan’s most famous for making cars and trucks – but it also produces a lot of timber products.   Incidentally, your equipment will include details on producing Wood Gasifiers.  You may find that this will be useful for areas that don’t have liquid fuel .  ALSO… Michigan’s lower peninsula has several oil and gas fields.  They’re not huge and mostly rely on the “Nodding Donkeys”.  However, we’ll need something that produces fuel and lubricants.  I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that one of the Task Group caches is essentially a drill and small refinery.  We need you to tell us where to operate”

“Third… surviving government.   I’m not optimistic about Detroit’s chances but it might be worth a look in that direction – if only for scrap metal.   Lansing…and the State legislature should also be investigated.  I suspect that it’ll be a target.   But, again, it might be worth looking at  Remember… the Project wants to work with Federal and State government ”

“Fourth…surviving military and security.  Michigan has several military bases.  Some of them are pretty big.  Maybe big enough to survive after being attacked.  Camp Grayling, for instance.  Lots of terrain.  Dozens of armored vehicles and it even has some experimental ‘green’ power generation systems.  Mostly solar, and wind .  Even if the original garrison does not survive… SOMEONE is going to be poking around the place and we’ll need to know about it.  I would also like to know the current condition of the Michigan State Police.  They have a good reputation for dealing with Disasters”

“Fifth…surviving Educational and Scientific assets.   By this I mean everything from people to facilities.  For example, experts in training nurses or  the Michigan University’s cyclotron.”

“OK.  Those are my priorities.  Any questions?”