Vanishing Hitchhikers of the Uncanny Highway

27 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

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1960s, 1970s, Americana fantasy, ghost story, Gothic America, Groovy Era, Haunted America, haunting, magic realism, Midwest Horror, modern fantasy, Prairie Horror, Road Crawl, Road Trip, Roadcrawl, Roadtrip, Seventies, Sixties, Small Town Horror, Southern Gothic, spirits, Urban Fantasy, Urban Legend, Weird America

Drive the Uncanny Highway for long enough, and you are bound to bound to encounter hitchhikers. Of course, most are just flesh-and-blood people who just want to get where they are going – or possibly skin you alive and wear your face. Others, however, are on an altogether longer journey.

These tables create the kind of Vanishing (or Phantom) Hitchhikers that are a staple of legends and folktales throughout America.

d12	Standing on the side of the road is a…
1	little girl in a white dress.
2	little boy in a suit.
3	teenage girl in a prom dress.
4	teenage boy in a prom tuxedo.
5	soldier in fatigues.
6	soldier in his dress uniform
7	male hippie. 50% chance to have a guitar.
8	female hippie. 50% chance to have a tambourine.
9	woman in a white dress.
10	man in the rough clothes of a hobo.
11	well-dressed older man.
12	old woman in rags.

d12	If you stop and ask them, they want to be taken…
1	to the nearest bar or roadhouse. If the ghost is an adult, they want to drink there. If the ghost is a child or teenager, they are supposed to be meeting their parents there. They died in or near the bar.
2	to the nearest roadside church, where they are late for a service. If there is a churchyard, they are buried there. If it is after midnight, there is a 75% chance the Church service is being attended exclusively by ghosts.
3	to the nearest farm, where they (or a relative) supposedly lives.
4	to the nearest roadside house, where they (or a relative) supposedly lives.
5	to the nearest roadside memorial. The memorial will be to them, of course.
6	to the nearest motel. The ghost died there, of course.
7	to the nearest roadside museum. If the ghost is an adult, they are supposedly applying for a job. If the ghost is a child or teenager, they are supposed to be meeting their parents there.
8	to the nearest trailer park, where they (or a relative) supposedly lives.
9	to the nearest truck stop. If the ghost is an adult, they are supposedly applying for a job. If the ghost is a child or teenager, they are supposed to be meeting their parents there.
10	to the nearest intersection. They died there in a fatal accident, of course.
11	to the school the nearest small town. Teenage ghosts will naturally claim to be going to a dance, or their Prom.
12	to a seemingly empty stretch of the road, which turns out to be the entrance to a graveyard. Naturally, their grave is inside.

d10	Along the way, they will…
1	ask to borrow an article of clothing. Possibly a coat, or a hat. If the PCs realize the Hitchhiker is dead and subsequently find their grave, the clothing will be on it, or draped on the headstone.
2	ask to stop someplace where they can dance (or talk) for a while with the PCs.
3	giggle constantly.
4	be completely silent.
5	talk about Heaven, Hell, and the afterlife.
6	talk about reincarnation, and how they think they might want to come back again in another body. If the ghost brought to place where there is a young woman present, that woman is obviously newly pregnant.
7	give a prediction of doom for the driver.
8	give a prediction of doom for the world.
9	give a prediction of good fortune for the driver.
10	give a prediction of good news for the world.

d8	Once they arrive at their destination, they will
1	leave behind an article of clothing, and disappear.
2	hand the driver a hand-written letter to a loved one, and disappear.
3	grab the driver, leave an indelible hand-print on their arm, and disappear.
4	exit the vehicle, touch its outer body to leave an indelible hand-print, and disappear.
5	laugh, and disappear.
6	howl, and disappear.
7	point to the location, and suddenly disappear.
8	disappear from the car without sound or warning.

Strange Animals and Creatures of the Uncanny Highway

22 Friday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

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1960s, 1970s, Americana fantasy, Cryptozoological Creature, Cryptozoology, Gothic America, magic realism, Midwest Horror, modern fantasy, Prairie Horror, Road Crawl, Road Trip, Roadcrawl, Roadtrip, sci fi, Science Fiction, Seventies, Sixties, Small Town Horror, Southern Gothic, Urban Fantasy, Weird America

Stay on the Uncanny Highway long enough, and you will see many strange creatures – some almost human, and others almost incomprehensibly bizarre.

Tables 1a to 1g below are broken down by geographic/cultural region. Tables 2a and 2b will create a potentially wacky extraterrestrial encounter of the kind that was common in the 1960s and early 70s, before the so-called “Gray” became the dominant type type of alien being reported. Table 3 will create strange humanoids like the Loveland Frog of Ohio. Table 4 creates weird and unique hybrid animals.

These tables do not cover ghosts or hauntings, other than the possibility of an immaterial white deer or buffalo.

Table 1a: Encounters in the Northeast

Connecticut, Delaware*, Maine, Maryland*, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

d20	You see a(n)…
1 – 3	Jersey Devil. A creature with a head like a horned horse, a body like a dog standing on its hind legs, and cloven hooves on its hind legs. It has bat-like wings, and a lizard-like tail that forks into three ends.
4	Extraterrestrial. Determine the being’s appearance with Table 2a, and the appearance of its craft with Table 2b.
5	Werewolf.
6 – 7	Vampire.
8	Giant Bear.
9 – 10	Mountain Lion (officially extinct). 50% chance it will be a completely black “panther”.
11	Giant Poisonous Snake with glowing eyes. 30’ in length.
12	Bigfoot. A hairy humanoid with simian features, about 8 feet tall. Its eyes shine if hit by a light.
13	Star Jelly. A pulsating and flowing, mucus-like mass about the size of a basketball. It consumes any organic matter it touches, and grows progressively larger.
14	Zombie.
15	Alligator. Should not be in this climate.
16 – 18	Unique Chimeric Humanoid. Determine appearance with Table 3.
19 – 20	Unique Chimeric Animal. Determine appearance with Table 4.

* The GM can alternately use the table for the South, if they prefer.

Table 1b: Encounters in the South

Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (east of Dallas), Virginia, and West Virginia.

d20	You see a(n)…
1	Mothman. A black humanoid with wings and glowing red eyes that are painful to look at.
2	Swamp Ape. A shaggy humanoid about the size of a person, emitting a disgusting odor.
3	Extraterrestrial. Determine the being’s appearance with Table 2a, and the appearance of its craft with Table 2b.
4	Werewolf.
5	Vampire.
6 – 7	Giant Feral Hog.
8	Joint Snake. A large green snake that can break itself up into pieces, and rejoin those pieces back together.
9	Zombie.
10	Wampus Cat. A six legged mountain lion with glowing yellow eyes, that can rear up on just four or two of its legs.
11	Giant Bear.
12	Giant Alligator.
13	Giant Hairless Dog.
14	Giant Poisonous Snake with glowing eyes. 30’ in length.
15	Giant Killer Swamp Rabbit.
16	Unique Chimeric Humanoid. Determine appearance with Table 3.
17	Unique Chimeric Animal. Determine appearance with Table 4.
18 – 20	Hellhound (on someone’s trail). A large black dog with glowing red eyes, who can smell its quarry wherever they are (unless in a church, or enclosed in a magic circle).

Table 1c: Encounters in the Midwest

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

d12	You see a(n)…
1	Extraterrestrial. Determine the being’s appearance with Table 2a, and the appearance of its craft with Table 2b.
3 – 4	Werewolf.
4	Vampire.
5	Hodag. A horned beast with a shaggy, bull-like body; long claws; a lizard-like tail; long tusks like a walrus; and a row of spikes along its back.
6	Wampus Cat. A six legged mountain lion with glowing yellow eyes, that can rear up on just four or two of its legs.
7	Bigfoot. A hairy humanoid with simian features, about 8 feet tall. Its eyes shine if hit by a light.
8	Giant Bear.
9	Zombie.
10	Wendigo. A severely emaciated humanoid taller than the tallest man, with cadaverous skin, claws, and rotted lips that show the being’s sharp teeth.
11	Unique Chimeric Humanoid. Determine appearance with Table 3.
12	Unique Chimeric Animal. Determine appearance with Table 4.

Table 1d: Encounters in the Western Prairie and Rocky Mountains

Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon east of the Cascades, South Dakota, Utah, Washington (east of the Cascades), and Wyoming.

d12	You see a(n)…
1 – 2	Extraterrestrial. Determine the being’s appearance with Table 2a, and the appearance of its craft with Table 2b.
3	Werewolf.
4	Vampire.
5	Jackalope. A large hare with either antlers, or horns resembling those of a pronghorn antelope.
6	Giant Wolf.
7	Bigfoot. A hairy humanoid with simian features, about 8 feet tall. Its eyes shine if hit by a light.
8	White Buffalo. 75% likely to be immaterial, and immune to physical attacks. Not actually a ghost, and is immune to magic or technology that affects ghosts.
9	Giant Mountain Lion.
10	White Pronghorn Antelope. 75% likely to be immaterial, and immune to physical attacks. Not actually a ghost, and is immune to magic or technology that affects ghosts.
11	Unique Chimeric Humanoid. Determine appearance with Table 3.
12	Unique Chimeric Animal. Determine appearance with Table 4.

Table 1e: Encounters in the Southwest

Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas (west of Dallas).

d12	You see a(n)…
1 – 3	Extraterrestrial. Determine the being’s appearance with Table 2a, and the appearance of its craft with Table 2b.
4	Skinwalker. A man who can shape-change, possess the body of any animal desired, and teleport.
5	Pterodactyl. A flying reptile with a 9-foot wingspan.
6	Wampus Cat. A six legged mountain lion with glowing yellow eyes, that can rear up on just four or two of its legs.
7	Giant Eagle.
8	Bigfoot. A hairy humanoid with simian features, about 8 feet tall. Its eyes shine if hit by a light.
9	Giant Mountain Lion.
10	Giant Poisonous Snake with glowing eyes. 30’ in length.
11	Unique Chimeric Humanoid. Determine appearance with Table 3.
12	Unique Chimeric Animal. Determine appearance with Table 4.

Table 1f: Encounters in Southern and Central California

California south of Redding.

d12	You see a(n)…
1 – 3	Extraterrestrial. Determine the being’s appearance with Table 2a, and the appearance of its craft with Table 2b.
4	Bigfoot. A hairy humanoid with simian features, about 8 feet tall. Its eyes shine if hit by a light.
5	Werewolf.
6	Vampire.
7	Giant Black Cat.
8	Giant Mountain Lion.
9	Giant Bear.
10	Giant Poisonous Snake with glowing eyes. 30’ in length.
11	Unique Chimeric Humanoid. Determine appearance with Table 3.
12	Unique Chimeric Animal. Determine appearance with Table 4.

Table 1g: Encounters in the Pacific Northwest / Northern California

California north of Redding, Oregon (in the Cascades and west of the Cascades), and Washington (in the Cascades and west of the Cascades).

d12	You see a(n)…
1 – 3	Sasquatch (Bigfoot). A hairy humanoid with simian features, about 8 feet tall. Its eyes shine if hit by a light.
4	Extraterrestrial. Determine the being’s appearance with Table 2a, and the appearance of its craft with Table 2b.
5	Werewolf.
6	Vampire.
7	Splintercat. A bobcat-like creature with a bulbous, armored forehead capable of splitting wood.
8	White Deer. 75% likely to be immaterial, and immune to physical attacks. Not actually a ghost, and is immune to magic or technology that affects ghosts.
9	Giant Mountain Lion.
10	Giant Bear.
11	Unique Chimeric Humanoid. Determine appearance with Table 3.
12	Unique Chimeric Animal. Determine appearance with Table 4.

Table 2a: Appearance of an Extraterrestrial

d8	In overall size and shape the being is…
1	about half the size of an average person,…
2	about half the size of an average person and extremely thin,…
3	about half the size of an average person and portly,…
4	about the size and shape of an average person,…
5	about the size of an average person and extremely thin,…
6	about the size of an average person and portly,…
7	taller than an average person,…
8	taller than an average person and extremely thin,…

d8	…with a body that is apparently…
1	hairless and naked,… 75% likely to have no visible sexual characteristics.
2	covered in shaggy hair,…
3	clothed and human-like,… d6: Clothing is… 1 = a silver jumpsuit, 2 = similar to an astronaut’s suit, 3 = a one-piece outfit that looks like oilcloth or vinyl, 4 = a skin-tight jumpsuit that looks like rubber, 5 = a loose and flowing gown, 6 = a short leather tunic and pants.
4	insect-like,…
5	robot-like and metallic,…
6	reptilian,…
7	hairless and covered with drooping folds of skin,… 75% likely to have no visible sexual characteristics.
8	hairless and fleshy, but segmented like an earthworm,… 75% likely to have no visible sexual characteristics.

d10	…and generally colored…
1	like light-complexioned human skin.
2	like dark-complexioned human skin.
3	gray.
4	hot pink. 25% chance the being is actually glowing.
5	green. 25% chance the being is actually glowing.
6	red. 25% chance the being is actually glowing.
7	yellow. 25% chance the being is actually glowing.
8	blue. 25% chance the being is actually glowing.
9	inky black.
10	an almost translucent white. 50% chance the being is actually glowing.

d6	The being’s face is..
1	generally human-shaped,…
2	triangular,…
3	roundish,…
4	squarish,…
5	almost cylindrical,…
6	like a squashed ball,…

d6	…with…
1	no hair at all on its head,…
2	no hair, but a pair of antennae projecting from its forehead,…
3	a dorsal fin or ridge atop its head,…
4	long human-like hair on its head,…
5	short, human like hair on its head,…
6	a helmet of some kind covering the top of its head,…

d10	…eyes that are…
1	extremely large, black, and almond-shaped,…
2	extremely large, black, and almost circular,…
3	like those of an ordinary human,…
4	actually just one big eye in its forehead,…
5	obscured by some kind of goggles,…
6	on stalks,…
7	not apparent at all,…
8	glowing red,…
9	glowing yellow,…
10	glowing green,…

d10	…a nose that is…
1	completely absent,…
2	human-like,…
3	human-like and bulbous,…
4	just two small slits,…
5	two large slits,…
6	just a single hole,…
7	like that of a bare skull,…
8	trunk-like,…
9	trumpet-like,…
10	obscured by something that looks like a breathing apparatus,…

d10	… a mouth that is…
1	human-like,…
2	human-like but glowing from the inside,…
3	extremely small,…
4	disturbingly wide,…
5	just a narrow slit,…
6	just a wide slit,…
7	obscured by some kind of plate or wrap,…
8	like a lamprey’s,…
9	filled with needle-like teeth,…
10	completely absent,…

d8	…and ears that are…
1	completely absent.
2	human-like.
3	floppy like those of a hound.
4	small and pointed.
5	large and pointed.
6	bat-like.
7	trumpet-like.
8	obscured by some kind of headphones or earmuffs.

d8	The being’s hands are..
1	human like,…
2	human-like with 3 fingers and a thumb,…
3	long and delicate,…
4	clawed,…
5	clawed with 3 fingers and a thumb,…
6	like crab claws,…
7	pads with suction cups at the end of tentacle-like arms,…
8	masses of small tentacles,…

d12	and it is holding
1	apparently nothing.
2	a small metal cylinder.
3	a metal box.
4	some kind of meshwork box.
5	some kind of gun.
6	a crystalline orb.
7	a glowing hoop.
8	a ball of plasma emitting a crackling and popping sound.
9	a box with what looks like soil samples.
10	a dead animal, that it appears to be studying.
11	an ordinary item of some kind.
12	what looks like a plate of food!

Table 2b: Appearance of an Extraterrestrial Vehicle

d20	The alien craft is…
1 – 2	apparently nowhere to be seen.
3	a classic flying saucer of shiny metal with portholes and lights around its perimeter, standing nearby on legs.
4	a classic flying saucer of shiny metal with portholes and lights around its perimeter, hovering above.
5	a featureless disc of glowing metal, standing nearby on legs.
6	a featureless disc of glowing metal, hovering above.
7	a crescent glowing metal, standing nearby on legs.
8	a crescent glowing metal, hovering above.
9	a cigar-like shape of shining metal, standing nearby on legs.
10	a cigar-like shape of shining metal, hovering above.
11	a shining metallic ovoid, standing nearby on legs.
12	a shining metallic ovoid, hovering above.
14	a shining metallic cylinder, standing nearby on legs.
15	a shining metallic cylinder, hovering above.
16	a shining metallic sphere, standing nearby on legs
17	a shining metallic sphere, hovering above.
18	black and triangular in shape, standing nearby on legs.
19	black and triangular in shape, hovering above.
20	apparently a blob of pure energy, hovering above and constantly changing shape.

Close Encounters with Extraterrestrials and/or their craft occupy 10 times the amount of perceived time (unless the Extraterrestrial is currently disguised as a person). An encounter that seems to take 10 minutes actually takes places over the course of 100 minutes.

Table 3: Unique Chimeric Humanoids

d8	In overall size and shape the being is…
1	about half the size of an average person,…
2	about half the size of an average person and extremely thin,…
3	about half the size of an average person and portly,…
4	about the size and shape of an average person,…
5	about the size of an average person and extremely thin,…
6	about the size of an average person and portly,…
7	taller than an average person,…
8	taller than an average person and extremely thin,…

d8	…with a body that seems to be…
1 – 3	human-like and clothed,… d6: Clothing is…1 = a black overcoat, 2 = a black overcoat and floppy black hat, 3 = workman’s coveralls, 4 = a tuxedo, 5 = army fatigues, 6 = rags.
4	hairless and naked,…
5	naked but covered in shaggy hair,…
6	scaly,…
7	feathered,…
8	hairless, naked and slimy,…

d8	…and skin that is generally…
1	white.
2	black.
3	brown.
4	orange.
5	green.
6	red.
7	yellow.
8	purple.

d20	The being’s head is…
1	a man’s,…
2	a horned man’s,…
3	that of a man, but with one eye…
4	like a man’s, but with enormous eyes,…
5	a woman’s,…
6	a woman’s, but with one eye,…
7	like a baby’s,…
8	like a baby’s, but with one eye,…
9	like a skull,…
10	bulbous like a melon,…
11	like a mass of twisted flesh,…
12	like a monkey’s,…
13	like a goat’s,…
14	like a lizard’s,…
15	like a dog’s,…
16	like a bat’s,…
17	like a bird’s,…
18	like a horse’s,…
19	like a frog’s,…
20	completely missing,…

d8	…its arms and hands are…
1 – 2	human,…
3	human like, but has a hook in place of one hand,…
5	robot-like,…
6	tentacles,…
7	actually wings,… Do not roll to determine what the being is carrying.
8	completely missing,… Do not roll to determine what the being is carrying.

d8	…and its legs…
1 – 3	are human.
4	are dog-like.
5	look like two snakes.
6	are goat-like.
7	are lizard-like.
8	are bird-like.

d20	The being carries…
1 – 6	nothing apparently.
7	a lantern.
8	a child’s doll.
9	a sickle.
10	a chainsaw.
11	an axe.
12	a machete.
13	a pickaxe.
14	a cavalry sword.
15	a whip.
16	a captive bolt pistol, of the type used to slaughter cattle.
17	a pitchfork.
18	a baseball bat.
19	a large rock.
20	a bloody severed head.

Table 4: Unique Chimeric Animals

d20	This beast has a body like a…
1	alligator,…
2	bear,…
3	bird,…
4	bull,…
5	dog,…
6	fox,…
7	giant centipede,…
8	giant spider,…
9	goat,…
10	horse,…
11	kangaroo,…
12	monkey,…
13	mountain lion,…
14	lizard,…
15	rat,…
16	salamander,…
17	skunk,…
18	snake,…
19	stag,…
20	wolf,…

d20	…a head like a(n)…
1	alligator,…
2	bear,…
3	bird,…
4	bull,…
5	dog,…
6	fox,…
7	giant centipede,…
8	giant spider,…
9	goat,…
10	horse,…
11	kangaroo,…
12	monkey,…
13	mountain lion,…
14	boar,…
15	rabbit,…
16	salamander,…
17	lizard,…
18	snake,…
19	stag,…
20	wolf,…

d20	…limbs like a(n)…
1	alligator,…
2	bear,…
3	bird,…
4	bull,…
5	dog,…
6	fox,…
7	giant centipede,…
8	giant spider,…
9	goat,…
10	horse,…
11	kangaroo,…
12	monkey,…
13	mountain lion,…
14	raccoon,…
15	rabbit,…
16	salamander,…
17	lizard,…
18	snake,…
19	stag,…
20	wolf,…

d10	…a tail…
1 – 3	not apparent,…
3	like an alligator,…
4	like a dog,…
5	like a fox,…
6	like a goat,…
7	like a horse,…
8	like a kangaroo,…
9	like a lizard,…
10	like a monkey,…
11	like a raccoon,…
12	like a rat,…

d20	…and it…
1	seems to be basically harmless.
2	has an exceptionally long tongue.
3	sneezes frequently.
4	is hairless.
5	chatters like a monkey.
6	breathes fire.
7	screeches horribly.
8	can breath water.
9	burrows in the ground.
10	is afraid of the sunlight.
11	is completely silent.
12	drools constantly.
13	spits venom.
14	has glowing eyes.
15	glows in the dark.
16	smells incredibly bad.
17	jumps about excitedly.
18	has bat-like wings.
19	has feathered wings.
20	emits a buzzing noise.

Abandoned Vehicles on the Uncanny Highway

20 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

1960s, 1970s, Americana fantasy, Gothic America, magic realism, Midwest Horror, modern fantasy, Prairie Horror, Road Crawl, Road Trip, Roadcrawl, Roadtrip, Seventies, Sixties, Small Town Horror, Southern Gothic, Urban Fantasy, Weird America

All along the shoulder of the Uncanny Highway you will see abandoned vehicles. Some are total wrecks. Others seem almost new. Each is a story whose plot may be forever uncertain. And each is a potential hazard or opportunity.

Table 1: Abandoned Vehicle

d20	On the side of the road you see an abandoned…
1	pickup truck…
2	delivery truck…
3	station wagon…
4	coupé utility vehicle…
5	two-door coupe…
6	convertible coupe…
7	four-door sedan…
8	sports car…
9	muscle car…
10	hot rod…
11	semi truck…
12	compact car…
13	motorcycle…
14	customized “chopper” motorcycle…
15	yellow school bus… Proceed to Table 2.
16	van…
17	luxury car…
18	off-road vehicle…
19	hearse…
20	cop car. Proceed to Table 2.

d20	…that once had been painted…
1 – 2	black.
3 – 4	white.
5 – 6	dark blue.
7 – 8	metallic gray.
9	cherry red.
10	burgundy.
11	brown.
12	sky blue.
13	blue-green.
14	bright yellow.
15	mustard yellow.
16	orange.
17	forest green.
18	lime green.
19	pink.
20	purple.

Table 2: Condition of an Abandoned Vehicle

d20, twice.	The vehicle has…
1 – 2	broken windows.
3	bloodstains on the upholstery.
4	bullet holes.
5	a coating of bird droppings.
6	a crushed front end.
7	a crushed back end.
8	a crushed driver’s side.
9	a puddle of oil underneath.
10 – 11	extensive rust.
12	fire damage.
13	a strange circular burn pattern on the roof (or the driver’s seat if a convertible or motorcycle, or).
14	deep claw marks all over the body.
15 – 16	1d4 flat tires.
17 – 20	no additional obvious damage. Do not roll again on this table. Vehicle is 50% likely to still be operational.

Table 3: Inhabitants of an Abandoned Car

d20	The wreck is now inhabited or used by…
1 – 9	only memories.
10	a drifter.
11	a runaway teenage boy.
12	a runaway teenage girl.
13	d6 non-poisonous snake(s).
14	a poisonous snake
15	a feral cat
16 – 17	a wasp nest.
18	a swarm of rats.
19	a zombie.
20	the ghost of someone who died in or on it.

Table 4: Items Left in an Abandoned Vehicle

d100, 1d4 times.	If you search the interior, trunk, or side bags, you will find…
1 – 3	a tire iron.
4 – 6	a crow bar.
7 – 9	a roll of duck tape.
10 – 12	a car radio.
13 – 15	a blanket.
16 – 18	a portable radio.
19 – 21	a knife.
22 – 24	a shotgun.
25 – 27	1d4 shotgun shells.
28 – 30	d20 dollars cash.
31 – 33	d100 dollars worth of foreign currency.
34 – 36	1d12 empty shell casings.
37 – 39	a child’s toy.
40 – 42	a wedding ring.
43 – 45	a dog collar and leash.
46 – 48	a suitcase filled with woman’s clothes.
49 – 51	a suitcase filled with men’s clothing.
52 – 54	a pair of woman’s shoes.
55 – 57	a pair of men’s shoes.
58 – 60	an instant camera.
61 – 63	a half-drunk bottle of whiskey.
64 – 66	binoculars.
67 – 69	a gas can.
70 – 72	a hatchet.
73 – 75	an empty notebook.
76 – 78	a portable 8-track player with 1d4 8-track tapes.
79 – 81	a pair of roller-skates.
82 – 84	a tent.
85 – 87	a sleeping bag.
88 – 90	a pack of playing cards.
91 – 92	a pack of tarot cards.
93	a strange journal that contains a Magical Ritual.
94 – 96	a Bible, with various apocalyptic passages underlined.
97 – 100	a book about U.F.O.s.

- Re-roll repeated results.
- Item(s) are in addition to the personal possessions of the current inhabitant / user.

Gas Stations of the Uncanny Highway

18 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

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The ordinary Gas Stations of the Uncanny Highway are distinct from the Truck Stops (which cater to truckers, and have amenities such as showers, laundry rooms, and sleeping accommodations). On many stretches of the road, the Gas Station might be as close as a traveler gets to a grocery store. And as the legendary CB Guru Sri Jimmy Bob teaches in “White Line Enlightenment”, when the road is your Ashram, the Gas Station is your Temple!

Table 1: Gas Station Architecture

d20	The architecture of the station is…
1 – 3	plain brick
4 – 6	plain clapboard
7 – 9	stucco-faced brick
10 – 11	Old West “Boomtown” style.
12	Art Deco chrome.
13	Space-Age “Googie”
14	faux-Polynesian Tiki.
18	faux adobe.
19	a faux castle.
20	faux Chinese.

Table 2: Number of Pumps at a Gas Station

d6	This station has…
1	just 1 Gasoline Pump.
2	just 1 Diesel Pump.
3	1 Gasoline Pump & 1 Diesel Pump.
4 – 6	1d4 Gasoline Pumps & 1d4 Diesel Pumps.

Table 3: Quality of Gasoline and Diesel at a Gas Station

d12	The fuel is…
1	cheap, but high quality.
2	cheap, and average quality.
3	cheap, but low quality.
4 – 7	average price and quality.
8	average price, but high quality.
9	average price, but low quality.
10	expensive, but high quality.
11	expensive, but only average quality.
12	both expensive and low quality – a real rip-off!

Table 4: Gas Station Vending Machines

d8, 1d4 times.	Out front there is/are…
1	1d4 kiddie rides, which cost a dime to use.
2	1d4 gumball machines.
3	a soda machine.
4	an ice machine.
5	a machine that dispenses small toys in plastic capsules.
6	a potato chip and pretzel machine.
7	a candy bar machine.
8	no vending machines.

Repeated results indicate multiple examples of the vending machine type, or an especially large one of that variety.

Table 5a: The Gas Station Garage

d6	The Gas Station’s garage is…
1 – 3	nonexistent – this establishment just sells gas.
4	small, and can only handle one car at a time.
5	moderate, and can handle 1+1d4 cars at a time.
6	large, and obviously a major part of the business. Can handle 4+d8 cars at a time.

Table 5b: Services Offered by a Gas Station Garage

d10, 1d10 times.	Besides general tune-ups and oil changes, the garage also offers…
1	towing service.
2	tires for sale.
3	hubcaps for sale.
4	automotive parts for sale.
5	automotive body repair.
6	repainting.
7	glass repair.
8	engine repair.
9	brake repair.
10	muffler service.

Re-roll repeated results. An initial roll of 10 therefore indicates a Full-Service garage.

Table 5c: Gas Station Garage Mechanic

d6	The on-site mechanic is…
1	barely competent.
2	a mechanical genius who can fix anything cheap.
3	an arrogant a**hole who thinks he’s better than everyone else.
4	an ex-con out on parole.
5	rude and crude, but knows his stuff.
6	a shady character who will look the other way at anything illegal – for a price.

Table 6: Gas Station Bathroom

d20	This bathroom is…
1 – 3	clean and bright,…
4 – 5	clean, but drab,…
6 – 7	dreary,…
8 – 10	disgustingly foul, and looks like it is seldom cleaned,…
11– 12	very dimly-lit,…
13	covered in graffiti,…
14	covered in newspapers,…
15	in the middle of a renovation,…
16	oddly modern and fashionable,…
17 – 19	a mess, from what looks like a recent fight or struggle,…
20	spattered with fresh blood,…

d20	…and somebody has apparently left behind…
1	their wallet.
2	their pocketbook.
3	men’s underwear.
4	women’s underwear.
5	a sock.
6	their eyeglasses.
7	a wig or toupee.
8	a Christian religious tract.
9	a book about U.F.O.s.
10	a book about the coming Rapture, with many passages underlined.
11	a copy of “White Line Enlightenment” by Guru Sri Jimmy Bob of the Asphalt Ashram.
12	a bloody knife.
13	a recently fired handgun.
14	a wrench.
15	a wedding ring.
16	a briefcase containing bricks of drugs. d4: In the briefcase is 1d4 kilos of…1 = cocaine, 2 = heroin, 3–4 = marijuana.
17	a brown paper bag with 1d10 x 1000 dollars.
18	a brown paper bag with 1d20 uncut diamonds.
19	a message pleading for help, because the writer is being abducted (but was allowed to use the bathroom). d6: The message says her abductor is… 1 = a pimp, 2 = her ex-husband, 3 = her ex-boyfriend, 4 = a cop, 5 = her abusive parents, 6 = a complete stranger.
20	a suitcase containing a complete dismembered body.

Table 7: Also For Sale at a Gas Station

d100, 1d6 times.	Besides gas, this station also sells…
1 – 2	8-track cassettes.
3 – 4	barbecue. 10% chance it is not actually the meat advertised.
5 – 6	air fresheners.
7 – 8	bibles.
9 – 10	blankets & pillows.
11 – 13	packaged bread.
14 – 17	canned goods.
17 – 18	chili
19 – 21	chewing gum.
22 – 24	hot dogs.
26 – 27	keys
28 – 30	chocolates & candy (other than gum).
31 – 33	wrapped sandwiches.
34 – 36	comic books.
37 – 39	condoms.
40 – 42	dashboard ornaments.
43 – 48	cigarettes and tobacco products.
49 – 51	incense.
52 – 54	jerky and dried sausages.
55 – 57	knives.
58 – 60	magazines.
61 – 63	tire irons.
64 – 66	hubcaps.
67 – 69	newspapers.
70 – 72	tires.
73 – 75	tire repair kits.
76 – 78	painkillers, allergy medicine, & adhesive bandages.
79 – 81	paperback books.
82 – 84	wrenches.
85 – 87	potato chips, pork rinds and pretzels.
88 – 90	rope & duck tape.
91 – 93	seat covers.
94 – 96	flowers.
97 – 100	soda / pop.

Repeated results indicate an especially large selection of the item indicated.

Table 8: Gas Station Cashier

d6	The cashier is…
1	a flirty young woman in minimal clothing.
2	a thin and twitchy young man who never takes off his baseball cap.
3	a chain-smoking mature woman with badly-applied makeup.
4	a mature man who won’t stop talking about how much better things used to be.
5	an elderly man who tells bad jokes.
6	an elderly woman who is suspicions of everyone, and keeps her hand under the counter at all times.

75% likely there is a loaded pistol or shotgun under the counter.

Table 9: Gas Station Attendant

d6	The person will pump your gas and check your oil is…
1	just the cashier (or mechanic, if there is one).
2	an aggressive young man who takes offense at everything.
3	a shady young man who seems to be estimating the value of everything the PCs own.
4	a young man who is always listing to his loud portable 8-track player, and refuses to turn it off.
5	a mature man with a limp, who chews tobacco and spits it everywhere.
6	a mature man covered in faded blue tattoos, who asks if there’s any “other jobs” you need done.

Table 10: Secret of the Gas Station

d20	The secret truth about this gas station is…
1 – 10	it’s really just an ordinary establishment.
11 – 13	it’s actually a money-laundering operation.
14	it’s owned by an Extraterrestrial
15	the cashier is part of a serial killer team, on the lookout for victims.
16	it’s a front for a child abduction ring.
17	its the secret meeting place for Demon Hunters patrolling this section of the Uncanny Highway.
18	everyone who works here is actually a C.I.A. agent.
19	everyone who works here is actually a K.G.B. agent.
20	the cashier is actually an Angel in disguise, trying to help the lost and lonely.

Table 11: Gas Station Events

d20	While the PCs are at the gas station…
1	an Outlaw Biker gang pulls in – but just wants gas and snacks!
2	an Outlaw Biker gang pulls in – and wants trouble!
3	a tractor trailer pulls in – and out of it runs a woman screaming for help!
4	a Hitchhiker is left off at the Station. Determine their characteristics with the tables in HITCHHIKERS.
5	a PC is approached by a Hitchhiker looking for a ride. Determine their characteristics with the tables in HITCHHIKERS.
6	a bus full of nuns pulls in, singing songs.
7	a decorated bus full of Jesus Freaks pulls in, and they start playing guitar, singing, and preaching. 25% Chance one of them is an actual Miracle Worker.
8	a band’s tour bus pulls in, and the musicians stumble out (with their groupies). d4: The band plays…1 = Rock n’ Roll, 2 = Country & Western, 3 = R&B, 4 = Funk.
9	a cross-country coach bus pulls in, and d12 of the patrons exit to stretch their legs.
10	a man pulls in, and runs out of his car screaming that “They’re coming for me, and you can’t stop them!” d8: “They” are…1 = the Commies, 2 = the Aliens, 3 = the Werewolves, 4 = the Outlaw Bikers, 5 = the C.I.A., 6 = the Drug-Crazed Hippies, 7 = the Hell Hounds, 8 = everyone he killed in ‘Nam.
11	a cop pulls in, looking for a suspect. The description either matches someone the PCs have met on the road, or will meet.
12	a desperate Demon Hunter pulls in, and starts aggressively asking if anyone has seen his (or her) quarry. d6: They are hunting.. 1 = a Vampire, 2 = a Werewolf, 3 = a person possessed by a Demon, 4 = a rogue Fay, 5 = a Psycho Killer, 6 = a Driverless Car that’s been running other vehicles off the road.
13	d4+2 college kids in a decorated “Boogie Van” pull in, looking for clues to some mystery.
14	a smoking and sputtering station wagon pulls in, and a married couple with 1d4 kids exits just their car stops working altogether.
15	a pair of teenage lovers pulls in. 25% chance they are running away to elope.
16	a pair of newlyweds pulls in, on their way to their honeymoon. Or so they think!
17	a U.F.O appears in the sky overhead.
18	d20 Zombies, escaped from a government research lab nearby, surround the station and shamble in to attack.
19	a tanker truck is making a delivery of gas or diesel. The driver knows how to actually get off the Uncanny Highway, if the PCs are willing to follow him to the next intersection with the regular highway. There will be a delay at the nearest Truck Stop along the way, however.
20	a delivery truck pulls in to unload items for the shop. The driver knows how to actually get off the Uncanny Highway, if the PCs are willing to follow him to the next intersection with the regular highway. There will always be a delay at the nearest Truck Stop along the way, however.

Small Towns of the Uncanny Highway Part VI: Encounters in the Street

14 Thursday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

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Take a break from the Uncanny Highway and stroll the charming streets of Small Town America. Don’t mind the High School Quarterback and his friends beating on that other boy with baseball bats. It’s all good wholesome fun. Builds character! Besides, isn’t that guitarist who died last week across the street, staring at us?

Use these table to generate the encounters that PCs will have if they spend time wandering through town. Tables 1 to 9 (in Part I) give you a general overview of the town. Tables 10 to 13 (in part II) define the predominant People and Culture of the town. Tables 14 to 19 (in Part III) take you “around town” to define it’s businesses, establishments, and locations. Tables 20 to 22 (in part IV) define the town’s major organizations and social institutions. Tables 23 to 32 (in Part V) define the Archetypal NPCs that seem to inhabit every small town, such as the “Most Beloved Person in Town” and the “Town Bully”.

Table 33: True Danger of a Small Town

d6	Regardless of how it looks, the actual crime rate is…
1	negligible. If the PCs subsequently encounter any serious street crime, its the first that’s happened in a long time.
2	low.
3 – 4	average.
5	high.
6	out of control.

Table 34: Current Events and First Encounters in a Small Town

d20	Not long after the PCs enter town, they see…
1	evidence of some kind of fair, festival, or carnival happening in the town square. On Main Street if there is no town square. In the park if there is no Main Street, or Main Street is the Highway itslef.
2	Rival biker gangs fighting each other in the street.
3	Cops engaging in a high-speed pursuit of a criminal couple through the streets of town.
4	a U.F.O appearing overhead for several minutes.
5	an important building catching on fire.
6	a swarm of aggressive rats coming out of the sewer (or a storm drain) to attack. Only if town is over 10,000 people.
7	1d6 teenagers being harassed by the cops.
8	a sinkhole opening up in the street. If there are any secret tunnels or caves underneath town, they are exposed.
9	a hungry bear wandering into town.
10	someone who looks exactly like a supposedly dead or missing celebrity.
11	a family fleeing their house due to a poltergeist haunting.
12	a person running out of a house screaming. Person has a 50% chance each of being: a) nude, b) blood-spattered, c) incoherent, d) fleeing a serial-killer; e) a kidnapping victim fleeing their captor.
13	a housewife quickly ushering the Town Lothario into her home.
14	the Town Conscience doing a good and/or heroic deed.
15	the Town Bully and his friends harassing the Town Scapegoat.
16	the Town Weirdo, and are told to “Take my advice, and leave now, if you can!”
17	the Town Jezebel being harassed by a frumpishly-dressed woman, who accuses the Town Jezebel of being a “home-wrecker”.
18	the Wealthiest Person in Town driving by (or being driven) by in their expensive luxury car.
19	the Town Drunk. He is willing to “Tell a secret”, if they can “help him out”.
20	a bank robbery (or the robbery of the most prosperous business) in progress.

Table 35: Notices Posted Around a Small Town

d20	Posted to a tree (or telephone pole) is a notice about…
1	a missing dog.
2	a missing cat.
3	a missing child.
4	a missing teenage girl. If they PCs have met any female runaways on this Section of Highway, the person on the poster is one of them.
5	a missing teenage boy. If they PCs have met any male runaways on this Section of Highway, the person on the poster is one of them.
6	a missing man. 25% chance the PCs will see the man in question (or evidence of his former presence) at the next Roadside Attraction they visit.
7	a missing woman. 25% chance the PCs will see the woman in question (or evidence of her former presence) at the next Roadside Attraction they visit.
8	a garage sale to be held today. 25% chance a Singular Item from one of the Souvenir Shops of the Uncanny Highway is for sale. See SOUVENIR SHOPS Table 7: Singular Objects for Sale in a Souvenir Shop.
9	a fundraiser for a local church. 25% chance the pastor of the church is pocketing the money.
10	a church fleamarket, to be held this Saturday.
11	a kitchen Storageware Party, to be held in the home of a local housewife.
12	a Strange Animal or Creature, with a telephone number to report sightings. If any PCs report a sighting, they will be visited and threatened into silence by two Men in Black the next day, who will find them no matter where they are.
13	the next P.T.A. meeting, to discuss the out-of-control teens of this town.
14	a “Wanted” poster for a dangerous criminal. The PCs will recognize the person as someone they have already met on the road.
15	a “Battle of the Bands” to be held in the local school gymnasium (or rec center) tonight.
16	a Carnival or Seasonal Fair, which starts next Friday coming. Or today, if this a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
17	either a traveling Circus opening for business this Friday in an empty field on the outskirts of town, or “Community Appreciation Day” at the local Main Industry (which is the next Saturday coming, or today, if this a Saturday).
18	a fundraiser for the Mayor’s reelection campaign, to be held by the Dominant Organization.
19	“aimless strangers”, who should be reported to the authorities.
20	a town meeting, to discuss the Recent News.

These notices might also be found in the windows of local businesses.

Table 36 Encounters on the Streets of a Small Town

Roll once on the appropriate Sub-table once per every 300 feet (100 yards, 1 football field) traveled.

Encounters Sub-table 1: Daytime, Warm Weather.

d8+d12	You encounter…
2	an emergency. d4: 1=Car crash, 2=House on fire, 3=Downed power line, 4=Person collapsed on street. Police or Volunteer Fire Department will arrive in d12 minutes.
3	an ambulance passing by in the street.
4	a stray or feral cat.
5	1d4 working women (not directly involved with Main Industry).
6	a man, woman, and 1d6 children out walking. Roll again during school hours.
7	1d6 children riding bikes. Roll again during school hours.
8	1d6 teens. 25% chance they are students heading to (or coming from) the Library.
9	a woman with a stroller. 10% likely to also be pregnant.
10	1d4 passenger vehicle(s) in the street.
11	1d8 people involved with the Main Industry. College students in a college town, Factory workers in a factory town, etc.
12	2d4 children playing games. Hopscotch, wiffle ball, double dutch, etc. Roll again during school hours.
13	1d4 housewives.
14	1d4 working men (not directly involved with Main Industry).
15	a delivery truck or utility van, passing in the street.
16	an ice cream truck. Roll again during school hours.
17	a police car.
18	1d12 bikers passing by in the street.
19	a stray dog.
20	an Archetypal NPC. d10: 1=the Wealthiest Person in Town, 2=the Most Beloved Person in Town, 3=the Town Conscience, 4=the Town Bully, 5=the Town Scapegoat, 6=the Town Jezebel, 7=the Town Lothario, 8=the Town Drunk, 9=the Town Weirdo, 10=the Town Mastermind.

On a Sunday mornings, however, 50% of all encounters will be with people going to or from church.

Encounters Sub-table 2: Nighttime, Warm Weather

d8+d12	You encounter…
2	an emergency. d4: 1=Car crash, 2=House on fire, 3=Downed power line, 4=Person collapsed on street. Police or Volunteer Fire Department will arrive in d12 minutes
3	a fox, or a raccoon.
4	The Town Scapegoat or the Town Bully. 25% chance of the Town Bully harassing the Town Scapegoat.
5	a skunk.
6	a police car.
7	1d4 women going to or from a bar.
8	a teenage babysitter going to (or from) a house.
9	a passenger vehicle in the street.
10	1d4 men going to or from a bar.
11	1d6 teens. 50% likely to be heading for the Unsafe Teenage Hangout.
12	a teenage couple in a car. 75% likely to be heading for Lover’s Lane.
13	an adult couple.
14	a stray or feral cat.
15	1d12 bikers passing by in the street.
16	a bat.
17	2 muscle cars or hot rods racing down the street.
18	The Town Jezebel or the Town Lothario. 25% chance of the two together on a date.
19	The Town Weirdo or the Town Drunk. 25% chance of the Town Weirdo interrogating the Town Drunk for secrets.
20	a Strange Animal or Creature.

Encounters Sub-table 3: Daytime, Cold Weather

d8+d12	You encounter…
2	an emergency. d4: 1=Car crash, 2=House on fire, 3=Downed power line, 4=Person collapsed on street. Police or Volunteer Fire Department will arrive in d12 minutes.
3	an ambulance passing by in the street.
4	a stray or feral cat.
5	1d4 working women (not directly involved with Main Industry).
6	a man, woman, and 1d6 children out walking. Roll again during school hours.
7	1d4 men dressed in hunting gear, with rifles. 50% likely to be returning from a hunt with a deer.
8	1d6 teens. 25% chance they are students heading to (or coming from) the Library.
9	a woman with a stroller. 10% likely to also be pregnant.
10	1d4 passenger vehicle(s) in the street.
11	1d8 people involved with the Main Industry. College students in a college town, Factory workers in a factory town, Soldiers near a military base, etc.
12	2d4 children. If there is snow on the ground, they are 25% likely to be hauling sleds, and 50% likely to be snowball fighting. If snow has just fallen they will have shovels, and will be going door to door.
13	1d4 housewives.
14	1d4 working men (not directly involved with Main Industry).
15	a delivery truck or utility van, passing in the street.
16	a snow plow passing in the street. Roll again if there is no snow on the ground.
17	a police car.
18	1d12 bikers passing by in the street.
19	a stray dog.
20	an Archetypal NPC. d10: 1=the Wealthiest Person in Town, 2=the Most Beloved Person in Town, 3=the Town Conscience, 4=the Town Bully, 5=the Town Scapegoat, 6=the Town Jezebel, 7=the Town Lothario, 8=the Town Drunk, 9=the Town Weirdo, 10=the Town Mastermind.

On a Sunday mornings, however, 50% of all encounters will be with people going to or from church.

Encounters Sub-table 4: Nighttime, Cold Weather

d8+d12	You encounter…
2	an emergency. d4: 1=Car crash, 2=House on fire, 3=Downed power line, 4=Person collapsed on street. Police or Volunteer Fire Department will arrive in d12 minutes
3	a fox.
4	The Town Scapegoat or the Town Bully. 25% chance of the Town Bully harassing the Town Scapegoat.
5	1d4 men with rifles and flashlights, going out to illegally “jack” game animals.
6	a police car.
7	1d4 women going to or from a bar.
8	a teenage babysitter going to (or from) a house.
9	a passenger vehicle in the street.
10	1d4 men going to or from a bar.
11	1d6 teens. 25% likely to be heading for the Unsafe Teenage Hangout.
12	a teenage couple in a car. 50% likely to be heading for Lover’s Lane.
13	an adult couple.
14	a stray or feral cat.
15	1d12 bikers passing by in the street.
16	a snow plow passing in the street. Roll again if there is no snow on the ground.
17	an ambulance passing by in the street.
18	The Town Jezebel or the Town Lothario. 25% chance of the two together on a date.
19	The Town Weirdo or the Town Drunk. 25% chance of the Town Weirdo interrogating the Town Drunk for secrets.
20	a Strange Animal or Creature.

Table 37: Up in the Sky Above a Small Town

d20	Looking up, you can see…
1	a U.F.O.
2	a cloud shaped like a face.
3	a cloud shaped like a ship.
4	a cloud shaped like the outline of a state.
5	a cloud shaped like a bird.
6	a cloud shaped like a fish.
7	a cloud shaped like a dog.
8	a cloud shaped like a person.
9	a cloud shaped like a lion.
10	a cloud shaped like a cat.
11 – 12	1d12 crow(s).
13	1d100 pigeon(s) / dove(s).
14	a hawk.
15	an eagle.
16	1d12 swallows.
17	1d20 sparrow(s).
18	a helicopter. 50% chance to be unmarked and black.
19	a passenger plane.
20	a hot air balloon.

- Note that any mundane aircraft seen above U.S. Route 28 (except for Unmarked Black Helicopters) will usually be exiting a cloud, or on its way to entering another cloud – after which it will disappear. There are no airports along the length of U.S. Route 28.
- If a future encounter is already planned out, than the PCs might see a cloud with a prophetic shape. For instance, a cloud in the shape of a fist if the characters are about to encounter the Town Bully.

Table 38: Recent News

d20	The news article everyone seems to be talking about concerns…
1	a rash of recent break-ins.
2	a rash of recent disappearances.
3	a recent murder.
4	a recent fatal auto accident.
5	a poltergeist haunting that’s begun in one of the houses.
6	someone’s plan to open up an undesirable business or establishment. d6: 1=a headshop, 2=a psychic reader, 3=a liquor store, 4=an arena, 5=an amusement park, 6=a biker’s clubhouse.
7	someone’s plan to open up a needed and desired business.
8	a miraculous healing in a local church.
9	the appearance of the Virgin Mary or Jesus to a local child.
10	the sighting of a U.F.O. over town.
11	a recent fire that destroyed a home.
12	an alligator living in the sewers or storm drains. Only if town is over 10,000 people.
13	a Strange Animal or Creature recently seen by some teenagers.
14	the shocking increase in drug addiction among teenagers.
15	a death that occurred at the Unsafe Teenage Hangout.
16	a creepy man that been seen lurking and peering into car window at Lover’s Lane.
17	the possibility of the town’s Main Industry closing.
18	trying to get a rail link or bus stop in town.
19	sightings of a dead celebrity around town, and on the nearby Highway.
20	a particularly brave and heroic deed done by the Town Conscience.

Small Towns Along the Uncanny Highway Part V: Archetypal NPCs

13 Wednesday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

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The Uncanny Highway can be a lonely place – so make some friends. Sure, they might be secretly plotting to bring about the end of the world, but at least its something you can do together!

These tables define the Archetypal NPCs that seem to inhabit every fictional American town of the Seventies, such as the “Most Beloved Person in Town” and the “Town Bully”. Tables 1 to 9 (presented in Part I) give you a general overview of the town. Tables 10 to 13 (in part II) define the predominant people and culture of the town. Tables 14 to 19 (in Part III) take you “around town” to define it’s businesses, establishments, and locations. Tables 20 to 22 (in part IV) define the town’s major organizations and social institutions. Finally, Tables 33 to 38 (in the final Part VI) generate the encounters that PCs will have if they spend time wandering the streets.

Table 23: The Wealthiest Person in Town

d6	The person who can buy their way out of anything is…
1	the owner / president / commander of the Main Industry.
2	the patriarch of a family with roots back to the American Revolution.
3	an expatriate European with no visible means of support, but seemingly endless supplies of cash.
4	an old widow who seems to own half the town.
5	a gangster who lives in a fortified compound.
6	a wily, self-made millionaire whose plain-speaking ways mask deep dishonesty and ruthlessness.

The Wealthiest Person in Town has always committed at least one Secret Crime which has been covered up by the authorities.

Table 24: The Most Beloved Person in Town

d6	The person who seems to embody all the town’s hopes and dreams is…
1	the Homecoming Queen.
2	the Quarterback of the High School Football team (or the Captain of the Dominant Varsity Team).
3	the Coach of the High School Football Team (or the Dominant Varsity Team).
4	a former Olympic athlete.
5	a war hero who saved all the men of his platoon.
6	a former Beauty Queen.

25% chance the Most Beloved Person in Town will be murdered while the PCs are in town, by either the Wealthiest Person in Town, or the Town Bully.

Table 25: The Town Conscience

d6	The person who will always try to stand up for what right is…
1	a local teacher.
2	a local Union leader (or organizer).
3	a fearless reporter or journalist.
4	a local mother, active in the P.T.A.
5	the daughter of the Police Chief or Sheriff.
6	a Vietnam vet who is also a martial arts master.

50% Chance the Town Conscience knows the Secret Crime of the Wealthiest Person in Town.
75% chance the Town Conscience has already had a dangerous and/or violent encounter with the Town Bully.

Table 26: The Town Bully

d6	If there’s trouble, it’s probably being caused by…
1	the son of the Wealthiest Person in Town.
2	the son of the Police Chief or Sheriff.
3	the High School Quarterback (or the Captain of the Dominant Varsity Team).
4	a Police Sergeant who leads a gang of dirty cops.
5	the son of the most prominent preacher.
6	the leader of an Outlaw Biker gang. 25% chance the gang is actually made up of women.

The Town Bully can simultaneously be the Most Beloved Person in Town, in which case most people simply look the other way at their horrible acts.
50% chance the Town Bully is working directly for the Town Mastermind.
10% chance the Town Bully is also a Werewolf.

Table 27: The Town Scapegoat

d6	When troubles occurs, the person who will get blamed first is…
1	a High School student who listens to Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music.
2	a follower of a disliked Guru.
3	the oldest son from the poorest family in town.
4	a recently paroled man, who had been imprisoned on false charges.
5	a local Psychic.
6	a free-thinking Hippie Chick that everyone thinks is a witch. 25% chance she actually is a White Witch, who uses her powers only for good.

The Town Scapegoat is always innocent of whatever evil accusations are made against them.
50% chance the Town Scapegoat suspects the Dark Secret of the town.
50% chance the Town Scapegoat suspects the plans of the Town Mastermind.

Table 28: The Town Jezebel

d6	The women the other women hate, and the men desire, is…
1	a divorcee, and single mother, who just moved to town.
2	a stripper who works out on the Highway.
3	the new teacher or librarian from The Big City.
4	a bartender, who knows how to flirt and keep the tips coming.
5	a pretty, but clueless shopgirl who is constantly making unintended double entendres.
6	a wealthy widow, whose husband died mysteriously.

50% chance the Town Jezebel knows something scandalous about the leader of the Dominant Organization in town.
50% chance the Town Jezebel has the unwanted attention of the Town Bully.

Table 29: the Town Lothario

d6	All the husbands in town try to keep their wives away from…
1	The singer (or guitarist) for the best bar band around.
2	the son of the Wealthiest Person in Town.
3	the postman. He always has a “special delivery” for the ladies!
4	a smooth-talking real estate agent, who really knows how to work a leisure suit.
5	a former High School Quarterback – aging now, but still handsome.
6	the door-to-door salesman, who has got just the thing to make your day!

50% chance the Town Lothario is the Father, Uncle, or Brother of the Most Beloved person in Town.

Table 30: The Town Drunk

d6	The person who is always to be seen drinking on the street is…
1	a Vietnam Vet who saw too much in the war.
2	a once wealthy man who lost everything gambling.
3	a former cop who was run out of the police department for trying to expose corruption.
4	a man who claims his family was abducted by strange creatures.
5	a man who was horribly burned in the fire that killed his family.
6	a man injured while working at the town’s Main Industry.

75% Chance the Town Drunk knows the Secret Crime of the Wealthiest Person in Town.
75% chance the Town Drunk knows the plans of the Town Mastermind.

Table 31: The Town Weirdo

d6	The person who is dismissed as crazy, but knows what’s really going on is…
1	a U.F.O enthusiast, who knows the government is hiding something.
2	an obsessive occultist, looking for an infamous grimoire.
3	a Psychic tormented by dark visions of the future.
4	a paranormal researcher, piecing together the truth behind local legends.
5	a folk artist who makes sculptures out of trash.
6	the cat lady, who says that her pets tell her secrets.

The Town Weirdo always knows the Dark Secret of the town, but may be reluctant to tell the PCs at first.
50% Chance the Town Conscience knows the secret crime of the Wealthiest Person in Town.

Table 32: The Town Mastermind

d6	The person with large-scale, nefarious plans for the town is…
1	also the Wealthiest Person…
2	also the Town Bully…
3	also the leader of the Dominant Organization…
4	the Mayor…
5	the Mayor’s spouse…
6	a local religious leader…

d12	…who plots to…
1	destroy / shut down the Main Industry in town. Even – or especially if – they own it!
2	bury toxic waste in town.
3	close down the place where all the teens gather, so luxury housing can be put up in its place.
4	help Satan father the Antichrist and begin the Apocalypse.
5	drive the crime rate up so developers from The Big City can buy the land cheaply.
6	kidnap townspeople and sell their organs to wealthy foreigners.
7	kidnap babies and sell them to childless couples from The Big City.
8	subject people to mind-control experiments, with the goal of creating an army of brainwashed followers.
9	replace the women (or men) of town with androids.
10	subvert all the churches and religious organizations in town to create a cult around themselves.
11	establish the town as a permanent extraterrestrial base – the first step towards an all-out alien invasion.
12	create a secret base of Soviet troops on American soil!

Small Towns Along the Uncanny Highway Part IV: Organizations and Institutions

11 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

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These tables define the town’s major organizations and social institutions of small towns along the Uncanny Highway. You definitely don’t want to get on the wrong side of the Machine Gun P.T.A.!

Tables 1 to 9 (in Part I) give you a general overview of the town. Tables 10 to 13 (in Part II) define the predominant People and Culture of the town. Tables 14 to 19 (in Part III) take you “around town” to define it’s businesses, establishments, and locations. Tables 23 to 32 (to be presented in Part V) define the Archetypal NPCs that seem to inhabit every small town, such as the “Most Beloved Person in Town” and the “Town Bully”. Finally, Tables 33 to 38 (in the final Part VI) generate the encounters that PCs will have if they spend time wandering the streets.

Table 20: Town Politics

d4	The average citizen is politically a…
1 or lower	Liberal Republican. Yes, that was a thing in the 1960s and 1970s, especially in the Northeast.
2	Liberal Democrat.
3	Conservative Republican.
4+	Conservative Democrat. Also a thing in the 60s and 70s, especially in the South.

Roll Modifiers: -1 in Northeast, +1 in the South.

Table 21a: Dominant Organization of a Small Town

d100	If you want any kind of respect and power in this town, you need to be involved with…
1 – 3	the Police.
4 – 6	the Volunteer Fire Department.
7 – 9	the Union involved with the Main Industry. Roll again if not applicable.
10 – 12	The Liberated Stonecrafters.
13 – 15	The Sisters of American Independence.
16 – 17	The Boy Lookouts.
18	The Girl Lookouts.
19 – 21	The Wapiti Club.
22 – 24	The Sundrymen.
25 – 27	The Royal Order of Reindeer.
28 – 30	The Patriotic Regiment.
31 – 33	The Tested of Oversees Conflicts.
34 – 36	The Cavaliers of Vespucci.
37 – 39	The Gearing Club.
40 – 42	The Keenwe Club.
43 – 45	The Ligers Club.
46 – 48	The Talkmentors.
49 – 55	the dominant denomination of Christianity.
56 – 58	The Kayzees.
59 – 61	The Forum of Trade.
62 – 64	The 9M Club.
65 – 67	The P.T.A. 25% chance this is the Machine Gun P.T.A of butt-kicking vigilante moms who always find time to make breakfast, help their kids with their homework, and fight crime!
68 – 70	The Town Historical Society.
71 – 73	The Men’s Club of [Town Name].
74 – 76	The Woman’s Society of [Town Name].
77 – 80	The Concerned Parents of [Town Name].
81 – 83	The Neighborhood Watch.
84 – 100	an Odd Secret Society. See Sub-table below.

Dominant Organization Subtable 1 – Odd Secret Societies

d10	The name of this organization is…
1	The Christian	Brothers of	the Cross.
2	The Devoted	Sisters of	the Apostle Paul.
3	The Loyal	Order of	(the) Leopard(s).
4	The Royal	Lodge of	(the) Falcon(s).
5	The True	Society of	Zion.
6	The Accepted	Club of	the Sun.
7	The Blessed	Companions of	the Moon.
8	The Patriotic	Fraternity of	The Star(s).
9	The Illuminated	Sorority of	Freedom.
10	The Pious	Guardians of	Temperance.

Table 21b: Covert Power Center of a Small Town

d20	The Dominant Organization in town has been corrupted by…
1 – 7	nobody – it is actually functioning for the public good.
8	a psychopath who manipulates it to enrich themselves.
9	the C.I.A.
8	the K.G.B.
9	a vampire.
10	a pack of werewolves.
11	Neo-Nazis.
12	a Satanic Cult, or a coven of evil Witches.
13	violent racists.
14	an Extraterrestrial stranded on Earth.
15	a Fairy Queen (or King).
16	a Demon possessing the leader.
17	a sex cult.
18	a cannibal cult.
19	human traffickers.
20	drug dealers.

Table 22a: The High School Varsity Team

d100	The local High School Sports team is apparently the…
1 – 2	Angels,…
3 – 4	Badgers,…
5 – 6	Bandits,…
7 – 8	Bears,…
9 – 10	Braves,…
11 – 12	Broncos,…
13 – 14	Bulldogs,…
15 – 16	Cavaliers,…
17 – 18	Colts,…
19 – 20	Cougars,…
21 – 22	Cowboys,…
23 – 24	Dragons,…
25 – 26	Dragoons,…
27 – 28	Druids,…
29 – 30	Eagles,…
31 – 32	Falcons,…
33 – 34	Griffins,…
35 – 36	Gunners,…
37 – 38	Hawks,…
39 – 40	Hoplites,…
41 – 42	Hunters,…
43 – 44	Jaguars,…
45 – 46	Kings,…
47 – 48	Knights,…
49 – 50	Leopards,…
51 – 52	Lightning,…
53 – 54	Lions,…
55 – 56	Lumberjacks,…
57 – 58	Outlaws,…
59 – 60	Panthers,…
61 – 62	Pioneers,…
63 – 64	Pirates,…
65 – 66	Planets,…
67 – 68	Ramblers,…
69 – 70	Rams,…
71 – 72	Rangers,…
73 – 74	Ravens,…
75 – 76	Riders,…
77 – 78	Rockets,…
79 – 80	Romans,…
81 – 82	Spartans,…
83 – 84	Stars,…
85 – 86	Strikers,…
87 – 88	Suns,…
89 – 90	Thunder,…
91 – 92	Tigers,…
93 – 94	Warriors,…
95 – 96	Wildcats,…
97 – 98	Wizards,…
99 – 100	Wolves,…

d12	…and its colors are…
1	gold…
2	silver…
3	white…
4	black…
5	yellow…
6	red…
7	blue…
8	orange…
9	green…
10	purple…
11	violet..
12	teal…

d12	..and…
1	gold. Roll again if previous result is “gold”.
2	silver. Roll again if previous result is “silver”.
3	white. Roll again if previous result is “white”.
4	black. Roll again if previous result is “black”.
5	yellow. Roll again if previous result is “yellow”.
6	red. Roll again if previous result is “red”.
7	blue. Roll again if previous result is “blue”.
8	orange. Roll again if previous result is “orange”.
9	green. Roll again if previous result is “green”.
10	purple. Roll again if previous result is “purple”.
11	violet. Roll again if previous result is “violet”.
12	teal. Roll again if previous result is “teal”.

Table 22b: The Dominant Varsity Sport in a Small Town

d20	The High School sport townspeople seem to care most about is the…
1 or below	Lacrosse team.
2	Hockey team.
3	Soccer team.
4	Swimming team.
5	Softball team.
6 – 7	Track team.
8 – 9	Baseball team.
10 – 20 or higher	Football Team.

Roll Modifiers: -2 in the Northeast, +1 in Midwest and Southwest.

Small Towns Along the Uncanny Highway Part III: Locations Around Town

08 Friday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

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Your lonely and desperate characters have pulled into a small town that promises some temporary refuge from the seemingly endless asphalt prison of the Uncanny Highway. What do they find there? Do they really want to know?

The tables presented here will take you “around town” to define its businesses, establishments, and locations – including the local Unsafe Teenage Hangout, and Lover’s Lane. Tables 1 to 9 (presented in Part I) give you a general overview of the town. Tables 10 to 13 (presented in Part II) define the predominant people and culture of the town. Tables 20 to 22 (upcoming in part IV) define the town’s major organizations and social institutions. Tables 23 to 32 (to be presented in Part V) define the Archetypal NPCs that seem to inhabit every small town, such as the “Most Beloved Person in Town” and the “Town Bully”. Finally, Tables 33 to 38 (in the final Part VI) generate the encounters that PCs will have if they spend time wandering the streets.

Table 14a: Essential Businesses & Establishments of a Small Town

Town Population	This town has at least….
Less than 1,000	1d4 Churches, and a General Store (with gas pumps).
1,000 – 2,000	1d4+1 Churches, an Eatery or Diner, a Gas Station, a General Store, a Bar, a Town Hall, and a School (all grades).
2,000 – 5,000	2d4 Churches, an Eatery, a Diner, a Gas Station, a Drug Store / Pharmacy, a Grocery Store / Supermarket, a Bar, a Post Office, a Town Hall, an Elementary School, and a High School.
5,000 – 10,000	3d6 Churches, an Eatery, a Diner or Restaurant, a Gas Station, a Bank, a Drug Store / Pharmacy, a Grocery Store / Supermarket, 2 Bars, a Post Office, a Newspaper Office, a Library, a Town Hall, a Volunteer Fire Department Hall, an Elementary School, a High School, and a small Hospital.
10,000+	4d6 Churches, an Eatery, a Diner, 2 Restaurants, a Gas Station, a Bank, a Drug Store / Pharmacy, a Grocery Store / Supermarket, 4 Bars, a Post Office, a Newspaper Office, a Library, a Town Hall, a Police Station, a Volunteer Fire Department Hall, an Elementary School, a Middle School, a High School, and a Hospital.

Determine the Denomination of Churches in town with CHURCHES Table 3: Apparent Denomination of a Church.

75% likely any Catholic Church will have a Bingo Night.

25% likely any Church will have a regular Flea Market or Swap Meet on Saturdays.

Table 14b: Additional Businesses & Establishments of a Small Town

d100, once per 1,000 residents.	In addition, there is a(n)…
1	accountant’s office…
2	agricultural / garden supply store…
3	amusement park…
4	arena… For football, concerts, rodeos, swap meets, etc.
5	art gallery…
6	arts & crafts shop…
7	automotive garage…
8	bakery…
9 – 10	bank…
11 – 12	bar…
13 – 14	barber shop…
15 – 16	beauty shop…
17	bicycle shop…
18	biker’s clubhouse…
19	book store…
20	bowling alley…
21	butcher shop…
22	candy shop…
23	car dealership…
24	carpet and flooring store…
25	children’s clothing store…
26	coffee shop…
27	delicatessen…
28	dentist’s office…
29	diner… 50% likely to be open all night.
30	dress maker…
31 – 32	doctor’s office…
33	drug store / pharmacy…
34	dry cleaner’s…
35	eatery… Smaller and less formal than a full restaurant, with a more limited menu.
36	electronics shop (sales & repairs)…
37	ethnic social club…
38	exterminator / pest control specialist…
39	five and dime store… A discount variety store. 25% chance the store also has a lunch counter.
40	florist…
41	fortune teller / psychic…
42	fraternal organization…
43	furniture store…
44	general clothing store…
45	gift shop…
46	golf course… Covers d100+100 acres.
47 – 48	grocery store / supermarket…
49	gun shop…
50	hardware store…
51	headshop… Sells books, posters, incense, music, and paraphernalia related to marijuana. Both the shop and its patrons will suffer regular harassment from the police.
52	ice cream parlor…
53	insurance agency…
54	jewelry store…
55	junk yard…
56	lawyer’s office…
57 – 58	liquor store…
59 – 60	laundromat…
61	locksmith…
62	lumber yard / building supply…
63	men’s clothing store…
64	motel…
65 – 66	movie theater… Single screen.
67	museum…
68	music shop…
69	novelty shop…
70	pet shop…
71	photography shop / picture developer’s…
72	printing shop…
73	private school…
74	race track. d4. Track is used primarily for… 1 – 2=cars. 2=horses, 3=greyhounds.
75	radio station…
76	real estate agency…
77	recreation center…
78	record store…
79	restaurant…. Full menu, regular tables, and full waitstaff.
80	roller rink…
81	rooming house…
82	shoe store…
83	shoe repair…
84	shooting range…
85	small private hospital…
86	sporting goods store…
87	synagogue…
88	tailor…
89	taxidermist…
90	telephone company office…
91	television station…
92	toy shop…
93	trucking company office…
94	tuxedo rental shop…
95	Union hall…
96	utility company office…
97	warehouse…
98	waste management company office…
99	women’s clothing store….
100	Y.M.C.A… Roll again if town population is under 10,000.

d6	…which…
1	is in such bad condition you wonder if it’s still even open.
2	has obviously seen better times.
3 – 4	is doing moderately well.
5	seems to be prospering.
6	is apparently one of the most successful and beloved institutions in town.

Note: you can get off of a bus or a train along the Uncanny Highway, but there are no bus or train routes that pick up passengers. It isn’t that easy to go back to Normal America. Likewise, there are no Travel Agencies in any of the small towns along the Uncanny Highway. GMs should call attention to this fact.

Table 15: The Local Cemetery

d8	The dead are primarily buried…
1 – 2	somewhere else.
3	in scattered family plots, some of which adjoin their homes.
4	in 1d4 old churchyards, according to their faith.
5 – 6	in a small municipal cemetery of just graves and headstones.
7	in a small municipal cemetery, with several tombs of locally prominent people.
8	in a small municipal cemetery, with several tombs of locally prominent people, and a small mausoleum.
9	in a large cemetery that serves several communities. There are many tombs of locally prominent people.
10	in a large cemetery that serves several communities. There are many tombs of locally prominent people, and a large mausoleum.

Table 16: The Public Park or Play Ground of a Small Town

d6	A public park or play ground is located…
1	nowhere in town.
2	near the center of town / town square…
3	on the east side of town…
4	on the west side of town…
5	at the north end of town…
6	at the south end of town..

d20, 1d6 times	…and other than the flagpole there is /are…
1	a playground slide.
2	a merry-go-round.
3	monkey bars.
4	a see-saw.
5	1d4 swings.
6	1d4 drinking fountains.
7	a patch of grass with 1d4 benches.
8	a baseball diamond.
9	a football field.
10	a basketball court.
11	a pond.
12	a flower garden.
13	a lightly wooded area.
14	a public pool.
15	a monument statue.
16	a gazebo.
17	a band shell.
18	chessboard tables.
19	charcoal grills.
20	an ancient tree with a name and a story. Possibly a large cactus in the Southwest.

Table 17: The Local Library of a Small Town

d20	What’s notable about this small town’s Library is…
1	the avant-garde, modernist building.
2	its Gothic architecture, complete with gargoyles.
3	the building is in very poor condition.
4	its extremely skilled librarian, who could be working in a major academic institution if they wanted.
5	the librarian is deeply knowledgeable about occult subjects – and also looks like they could handle themselves in a fight!
6	it also displays a large number of historical artifacts.
7	it is always pin-drop silent inside, even when filled with children.
8	it is surprisingly noisy inside.
9	the large collection of occult books.
10	it looks like the collection includes many valuable first editions stretching back to the Revolution!
11	the large selection of books about U.F.O.s
12	it’s also an art gallery. A very good art gallery.
13	the prominent display of books on progressive causes and Eastern religions.
14	it’s surrounded by a beautiful garden.
15	it displays books by a local author who is now well-known
16	the numerous statues of historical figures around the building.
17	the building seems much larger than is necessary, and most of the interior seems to be off limits to the public.
18	its housed in an old mansion, and is reputed to be haunted.
19	all the staff share a single distinguishing physical characteristic. d6: The staff are all… 1=redheads, 2=albinos, 3=little people, 4=green-eyed, 5=unusually tall, 6=disturbingly thin.
20	it’s apparently “cool” around here to hang out in it.

Table 18: The Local Lover’s Lane

d8	Around here, young lovers make out…
1	by a river or stream.
2	by a lake.
3	on a high bluff outside town.
4	next to a thicket of trees.
5	in the parking lot of the high school’s football stadium
6	by a bridge
7	in a cemetery. The nearest cemetery, if there isn’t one in town.
8	in the parking lot of an abandoned factory.

Table 19: The Unsafe Teenage Hangout

d12	Though the authorities try to stop it, teenagers tend to gather at…
1	a nearby cave.
2	a clearing in the woods / patch of woods on the prairie / canyon in the desert.
3	a gravel pit.
4	a trash dump.
5	a junkyard.
6	an abandoned warehouse or factory.
7	a long and lonely stretch of back highway, where they race their cars.
8	an abandoned house.
9	an abandoned asylum.
10	an empty storefront.
11	an empty church.
12	the reservoir.

Small Towns Along the Uncanny Highway Part II: People and Culture

07 Thursday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

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This is the second set of random generators for defining the small towns that lie along the Uncanny Highway of the Groovy Seventies. Use them to define the predominant ethnicity of the town’s residents, their attitudes, and their town pride.

Tables 1 to 9 (presented previously) give you a general overview of the town. Tables 14 to 19 (in upcoming Part III) take you “around town” to define it’s businesses, establishments, and locations. Tables 20 to 22 (upcoming in part IV) define the town’s major organizations and social institutions. Tables 23 to 32 (to be presented in Part V) define the Archetypal NPCs that seem to inhabit every small town, such as the “Most Beloved Person in Town” and the “Town Bully”. Finally, Tables 33 to 38 (in the final Part VI) generate the encounters that PCs will have if they spend time wandering the streets.

Table 10: Ethnic Makeup of a Small Town

d20	The ethnic origin of the population seems to be mostly…
1 – 6	Undifferentiated “White” American. Most people in town will not identify with any ethnicity other than “American”.
7	Black.
8	Irish, or Swiss (in the Midwest), or Black (in the South)
9	German, or Swedish (in the Midwest), or Black (in the South)
10	Irish.
11	German.
12	Italian.
13	French.
14	Spanish, or Mexican (in the Southwest)
15	Lebanese, or Mexican (in the Southwest)
16	Polish.
17	Hungarian.
18	Ukrainian.
19	Asian. d8. 1 – 2 = Filipino, 2 – 3 = Chinese, 4 = Japanese, 5 = Korean, 6 = Vietnamese or Southeast Asian, 8 = Indian or Pakistani.
20	Native American. Town is 85% likely to comprise (or be part of) a Reservation.

Table 11: General Disposition of Adults and Teens in a Small Town

d20	The average adult acts…
1	blissful…
2	virtuous…
3	honest…
4	friendly…
5	polite…
6	amorous…
7	quirky and eccentric…
8	hot-tempered…
9	fanatically pious…
10	crude…
11	unfriendly…
12	dishonest…
13	frightened…
14	bigoted…
15	paranoid…
16	menacing…
17	gloomy…
18	envious / resentful…
19	fatalistic…
20	criminal…

d20	…but most of the teens seem…
1	blissful.
2	virtuous.
3	honest.
4	friendly.
5	polite.
6	amorous.
7	quirky and eccentric.
8	hot-tempered.
9	fanatically pious.
10	crude.
11	unfriendly.
12	dishonest.
13	frightened.
14	bigoted.
15	paranoid.
16	menacing.
17	gloomy.
18	envious / resentful.
19	fatalistic.
20	criminal.

Table 12: Pride of a Small Town

d8	The town seems most visibly proud of…
1	it’s local industry.
2	the number of townsmen who served in the military.
3	it’s history as a place of sanctuary for a persecuted minority.
4	a celebrity who was born there.
5	being Americans. There are an unusually high number of flags even for small-town America, and everything that can be is red, white, and blue.
6	it’s winning High School Varsity team.
7	it’s Cheerleaders.
8	it’s pies (or other local food).

Table 13: Most Beloved Event or Celebration in an American Small Town

d20	The celebration this town really goes all-out for is…
1	New Year’s Eve.
2	Valentines’ Day.
3	Memorial Day.
4	Saint Patrick’s Day. Roll again if the town is not in the Northeast, or predominantly Irish-American.
5	Easter.
6	Independence Day / The Fourth of July.
7	Prom.
8	it’s Founder’s Day or Community Day.
9	Labor Day.
10	it’s Harvest Festival.
11 – 13	Homecoming.
14	Halloween.
15	Veteran’s Day.
16	the First Day of Hunting Season.
17	Thanksgiving
18 – 20	Christmas.

Small Towns Along the Uncanny Highway Part I: Town Overview

05 Tuesday Jul 2022

Posted by Daniel James Hanley in GROOVY Ghastly Affair, Historical Gaming, OGL, OSR, Random Tables, Uncanny Highway, Weird

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The Small Towns along the Uncanny Highway are places for road-tripping characters to rest, find temporary employment, and uncover long-buried secrets. They’re perfect locations for “slice-of-life” scenarios – in places where life can include the possibility of cannibalistic mutants tunneling into your basement!

Tables 1 to 9 (presented here) give you a general overview of the town. Tables 10 to 13 (in part II) define the predominant People and Culture of the town. Tables 14 to 19 (in upcoming Part III) take you “around town” to define it’s businesses, establishments, and locations. Tables 20 to 22 (upcoming in part IV) define the town’s major organizations and social institutions. Tables 23 to 32 (to be presented in Part V) define the Archetypal NPCs that seem to inhabit every small town, such as the “Most Beloved Person in Town” and the “Town Bully”. Finally, Tables 33 to 38 (in the final Part VI) generate the encounters that PCs will have if they spend time wandering the streets.

Table 1: Name of a Small Town

First, Roll d4 to determine which Sub-table to use. Then roll the indicated die (or dice) to determine the name.

Town Name Sub-table 1

d20	The sign outside town says: Welcome to…
1	New Nineveh.
2	New Corinth.
3	New Jezreel.
4	New Antioch.
5	New Ashkelon.
6	New Bethel.
7	New Byblos.
8	New Cana.
9	New Chorazin.
10	New Elim.
11	New Gibeon.
12	New Haran.
13	New Jaffa.
14	New Lystra.
15	New Megiddo.
16	New Zion.
17	New Petra.
18	New Sardis.
19	New Marah.
20	New Jericho.

Town Name Sub-table 2

d20	The sign outside town says: Welcome to…
1	Prudence.
2	Patience.
3	Ingenuity.
4	Temperance.
5	Friendship.
6	Honor.
7	Deliverance.
8	Perseverance.
9	Justice.
10	Abundance.
11	Fidelity.
12	Industry.
13	Veritas.
14	Fides.
15	Clementia.
16	Dignity.
17	Chastity.
18	Innocence.
19	Joy.
20	Severitas.

Town Name Sub-table 3

d12, d12	The sign outside town says: Welcome to…
1	John(’s)…	…Fields.
2	New…	…Promise.
3	Found…	…Hope.
4	Christ(’s)…	…Haven.
5	Mary(’s)…	…Castle.
6	Bright…	…Fort.
7	Sunny…	…Town.
8	Fresh…	…Home.
9	Wonder…	…Ark.
10	Eagle(’s)…	…Rest.
11	Bear(’s)…	…Stone.
12	White…	…Park.

Town Name Sub-table 4

d12, d12	The sign outside town says: Welcome to…
1	Peter(s)-	-ville.
2	Lark(s)-	-ton.
3	Moon(s)-	-caster.
4	Iron(s)-	-chester.
5	Owl(s)-	-borough.
6	Light(s)-	-fort.
7	Rudd(y)-	-burg.
8	Silver(s)-	-wood.
9	Apple(s)-	-ham.
10	Oak(s)-	-town.
11	Wolf(s)-	-land
12	Star-	-field

Table 2: Population of a Small Town

d6	Under the town name, the town’s population is purported to be…
1	1d4 x 500.
2 – 3	1d8 x 1,000.
4 – 5	3d6 x 1,000.
6	5d6 x 1,000.

The populations will not include students at a university, inmates in a prison, or patients in hospital or asylum.

Table 3: Slogan of a Small Town

d100	Written underneath the population number is the slogan…
1 – 3	“The small town with big dreams!”
4 – 6	“Your new home!”
7 – 9	“You’ll never leave!”
10 – 12	“There’s no going back now!”
13 – 15	“Why would you go anywhere else?”
16 – 18	“You can’t beat us, so join us!”
19 – 21	“Home is where we are!”
22 – 24	“Never wander again!”
25 – 27	“We keep the city far away!”
28 – 30	“Your respite from the road!”
31 – 33	“Your road is at an end!”
34 – 36	“Nothing more to hope for!”
37 – 39	“Come on in!”
40 – 42	“We’ve got your dreams right here!”
43 – 45	“More perfect than you know!”
46 – 48	“A permanent solution to the big city!”
49 – 51	“Be happy – you’re here!”
52 – 54	“How could you not fall in love?”
55 – 57	“Small in size, big in heart!”
58 – 60	“Your heart is in our hands!”
61 – 63	“Faith, Hope, Charity, and Home!”
64 – 66	“The winningest town in America!”
67 – 69	“Find your New Family!”
70 – 72	“Fall under our spell!”
73 – 75	“Where the impossible is possible!”
76 – 78	“A rest for the weary soul.”
79 – 81	“We’d love to have you!”
82 – 84	“Let us show you!”
85 – 87	“Hospitality and Hope!”
88 – 90	“Now, you can rest!”
91 – 93	“The only home of Happiness!”
94 – 96	“A little piece of Heaven!”
97 – 100	“You ain’t seen nothing yet!”

Table 4: The Local Landmark of a Small Town

d20	Coming into town, you will see a notable…
1	monument. See MONUMENTS, MEMORIALS, and SHRINES.
2 – 3	tree with an unusual shape.
4 – 5	patch of woods (or cacti, in the Southwest).
6	bridge.
7	hill.
8	rock with an unusual shape.
9	church with unusual architecture. 50% chance Church is now abandoned.
10 – 11	house with unusual architecture. 50% chance House is now abandoned.
13	fort in ruins.
14	river or river bed.
15 – 16	lake.
17	water tower.
18	crossroads.
19	well.
20	cave.

Table 5: Main Industry of a Small Town

d20	The town’s economy is dependent upon…
1	a jail or prison.
2	a military base.
3	a steelworks.
4	a lumber mill, or a drywall factory (in the Southwest).
5	a chemical plant. d8: Plant manufactures… 1=chlorine, 2=food additives, 3=soaps and shampoos, 4=paints and pigments, 5=industrial solvents, 6=pharmaceuticals, 7=fertilizer and pesticides, 8=a strange chemical which is shipped to the military, but for which none of the workers know a use.
6	an oil refinery.
7	oil extraction.
8	natural gas extraction.
9	a weapons factory.
10	a flour mill.
11	a power plant. d6: Generator is powered by… 1 – 2=coal, 3=oil, 4=natural gas, 5=nuclear energy, 6=garbage incineration.
12	an automotive parts factory.
13	a toy factory.
14	a mine.
15	a snack foods factory.
16	a soda bottling plant.
17	a paper mill.
18	a college or university.
19	a research laboratory.
20	a large hospital, rehab center, or asylum.

Table 6a: Basic Layout of a Small Town

d20	Overall, the plan of the town seems to be…
1	compact, with a regular grid of streets, and a main street that runs through town. Town is likely more than 100 years old.
2	compact, with a regular grid of streets, a main street, and a town square. Town is likely more than 100 years old.
3	compact, with a regular grid of streets, and no apparent main street or town square. Town is likely more than 100 years old.
4	compact, with a regular grid of streets and a town square, but no apparent main street. Town is likely more than 100 years old.
5	compact, with irregular streets, and a main street that winds through town. Town is likely more than 100 years old.
6	compact, with irregular streets, a main street, and a town square. Town is likely more than 100 years old.
7	compact, with irregular streets, and no apparent main street or town square. Town is likely more than 100 years old.
8	compact, with irregular streets and a town square, but no apparent main street. Town is likely more than 100 years old.
9	low density and diffuse at the outskirts, but with a more compact center of regular streets in a grid pattern surrounding a town square.
10	low density and diffuse at the outskirts, but with a more compact center of regular streets in a grid pattern, with a main street.
11	low density and diffuse at the outskirts, but with a more compact center of regular streets in a grid pattern surrounding a town square, and with a main street running through town.
12	low density and diffuse at the outskirts, but with a more compact center of irregular streets surrounding a town square.
13	low density and diffuse at the outskirts, but with a more compact center of irregular streets, and a main street that winds through town.
14	low density and diffuse at the outskirts, but with a more compact center of irregular streets surrounding a town square, and a main street that winds through town.
15	a low density arrangement with streets in a regular grid, and generous space between buildings. There is a town square, however.
16	a low density arrangement with streets in a regular grid, and generous space between buildings. There is a main street, however.
17	a low density arrangement with streets in a regular grid, and generous space between buildings. There is a main street and town square, however.
18	a low density arrangement of winding and irregular streets, with generous space between buildings. There is a town square, however.
19	a low density arrangement with winding and irregular streets, with generous space between buildings. There is apparently a main street, however.
20	a low density arrangement with winding and irregular streets, and generous space between buildings. The Highway itself is the main street running through the center of town.

Table 6b: Districts of a Small Town

d4	The main industry is located…
1	at the north end of town, where working-class people live. The wealthiest people live in the south end, and middle-class people generally live between the north and south ends.
2	at the south end of town, where working-class people live. The wealthiest people live in the north end, and middle-class people generally live between the south and north ends.
3	on the east side of town, where working-class people live. The wealthiest people live on the west side, and middle-class people generally live between the east and west sides.
4	on the west side of of town, where working-class people live. The wealthiest people live on the east side, and middle-class people generally live between the west and east sides.

Businesses beside the Main Industry will cluster along the town’s Main Street and/or Town Square.

Table 7: First Impression of a Small Town

d6	Your first impression of the town as you enter is that…
1	it looks like everything is decorated for a holiday all the time.
2	everything looks especially neat and tidy.
3	it’s just an average ordinary American town.
4	it has definitely seen better days.
5	a persistent gloom seems to hang over everything.
6	you feel like you are always being watched.

Table 8: Predominant Architecture of Buildings in a Small Town

d8	The predominant architectural style for homes seems to be…
1 or below	Mission Revival / Adobe. (1 or 2 floors)
2	Ranch. (1 floor)
3	Craftsman / California Bungalow. (2 or 3 floors) or Shotgun Houses (in the South, 1 floor).
4	Rural Gothic. (2 or 3 floors)
5	Queen Anne. (2 – 4 floors)
6	Colonial Revival. (2 or 3 floors)
7	Dutch Colonial (2 or 3 floors) or Shotgun Houses (in the South, 1 floor).
8+	Federal. (2 – 4 floors). House are either red brick, or whitewashed brick.

Modifiers: -1 to the roll in Southern California & the Desert Southwest, +1 in the Northeast.

Table 9: The Dark Secret of a Small Town

d20	The Dark Secret of this town is…
1	its many shockingly inbred families.
2	it is bound to an ancient power of evil, and every year a lottery is held to see who will be sacrificed.
3	there are tunnels that run underneath town, home to a population of cannibalistic mutants.
4	there is a place in town that will resurrect anything buried in it. In exactly the condition in which it was buried, of course.
5	there is an extremely high rate of bizarre birth defects, related to the town’s Main Industry. The defects may be due to toxic chemical used in manufacturing, or if this is a college or hospital town, perhaps pregnant women are being used as test subjects for a new drug.
6	U.F.O. abductions are a regular occurrence here.
7	many of the town’s children are human-alien hybrids.
8	many families in town have a taste for human flesh.
9	a prominent family is also a pack of werewolves.
10	vampirism is spreading.
11	Zombies created by exposure to toxic waste are being stored in an otherwise unremarkable warehouse.
12	much of it was built atop a toxic waste dump.
13	there is an ancient coven of Satanic witches, with roots in the Old Country. 50% chance there is also a local coven of White Witches who oppose them.
14	one of the churches is really a cover for a cult worshiping an incomprehensible demon-god from the Outer Darkness.
15	it is built atop a Native American burial ground, and consequently haunted.
16	the population is gradually being replaced with copies. d4: The copies are… 1=disguised Extraterrestrials, 2=Androids, 3=Clones, 4=Pod People.
17	its founders were actually outlaws and bandits, and a portion of their stolen gold is still buried somewhere in town.
18	there is an ancient flying saucer buried under the town.
19	many of its older residents are Nazi war criminals.
20	one of the houses is a Gateway to Hell, and another a Portal to Heaven. Angels and Demons meet in the town – sometimes to fight, and sometimes to parley.

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Table 1a: Encounters in the Northeast

Table 1b: Encounters in the South

Table 1c: Encounters in the Midwest

Table 1d: Encounters in the Western Prairie and Rocky Mountains

Table 1e: Encounters in the Southwest

Table 1f: Encounters in Southern and Central California

Table 1g: Encounters in the Pacific Northwest / Northern California

Table 2a: Appearance of an Extraterrestrial

Table 2b: Appearance of an Extraterrestrial Vehicle

Table 3: Unique Chimeric Humanoids

Table 4: Unique Chimeric Animals

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Table 1: Abandoned Vehicle

Table 2: Condition of an Abandoned Vehicle

Table 3: Inhabitants of an Abandoned Car

Table 4: Items Left in an Abandoned Vehicle

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Table 1: Gas Station Architecture

Table 2: Number of Pumps at a Gas Station

Table 3: Quality of Gasoline and Diesel at a Gas Station

Table 4: Gas Station Vending Machines

Table 5a: The Gas Station Garage

Table 5b: Services Offered by a Gas Station Garage

Table 5c: Gas Station Garage Mechanic

Table 6: Gas Station Bathroom

Table 7: Also For Sale at a Gas Station

Table 8: Gas Station Cashier

Table 9: Gas Station Attendant

Table 10: Secret of the Gas Station

Table 11: Gas Station Events

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Table 33: True Danger of a Small Town

Table 34: Current Events and First Encounters in a Small Town

Table 35: Notices Posted Around a Small Town

Table 36 Encounters on the Streets of a Small Town

Table 37: Up in the Sky Above a Small Town

Table 38: Recent News

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Table 23: The Wealthiest Person in Town

Table 24: The Most Beloved Person in Town

Table 25: The Town Conscience

Table 26: The Town Bully

Table 27: The Town Scapegoat

Table 28: The Town Jezebel

Table 29: the Town Lothario

Table 30: The Town Drunk

Table 31: The Town Weirdo

Table 32: The Town Mastermind

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Table 20: Town Politics

Table 21a: Dominant Organization of a Small Town

Table 21b: Covert Power Center of a Small Town

Table 22a: The High School Varsity Team

Table 22b: The Dominant Varsity Sport in a Small Town

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Table 14a: Essential Businesses & Establishments of a Small Town

Table 14b: Additional Businesses & Establishments of a Small Town

Table 15: The Local Cemetery

Table 16: The Public Park or Play Ground of a Small Town

Table 17: The Local Library of a Small Town

Table 18: The Local Lover’s Lane

Table 19: The Unsafe Teenage Hangout

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Table 10: Ethnic Makeup of a Small Town

Table 11: General Disposition of Adults and Teens in a Small Town

Table 12: Pride of a Small Town

Table 13: Most Beloved Event or Celebration in an American Small Town

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Table 1: Name of a Small Town

Table 2: Population of a Small Town

Table 3: Slogan of a Small Town

Table 4: The Local Landmark of a Small Town

Table 5: Main Industry of a Small Town

Table 6a: Basic Layout of a Small Town

Table 6b: Districts of a Small Town

Table 7: First Impression of a Small Town

Table 8: Predominant Architecture of Buildings in a Small Town

Table 9: The Dark Secret of a Small Town

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