Monster Truckers Revisited - Waffle House

Earth-3845

Several months ago, I picked up a copy of the Monster Truckers RPG. I have not really had much opportunity to do anything with it aside from making some characters. I spitballed a couple first-adventure ideas but nothing really felt right. Then last night, as I was putting the kids to bed, "Turn the Page" began playing in my head. Within minutes, I had plotted the story beats for three adventures and had put together some lore for the setting. 


Despite many of their locations being destroyed during the war, Waffle Houses remain open across what is left of the US south. Most operate under FEMA Yellow conditions - generator power, propane-fed grills, some menu items are unavailable but the coffee is always hot and fresh (even if nobody knows where they source their beans from). The jukeboxes still play music.

Waffle House serves as Accorded Neutral Ground, a policy which is rigorously enforced, serving all comers, regardless of sobriety, criminal or metaphysical status. Following the apocalypse, the staff (already known for their emotional fortitude) is unfazed by mutants, monsters, or HumanCorp's Security forces. 

Sanctuary is offered to all paying customers. Violence, at least that perpetuated by outsiders, is strongly discouraged.

First, anyone who starts displaying signs of aggression, is told to come down. If that doesn't resolve the situation, they are offered coffee and a chance to vent their frustration. If the would-be troublemaker persists in their behavior, they draw stares from the cook and the waitress on duty expressed their profound letdown delivered with enough moral weight to immediately alter behavior in the recipient without requiring threats, physical force, or escalation.

Example: “Honey… I thought you knew better than that.” or “You brought a weapon into a Waffle House.”

This gives the customer a chance to correct their behavior before things get out of hand.

Should a person still be stubborn enough to persist, they find everyone in the building siding with the staff.

Arguments?
Sure.
Threats?
Absolutely.
Weapons drawn?
Happens.
But actual violence inside a Waffle House is treated like desecrating holy ground.

In addition to the standard hashbrown variants, Waffle Houses in the Worstlands include: Bloody (sprinkled with blood drippings from the meat packaging) and Blessed (sprinkled with holy water).



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