A Mystery Spot (or Gravity Hill) is a place (generally a short section of road) where objects will appear to roll uphill. A car put in neutral will appear to be drawn towards higher ground, as will balls or roller skates. Of course, in the regular world, the effect is just an illusion caused by an obscured horizon, and the position of objects surrounding a downward slope, making the ground appear to slope upward instead. But on the Uncanny Highway, one can never be quite sure.
And if you see some pay toilets, don’t forget to use them. Your future self may thank you.
Table 1: The Mystery Spot Sign
| d12 |
According to the sign, this Mystery Spot exists because it is… |
| 1 |
an “Indian” Burial Ground. |
| 2 |
a U.F.O. crash site. |
| 3 |
an inter-dimensional vortex. |
| 4 |
actually a cemetery from which all of the headstones have been moved. |
| 5 |
a former cemetery, but the bodies have been moved. |
| 6 |
the site of a massacre of Native Americans. |
| 7 |
the site of a massacre of non-Native settlers. |
| 8 |
the site of a house were someone murdered their entire family. |
| 9 |
a site where a witch was hung. |
| 10 |
a site where labor organizers were hung. |
| 11 |
the site of a terrible car crash. |
| 12 |
an anomaly of the Earth’s magnetic field. |
Table 2: The Anti-Gravity Effect
| d4 |
The apparent anti-gravity effect is… |
| 1 |
barely noticeable, and obviously an optical illusion. A car in neutral will slowly move about 20 feet, apparently uphill. |
| 2 |
moderate. A car in neutral will slowly move about 50 feet, apparently uphill. |
| 3 |
very noticeable. A car in neutral will slide about 100 feet, apparently uphill. |
| 4 |
much too extreme to be just an optical illusion. A car in neutral will quickly roll about 200 feet, apparently uphill. |
Table 3: Mystery Spot Amenities
| d10 |
The Amenities here include… |
| 1 – 3 |
nothing else, and riding the hill in neutral gear is technically illegal. |
| 4 – 5 |
Pay Toilets. See Table 4: Mystery Spot Pay Toilets |
| 6 |
a Concession Stand, with an Attendant. See Table 5: Mystery Spot Concession Stand, and Table 7: Mystery Spot Attendant. |
| 7 |
a Souvenir Booth, with an Attendant. See Table 6: Mystery Spot Souvenirs, and Table 7: Mystery Spot Attendant. |
| 8 |
Pay Toilets, and a Concession Stand, with an Attendant. See See Table 4: Mystery Spot Pay Toilets, Table 5: Mystery Spot Concession Stand, and Table 7: Mystery Spot Attendant. |
| 9 |
Pay Toilets, and a Souvenir Booth, with an Attendant. See See Table 4: Mystery Spot Pay Toilets, Table 6: Mystery Spot Souvenirs, and Table 7: Mystery Spot Attendant. |
| 10 |
Pay Toilets, a Concession Stand, and a Souvenir Booth, with an Attendant. See See Table 4: Mystery Spot Pay Toilets, See Table 5: Mystery Spot Concession Stand, Table 6: Mystery Spot Souvenirs, and Table 7: Mystery Spot Attendant. |
Table 4: Mystery Spot Pay Toilets.
| d8 |
The toilet facility is… |
| 1 – 2 |
just a single portable chemical toilet,… |
| 3 |
a pair of portable chemical toilets,… |
| 4 |
a single toilet in a shack,… |
| 5 |
two toilets in shacks,… |
| 6 |
a single toilet and sink in a brick booth,… |
| 7 |
a pair of brick booth with toilets and sinks,… |
| 8 |
a divided building with two full washrooms,… |
| d4 |
…using the toilet costs… |
| 1 |
5 cents,… |
| 2 |
10 cents,… |
| 3 – 4 |
25 cents,… |
| 5 |
50 cents,… |
| 6 |
1 dollar,… |
| d12 |
…and written inside the toilet stall is… |
| 1 |
“For a good time call…” Determine a name randomly. d8. Phone number belongs to: 1=a completely unsuspecting and innocent person, 2=a serial killer, 3=a cop, 4=a vampire, 5=a serial killer, 6=a person possessed by a demon, 7=one of the Fairy Folk in disguise, 8=a psychic, who will know the name and background of the caller, and give them a prediction about their future. |
| 2 |
a heart with two names inside. The next time the PCs meet a young couple, it will be the two people indicated. If the PCs help them, they will be able to give the PCs an important warning about something or somebody dangerous on the road. |
| 3 |
“Don’t trust (person’s name)” Person indicated will be met at the next Bar, Eatery, Motel, Roadside Museum, Trailer Park, or Truck Stop, and is actually nefarious. |
| 4 |
“Beware the (creature).” Creature named depends on the region. Northeast: Jersey Devil. South: Mothman. Midwest: Hodag. Western Prairie & Mountains: Rabid Jackalope. Southwest: Skinwalker. Southern California: Weaping Woman (La Llorona). Northern California & Pacific Northwest: Sasquatch. Naturally, the PCs will eventually see or have an encounter with the creature indicated. |
| 5 |
“(Band name) Rules!” The next time the PCs put on the radio, a song by the band indicated will be playing. |
| 6 |
a true rumor about the nearest Amusement Park. See AMUSEMENT/ THEME PARKS. |
| 7 |
a true rumor about the nearest Bar. See BARS AND ROADHOUSES. |
| 8 |
a true rumor about the nearest Eatery. See EATERIES. |
| 9 |
a true rumor about the nearest Gas Station. |
| 10 |
a true rumor about the nearest Motel. See MOTELS. |
| 11 |
a true rumor about the nearest Trailer Park. See TRAILER PARKS. |
| 12 |
a true rumor about the nearest Truck Stop. See TRUCK STOPS. |
Table 5: Mystery Spot Concession Stand
| d12 |
You can refresh yourself with some… |
| 1 |
hot dogs or bratwursts… |
| 2 |
hot pretzels… |
| 3 |
candy… |
| 4 |
pie… |
| 5 |
ice-cream… |
| 6 |
potato chips… |
| 7 |
soda… |
| 8 |
iced tea… |
| 9 |
coffee… |
| 10 |
lemonade… |
| 11 |
peanuts… |
| 12 |
beef jerky… |
| d8 |
…that taste(s)… |
| 1 – 2 |
surprisingly good. |
| 3 |
solidly mediocre. |
| 4 |
like cardboard. |
| 5 |
stale. |
| 6 |
like it was made with the cheapest artificial flavoring. |
| 7 |
like somebody’s armpit on a hot summer day. |
| 8 |
like absolute garbage. |
Table 6: Mystery Spot Souvenirs
| d12, 1d4 times |
You can buy… |
| 1 |
post cards |
| 2 |
t-shirts |
| 3 |
key-chains. |
| 4 |
wallets. |
| 5 |
souvenir spoons. |
| 6 |
stamped pennies. |
| 7 |
wall plaques. |
| 8 |
iron-on patches. |
| 9 |
paperweights. |
| 10 |
snow-globes. |
| 11 |
miniature die-cast cars. |
| 12 |
a book explaining the supposed history of this Mystery Spot. |
Table 7: Mystery Spot Attendant
| d8 |
The Attendant is… |
| 1 |
a bubbly teenage girl… |
| 2 |
an over-eager teenage boy… |
| 3 |
a flirty co-ed… |
| 4 |
a pushy college boy… |
| 5 |
an overly-serious woman… |
| 6 |
a verbose man… |
| 7 |
a grandmotherly woman… |
| 8 |
a grumpy older man… |
| d20 |
…who is actually… |
| 1 – 10 |
the person they appear to be. |
| 11 |
a drug dealer. |
| 12 |
a secret agent for the C.I.A. |
| 13 |
a secret agent for the K.G.B. |
| 14 |
a scout for a kidnapping ring. |
| 15 |
a serial killer. |
| 16 |
an android. |
| 17 |
a reanimated corpse. |
| 18 |
an Extraterrestrial. |
| 19 |
one of the Fairy Folk. |
| 20 |
a Werewolf. |
The Engine of Oracles 