Monuments, Memorials, and Shrines on the Uncanny Highway

Tags

1960s, 1970s, American Fantasy, Gothic America, Groovy Seventies, Highway Horror, Midwest Horror, Prairie Horror, Road Crawl, Road Trip, Roadcrawl, Roadtrip, Seventies, Sixties, Swinging Sixties, Urban Fantasy, Weird America

Along the length of the Uncanny Highway one encounters monuments to local heroes, makeshift memorials to accident victims, and even shrines to Saints famous and obscure. Pay your respects, and your remembrance might be rewarded.

Table 1: Monument, memorial, or Shrine Subject

d20	This is a monument, memorial, or shrine to…
1	local war dead. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
2	the Native tribe that once inhabited the area. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
3	a famous local Politician. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
4	the founder(s) of the nearest town. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
5	a historic fort that is long gone. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
6	a historic massacre. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
7	the person who planned this section of Highway. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
8	a local man, though there’s no indication why. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
9	a local woman, though there’s no indication why. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
10	a historic criminal who is now a local folk hero. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
11	the sighting of a local monster or cryptid. Roll on Table 2a: Monuments.
12	a person who died of a horrible disease. Roll on Table 2b: Roadside Memorials.
13	the victim(s) of a recent auto accident. Roll on Table 2b: Roadside Memorials.
14	victims of a horrific crime. Roll on Table 2b: Roadside Memorials.
15	a young person who committed suicide. Roll on Table 2b: Roadside Memorials.
16	Jesus. Roll on Table 2c: Religious Shrines.
17	the Virgin Mary. Roll on Table 2c: Religious Shrines.
18	a Catholic Saint you’ve never heard of. Roll on Table 2c: Religious Shrines.
19	an Indian Guru. Roll on Table 2c: Religious Shrines.
20	Satan. Roll on Table 2c: Religious Shrines.

Table 2a: Monuments

d8	The monument is a…
1	standing sign.
2	planted tree.
3	wooden cross.
4	cement cross.
5	stone statue.
6	cement statue.
7	bronze statue.
8	obelisk.

Table 2b. Roadside Memorials

d20, 2d4 times	Collected together are…
1 – 3	ribbons tied to a nearby tree or bush.
4 – 5	a bouquet of flowers.
6	a single rose.
7	a small wooden cross.
8	a teddy bear.
9 – 10	a photograph.
11	a child’s toy
12	a small religious statue.
13	a letter of remembrance.
14	2d4 large rocks. 25% chance rocks are painted.
15	a doll on a pole.
16	a candle.
17	a t-shirt.
18	a shoe.
19	a bicycle.
20	a roller-skate.

Repeated results indicates multiple example of an item.

Table 2c. Religious Shrines

d6	The shrine is a(n)…
1	statue, with candles and offerings of money and food.
2	statue in a concrete shell, with candles and offerings of money and food.
3	column shrine, with candles and offerings of money and food.
4	chapel shrine enclosing a statue, with candles and offerings of money and food.
5	painted plaque, with candles and offerings of money and food.
6	image painted on a rock, with candles and offerings of money and food.

Table 3: Effect of an Offering at a Memorial, Monument, or Shrine

d20	If you leave an appropriate offering…
1 – 7	nothing special will happen.
8	you will be visited in your dreams by the subject of the monument, memorial, or shrine, who will tell you one true sentence about the near future.
9	$1,000 will come your way.
10	you will automatically succeed the next time your physical body is tested.
11	you will automatically succeed the next time your mind is tested.
12	you will walk away unharmed form the next car crash you are in.
13	you will be immune to the next poison or venom you encounter.
14	you will be protected the next time you are exposed to disease, or a toxic chemical.
15	you will be immune to the next curse, or negative magical effect put on you.
16	you will sustain no damage at all the next time you are in a fight.
17	the next time your enemies look for you, it will be as if you are invisible.
18	you will be warned by an omen the next time your life is threatened.
19	you will be especially lucky at love for the next month.
20	the next important, rich, or influential person you meet will become your friend and ally.

A given person can only benefit once from leaving an offering.