Night of the Broken Lights (A Zoo Mafia TTRPG Adventure)

Night of the Broken Lights (A Zoo Mafia TTRPG Adventure)

February 28, 2026

At The Gaming Table/ Roleplaying Games/ Zoo Mafia

A Zoo Mafia Adventure of Darkness, Noise, and Dangerous Opportunity

Most nights in the zoo are predictable.

The gates lock.
The lights dim.
The humans leave.

And the real business begins.

But tonight?

The lights don’t just dim.

They die.

In Zoo Mafia, our noir animal mafia tabletop RPG set inside a living zoo, routine is power. Schedules, lighting, patrols — they keep the fragile balance intact.

Tonight, that balance fractures.

The Hook: When Routine Breaks

A transformer blows somewhere beyond the perimeter fence.

Half the zoo goes dark.

Backup systems kick in — but only where they must.

Some exhibits are bathed in harsh emergency lighting.
Others vanish into total shadow.

Security systems reboot.
Electronic locks cycle.
Human radios crackle with confusion.

This isn’t just a blackout.

It’s a rupture in routine.

And routine is the only thing holding the zoo together.

What Makes This Night Different

A normal Zoo Mafia night is controlled chaos.

This night is uncontrolled chaos.

Here’s what changes:

Cameras cycle off and on unpredictably
Some gates unlock briefly during system resets
Electric fencing deactivates in certain wings
Emergency floodlights create blinding visibility
Human security stays on-site far longer than usual

Darkness creates cover.

Generators create attention.

Every advantage comes with a cost.

The Central Conflict

When the lights go out, every faction thinks the same thing:

“This is my chance.”

Rivals will:

Move stashes
Push territory lines
Set traps
Attempt silent assassinations

Allies will:

Ask for protection
Panic and overcommit
Call in favors immediately

Humans will:

Patrol with flashlights
Deploy portable floodlights
Bring in external security
Check enclosures more often

The zoo becomes unstable.

And instability is gasoline.

Possible Objectives

You can run this adventure as a sandbox or anchor it to a specific job.

1. The Locked Wing

A rival is trapped in a darkened exhibit after emergency gates misfire.

Do the crew rescue them…
or make sure they never leave?

2. The Generator Job

A portable generator powers a critical camera hub.

If it fails — quietly — an entire section goes unmonitored for exactly 12 minutes.

No more. No less.

3. The Transfer Tunnel

Backup power opens a maintenance tunnel normally sealed shut.

It won’t stay open long.

Whatever the crew wants from it, they must move fast.

4. The Panic Spiral

A loud animal triggers panic in a dark enclosure.

Humans respond aggressively.

The crew must contain the situation before scrutiny spreads zoo-wide.

5. The Assassination Attempt

A Don uses the blackout as cover for a hit.

The crew may:

Protect the target
Carry out the job
Exploit the aftermath

Every choice creates ripples.

Running the Outage

Phase 1: The Flicker

Lights blink. Sounds shift. Tension rises.

Let players feel uncertainty before action.

Phase 2: The Dark

Some areas go pitch black. Others glow in emergency red.

Visibility becomes uneven:

Deep shadows offer safety
Floodlights create exposure

Movement choices matter more than rolls.

Phase 3: Human Response

Generators roar to life.

Guards arrive with:

Flashlights
Radios
Portable cameras
Temporary fencing

Darkness created opportunity.

Humans bring complication.

Phase 4: The Reset

Power stabilizes — slowly.

Whatever changed during the blackout stays changed.

Territory lines shift
Debts are created
Evidence disappears
Bodies may never be found

The zoo remembers this night.

Mechanical Emphasis

This Zoo Mafia RPG adventure rewards:

Timing over aggression
Silence over speed
Patience over dominance

Consider emphasizing:

Temporary bonuses while operating in darkness
Increased risk in floodlit zones
Escalating consequences for noise

Darkness protects.

But it also hides your enemies.

Tone & Atmosphere

Lean into:

Flashlights cutting through mist
Generator hum vibrating the ground
Animals frozen in unnatural silence
Shadows that feel alive
Sudden bursts of harsh white light

This is Zoo Mafia at its most cinematic.

Aftermath Options

The blackout shouldn’t just be memorable.

It should matter.

Possible outcomes:

A new Don rises
A territory collapses
Humans permanently tighten restrictions
A hidden tunnel becomes common knowledge
A crew earns a dangerous reputation

Chaos only has value if someone profits from it.

Why This Adventure Works

If you are a fan of Zoo Mafia and want to be notified when we go live on Kickstarter make sure you head over to the follow page to get notified. If you want to be on the newsletter to get all the details as we release them you can sign up here.

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