Peanut Rum Shortage + Blackout = Civil War Among Animal Families

Peanut Rum Shortage + Blackout = Civil War Among Animal Families

September 27, 2025

We discussed this idea on the live chat, but lets dive in a little deeper, shall we. Nothing fuels chaos in Zoo Mafia quite like scarcity. When the lights go out and the booze dries up, every animal family starts sniffing around for power, territory, and payback. A peanut rum shortage combined with a citywide blackout isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s the spark that ignites a zoo-wide civil war.

Here’s how to plan and run this powder-keg of an adventure.

Step One: Set the Fuse

Blackouts and shortages work because they strip away the safety nets. No electric fences, no human eyes keeping order, no steady supply of contraband rum to smooth over deals. You want the players to feel that the usual rules of the zoo or city don’t apply anymore.

Blackout Hooks:
- The primate families seize the chance to expand their turf in the dark.
- Predators go on nighttime prowl, settling scores in the confusion.
- Rum smugglers vanish, leaving empty crates and angry clients.
Shortage Hooks:
- The players get tipped off about the last known shipment.
- Rival crews hoard the little that’s left, drawing heat from everyone.
- The Zoo Keeper (GM) drops hints of a “secret stash” hidden in a district no one dares touch.

Step Two: Divide the Families

In a world built on vice, peanut rum is more than a drink—it’s currency, leverage, and loyalty. A shortage instantly splinters alliances.

The Hippos (brawlers): Claim they control the last barrels.
The Monkeys (grifters): Push counterfeit bottles, sparking suspicion and violence.
The Reptiles (lurkers): Offer “protection” for those who can’t hold their turf.
The Birds (lookouts & smugglers): Threaten to cut off what little trade remains.

Every faction has a different play. The crews must navigate this web while deciding where they stand—or who they burn.

Step Three: Turn Up the Heat

Once the blackout hits, your scenes should drip with chaotic tension and paranoia.

Dark Districts: Describe alleys where only glowing eyes and the scrape of claws cut through the pitch black.
Fights in the Shadows: Combat becomes cinematic—shots flash like lightning, claws glint, Molotov cocktails spark like fireflies.
Rum Riots: Low-level animals form mobs, looting bars, fighting in plazas, smashing exhibits for any clue of the stash.

Each night without rum, the city teeters closer to all-out war.

Step Four: Make It Personal

A shortage is abstract—but betrayal makes it personal. Tie the crisis to your crew’s flaws, debts, and loyalties.

A PC’s cousin gets roughed up for serving counterfeit rum.
An old ally begs them to protect their turf from opportunists.
The crew’s safehouse goes dark, and someone inside may not be loyal.

Let the shortage and blackout expose not just gang fractures, but character fractures too.

Step Five: Payoff Options

The adventure should end with a major power shift. Let the crew’s choices shape the city’s new map:

The Stash Secured – They find and control the last barrels, becoming kingpins overnight.
Faction Ascendant – They throw their lot in with one family and crush the rivals.
New Order in the Dark – They burn the stash, keep the zoo dry, and force everyone to survive without it.
Collapse into Chaos – Their indecision or betrayal sparks open war, leaving Furton City a battlefield.

Whatever the ending, the civil war should scar the setting—and leave new grudges for the future.

Final GM Tip

A shortage + blackout scenario is all about turning off the lights on safety and loyalty. Force tough calls, reward ruthless risks, and let the players shape how the city remembers “the Peanut Rum War.” 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.

Thanks for reading. Until Next Time, Stay Nerdy!!