Roleplay files #1 - the main plot
Aug. 18th, 2007 04:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparkindarknessSo, the new game has started, had 2 sessions at the beggining of the week and things are going... shakily. But we'll see. Not as I planned, but it never does, but I wonder if it will work
So the chronicle begins:
Again we have an ex-military sniper, a cat burglar, and an ex-gang demolitions expert and a lawyer. A very very good lawyer. Between them they had numerous retainers that made up their gang (largely humans of little or no note). The main plot (heavily abridged for size):
They had gathered together to discuss various business at their bar (well, not exactly their bar, but since it was inhabited by and protected by their gang it was their favourite hang out) when they were approached by a strange, respectful, emotionless man. He has someone he would like them to meet.
After much debate they arrive at an elegant townhouse in a refined, isolated and secluded neighbourhood. Inside the stifling, dark wood panelled halls with thick carpets and heavily curtained windows. They are struck by the multiple identical ghouls standing ready at their slightest whim - and at the whim of the Tremere Regent, Patricia who was waiting for them. She knows there’s a magical shiny out there, and she wants it - but she doesn’t want to be seen to want it. She proposes employing the party because their Anarch status will deflect attention from her. In return she will speak to the Prince and Sheriff, discouraging them from calling the Archons to Yuma to dish out some heavy duty arse kicking. She’ll sweeten the deal with some shiny magical gifts as well.
Whether out of fear of Archon arse kicking of greed for magical shinies - or just wanting to get their own grubby mits on the artefact, they agreed. Patricia told them that the compass - an item that would lead them to the artefact - was last possessed by a Mr. Jonathon Reynolds, recently deceased. The compass should still be at his house which is now inhabited by his 3 elderly sisters - all over 86 years old, whom Patricia would very much like to talk to as well. The party (sensibly) asked what he died of (old age) and whether he was human - (as far as Patricia is aware, he was, none of her research has pointed to him being anything but mundane - if interested in the occult).
The party now plots on how to remove the artefact. Somewhat perturbed with the idea of 3 potentially magically gifted old women in their own house they made a plan - of course there is one force stronger than the greatest magic - the law and a talented lawyer! Remembering that the sisters had only recently inherited the house they challenged their occupation - with a pretend relative who wanted to move in immediately and feared the old women removing property, a fake will and an injunction to get out of the house, you thieving old hags! To help the transition the firm graciously agreed to pay for sheltered accommodation for the old women (while at the same time presenting a lot of trumped up evidence to social services claiming that the old women were not fit to take care of themselves). It was, I’ll admit, a masterful job.
This plan had a flaw however, even as they sent the old biddies a packing order they realised that the old biddies actually had their own house and may not retire to the nice, expensive sheltered accommodation they had arranged. What to do, what to do? Why, blow up there house of course!
No, really. Again, fearing fighting mage sin their own home, they decided to visit the Reynolds sisters‘ house before they moved back in. Using their stealthy (invisible) cat burglar, they infiltrated and searched the house and found it empty of everything except an annoying toy poodle, apparently called fluffy. Everything else was terribly mundane, except for an undue number of books on history, archaeology, mythology and the occult. Removing any books that might be interesting the demolitions expert came in and rigged the place up. It blew up and looked like a gas explosion (excellent cover up). No, they did not remove fluffy from the premises first (in fact they took pains to make sure fluffy was at ground zero of the explosion. They didn‘t like fluffy).
Full of concern for this terrible disaster to befall the dear old ladies, the lawyer quickly moved forwards, all generosity and upgraded the home from a sheltered accommodation to a luxurious apartment with all mod cons until they were back on their feet. How could the old dears refuse?
The old biddies nicely taken care of, they moved in on the now abandoned house, searching it in their usual diligent manner (to quite “Isn’t there ANYTHING in this place worth stealing?”) The heavily locked door lasts seconds (the cat burglar picked the lock, but he nearly had to wrestle the explosives from the ex-ganger to do it). In addition to some notes that they couldn’t read , they found a carved bone disc, 2 feet in diameter, studded with turquoise and engraved with a creature that was part fish, part horned cat. They picked it up and ran for the door (curses, they know my evil evil mind) just as the giant shadowy-Jaguar manifested. They still had to half shoot the thing to death since the driver messed up so many drive rolls that they pulled away from the curb like an elderly lady blocking the car park entrance.
Shadowy kitty averted, they moved to plan B - securing the Reynolds sisters. 4 vampires against 3 elderly women, not difficult, right? The lawyer decides to take the lead, being personally less frightening. After exchanging pleasantries, Martha Reynolds invites him in bent and hobbling in her pink wooly shawl, she sits tiredly. “A moment dear,” she quavers, “while I find my glasses.” Fumbling, she reaches under her blanket... and pulls out a shotgun “Eat hot lead motherfucker!” she screeches as she tries to kill him.
Out of the back room, Alma Reynolds runs, meat cleaver held aloft and tries to cut his head off. But all is put into shade as Ethel Reynolds enters the scene, buzzing down the stairs on a stanner, pistol in each hand she screams wordlessly and peppers the room with bullets.
Of course, we’re talking 3 packing grandmas against 4 vampires her, so the battle was pretty short, though it did take a few minutes for the traumatised vampires to get out from behind the sofa. I personally didn’t think it was necessary to put a .22 slug in Martha’s kneecap, but I think they were slightly less than pleased with the old ladies. They secured the old women with 6 rolls of duct tape
Staggering, tired, mauled and shot, they returned to Patricia who was gleeful in the extreme and gave them shiny presents - talismans they could wear around their neck that allowed direct mind-to-mind communication. She was less pleased by the notes that appeared to be in native Quechan (phonetically transcribed into the roman alphabet). Not a language she speaks or has any real ambition to learn. She knew someone who did speak it though - Hernando Ascension, the ex-Ventrue Prince of the city (of course using them as running boys). He freely translates, free of charge - Lots of warning about the artefact being evil - to which the players reply “so are we.“ Then politely grills them on what exactly Patricia is up to... and to remind her she owes him a favour... More political rambling between players and they were back with instructions on how to make the compass work... and that a bit of it was missing.
The notes reveal a missing engraved Turquoise bead that will complete the compass, including detailed notes as to where it would be found - the site of a potentially illegal excavation sponsored by the local museum and is now involved in a long and painful legal battle with the local Native American reservation basically saying “give our stuff back! And stop poking at it while you do!” While the museum is saying “But it’s shiny! Can’t we poke it a bit at least?”
What do you do when you’ve got a huge legal wrangle setting up to cost millions? Why, you set your lawyer on it - pro bono for the Native American tribes (with lots of impressive speeches and press releases and good PR) and all the goods put in Escrow - where the lawyer can get his grubby grubby hands on them! MUAHAHA!
The compass is complete! They have been given shiny blood stone, a handy storage device for blood and they have compass to reach artefact! Onwards, into the desert, the Alogodones! Where the wolves are howling.... which is a bit suspicious because there don’t appear to be any natural wolves in the dunes.
Given the howling howling wolves, they decide to take a helicopter (faaaar too much money) and rappel down to the correct spot (except the lawyer who, wisely, decides that the legal arm shoudln‘t have to involve himself withwerewolves questionable situations, which is most amusing since 2 players failed quite badly at their rappelling. It was less a smooth, military-like infiltration and more a “AAAAAAAARGHHHHH!” *SPLAT* “Fuck...” which kind of lacks that classy edge.
They find a vertical rock slab, carved with a spiral, a half snake, half cat with horns (which research pointed to be an Uktena) and a deeply incised 8 spoked wheel. Concluding this to be a door, the group did what you would expect them to do. Try to blow it up (*GM Sighs*). Packing it with explosives, they destroy the dune and the hill.... and find themselves looking down at a horizontal rock slab, carved with a spiral, Uktena and deeply incised 8 spoked wheel. Repeated explosions dig deeper - each unearthing a very familiar looking rock slab tilted at various angles (*GM slaps down*)
It’s at this point that the ground humps up beneath the sniper (stood ready with a heavy machine gun) knocking him and his gun aside, breaking through the surface is a large, angry werewolf. There is a quick discussion as to how much silver they have (none - GM *SLAPDOWN* they never told me they were arming themselves with silver bullets and no, they don’t routinely stock shiny ammo ‘on the off-chance’) with the cat burglar going invisible and the ganger running like buggery for the helicopter. The soldier, unfortunately, only has intelligence 1, however - and pulls out his shotgun, his bloody rushing through his veins as he calls upon his superhuman speed..
In a blur of motion the werewolf rips the shotgun from his grasp and bites off his right arm. Shocked and in agonising pain, the poor Brujah soldier Rotshreks and heads for the hills. The rest of the gang desperately bombards the werewolf while the cat burglar hangs from a rope to try and pull the soldier up (all the while the lawyer is yelling at the pilot “DO NOT LOOK DOWN! IF YOU EVER WANT TO WORK AGAIN YOU WILL NOT LOOK DOWN!”) Rescue is managed and there is much rejoicing and getting the hell out of there...
Which is where things stand at the minute. I cannot imagine where they’ll go next *headache*
So the chronicle begins:
Again we have an ex-military sniper, a cat burglar, and an ex-gang demolitions expert and a lawyer. A very very good lawyer. Between them they had numerous retainers that made up their gang (largely humans of little or no note). The main plot (heavily abridged for size):
They had gathered together to discuss various business at their bar (well, not exactly their bar, but since it was inhabited by and protected by their gang it was their favourite hang out) when they were approached by a strange, respectful, emotionless man. He has someone he would like them to meet.
After much debate they arrive at an elegant townhouse in a refined, isolated and secluded neighbourhood. Inside the stifling, dark wood panelled halls with thick carpets and heavily curtained windows. They are struck by the multiple identical ghouls standing ready at their slightest whim - and at the whim of the Tremere Regent, Patricia who was waiting for them. She knows there’s a magical shiny out there, and she wants it - but she doesn’t want to be seen to want it. She proposes employing the party because their Anarch status will deflect attention from her. In return she will speak to the Prince and Sheriff, discouraging them from calling the Archons to Yuma to dish out some heavy duty arse kicking. She’ll sweeten the deal with some shiny magical gifts as well.
Whether out of fear of Archon arse kicking of greed for magical shinies - or just wanting to get their own grubby mits on the artefact, they agreed. Patricia told them that the compass - an item that would lead them to the artefact - was last possessed by a Mr. Jonathon Reynolds, recently deceased. The compass should still be at his house which is now inhabited by his 3 elderly sisters - all over 86 years old, whom Patricia would very much like to talk to as well. The party (sensibly) asked what he died of (old age) and whether he was human - (as far as Patricia is aware, he was, none of her research has pointed to him being anything but mundane - if interested in the occult).
The party now plots on how to remove the artefact. Somewhat perturbed with the idea of 3 potentially magically gifted old women in their own house they made a plan - of course there is one force stronger than the greatest magic - the law and a talented lawyer! Remembering that the sisters had only recently inherited the house they challenged their occupation - with a pretend relative who wanted to move in immediately and feared the old women removing property, a fake will and an injunction to get out of the house, you thieving old hags! To help the transition the firm graciously agreed to pay for sheltered accommodation for the old women (while at the same time presenting a lot of trumped up evidence to social services claiming that the old women were not fit to take care of themselves). It was, I’ll admit, a masterful job.
This plan had a flaw however, even as they sent the old biddies a packing order they realised that the old biddies actually had their own house and may not retire to the nice, expensive sheltered accommodation they had arranged. What to do, what to do? Why, blow up there house of course!
No, really. Again, fearing fighting mage sin their own home, they decided to visit the Reynolds sisters‘ house before they moved back in. Using their stealthy (invisible) cat burglar, they infiltrated and searched the house and found it empty of everything except an annoying toy poodle, apparently called fluffy. Everything else was terribly mundane, except for an undue number of books on history, archaeology, mythology and the occult. Removing any books that might be interesting the demolitions expert came in and rigged the place up. It blew up and looked like a gas explosion (excellent cover up). No, they did not remove fluffy from the premises first (in fact they took pains to make sure fluffy was at ground zero of the explosion. They didn‘t like fluffy).
Full of concern for this terrible disaster to befall the dear old ladies, the lawyer quickly moved forwards, all generosity and upgraded the home from a sheltered accommodation to a luxurious apartment with all mod cons until they were back on their feet. How could the old dears refuse?
The old biddies nicely taken care of, they moved in on the now abandoned house, searching it in their usual diligent manner (to quite “Isn’t there ANYTHING in this place worth stealing?”) The heavily locked door lasts seconds (the cat burglar picked the lock, but he nearly had to wrestle the explosives from the ex-ganger to do it). In addition to some notes that they couldn’t read , they found a carved bone disc, 2 feet in diameter, studded with turquoise and engraved with a creature that was part fish, part horned cat. They picked it up and ran for the door (curses, they know my evil evil mind) just as the giant shadowy-Jaguar manifested. They still had to half shoot the thing to death since the driver messed up so many drive rolls that they pulled away from the curb like an elderly lady blocking the car park entrance.
Shadowy kitty averted, they moved to plan B - securing the Reynolds sisters. 4 vampires against 3 elderly women, not difficult, right? The lawyer decides to take the lead, being personally less frightening. After exchanging pleasantries, Martha Reynolds invites him in bent and hobbling in her pink wooly shawl, she sits tiredly. “A moment dear,” she quavers, “while I find my glasses.” Fumbling, she reaches under her blanket... and pulls out a shotgun “Eat hot lead motherfucker!” she screeches as she tries to kill him.
Out of the back room, Alma Reynolds runs, meat cleaver held aloft and tries to cut his head off. But all is put into shade as Ethel Reynolds enters the scene, buzzing down the stairs on a stanner, pistol in each hand she screams wordlessly and peppers the room with bullets.
Of course, we’re talking 3 packing grandmas against 4 vampires her, so the battle was pretty short, though it did take a few minutes for the traumatised vampires to get out from behind the sofa. I personally didn’t think it was necessary to put a .22 slug in Martha’s kneecap, but I think they were slightly less than pleased with the old ladies. They secured the old women with 6 rolls of duct tape
Staggering, tired, mauled and shot, they returned to Patricia who was gleeful in the extreme and gave them shiny presents - talismans they could wear around their neck that allowed direct mind-to-mind communication. She was less pleased by the notes that appeared to be in native Quechan (phonetically transcribed into the roman alphabet). Not a language she speaks or has any real ambition to learn. She knew someone who did speak it though - Hernando Ascension, the ex-Ventrue Prince of the city (of course using them as running boys). He freely translates, free of charge - Lots of warning about the artefact being evil - to which the players reply “so are we.“ Then politely grills them on what exactly Patricia is up to... and to remind her she owes him a favour... More political rambling between players and they were back with instructions on how to make the compass work... and that a bit of it was missing.
The notes reveal a missing engraved Turquoise bead that will complete the compass, including detailed notes as to where it would be found - the site of a potentially illegal excavation sponsored by the local museum and is now involved in a long and painful legal battle with the local Native American reservation basically saying “give our stuff back! And stop poking at it while you do!” While the museum is saying “But it’s shiny! Can’t we poke it a bit at least?”
What do you do when you’ve got a huge legal wrangle setting up to cost millions? Why, you set your lawyer on it - pro bono for the Native American tribes (with lots of impressive speeches and press releases and good PR) and all the goods put in Escrow - where the lawyer can get his grubby grubby hands on them! MUAHAHA!
The compass is complete! They have been given shiny blood stone, a handy storage device for blood and they have compass to reach artefact! Onwards, into the desert, the Alogodones! Where the wolves are howling.... which is a bit suspicious because there don’t appear to be any natural wolves in the dunes.
Given the howling howling wolves, they decide to take a helicopter (faaaar too much money) and rappel down to the correct spot (except the lawyer who, wisely, decides that the legal arm shoudln‘t have to involve himself with
They find a vertical rock slab, carved with a spiral, a half snake, half cat with horns (which research pointed to be an Uktena) and a deeply incised 8 spoked wheel. Concluding this to be a door, the group did what you would expect them to do. Try to blow it up (*GM Sighs*). Packing it with explosives, they destroy the dune and the hill.... and find themselves looking down at a horizontal rock slab, carved with a spiral, Uktena and deeply incised 8 spoked wheel. Repeated explosions dig deeper - each unearthing a very familiar looking rock slab tilted at various angles (*GM slaps down*)
It’s at this point that the ground humps up beneath the sniper (stood ready with a heavy machine gun) knocking him and his gun aside, breaking through the surface is a large, angry werewolf. There is a quick discussion as to how much silver they have (none - GM *SLAPDOWN* they never told me they were arming themselves with silver bullets and no, they don’t routinely stock shiny ammo ‘on the off-chance’) with the cat burglar going invisible and the ganger running like buggery for the helicopter. The soldier, unfortunately, only has intelligence 1, however - and pulls out his shotgun, his bloody rushing through his veins as he calls upon his superhuman speed..
In a blur of motion the werewolf rips the shotgun from his grasp and bites off his right arm. Shocked and in agonising pain, the poor Brujah soldier Rotshreks and heads for the hills. The rest of the gang desperately bombards the werewolf while the cat burglar hangs from a rope to try and pull the soldier up (all the while the lawyer is yelling at the pilot “DO NOT LOOK DOWN! IF YOU EVER WANT TO WORK AGAIN YOU WILL NOT LOOK DOWN!”) Rescue is managed and there is much rejoicing and getting the hell out of there...
Which is where things stand at the minute. I cannot imagine where they’ll go next *headache*