Supercape

OOC for this thread. Blod, Tsunami, and Crimson Tiger out for the night. You may make some knowledge (current events) and (streetwise) rolls to know a few things! Knowledge (Current Events) DC 10 (Untrained) DC 20 (Trained only) Knowledge (Streetwise) DC 10 (Untrained) DC 20 (Trained only)

GM Sunday 3rd February 2013 Waterfront Docks Nearly midnight... A slightly irritating drizzle had hit the city. Not rain exactly, just a few half hearted drops of water than landed in your face every now and again. It was not warm, a sort of cold, damp temperature. It wasn't, to be frank, a fun evening. Not many people were out. Even the docks seemed quiet. Quieter than normal. The pier was closed, a lone police officer standing guard, counting money in his hand... And under the pier, the sound of cheering, leering, and rowdiness, dimly lit by a few fires lit in trash cans...

Fluff is fine!

:argh: Trapped between equally cool possibilities! Ari if you wish to cast a deciding vote, let me know, otherwise Ill flip a coin!

GM The Vampire was not lying. The basement was dominated by a steel vault door, and a security camera. After but a moment, without communication, the vault door opened, almost silently, swinging on perfect hinges to slowly reveal the Masters lair. It was suitably well furbished, a mixture of old and new. State of the art laboratory equipment mixed with tomes of old books. The female vampire, dressed in nightwear, leant by the side of the room, her eyes peeled on Revenant and her partner. In the middle of the room, in a beat up old leather chair was the Master. Ge was tall, maybe six foot, with a slender but strong physique. His eyes and hair were black, on top of a face full of aristocracy, a cruel nose and lips on a handsome face. He wore a smoking jacket and slippers, and was studying one of the dusty tomes that lined the walls. "Face to face at last" he said in an iron voice, cold and strong. There was trace of a German accent. "Of course, I we have met before. But I considered it wise to deceive you last time, at least before I had begun to understand you further. "I am Otto Otswald. For many years now, I have been called the Master. A name appropriate but not craved. I have been dead for over three hundred years, and I grow weary of it..."

To be fair, I think the stunt is next round!

"Mariame eh?" said Rene, arching an eyebrow. He surveyed her fully now, away from her arms. He suspicions were raised. The glow...the name... Was it possible? He was not best fond of spirits of France strolling around like they owned it. His previous dally with them had left him shaken, and - to be honest - scared. Man should be free, not pawns of such things. "You had better come in and tell me your message then..." he said kindly but with a slight steel. He should be on his guard. On the other hand, it was just a girl. Who drives who? he wondered. "I think I have some bread, and wine...no...not at your age. Some bread and milk..." he said, as he went to his store cubboard to pull out a few essentials. "You should eat more!" he said with a wink.

Pressed in by the crush of people Gallia had poured into the room, Rene could hardly move a muscle. Indeed, he felt he could hardly breathe... So this is how it ends...Gallia returned..the people chained to her and them, in turn, chaining me...no! no! how can this be? I have fought devils and necromancers of greater strength in the past! Not for the first time, Rene felt old, but more than old, somehow empty as if a little piece of him was missing... What was it? Something I lost...my strength, many years ago...what was it???? All he could think of was some waltzy drum beat going round and round in his head. Somehow, this was important. Somehow, in his desperation, he felt what he had lost...coming back... "You have defeated me then at last!" he told Gallia. "But where is this glory? no marching band? no trumpets sounding the victory! surely the spirit of France can produce a more fitting music to her return and majesty!" he said to her. "Come, let us have music! let us have a proper event! let us see a proper victory!"

ok Standard action: Bluff action to trick 1d20+5=10 As this is cool, Ill reroll that with an HP 1d20+5=24

Indeed. I just hope King of Suits has a good singing voice!

GM "It is my nature to harm. To suck the blood dry. You know this...or are you completely immune to the lure of blood? Your sister, Nora, was entranced by it, even if not to the craving intensity of us..." The Vampire seemed slightly envious for a moment. "But I cannot promise that I will not harm anybody. I am a vampire, I yearn for the sweetest blood, full of life. Without it, I wither. With it, I thrive. And I am immortal! how long can I impose Iron Will upon craving? a month? a year? no matter, sooner or later I will bleed the living to death, and gorge myself upon the essence of living...unless the Master creates something new...." "So this promise I cannot keep, and well you know it. But, perhaps you will grant reprieve at least for today...and hunt me down tomorrow. No matter, I cannot ask for more. You are a slave to your nature as much as I, it seems..." He took Revenant into the High Steaks, coming up to the security guard and producing a pass. Without further ado, the pair took a lift down to the basement...a hidden basement that was accessed by pressing the "G" level three times in quick succession. "Here we are. The door is a foot of steel. A camera is outside, and the door is controlled from inside. How do you intend to meet your maker? via parley...or by ripping the vault open?"

"Good afternoon Madam, how can I hel...!" Rene had seen the world of course, and was no stranger to some eccentricities of the Parisian people. But being leapt at and hugged by an unknown woman was something that was a little out of the ordinary for an otherwise slow Sunday afternoon. "I am...delighted...to see you to, Madam...although I confess you have me at a disadvantage. I am afraid I cannot recall making your acquaintance previously. And I would, no doubt, have remembered your distinctive charms..." "My name is Monsieur deSaens" he said by way of introduction, giving a modest bow. "Perhaps you could indulge me as to yours?"

Well I think Rene is bound basically, which makes him rather ineffective! I have a complex request, and feel free to say no (very free). I have been meaning to work in Dead Beat into Rene's back story for some time. The idea was the during the 20th Century Rene had to dispose of some of his "soul" to the afterlife to lock away some of the spirits and undead he was fighting. He has forgotten this, although has a vague sense that part of him is missing... (this also explains why he is not as powerful as a mage of over 200 years and his ability should be). Deadbeat's story is that - he used this link to jump back to the world of the living after outwitting the devils of the afterlife. He acts as Protector of the Dead, and the parts of Rene's Soul he sacrificed. Anyway, enough preamble. In this horrible situation, I am wondering if Rene could stunt summoning Dead Beat. He would, however, need some form of music to do so. If this all sounds a bit complex then drop it (although TiffK, as you have been so great handling Rene's past, I would really welcome your help fleshing out this backstory anyway!)

Ok, a few mechanics! Broken Crow will need to be carried - he is physically disabled and combined with his state of exhaustion, he cant really move at any speed through the harsh swamp. However, both of you are more than capable of that! The pathways between the dimensions can be followed, its DC 10 straight WIS check to do so. Broken Crow can make these without difficulty (Giving him a +5 situational bonus, cos, you know, he is the Master Mage and all...) The swamp itself hinders movement to 50%, it is also a hot environment. If you wish to sneak away from Malaise camp, you may wish to make stealth rolls, and you may also wish to make survival rolls to avoid various bugs and to feed / water yourselves. Finally, if you are traversing the swamp, lets have one hot environment save (DC 10 Fort Save).

GM "To cut the tendrils of the swamp? to sever its link to the world...that would be a wise course of action. We could stop it..for a time, at least. I fear the unspeakable force behind this place is beyond death or destruction. But yes, its links to the world can be cut..." Broken Crow, even exhausted by his fever and other activities seemed excited by the prospect. "So, we must slip away, and then perform a ritual at the point where the two worlds blur. It will be...draining...and the swamp itself will fight us....are you ready?" Broken Crow seemed to be. He pointed in that a direction away from Malaise' camp. "Let us go, I can feel the way through this world to ours...as can you if you open your mind to it..."

GM The Vampire looked uneasy. "I do..." he mumbled, giving her a shifty look. "He has a vault, down in the basement. Its well protected...security guard, vault door, camera's...that's where he has set up his...abode..." He didn't look to happy about his situation. "And where he does he...experiments..." he said, licking his tongue. "I can take you there...but I fear you will rip my dead heart out of my chest when you have no further use for me. Yes, for all your pretence at empathy, you are one of us in spirit. And your dead eyes are like mine. So, tell me, I will not meet my demise at your hands? no..don't tell me, for you can surely lie as well as I. I wish to barter my existence! So before I make myself of no further use, I would have my way away from you!"

Rene had not been sluggish in the years that followed his youth. He was older, and wiser, and getting to become an accomplished artist, if not yet a master. Perhaps he had been somewhat distracted. Broken Crow had taught him much since he burned down the house of the Necromme aristocrats. He had learned, in his old way, to summon forth arcane power in the way an artist paints onto canvas. Rene painted onto reality. It was not easy, of course. He was no master mage. But he had enough power to have dispatched a few dabblers in the black arts, to defend against the undead and spirits. And he now had enough coin to have his own flat in Paris. Not too extravagant, but not to shabby either. He could make the rent comfortably, provided he kept up with painting for the rich and powerful. And Artist of his calibre would never be rich, but he would no longer starve. And it did keep him in the gossip of Paris...the sittings would be tedious if not for the loose tongues of his subjects...

Without toothcombing it, the thing that pops out is that summoning does not have the fanatical extra. If you are playing Merge (the summoned Merge) as an NPC in the sidekick manner, that could be problematic as a few diplomacy rolls or similar could flip her to indifferent or worse. Whilst expensive, it might well be better to make the summoning fanatic, and have Merge some "unruly" complication if you want to go down that past. If thats a problem cost wise, the feedback flaw might be worth looking into (i.e. if Merge gets hurt, potentially so does Nicki). Personally, I think this is a good idea as it resolves to potential problems: 1. Merge not being a dedicated sidekick and 2. Nicky being a "bathroom mentalist" sending Merge out to do her work.

That sounds good - Ill post Freddy doing something to stop him bleeding out, but that still leaves him with the damage to his brain and other organs - enough to leave him in a comatose shock! that ok?

Sounding you out here GS What would you like story wise? Mess' ability to stop bleeding, namely his healing lethal damage power could be, on the basis of descriptors anything from life saving to ineffective (due to damaged organs) I'm happy with whatever, so its really what you would like in terms if Ben and Crusaders development.

NPC "A lawyer eh?" said Harry, satisfied that his cut had stopped bleeding. Over in the corner, Fred gave a smile and stopped concentrating on Harries throat. "Well, it just so happened that I do happen to know of a lawyer. She seems ok, does some charity work..." he said, his lips and tounge struggling over the words. "She is ah...a bit on the unusual side. A bit living-challenged shall we say, but what the hell, this is Freedom City eh?" he said more cheerfully. "As for that crime stoppers reward. Well, it does seemed we earned a little reward for out work..." "Yeah, that means we don't have to charge Ms. Klaus!" yelled out a happy Fred from the corner, between stuffing his face with a salami sandwich and watching the sport on TV. Harry grumbled under his breath.

GM Even later... It would be dawn in a few hours. The night had been long, but for the tireless undead it mattered not. The vampire caught in Revenants grasp was not keen to "shop" his girlfriend, but he was keen to save his life. The dead were heartless. Perhaps that was what the Master wanted to rectify. Where did the creature lead them. Back to the High Steaks! "The Master bought the place...gambling...food...a rich source of experimentation! people desperate for money and power, people with nothing less to lose...people on the edge...it is not just bodies he studies, but minds too! hahaha!" To the vampire, humans were nothing more than petri dish bacteria. The High Steaks building was shut now. The shattered window boarded up. A lone security guard on the lowest floor. It looked cold and empty. As a gambling venue, it kept going until 3am, but it was past even that now - with even the stragglers having retired. "He owns the building" sniggered the Vampire, desperate now. "Time for you to let me go?"

NPC "Hi Sam, c'mon in!" said the Mess, cheerfully, unlocking both reinforced doors to their office to let the prosecutor in. Harry was busy shaving. Goddam it...why do I always have stubble...no matter how hard I shave...grows like hell...must be that dog curse on me.... "Dammit" he swore as he cut himself. His hands still shook slightly from the adrenaline of the night before. "Hi Sam!" he said, dabbing his cut throat. "Take a seat...no not there...some pizza from the day before...it's a bit fresh..." he said, wrinkling his nose. The Bloodhound Detective Agency, like Harry, was always vaguely untidy and messy. Their cleaner, Gemma, had her work cut out for her. "How are you doing? You gave us a good case yesterday, my friend. Sealed up in a day! How's about that for efficiency!"

Supercape A Fool's Errand (6 Posts) Rene Gallia Falling, the Death of Kings (2 Posts) Gallia Falling Part 2, Rene le Chateau (0 IC posts; see GM section) Gallia Renaitre (5 Posts) Goodbye to Gravity, and to Death (5 Posts) Ghosts of Christmas Whatever (2 Posts) Just Another Night at the Vampire Club (2 Posts) Lord Steam Blod in the Air (2 Posts) The Midnight Society Holiday Party (8 Posts) Synth none! Bloody Mess My Brother's Keeper (2 Posts) Sifting Through the Ages (24 Posts) The Law is a Mess (5 Posts) HellQ ?+2PP The Interview ?+1PP Reputation Chart?+1PP GM Adrenaline Rush(5 Posts) Earth Victoriana: Yanks in Tanks (1 Post) High Towers (6 Posts) Flick of Horror (1 post) Sanctuary: Panacea (8 posts) Slave to Time, Part 2 (8 Posts) The Serpent and the Devil (11 Posts) NPC (The Hound) Sifting Through the Ages (26 Posts) The Law is a Mess (4 Posts) Misc Ref Point to go to Supercape, rolling over to Rene. Wiki Entry for Bloody Mess ?+1PP to go to Supercape, rolling over to Rene. All GM / NPC Bonus postage to push Supercape up to next available slot, with those posts Rolling over to Rene. Remainder bonus postage to push up Rene as high as he goes. Distribute the rest equally.

Harry gulped, a bit unsure how to respond to an attractive police officer who had promptly detoxified his views on the officers of the law. "Sure, officer" said Mess, looking up and giving a grin. Perhaps he flexed his biceps a bit more than strictly necessary when gesticulating. "We was hired by this dame, Eliska. She and her husband got hit by the perp, he burned down their store in the Fens. We reckon it was the mob round here, ya see? they got an extortion racket goin' on. Used that dude to burn down any place that wern't payin' up..." He rolled on the balls of his feet, giving himself an extra inch of height. "Anyways, you guys reckoned it was her husband. Guess you guys reckoned wrong huh? haha" he said in a laugh that was close to a giggle. "She got to hiring us, to look into da matter! and we cracked it, heh, Harry!" "That's right, officer, what he said..." mumbled Harry, not wanting to look too directly at an attractive woman detective. He loosened his tie and did it up again - simply for something to do with his fingers.