A World Full of Darkness (Inactive)

Game Master Nicos

At a loss for anything subtle to do, let's try the direct route.

Under cover of night, Bhemariel will sneak into the representative's room.

Faith/Revelation: 7d10 ⇒ (9, 9, 10, 7, 3, 5, 1) = 44

Stealth: 7d10 ⇒ (9, 6, 1, 8, 3, 8, 3) = 38

Drawing upon the full power of his angelic majesty, he will then awaken the company rep, standing at the foot of his bed.

"Wake up, servant of the Wyrm. Look upon the face of the master of this forest, Skadus of the Wilds!" he exclaims.

"I came to see the face of the one who would dare intrude on my domain, plot to tempt my subjects away from their true lord and master. Pathetic. You are clearly no threat to me...but you serve those who would destroy my kingdom, and that I cannot stand for."

"I will give you one chance. Leave this place and never return. If I see your face again, the forest itself will turn against you. If any of your allies invade my sanctum, they will be greeted the same."

"Leave now and keep your pitiful life, mortal. Open your mouth to argue, and I will slay you where you stand. Begone from this dwelling, and from this town. If I find you here after noon tomorrow, well...let me give you just a taste of the fate that awaits you."

Bhemariel reaches his senses out to the land, summoning the vermin that dwell in the fields and walls around this place, gathering a swarm of vermin.

Perception+Animal Ken: 6d10 ⇒ (7, 4, 9, 8, 6, 4) = 38

The insects thicken into a writhing mass of bugs and slowly begin creeping up the legs of the representative.

Skadus creeps closer as well, wreathed in the swarm of buzzing and chirping insects. He sets the ones on the man's feet to biting.

"A swarm like this will strip the flesh from your bones. Slowly. Painfully. Inevitably."

"Pleasant dreams, interloper. Do not have any more, here."

Intimidation+Charisma?: 6d10 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 2, 5, 2) = 18

Not sure here: Is Intimidation a function of Charisma, Manipulation, or Appearance? I assumed Charisma. If Manipulation, -1 die. If Appearance, +2 die.

His point made, Bhemariel palms the man's face, and sends him into a deep sleep.

Body Control (Meds+Int DC 6): 6d10 ⇒ (1, 3, 7, 6, 1, 3) = 21

He gets a Resisted Willpower roll, DC 8.

Willpower: 6d10 ⇒ (6, 4, 8, 10, 9, 9) = 46

Okie dokie. Hope I didn't do too much too fast. Figured I'd make up for a day of not posting.

@London

I think next time I will ask about what evidences and clues you look for, and how do you look for them

It takes you
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
hours to find what you were looking for. A lonely beggar finally lead you to the gang.
Let's roll. If you have good look, they will be inside of an intact abandoned house.
Luck roll: 2d10 ⇒ (9, 4) = 13 -Bad luck

They are gathered in the inside of a half-ruined building, with a big fire in the middle to warm themselves (since the ruined structure doesn't provide enough shelter for the cold)

@Paris

Thanks to your sight you can see the name of the book (hidden to normal sight). The book is called "Liber sanguinun". But you fail to see how to open it.

You communicate with radio

The day past...tomorrow..bring...book...outside...Notre dame...2.pm...

Radio was about to say something more but you hear someone knocking insistently on the door and the communications ends.

@Germany

It depends. It depends on how you do the intimidation. The way you try the intimidation I say it was a charisma roll

I need an explanation on your last action, because you failed the roll. Don't forget to always tell the name of the abilities you use, it's difficult to keep track of everything between the three different books you guys are playing.

Bah. Forgot that 1s subtract successes. I did list the ability: Body Control. I can put someone into a coma with it so I assume I can induce normal sleep much easier. I'll just try again, I have Faith to spare.

"Do not forget I could have killed you at any time, crushed your head between my fingers like an over-ripe tomato."

Bhemariel squeezes slightly, then lets go.

Body Control: 6d10 ⇒ (8, 1, 8, 8, 10, 8) = 43

What kind of ability is body control? a dot from a lore?

A puny businessman will not offer violent resistance. But you barely make the intimidation check and failed the first roll on body control. You can leave after that first roll, or you can try the second one but we would enter initiative and the guy intended actions is run for his life and scream for help which could create unwanted attention on Skadus.

Yeah, I tried to edit that in earlier but the site messed up. It's on my profile.

Let him scream. He won't have much time to, and I'll be gone before anyone else gets here.

I somehow doubt he wins Initiative with my 4 Dex and Improved Initiative.

Ok, lets see
businessman's Init: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Isaiah is suspicious of the knocking and quietly looks through the eyehole without answering.

Why does he have +4 Init? Is he a f~%%ing gymnast?

For somebody who's not important enough to have a name he sure does have good stats for some reason.

Init: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Okay, looked back over the Init rules, apparently I add my Wits score too, that makes more sense. Add 2 to that, so we're tied at 13. We act simultaneously, but since my action is an OHKO I'm not sure he actually gets to do much.

How many of them do I see?

@London

3

@Paris

You looks through the eyehole and immediately your mind focuses on a pair of eyes that are looking at you

A man voice: Monsieur, could you let us pass, S'il vous plaît?

6d10 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 9, 3, 9) = 31

And you think is a good idea You open the door. You let a couple enter. The woman from the library and last receptionist you spoke to.

They enter, the man addressed to you
Please Monsieur, sit
6d10 ⇒ (7, 10, 9, 5, 7, 7) = 45
And you think is a reasonable advice. You sit in the bed.

Suddenly you become aware that you let two highly suspicious people enter your room.

The woman stares coldly at you. The guy is smiling and approaches to the closed book..

It is impolite to take without permission a books from the library, specially this kind of special books you know... they are very old...

@ Germany

It is good to have good Wits when you try to sell thing to people :P. And don't forget all stats have 1 dot for free.

You won the initiative since you have the higher modifier. You put him to sleep. And I guess you leave.

The next day the man leaves the town. You successfully won time. It's unlikely that the company will not try again, but you now have time to prepare.

Kurt gives you the list of people interviewed by the businessman, What do you do?.

@Paris

You looks through the eyehole and immediately your mind focuses on a pair of eyes that are looking at you

A man voice: Monsieur, could you let us pass, S'il vous plaît?

6d10

And you think is a good idea You open the door. You let a couple enter. The woman from the library and last receptionist you spoke to.

They enter, the man addressed to you
Please Monsieur, sit
6d10
And you think is a reasonable advice. You sit in the bed.

Suddenly you become aware that you let two highly suspicious people enter your room.

The woman stares coldly at you. The guy is smiling and approaches to the closed book..

It is impolite to take without permission a books from the library, specially this kind of special books you know... they are very old...

Just a note, Scavion's character can negate any mind control attempt with a small resource expenditure. I imagine that's what he'd probably do instead of let himself get mind raped.

@ Germany

It is good to have good Wits when you try to sell thing to people :P. And don't forget all stats have 1 dot for free.

You won the initiative since you have the higher modifier. You put him to sleep. And I guess you leave.

The next day the man leaves the town. You successfully won time. It's unlikely that the company will not try again, but you now have time to prepare.

Kurt gives you the list of people interviewed by the businessman, What do you do?.

How long is the list? Are any/all of my faithful on it?

@Bhemariel

Let's say 30% of the entire people around. And yes, your followers are there, they are the one that noticed you about it.

Just a note, Scavion's character can negate any mind control attempt with a small resource expenditure. I imagine that's what he'd probably do instead of let himself get mind raped.

>:(

Since I have no reason not to be on guard against mental attacks because of the lady's failure before...but c'est la vie.

Isaiah plays dumb.

"Back where I'm from, books are meant to be rented from the library. Can I offer you any coffee?"

Uhm, but it works against the mind sphere from mages, and that is not what is being used here. However, it makes sense that it apply to other forms of magic. However, I would qualify the "suggestion" given to you as subtle. What is not clear to me, is if the roll is reactive or passive, meaning if you activate the power before somebody try to control you or if it is in response a mental attack that just happened.

Pg.544 goes into a bit more detail, but it makes it clear that it applies to any kind of psychic action whether magical or otherwise. It appears Reactive since Pg.544 says it acts as a dodge for the assault, subtracting successes from the aggressor's rolls.

Indeed is a reactive action and would work against the ability used on you. However, as you were not expecting somebody to throw a mental trick through the peephole and was a subtle command (" If the character
isn’t aware of that attack, however, she suffers the full Effect…
which is the primary reason that Mind-savvy mages prefer to
be subtle (“You have beautiful eyes…”)...", you had no chance to use it.

Since you are now aware that a trick was used on you, you can try to dodge any incoming attack like...

Merci, but I have to refuse. We don't drink...coffee -

You can swear the man eyes bright red for a second, and after that the book oppened. The man take a look at it and then look back to you

The liber sanguinun, or the book of the bloods was written by a mad monk in 1565..., It is unusual that somebody have an interests in it. DOn't you think, mr,..., I'm sorry, can you give me your real name, S'il vous plaît?

Mind trick: 6d10 ⇒ (8, 9, 4, 1, 1, 5) = 28 - one succes.

Willpower: 5d10 ⇒ (2, 6, 7, 3, 2) = 20

"Reels. My name should be meaningless to you folks anyways. Why do you care about the book?" Isaiah gets up and starts making tea instead.

We are libraries. A Special kind of libraries, si vous me comprenez.
- The man replays. Always in a friendly tone.

I guess you can roll perception + awareness, but it's clear they are supernatural, So I continue

En tout cas, why do you care about the book?

Isaiah shrugs and leans against the counter. "C'est magique. Je suis spécialiste, mais pas affilié à une université."

C'est dommage, in that case we can allow you to manipulate this delicate book - he close the book and stand up

Moreover, you will be banned from the Mazarine library. We hope you don't try to steal one of our books ever again Monsieur Reels. Au Revoir. And he leaves (unless you do something).

The woman waits a moment before leaving, smile to you and says - If you wish, We could still could go to drink...something one of these nights. Au Revoir

So, they leave if you don't do anything to stop them.

As metaplot info, since they don't know about your abilities, they are satisfied with erasing your memory one of these nights and letting you go

So...they're leaving the book?

Isaiah smiles back at the lady and winks at her.

Harvey hides behind a nearby wall.

Stealth+Dex: 7d10 ⇒ (10, 4, 2, 6, 6, 4, 1) = 33

Then he picks up a fist-sized piece of rubble and throws it at a spot 5 yards away from himself, hoping the sound will draw the thugs away from the fire.

Throwing (Athletics+Dex): 6d10 ⇒ (7, 4, 8, 2, 7, 4) = 32

@Bhemariel

Let's say 30% of the entire people around. And yes, your followers are there, they are the one that noticed you about it.

Sitting on a tree stump, reading the list, Bhemariel mutters to himself.

"I've bought myself some time, but not much. When they return they will likely come aggressively. I need to step up my timetable or this town may be wrest from my control."

That night, Bhemariel calls a convocation of his following. After Kurt leads the families in prayer and song, and the routine ceremonies are out of the way, Skadus himself steps out from the shadows of the forest and addresses his people.

"The time has come, my faithful! You have followed me loyally for years, and I have made you prosper in return! And as your faith grows, so has my power! It is time to bring more men and women into our flock, and share our prosperity with them!"

"Rest assured, you, my first and most loyal, shall be treated as befits your new station as senior members of my church!"

"You will go, seek out your neighbors and coworkers, friends and acquaintances! Learn of their problems, physical, financial, or spiritual! Tell them you have what they need! What only I can provide!"

"This town and all the faithful in it shall prosper! And we will drive away the horrid masses of the vile corporation that wants to drive you from your homes and livelihood for their own benefit! We will prove we do not need them! Do not want them! This town is under my protection, and no servants of the Wyrm will harm it while I am here!"

"Go! Spread the word! Grow our flock! It is our time to rise and grow! GO FORTH!" he finishes with a thunderous shout, then fades back into the darkness of the forest, to leave Kurt to end the proceedings and shape their fervor a bit more productively.

@Paris

Not this time ¬_¬, they are taking the book with them unless you do something

@London

Harvey's wits+subterfuge: 6d10 ⇒ (9, 5, 5, 3, 4, 3) = 29

The trick works. Two of the man armed with knives stand and go to the place where the brick fell. The third one stays close de fire waiting.

They look like this

@Germany

What they have to tell other people the Wyrm is?

I will roll for your followers to see what happen
Propaganda: 4d10 ⇒ (4, 7, 5, 1) = 17

two weeks later, kurt informs you that things don't go well. People just don't take them seriously. This needs your (direct or subtle) personal intervention.

Well, my direct or subtle intervention was my goal...they were supposed to find out what problems their neighbors and friends were having, and imply they knew a guy who could help with that problem. Did they get any of that info?

Ok, that part they can do without rolling. So, I guess, I'll give you the lists later.

Somebody's crops are not growing. Somebody's wife is cheating on him with his brother. Somebody is angry because his neighbor's grass is greener...I don't know, lend me a hand on it, there is whatever typical problem you want a farmer to have

How many people should I come up with, and should I just give you my solutions to their problems as I do?

How many people should I come up with, and should I just give you my solutions to their problems as I do?

I don't know. I guess we can roleplay one or two examples, and then we could just make a roll and be done with it.

Well, may as well recycle the ones I wasn't allowed to use before and leave it at that for now: One man's daughter will be bitten by a snake at some point in the near future, and one of my faithful will contact me about it. One woman's husband dies and she can't keep the farm running without him, she doesn't have the knack for it. Combined with your three, that gives us 5 to work with.

Crops not growing: Bhemariel in the early morning, just after they rise to tend the fields, makes one of their plants grow to tremendous height and bear great amount of fruit as a show of his power (Plant Growth Lore). He does not speak a word, and does this from relatively far away, though still within range of sight and not trying to hide. Survival + Stamina, DC 6: 6d10 ⇒ (4, 4, 10, 5, 9, 8) = 40

Wife is cheating on him: Bhemariel sneaks into her lover's house and makes him impotent (Manipulate Nerves Lore). A few days later, he has his followers subtly sow the rumor around.

Stealth: 7d10 ⇒ (7, 2, 1, 1, 10, 5, 4) = 30 Int+Medicine, DC 8: 6d10 ⇒ (10, 1, 6, 7, 9, 10) = 43

Neighbor's Grass is greener: Bhemariel has Kurt simply advise him on methods to maintain a good yard. Not everything needs divine intervention.

Wife can't keep farm running: Bhemariel offers her a Pact. He will enhance her abilities and make her more knowledgeable in both herbalism and finance so their business will prosper (1 Faith Potential converts to 15 Freebie Points to spend on skills for her).

Snakebit daughter: Bhemariel has them bring her into the forest in the company of Kurt, and he will perform an overblown ceremony to purge the poison from her body (Body Control Lore, the ceremony will mask any failures under guise of it just taking a bit to work). Int+Meds, DC 8: 6d10 ⇒ (6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1) = 21

Retry: 6d10 ⇒ (5, 5, 5, 8, 2, 5) = 30

What would be the DC to shoot one of their knives out of his hand?

What would be the DC to shoot one of their knives out of his hand?

uhm, let say 8.

Harvey takes two quick shots at the men in the dark, blasting their knives out of their hands.

Splitting my dice between two shots. With my pistol specialty, each 10 counts as two successes.
Dex+Firearms: 5d10 ⇒ (10, 5, 2, 7, 5) = 29 2 successes
Dex+Firearms: 4d10 ⇒ (7, 9, 1, 10) = 27 2 successes

Then while remaining in the shadows, he speaks to them in the most threatening voice he can muster.

"Evening, gentlemen. I know one of you is Bats, but I don't really care which. You've had a pretty good run, but now your fun is over. So I will give you a choice: Pick up those knives, run in my general direction, and be gunned down before you can even blink. Or put your hands over your heads, kick your knives over to me - that includes you by the fire - and we'll all take a nice quiet walk to the nearest police station. What'll it be?"

Charisma + (non-existent) Intimidation: 3d10 ⇒ (10, 7, 1) = 18

I'm seeing 9 dices rolled, but in your sheet your dex + firearm adds to only 6

Don't I include my 3 points from Celerity?

@Germany

Long lists

1) Success. You are aiding your cause.
2)

Perception: 1d10 ⇒ 2
Success. The woman is thankful to you and the husband don't know what is happening.
3)Kurts: 5d10 ⇒ (4, 1, 7, 8, 10) = 30
Success. The woman is thankful to kurt and wants toknow more about his "teacher?"
4) You have to convince her first about the pact. I guess you can just roll manipulation + something if you want to only use words. Otherwise, an action is needed. - So, I guess we can roleplay this one.

5) DC 8?. You botched since I'm not seeing why the reroll (correct me otherwise).

Really bad failure. The girl lost her leg. The fathers (justly) blames you. The doctors advice the community to not listen to the weird man that live in the forest.

@London

Indeed

The two man quickly comply. Let's roll luck

luck: 2d10 ⇒ (3, 7) = 10

They all surrender. Let's say you have manacles so You won. The man identified as Bats is there

7d10 ⇒ (8, 3, 8, 6, 4, 4, 3) = 36

However, Brats seems quite calm and relaxed. You are suspicious about why and after looking more closely you discover he have a tattoo of the
Brujah symbol. Brats is probably a Ghoul of some brujah.

5) DC 8?. You botched since I'm not seeing why the reroll (correct me otherwise).

Really bad failure. The girl lost her leg. The fathers (justly) blames you. The doctors advice the community to not listen to the weird man that live in the forest.

It's not a re-roll so much as a reTRY. I just spend another Faith and do it again. Unless her leg falls off spontaneously after the first try, the second attempt is a success.

Isaiah briefly considers letting them go to avoid being involved with such highly suspicious people but...

"W-wait! I am a man of many skills, surely there is something I could do for you to earn some time with the book?"

Harvey pulls the ghoul out of earshot from the other men.

"Who's your master?"

So what happens next?

And then Harvey started fighting crime in a black cowl with a wide variety of improbable gadgets. He calls himself...Man-Who-Is-Like-A-Bat!

@ RInjyn

The results of your actions are as described. What do you want to do no?

@ Cube

The man sees you directly at your eyes and laughs at you.

I don't know what are you talking about, pal

@ Scavion

Peut-être, but why are you so interested in this book, monsieur?

Harvey scowls.

"Then where'd you get that tattoo? You and I both know what that symbol is. I'm not just another cop, Bats. Stop lying, or I can make this a hell of a lot worse for you."

Intimidate: 3d10 ⇒ (3, 9, 10) = 22

@England

He is surprised by the tattoo reference

He will try to be a bigger bully than you,
counter-intimidate, DC 7: 3d10 ⇒ (10, 7, 7) = 24-

If you were to know who my master is, you would not even dare to arrest me!, ha!, you have to be a no-one if you don't already know!, heck, keep pushing and you could regret to find it out! -he is somewhat convincing

Uhm, guys?

Sorry, it's been a hectic few weeks.

Damn...what have I gotten myself into?

Harvey puts on a brave face.

"If that's true, then I can't afford to let you go free and rat me out to your boss. I'll have to make sure you aren't a problem for a long time."

He drags Bats back in line with the other two thugs, and points his gun at his back.

"Now get moving. I assume you know the way."

Completely missed you'd posted here. Will get a post up tomorrow, I'll message Scavion too he may not have seen it either.

I guess that means Harvey turn them into the police station. Unless you want to shoot them in the back and disappear their body,
just saying.

They all have criminal records and they are all suspects in several crimes. As your contact told you, Bats should be in Jail. The fact that somebody with his criminal record was free is puzzling. However, this time his luck seems to be over, your client is ready to testify and, when you awake the next day (Another blood point spent), you find that she already identified the three as the aggressors.

Your client leave a phone message for you:I really appreciate your diligent work mister Willinger, the city needs more people like you

There is a second message. Your sire says:Hey Harvey, sorry that I couldn't meet you yesterday, but I'm free today if you want to come to the club.

A third message. Your contact from the police: Willinger, there is Job for you. A painter called Henry Walsh seems to be missing, at least that is what his sister in Liverpool says. She have not been able to
contact him in the past days. But you know how these artist are, it could be just a false alarm. In any case, I left the file under your door.