After Dark (Inactive)

Game Master rando1000

Starsoul's eyes shoot open as Jerry's aura at last becomes visible to him. "Our guy's aura is a bit of a puzzle: he's a free spirit with a dark side to him. Frightened, confused, a little entertained. If we let him go, there's no telling what he might do."

He unfurls himself from his seated position before continuing. "Also, there's something I should tell you all something important once it's safe to speak freely."

I think this is Starsoul's last post, for reference

Valda looked at Maria. "Well, it would probably work on me. But she's talking about magic again, Dave, a little spell that makes people friendly...for a while. I've read about it, but it's not one of the ones I can use."

"Yes, I was trying to be subtle without blowing their minds too much more today." she says with a smirk.

"I don't think Dave does subtle well," Valda replied with a shrug.

Starsoul's last post was a week ago. I don't think we can hold up gameplay waiting for that.
I'm all for moving things along. In these investigation-heavy games, it's too easy to either miss a point of action, or simply not request to do a thing, since the objective is too subtle to be grasped by all, and it's easy for pacing to atrophy. I think we've been taking Joey's lead mostly, though, so I'm fine with whatever his call is.

Isagoras nods at the implied suggestion that they simply use Enchantment magic on the erstwhile villain. "Indeed, Lady Maria, that would cut to the quick of the matter, could we but entice him to cleave unto us with the use of Mana most virile! Indeed, the most basest motivations are oft the most potent."

Dave's overall disposition seems to darken in Valda's direction.

Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Or does he?

She raises an eyebrow at Isagoras. "Something like that, yeah... we all ready to go?"

She heads to her Cobra and hops in.

Jerry knows the Captain's home address, he can take you there now, or you can try to talk to him tomorrow at the precinct. Either way, Jerry thinks it best he stay hidden; if the Captain sees him, he may bolt.

Let me know how you'd like to proceed from here.

Isagoras raises an eyebrow at Jerry. "Any public-institution based lines of action are doomed to failure, and, most likely, our deaths, were we to walk into the nest of vipers.
Beseems an inquiry at his abode would prove most effective. But caution must be taken. Methinks 'twould be meat to treat this resource as hostile, for an' we give him but chance, he would call the whole of his forces down upon us once 'tis let known that we are on to his game. Mayhap a forcible entry by stealth followed by immobilization is called for?"

Sorry! I was at my friend's house for the weekend and he doesn't have wifi :P I'm back now to throw Joey opinion around

"Isagoras is right.. If we go for a direct and frontal interrogation, there's no doubt we'll have a long and arduous fight on our hands - likely ending up with us 'disappearing.' However, I like Maria's idea combined with Izzy Puzzle-tongue over here. Maria can use her brujeria to get this corrupt cop distracted enough and we can sneak in for our own investigation - that sounds like something more my style! No doubt he'll be confused by her sudden appearance, but if her magic works as it should then his logic should fly out the door, right? And you can always feign the 'damsel with car trouble' bit or something to draw him away from his abode for a little bit so we can sneak in and try and find something to give us some damn-solid answers about their little game."

With a smirk, Joey nods as he thinks more about this plan, continuing with, "Ave Maria! I like how you think! Can't wait to see how your brujeria and scheming works this guy over! This will likely be our best bet for something solid - sneaking into the belly of the beast; you ready to shine, D-ski?"

Looking to his friend, he flicks a thumbs up hoping that Dave is on board for getting to sneak around an important public figure's home before lighting a cigarette and slipping back to his car, ready to head out.

When Starsoul returns we can just assume that it took that long for him to feel that Jerry was at a comfortable range for him to spill the proverbial beans :P

"Sounds like a plan to me J-man. It's kinda my main thing," 'mostly.' "Won't even need to bring in a flashlight if it's just myself."

"Oh yeah, that's a good idea. I know enough about engines to fake a break down and then fix it myself, and then what straight man won't bend over backwards for a pretty girl with a classic Mustang?"

I am remembering right that you said cars fall under Engineering right?

Okay just double checked, and yeah Disable Device or Knowledge Engineering.

"Sounds like a date then! Jerr-bear can lead us to the address and duck down in the car so he's not spotted and we'll see if Dave wants any help or not when we get there. Maria's gonna get Captain Cupcake's attention, and the rest of will be on point and look-out if anything goes. Ready to head out whenever you guys are!"

Adjusting himself in the seat of his car, Joey looks at the interior to his less-than-spectacular gray Buick and sighs as he thinks to himself, Damn.. That is a fine-ass Mustang she's got.. Maybe I need to upgrade sometime. But I guess it doesn't matter since I'm not a pretty girl anyway.

Waving towards the others, he awaits their signal before they set out.

Dave get's into his rather plain car once again, and instructs whoever his carpoolers to keep their hands to themselves and try not to dirty anything up. He just had the whole thing washed.

Valda followed along, once again thinking they needed to organize split routes and meeting points to avoid looking like a convoy.

Isagoras thought it easier to leave his own car behind and carpool with Joey, so he does so now.

Clever Valda.. we'll have to incorporate that xD It would look rather odd seeing a small gang of cars arriving and leaving everywhere together to anyone that was on the look out because of their involvement in something illicit.

As Isagoras and Joey sat in the car together, he took the opportunity to ask about how the wizard was able to get in contact with him in the beginning.

"So who did give you my cellphone number? I only give this number out to trusted contacts, so it must've been someone I know, and I don't think it was Dave given his reaction to you showing up. And what got you interested in these arsons anyhow?"

Flicking his ashes out through his window he takes another drag from his cigarette before exhaling the smoke towards the side, as to be polite and not blow it in Isagoras' face.

At some earlier point when Officer Jerry was out of earshot, Starsoul confided in the others that the Universe sent him a vision: the night that Lora Mitchel died, a single, solitary figure entered her hotel room using either a key or by picking the lock. Either way, there was no indication of forced entry.

Driving back with Dave, Starsoul makes a game of keeping his soiled bare feet off the ground for as long as he can.

The group converges on the good Captain's residence. I'm retconning a previous statement that he lives in Old City. Captain Minarik's residence is in Northside Trails, on the other side of Midlands. At this time of night the trip takes only a few minutes.

One might expect a single man to live in a more vibrant area. Northside Trails is similar in feel to Pueblo Norte, except older and more sparsely populated. In fact, the area that Captain Minarik lives in is downright creepy. The "neighborhood", consisting of five or six small homes and a permanently parked trailer ends in a circle drive. One of the houses has an obviously illicit party of some sort going on, so your vehicles' arrival doesn't draw that much attention.

The Captain's house is a non-descript ranch. The air conditioning unit on the side is popped open and wires are strewn about; a couple window units have taken its place.

Isagoras answers Joey's inquiry. "I can not answer your inquiry, save to say that you have worked with another in the past and have been found trustworthy. I can not tell you more unless I receive further orders."

At the house, he speaks up again. "The plan here is clear. One of us can open the window, while two others hold the AC unit so it does not fall, and gently lower it to the ground. Then we can rapidly make entry and take him hostage. Then Maria can enslave his mind and make him happily tell us his life's story.

What? Wasn't that the plan?"

Isagoras answers Joey's inquiry. "I can not answer your inquiry,"

Brilliant

"The plan here is clear. One of us can open the window, while two others hold the AC unit so it does not fall, and gently lower it to the ground. Then we can rapidly make entry and take him hostage.

Nice. I just put that there to make the place look more run-down. Excellent suggestion on use of environment, even if you don't end up going that route.

"Seems like a solid idea." Valda glanced around. "OK, which of you folks have the biggest muscles. 'Not it', by the way." Raw strength was not Valda's speciality.

"I'm gonna take a big "Hell no" there. And Gramps dosn't look up to the job either. Really though, I'm sure just distracting the guy and then sneaking in to have a look around was a solid plan already."

"I still think charming him is the best route. I can knock on the door, ask for 'help with my Cobra... I think my papi told me it's from 1967?' Then as we are walking to my car, charm him. Then we can talk to him and if we need to... I can always put him to sleep and we can tie him up." she says, her inflection when talking about her car suggesting she has no idea what she's talking about.

Laughing a bit by Isagoras' suggestion, Joey chimes, "Yeah, maybe that could work if any of us were buff, celestial monks or something! Let's see if Mari can get this crooked bastard out on her own first, then Davey-cakes can just sneak in the front door. If he needs a quick exit, we can certainly try to hoist the unit down for him though."

Glancing between his friends and the abode of the captain, Joey nods his head and stamps out his cigarette. "You guys ready? We'll get into position when Maria gives us the go-ahead."

Characters are in position.

Maria knocks on door. It takes a few tries. There's no response, and you're about to give up, when the door slowly opens partially, a chain still separating Maria from the Captain. "'nye help you?" the man asks groggily.

Sense Motive or Perception from Maria ONLY

This is how I imagine our current set-up, but feel free to adjust where you want your character's to be if you don't like this :P
.
.
.
.
.
_|__________________|_
J|__________________|IS
D|__________________|V
_|________C_______|
___________=_________
___________M_________

Only thing I would say is that the front of the house is flush the entire length (sorry I didn't describe that better), so there's nowhere for V and D to hide exactly where you placed them. They have to move either around the side or behind cars in the front, or something similar.

Lol Ahhhhh, so it's one of them types of houses. I'll make the adjustment :P

Call it this...

Image

Broken air unit is on the right side of the house, in-window unit is on the 1st left window.

Okay, I was confused, but it looks like Joey edited his map after the clarification, so I think we're good now.

Dave stands by, waiting for a sign to go on ahead.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Could be worse...

Maria notices nothing unusual as she gives her story.

'Can you help with my Cobra...I think my papi told me it's from 1967?'

The man grumbles a bit, and then opens the door, pulling on a T-shirt and following Maria toward the car.

When they get to the car, Maria pops the hood then walks back around to the front of the car.

I was going to say she did some minor easy for her to fix sabotage, but as I didn't say that at first and don't know what she could possibly do myself, I'll just forget that and use the 'car broke down' scene from B#+!% Slap as inspiration hehe

The Captain leans under the hood of the car and gives it a cursory inspection. Poking around a bit, he says "here's your problem..."

Maria's Sense Motive:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

He's about to do something here. If Maria wants to add an Action Point to her (failed) Sense Motive roll above, roll 1d6. I'm not going to tell you the DC, but you *could* make it by adding 1d6.

Otherwise, he will get a surprise action.

The Captain leans under the hood of the car and gives it a cursory inspection. Poking around a bit, he says "here's your problem..."

Maria's Sense Motive:1d20+5

He's about to do something here. If Maria wants to add an Action Point to her (failed) Sense Motive roll above, roll 1d6. I'm not going to tell you the DC, but you *could* make it by adding 1d6.

Otherwise, he will get a surprise action.

Action die: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Oooh, good thing I didn't go ahead and sabotage it myself...

I was confused making the map myself too! XD

Watching on, Joey begins chewing his lip in anticipation of what's going to happen as he tries to be ready for any hostility.

Isagoras waits, wondering she hasn't enthralled him already. Had he been a sexy female, his first words would've been 'Hi it seems my car Charm Person!' but, alas, we all have our roles to play, all the world's a stage....

Isagoras' post was made by an imposter; we all know he would've said something more along the lines of, "Hail, bachelor of significant intrest! Do'eth thou hast the mechanical prowess of - CHARM PERSON!!" His sentences are never that short! O:< Like coment and susbcribe 4 mor prof.

Yeah, my thought was to charm him as he was looking at the engine, that way even if he realized 'omg she's casting Charm on me!" he'd still have to turn around, so she would be able to finish the spell.

I'm curious to see what this fiend is up to.. It's very intriguing that he'd start sabotaging her without being provoked (assuming that's what he's doing). Truly an evil man, it seems!

Maria realizes he's about to cast Sleep. Roll initiative. Everyone can roll, but Maria and Captain M act before everyone else this round only.

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Unbeknownst as to what the captain is trying to do, Joey sits watching on, prepared for anything and reminding himself, No guns, Joey.. Don't need unnecessary attention. Eyes and ears.. Don't let him harm Mari..

init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

"This is taking too long Joseph, I think something's wrong."

Initative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

In interest of getting the initial round set up:
Maria
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Captain
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

So Maria has initiative, then the Captain, followed by others in order. If anyone beats the above 2, they will go in proper order starting the 2nd round.

Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Whispering back to his companion, Joey begins worrying too as he watches the two.

"Be prepared for the worst, D-man.. I just hope our plan works."

At least Maria scored higher than the Captain (even though it was BY 1 xD) Maybe her spell will work against him hopefully.. if not, I'll love watching Dave jump in - Joey will just have to rely on his b$!~! slaps for now xD