GM Niles Rippers Campaign

Game Master nilesr

Perhaps I was wrong, maybe Tristan CAN do this dramatic task on his lonesome... weare just waiting on Rasheed now

After exchanging pleasant descriptions and details about Kangra Valley and England's farming grounds with Master Crewe, Rasheed recounts to the sturdy man the tales of his travel from India to the misty Islands.

The sikh spent a good deal of time among the common folk of each and every country, and being a curious man he made a point to learn well... curiosities.

From Prague's most famous drunkard -a jolly good fellow by the name of Anton, which in the end was more of an actor than a drunkard- to the tastiest dish of all France, found on a small village close to the italian border, Rasheed spoke to Crewe about them all.

Common Knowledge: 1d4 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 2
Ace: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Total Dinner Simulator: 1d4 ⇒ 4
And you thought Tristan was going to be the only one carrying this Lodge...: 1d4 ⇒ 1

The Dinner Party Rd:3
Andrej Ten of Spades
Mei Eight of Hearts
Victoria Ten of Diamonds
Rasheed Jack of Diamonds
Tristan Five of Clubs <---(Take an additional -2 this round)
Carl Queen of Clubs <---(Take an additional -2 this round)

Tristan seems to have offended the pair, perhaps the son thinks Tristan has designs on his mother? No matter the slight, Tristan regales the pair with a dashing tale of fighting in the Queen's service. Magnificent, 4 successes

Carl's company still drinks, and still sways, she's made a horrible dinner companion. Carl politely and gentlemanly continues trying to make headway with the old lush, to no avail. No successes, however give yourself a Benny for trying!

Mei tries at conversation again, this time with more success! The pair are enraptured with her talk and ask many questions, Mei answers as best she can! 1 Success

Andrej speaks to the man again and the upper class gentleman finally deigns to speak. It seems he swam at Oxford in a gentleman's league. 1 success! (there were penalties involved)

Victoria's pair of dinner guests seem to have made bad company. However, when Victoria begins speaking about Law, she gets the elder Duststone's attention. He listens intently, asking a few polite questions. 1 success (there was a bonus, and a small penalty)

Rasheed and Charles Crewe continue speaking about the mundane, and Rasheed has a great conversation with the man. 3 successes, awesome work!

Lodge Total Successes Round 1: 5
Lodge Total Successes Round 2: 5
Lodge Total Successes Round 3: 10
Dinner Party Successes 20!!!! Excellent work!
Your new Lodge will begin with 1 extra lodge point. Each person gets 1XP. AAAAAND Tristan made a contact with Gwendolyn Roberson. I've added her to the Dramatis Personae in the campaign link.

The polite conversation of the Dinner Party ebbs, and now the Rippers find themselves able to move about the room. They notice that during the party both Nathaniel and Angelina were conspicuously absent. Now, the doors have opened to admit both of the Thorntons.

Angelina is holding "court" on one side of the room, surrounded by the ladies of Staith who are all gossiping fiercely, the way only Victorian era women could.

Nathaniel for his part is making his way around the room, thanking each guest.

Notice: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Carl is almost visibly relieved to be free from attempting to make conversation with a drunk. He finishes his own glass, still his first, in one go and absently wipes his mouth one last time before the guests begin to mingle again. Rather at a loss for what to do, he is rather thankful to see the Thorntons finally arrive. "Arriving late to one's own party? And I was worried about my manners." He wonders for a moment what they might have been doing, but considering what they believe the countess to be, he'd rather not think too deeply. "A man controlled through his desires. Dr. Freud would have a field day..."

Notice: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Tristan gracefully finishes his conversation with the Robersons, thanking them again for their chatter and mentioning how he would of course love to see them again--perhaps some time for tea, or a day out on the town. When the Thorntons arrive, he claps his hands once and beams, and as the company begins to mingle, he stands slightly apart, waiting for the man to come close.

"Ahh, Nathaniel. Delighted to see you, boy, and delighted to be here, at such a wonderful party. I can't say how happy I am to be here tonight. Great things afoot and all, what?" He grins and embraces the young man. "Say, some time a little later on, my associates and I shall join you in the study so we can seal these papers and put the whole business to rest, hmm? And perhaps I can make you a business proposition, now that you're coming into the family fortune!" Tristan chuckles and cocks his head to the side. "What do you say, in a little while, we'll make our way there?"

Persuasion if Needed: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Wild: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Notice: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1 wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

At last, that was over. And ti seemed that their guests of honor have finally arrived. She thumbs over her purse's clasp, in anticipation of the coming fight. She thanks her dinner companion for her company, and meanders her way closer Tristan has situated himself, largely keeping to herself unless someone approaches.

Hey, a success is a success. Memo to self: invest a point or two in Persuasion.

The Russian's breath catches as the pair enters. He intercepts the closest of his fellows and murmurs, "He is looking tired...I am fearing she already is draining him."

Notice: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"Wait, look at that," Victoria says, gesturing subtly to Nathaniel's neck. "He's got blood on his collar. It's not much, but there's a few splotches. Either the Countess is a vampire after all, or Nathaniel is far worse along than we thought. Either way... she's just fed off of him again. We need to deal with her, and quickly, before he's a lifeless husk."

Notice: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Gonna try for a raise.

Notice: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Notice; Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Wild; Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Total of 11.

Got it!

With that extra exp point I finally get to 10 exp! Gotta pump up Smart to d6.

Listening to his partners, Rasheed puts a serious face "We are mostly unarmed and the guests make this task of us... difficult to say the least. We must tread carefully. Maybe Tristan manages a private meeting..." he whispers.

Nathaniel nods at Tristan, Of course, of course. Thank you. the man seems dazed I'll have Bernard prepare the room.

Anything else before we move on to the study?

Nothing here.

I don't think so, no.

I'm good to move forward. Let's kill a demon, lads and lasses.

Let's put the countess down

Let's get on with the main course, shall we?

It won't be that easy, of course.

Sorry for the delay, had drill this weekend.

Nathaniel walks over and speaks with Bernard, the main Butler, and the man gives Tristan a once over before bustling off to prepare the study.

The rest of the dinner party consists of normal banalities, but eventually the guests begin leaving. Once the number of guests has dwindled down to about 20, Nathaniel invites Tristan to sign the papers.

"Of course. My companions and I shall be along presently, to sign and witness the papers, of course, and then to my own proposal for you, so to speak. Not that I'd press you into anything you've no desire for, though, my lad." Tristan smiles and taps his cane, and gestures toward the study. "Shall we?"

Nathaniel nods and gestures to Bernard Bernard will show you to the Study. I'll be up shortly, Lord Himmelweiss is in his cups...a delicate hand is needed to see him off. and indeed, some German functionary is inebriated and tottering around.

"I assume you have a plan?" Victoria asks Tristan, as she approaches him. She looks at Nathaniel leaving to deal with the drunken fellow, and shakes her head. "Are we going to lock him in the study, and keep him away while we deal with the Countess? Or are we luring her there as well? It might be dangerous to have him around when we deal with her; I don't want to have to hurt him because he's under her thrall. I promised Carolina I'd figure this out, but it won't do much good if I've got to hurt the poor fool to do it."

Mei gives a subtle nod, in agreement with Victoria's suggestion.

"I think we'll have to face them together, assuming she comes along to the parlor as I expect. I agree that we shouldn't harm young Nathaniel, it isn't his fault he's had his mind assaulted by a fiendish, well, fiend--perhaps someone might restrain him, maybe Mister Jung, with his particular skills?" Tristan pats the dagger in his pocket and taps his cane on the floor, and Ajax lopes over from where he was lying down elsewhere in the room. "Bernard, my good man, we're ready when you are!" Tristan smiles broadly at the manservant and gestures for him to lead the way to the study.

"Lord Tristan, I am thinking that necklace she wears is perhaps being important. She is wearing it in picture, and again now. Surely she grows tired of it after so long, yes?" The Russian shrugs. "I am not knowing what to do about necklace, though."

ETA: Hey, this is my 24,000th post to the boards! Of course, if Loup Blanc writes like Tristan in his other games he's probably surpassed me in total text....

"The necklace? If one of you could distract her, I'm sure I could do something about that..." Victoria says with a grin, twiddling her fingers. "You learn a thing or two, growing up on the streets of London. Just get her to keep her eyes off me and I'll have that thing in hand in no time. Think you all can manage that?"

Oh, trust me. He writes *plenty*.

"I believe I can keep him from interfering. Clouding the mind isn't much of a challenge, and if his will is already compromised, it will be even easier. The trickier part will be keeping the countess from tearing my throat out when she realizes what I'm doing." Though he is unarmed, Carl doesn't look terribly nervous, absently checking his pocket watch.

You have absolutely no idea...

Congrats, man! I still have a long ways to go before I get anywhere close to catching up to either post or word count.

She draws her fan from her purse, and absently fans her self as she consider's Victoria's proposed ploy. "It is possible I could distract her with another wonder of mine, draw her attention in. But after the last display which... outed her characteristics, though she hopefully does not realize that, I imagine the countess would be less then pleased with what I have to show. Though perhaps I can lull her into a daze by elaborating on my theories... I've noticed that rambling about something one doesn't understand for sufficient amounts of time tends to have an averse affect on one's sense of spatial awareness."

In a voice which resembles a whisper directed to his fellow rippers, Raaheed speaks "If we are to trust legends, her kin -be it nightspawns or demonic- is intelligent and manipulative..." the sikh smiles to Mei "If you can distract and enrage her, she won't be able to outsmart us. But I fear I have no weapons... that oily fellow took my sword cane and dagger, I could only keep a small throwing knife. That's not to say I am helpless, the Light accompanies me, but I won't be able to face her in close combat."

Bernard leads the six of you down several hallways into the interior of the house, far from the Guest Hall.

The Butler opens a spacious study, its a large room, possibly 30' by 40' and has the personal library of the Thorton men inside it.

On a nearby table is laid a set of glasses and a bottle of sherry. Bernard says Would anyone care for a drink before the Master comes up?

Gee, thanks, guys.

"All good ideas," Tristan whispers back to his comrades. "I fear distractions will not last long, and an outright melee will be required, but retrieving the necklace should be considered a priority. We don't know what it does, but it does seem important, you know."

In the study, Tristan approaches the table with Ajax at his side, and smiles to Bernard. "A capital idea, fellow, but I for one am quite content for now. If you might pour some drinks in preparation for celebrations after our business here, though?"

That is, if he wants to pour out some drinks that's fine, but Tristan isn't drinking anything just now, and he isn't about to suggest the others do, either.

With a wistful glance at the bottle, Andrej shakes his head. "You are being right, Lord Tristan. Time for drinking after inking, da!"

Before entering the room, the Russian murmurs to Rasheed, "I still have dagger and gun--if things go bad, I give you dagger."

"No, I'm alright, thank you," she says, glad the others seem to be rejecting the drinks as well. Even if the drinks hadn't been tampered with, which she wasn't sure of, it would't be smart to be on her way to getting drunk before fighting a demon. "I'd much rather just finish all this business with signing over the estate to Nathaniel, and perhaps celebrate after. I know he and the Countess are... dying to see it done as well."

Bernard sniffs at the rudeness of the guests and says You will wait here. I will go and fetch the Master.

And he leaves the room. The room falls silent with only the Rippers and a full bottle of sherry

I just need to know if everyone stays in the room, or does anyone leave and take this opportunity to go sneak around the house? I'll give everyone until tonight to decide

At least it wasn't a cask of Amontillado.

Andrej is perfectly willing to wait.

Okay, I gave you guys some time...

Several minutes pass by and there are noises in the hall

I'll give you guys until Monday to all check in, then I'll move on from there. The map labeled "Rippers" is a map for you to reference

Notice: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 1

"Wunderbar. That is far too many footsteps for one man. It seems that the Countess has decided that we're a problem."

notice: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1
wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (6) - 2 = 4
Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Mei quickly draws her plasma gun from her purse, silently glad that she refused to bend to social convention.

Notice: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Aces: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Bionic Ears: 1d6 ⇒ 5 Total 17 for no reason at all
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"I say, do you hear something?" Tristan cocks his head and draws the dagger from its sheath, holding it in his off hand with his sword cane in the other. "Ready yourselves, everyone--I fear we've overplayed our hand."

Andrej nods, drawing a dagger from a sheath at his ankle, and a derringer from his tailcoat. He looks around quickly, sizing up the tactical situation.

Knowledge (squad tactics): 1d4 ⇒ 4
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Boom!: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Total 6 on check.

"That thrice damned Countess has set us up for an ambush..."comments the sikh before looking around the room for anything that could be usable as a weapon: a fireplace's poker, a lamp he could grab as an improvised staff...

I swear it hadn't ouccured to me I could try this until now.

Notice: 1d4 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 6
Wow, Acey Dubs: 1d4 ⇒ 11d6 ⇒ 2

If no such item can be found, Rasheed draws his throwing knife with his left hand while he starts chanting. Semi visible golden light engulfs his right hand.

Failing the improvised weappn thing, I will resort to Bolts until I can grab a weapon from the attackers.

Actually...

Seeing Rasheed looking about for a weapon, Tristan calls his name and tosses him the cold iron dagger. "Better we're all equipped for the fight in some way. You go for the countess--we'll strike her accursed servants." So saying, he adopts a stance reminiscent of fencing and raises his sword cane, albeit still sheathed. "I dare say this will be the most fun I've had in years."

The Thornton Study!

Footsteps sound in the hall alerting our heroes

Carl looks up, surprised at this turn of events
Mei reaches for her gadget, a rational thing to do in this instance
Tristan raises his sword cane and draws his dagger no tossing yet sorry, you only get one action
Andrej sizes up the situation good thinking with the Knowledge roll, I'll draw 2 cards for your init and take the higher and draws his knife same as Tristan, only one action
Rasheed looks around for a weapon, and there are several things that might serve as improvised weapons stats are Small Weapons: Range 3/6/12, Damage Str+d4, RoF 1, Min Str d4, –1 attack and Parry
Victoria is too distracted to move or take action.

Round 1 initiative
Carl Nine of Diamonds
Mei King of Clubs
Tristan Seven of Diamonds
Andrej Jack of Clubs
Andrej Nine of Spades
Rasheed Five of Diamonds
Victoria Five of Spades
Bad Guys Eight of Clubs

Round 1
Mei
Andrej
Carl
Bad Guys
Tristan
Victoria
Rasheed

Mei, Andrej and Carl are up. You may take your full rounds worth of actions. Currently the door is closed.

Not knowing who is out in the hall and how they might be armed, Carl decides that discretion is the better part of valor and moves to put the table between himself and the door. He then waits for the door to open and their foes to reveal themselves.

Andrej moves to position himself next to the door, ready to attack the first one through.

I don't know if he'll have a chance to roll; just in case:

Fighting roll: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Wild die: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Mei remains where she is positioned, her gadget at the ready.

Hold action, if they barge in, I'll attempt to interrupt their action and take my own.

Okay, in the future, if you want to interrupt please take your actions and make your rolls so we aren't waiting on your interrupt once I've moved on in initiative. You can use if/then statements if you'd like to qualify actions ex: If the bad guys charge in with guns I do X, if they do Y instead I do Z. This makes combat go much smoother...

Round 1
Mei holds
Andrej holds
Carl holds
Bad Guys throw open the door. You can see several dirty men carrying clubs and nets. Two of them attempt to enter... Okay, if you want to interrupt you can try now.
Tristan
Victoria
Rasheed

Waiting on Mei, Andrej and Carl to interrupt if they want to.

Gotcha! Will do, in the future.

Agility: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Bolt One: K6
Shooting: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Potential Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

Bolt Two: J6
Shooting: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Potential Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11
Aced Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Mei attempts to fire bolts off before they get inside proper, but she might be too slow on the draw! Her shots as well seem to go wide, striking the metal fixtures on the wall beside them- One to almost devastating effect. She curses loudly in her own language about her bad luck, vowing to not miss next time.

Andrej takes an underhand stab at the first one through the door using the rolls above. "I, zhupa!"

Carl focuses his mind on the first man to burst in to the room. "My, that looks heavy. It must make you so tired..." He absently spins his pocket watch, invisible waves of psychic energy attacking the man's consciousness.

Psionics: 1d8 ⇒ 4
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Confusion on the first man in to the room, or the second if he goes down before my action. He needs to make a Smarts roll at -2 or be shaken.

In Savage Worlds its an opposed agility roll to interrupt with a tie going to the defender.
Carl: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 3
Andrej: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + (4) = 11 7
Bad Guys: 1d6 ⇒ 2 2

Fortunately, all of you roll higher than a 2... so Also, these guys are Parry 5 Toughness 6 if you want to make assumptions about hits/damage.

Round 1
Mei holds
Andrej holds
Carl holds
Bad Guys throw open the door. You can see several dirty men carrying clubs and nets. Two of them attempt to enter...
Andrej stabs one 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (5) + (4) = 9 scoring a minor hit (shaken)
Mei fires her plasma pistol Mei, how loud is it? and two plasma bolts scorch holes in some expensive wallpaper.
Carl attempts to confuse an attacker 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1 the man stands there blinking
Two Hired Thugs enter the room and begin whaling on Andrej with truncheons 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 and 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 however, Andrej manages to defend himself and keep the clubs at bay.
Another Hired Thug hurls a net at Rasheed 1d6 ⇒ 2 missing the man badly.
Unshake1: 1d6 ⇒ 6 The Thug that Andrej wounded recovers and tries to bash Andrej in the face 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 the Truncheon connects 1d6 + 1d4 ⇒ (6) + (1) = 7 and 1d6 ⇒ 4 Andrej takes a WOUND and is shaken!
Unshake2: 1d6 ⇒ 2 the Thug confused by Carl remains so...
Tristan
Victoria
Rasheed

Round 2
Rasheed
Andrej
Victoria
Tristan
Carl
Bad Guys
Mei

Tristan, Victoria and Rasheed have two rounds worth of actions. Andrej and Carl have one round. These poor guys are about to be clobbered. (Parry 5 Tough 6)

Round 2 Init Draw
Carl Five of Hearts
Mei Two of Clubs
Tristan Six of Spades
Andrej Jack of Diamonds
Rasheed Ace of Hearts
Victoria Seven of Spades
Bad Guys Three of Clubs (Poop)

Ever seen warehouse 13? I imagine it to be about as loud as their tesla guns.