I'll go for a feeding roll after I get Phillip at least introduced to his soon-to-be friends. I anticipate Manipulation + Subterfuge + Lying Specialization: He entices prostitutes with money from an unimposing middle-management guy and proves surprisingly "rough" for such a shabby little man.
|
Can you all tell me where your characters (un)live again? I can assign it a location if you don't know WHERE it is, but describe it to me.
Remember, without ranks in Haven, it can't be that great, in fact, my rule is that without the haven merit, your character has to do a safety check every night; you don't have to type it out each time, but tell me what your character does this time. You could even post this info in gameplay.
Also, I'm going to assume you don't need me unless it is stupid obvious or you post at the bottom what you need from me; does this work for you guys?
Honestly, I'm thinking of throwing my own hat into the ring; I haven't made a DM PC in over ten years (I find it to be bad form), and I won't if any of you object, but I'd love to play! How odd is that?
Basement, 1br apartment. Decent door, locks, pretty secure but by no means nice. Lives a couple blocks off of main street. I've got Haven single-dotted, as having a secure, dirt-filled bedroom is important to him.
I have no problem with you playing a char. This seems as driven by us as by you, so why the hell not?
And yes, that works for me. I'll have questions. Quite a few of them. :)
Richard shares a modest house in a quiet neighborhood with his bodyguard Iranis. The ground floor has Iranis's bedroom and a livingroom separated from the small kitchen by a countertop, Richard's bedroom is upstairs. There is a realistic mannequin in the bed that looks like Richard- he actually sleeps in a secret compartment under the bed in the interstital space between the floors. The windows are shuttered and rarely opened, with those in Richard's bedroom painted over and boarded up on the inside.
I'm also fine with you running a character. I'll make sure to use ooc tags at the bottom of my posts if I need GM attention.
At present, Phillip in in a small 1-room apartment in a less-than-good part of town. It's not quite to the point of having to step over people to get in, but it also hasn't had the decor updated since the 70's. The apartment is on an interior hallway (no windows) and has two working lights, which Phillip rarely turns on. The furniture is late-model Goodwill, with a television and a radio. He has no phone other than his cell.
When he goes out at night, Phillip wedges a small piece of wood, about the size of a match, in the door near ankle level. It is his indicator if the door has been opened since he left.
I'll make it 3 for 3 in being fine with a GMPC.
|
|
My only problem with where you live Phillip is that there would not be a place to live in that the decor hasn't been updated since the 70's. While there is an 'old quarter' it is mainly populated by college students, and it's decor hasn't been updated since the 70's as well...the 1870's, that is. However, the poor parts of town do have residential places as you described, and they are crumbling, but that is because the business that builds and owns that section, Barkovia Industries, hasn't bothered making the buildings to code, knowing that no one will bother to investigate them. While you would normally be stepping over bodies in those places, you could be in a sort of 'vamp friendly' complex, and the druggy who passes out in the hallway, well, no one misses him. I'd say Phillip knows well to leave the rarely spotted 'user' alone, considering that he lived through the AIDs epidemic of the 80's.
I'm going to make a Malkavian who looks quite a lot like the younger Roger Daltrey of The Who and Tommy, and was indeed embraced in the 70's. However, I'd love to fill a niche, and wondered what you'd like him to be good at otherwise. He'd have been in the city since the 70's, so he knows quite a bit, and I would happily let him be your guide to Pendros.
I'm *finally* back home. My computer died on the last leg of my trip and I had to get a replacement. Now everything's set up and I'm catching up on my PbP games...
@G85: Have you decided on a profession for your character? He could teach painting with night classes at the local university, if he's not a full-time artist. A dot in status (professor) could come in handy. Also the 3 dots in streetwise make me think he might have some interesting connections...
|
|
He is, sadly, more in tune with his requiem and not his masquerade. He mainly bums about the University of Pendros though, so I think I can manage a few dots in Status (University of Pendros). I almost made his masquerade druggy.
Also...Pendros. It's at the top of the page.
Pronounced: PEND (like pending) ROS (like gross). The natives to the city pronounce it with a hispanic accent.
Where are we at? Waiting for Phillip and Richard to have their get together?
I’m sorry for the delays – I got pulled into writing a campaign this weekend and it has eaten all of my gaming time and gaming brain. I’ll try and get back on the stick tomorrow. My apologies to all.
No worries, I'm not in a hurry, just wondering what the next step was. :)
Tried to find the time today and could not - I think I'm going to have to drop out. I'm really sorry but I'm trying to to keep too many things in the air at once. Best of luck to you all.
No worries. Good luck with your other games.
Well? We rock it with our menage a trios?
Hah. I fired the song up on my phone and my fiancee asked, 'what the hell is that?'
Response coming tomorrow. Long day at work. And as for any delay due to migraines, no need to justify it to us, just feel better.
A little nervous, and a lot annoyed at not having all the facts, he looks at the 3rd person sitting at the bar, before speaking.
:D
Random question:
The Cherry Blossom Temple*: Built upon a hill and covered in Bing Cherry Trees, this temple is Shinto/Buddist/Taiost...well, no one really knows what it is, but it seems vaguely Asian...anyways, as long as their humanity stays at a 7 or higher, Kindred can enter, use the Dojo, seek enlightenment with the monks, or just walk the grounds; heck, they have plenty of places to sit as well. A favorite picnic spot; watch out though! The head monk loves spraying down couples making out on the grounds. Rumor has it that Ordo Dracul works out of the Temple, but who knows?
What happens to vampires with lower humanity?
|
|
Sam is a Changeling hacker who spends her time hidden away from the public eye; Richard is actually unsure if she is truly a Changeling, as he has never met her in person. Sam makes a living as a data miner, and even though Richard isn’t her only client, she’s said he is her only ‘special’ customer. In addition, she’s hinted at being able to ‘hack’ people’s minds and even their dreams. Richard hasn’t yet called upon this particular service, as it sounds like it would be a ‘one-time’ deal. They ‘met’ after she hacked his computers and offered her services to him.
Computers 9 Dice, Streetwise [Technological Black market] 10 Dice
Thanks for the info about Sam, I'll add it to my profile!
Nice, I loved the prophecy!
I think he achieved...oh, what's the word the old one's threw about back in the 90's...Gholliconda? Jullconda? It was something guh sounding conda...
A reference to VtM, or am I reading too much into it?
|
|
Yeah, it was a reference to Masquerade. I like to think that in my game, the fundamental meta-plot in Masquerade was all fictional, and that when the time of judgement came, it was because some elders were manipulating everything, just to make it true, but a team of vampires stopped it, and that was that, eternity just kept on going. Not everything in Masquerade happened of course.
|
|
After reading this, I am adding a few more Masquerades and Requiems, and the requiems now have two disciplines to choose from (the choice is permanent), so if you'd like to change your choice with these new options, you can do so now. I'm not adding all of the options listed in the post, and I'm changing some of the names.
I never got around to detailing Richards shotguns... one that may be significant in an upcoming scene is a short barrel 20-gauge with a pistol grip, probably something like a modified Remington 870. The stats for a generic 20-gauge pump action shotgun, chambered for 20-gauge and fitted with a pistol grip are:
Damage: 3 (9 again)
Range: 10/20/50
Capacity: 4+1
Strength: 3
Size: 2/L
...does that look OK?
|
|
So I've been working on what I like to call:
Every Vampire in Pendros
It's a list of, well, every Vampire in Pendros, and some of that stats (Blood Potency, Masquerade, Requiem, etc.)
I've been, this whole time, trying to pinpoint Thomas's sire, and why he was sired; I finally did so today! Yippie!
Also, Richard, do you have anything you want to tell me about Nelson Hanford? He's further down my list than where I thought he'd be, so each time I come across a Ventrue on my list, I scroll down even further to where he is, and bam! He has a new Childer. He is now responsible for 5 of Pendros's vampires.
Also, since Richard has been around for awhile, do you want to say he's sired one or two Childer?
------
Also Richard, I will soon have a write up on your last retainer, Iranis, because she's going to show up soon...
I hadn't imagined Hanford living in Pendros; he seemed more the sort who would be in New York or DC rubbing shoulders with the elite instead of putting up with someone like Sasha. I don't know if the state Pendros is in was mentioned, but I can see Hanford living in Pendros to look after his extensive real estate holdings and schmooze with the governor. He was a cattle baron who came to prominence after buying up a lot of ranch land from families who fell into poverty after the civil war. I had just watched Cowboys & Aliens, so I imagined him a bit like Harrison Ford's character from that movie...
I think Richard would have sired another vampire at some point, probably 30 years ago or so after he came out of torpor and he needed someone to introduce him to the modern world. Deelia Flores was a patron of the arts who was always crusading for some cause or another- putting on charity balls to sponsor orphans in Chile, sponsoring a grad student for a tour of European museums, that sort of thing. She was his friend in the 70s, and she was still doing much the same thing when he looked her up in the 90s. By that time she was a well-to-do dowager in her 60s, and when Richard offered her a deal that would let her live for ever she jumped at the chance.
I'm looking forward to meeting Iranis, I keep trying to figure out what she's like and what their relationship is based on the blurb you gave...
There haven't been many opportunities for Richard to indulge either his avarice or his better nature, and he hasn't had to make any particular sacrifices to ensure his survival or accomplish any dramatic tasks to secure his fame so I think the 3XP will stand for now.
|
|
I think I like the idea of Hanford moving back and forth in that case. So, he isn't a permanent resident. I imagined as an ambiguous villain; like many vampires, he works in the background, and anyone he sired he left to oversee his investments. It would make sense that Richard, then, has acquired his holdings from Hanford. Tell me more of what Richard does/has that brings in his wealth.
It was about tweleve years ago that Richard met Iranis. Met, however, is not the optimal term, however. He had been at an Invictus gathering when a squad of what looked like commandos burst through the windows and started shooting. Richard was sure he was a goner, but the commandos seemed to ignore him and most of the vampires, instead going after very particular targets; he would later find out they were wiping out the last of the city's Morbus, who had been making a move to infect the Invictus with their filth. The commandos were a mixed team of supernaturals called Department 7, one of whom was Iranis. He struck up a conversation with unusually plucky woman, and they became friends. Two years later, when D7 was dissolved, Richard hired Iranis to be his maid/butler/assistant in all things, a role which the woman took to like a fish in water.
Although Richard has never completely understood Iranis's past, he has, over the years, discovered a few things from their conversations and her demeanor. At one time, she had been a 'paladin' for the Vatican, but because of an 'incident' she was no longer in their employ. He has also heard her reference to times when she was a Ninja, a Demon Hunter, a magical Healer, and even, to his disbelief, a Time Traveler. He also suspects her of having a split personality, because most times, she is quite happy and plucky, but she can sometimes become quite withdrawn and serious. Either way, he seems drawn to her multiple talents, and Iranis has proven to be quite loyal, always prompt, and quite precise. She also habitually bakes him cookies, despite his inability to consume them.
Dice pools:
Stealth 12, Weaponry 10 (+5 for large hammer), and seems to possess many magical abilities.
Yikes. It's been awhile since I reviewed Iranis's personality. It seems like too much topping on a Sundae. If you like this, I'll leave it be, but I may redo her. She was a character for a BESM game in Pendros, years ago now, so this explains the...oddity.
Richard's holdings are fairly diversified by now. About a third of his wealth comes from managing Hanford's business interests and Richard's cut of the money he arranges to be laundered for Handord. The rest of his income is split between:
A substantial interest in a venture capital firm
A nonprofit multinational financial firm focused on offering microloans in the developing world
Real estate, mostly commercial properties acquired for cheap during the crash 20 years ago
Various dividend-paying stock and bonds
Right now most of his liquid assets are tied up in a flurry of lawsuits. He hasn't been able to find who or what is behind the sudden legal attack, but the overall campaign is much too coordinated to have been coincidental or hastily put together. Richard is on the cusp of several important victories in these lawsuits; I will be buying wealth up to five dots and plan on representing the gains as successive legal victories.
Iranis does seem a bit over the top- the bit about the hammer makes sense in the context of BESM. I'm fine with however you want to do her personality... go with whatever fits the atmosphere of the campaign. The vitae flows freely in Pendros so I could see Richard occasionally taking the time to savor her cookies despite the mess afterwards. He would probably attribute comments about her eccentric past to an odd sense of humor but with her definitely having been a member of Department 7 he'd never be really sure where to draw the line between what she might be serious about and what she was saying purely to test his credulity. BTW how is 'Iranis' pronounced?
Oh, and by the book one round is three seconds.
|
|
Oh, and by the book one round is three seconds.
Thanks for this; where did you find this? I looked again and again.
I've always pronounced Iranis as (I-rain-iss) I'm sure this is not correct however.
I will be redoing her to be less...hmm...extreme. For now, keep this in mind:
Oddly bubbly (Gandalf-like. It's an act, and Richard knows it)
Ex-D7 Agent
Ex-Vatican Assassin (Which is ninja like)
Bakes cookies
And I'll redo it a bit.
Page 121 of the core book, under the Time heading:
Turn— The smallest increment, and often the most
important, a turn is three seconds. It’s the amount of time
it takes a character to perform a quick action, called an
instant action (see p. 126). Turns are mainly observed in
combat, when the action is fast and furious, with all char-
acters doing something dramatic in a short timeframe.
|
|
Trying Iranis again; the first half is exactly the same, the second half is different.
Although Richard has never completely understood Iranis's past, he has, over the years, discovered a few things from their conversations and her demeanor. At one time, she had been a 'paladin', or assassin for the Vatican, but because of an 'incident' she was no longer in their employ. He also suspects her of covering up her dark past, because at most times, she is quite happy and plucky, but can sometimes become quite withdrawn and serious. Either way, he seems drawn to her multiple talents, and Iranis has proven to be quite loyal, always prompt, and quite precise. She also habitually bakes him cookies, despite his inability to consume them. He has come to assume this as an attempt on her part to adapt a more matronly role within her own life; it sounds like when she worked with D7, she lived in the same space as the rest of the team, and was only at true peace when she cooked.
Dice pools:
Stealth 12, Marksmanship 10, and seems to possess magical abilities that assist her in her night-to-night routines, as well as an extensive working knowledge of the 'true history' of the world; Occult 10.
A 4-dot status if fairly significant, and I've been trying to decide what Richard's reputation merit represents. I suppose he can throw a hell of a party when the situation requires it, but I don't think that's what he'd be mostly known for. I'm leaning more toward his reputation involving running the rumor mill and having open lines of communication with just about everyone. He doesn't have much direct influence of his own, but he's a well known middleman whos neutrality can generally be relied on. Those on his wrong side eventually find that their friends and allies have heard some very interesting bits of gossip about them, while the people he likes get introductions to a 'friend of a friend' at just the right time to help everyone get what they need.
|
|
I LIKE it!
I'd say most every Vampire in Pendros knows Richard can feel the pulse of the city, and knows it's ins and outs. At 4 dots in, effectively, Status (Courtier), every vampire with the same requiem (as I work on my list, I find few of them are Courtier/Courtesans, but those that are are in high up positions. Miguel and Anthony [head of the circle of the crone] are amongst them.) knows him, he knows them, and any Vampire seeking out a rumor mill will consult him. The other vampires with Courtesan 4 are:
Anthony, who is good at smoothing things over
Sally Wilson, a hard to locate Vamp, who makes connections easily.
I am still filling out my list, and haven't yet gotten to the Invictus; I'm sure when I do, there will be at least one more Vampire with courtesan ranking 4. Ella Barkovia, the Queen's Harpy, is the only greater rumor mill source than Richard, but she'll use it against you...(Manipulator 5).
|
|
Haha! I hope you two are having as much fun with this as I am! Also, after hearing Richard's thoughts about the bigger picture, are there any others you two might have? I was having trouble linking certain scenarios together, and although Richard may or may not have the right ideas, it still serves my interests!
I'm having a great time! I got back in to PBPs to brush up on my writing and storytelling, and this is giving me plenty of opportunities to practice...
I've just been going over the past few days IC to make sure I'm not forgetting something, sounding things out to get a feel for the possibilities. I wouldn't go so far as to say I have any ideas about the bigger picture, I'm just working at the pieces to see what might fit together. Apparently I have a habit of doing that to GMs, occasionally dragging a session toward an entirely different angle than what was planned. Hopefully will work out for the best in a sandbox style game ;)
Anthony
Clan: Toreador
Covenant: Circle of the Crone
Title: Harpy, Primogen of the Circle of the Crone, Circle of the Crone Hierophant
Anthony is the oddest Hierophant and Harpy, considering that most who are placed into these roles are women. Anthony is highly charismatic, and kind of tumbled into his current position due to his charming smile. Rumors say that he doesn’t really enjoy his responsibilities, and would rather spend his nights in a Jazz club. However, whenever he’s given up the positions, it was only a matter of time before he’d wind up right back in it.
Ella Barkovia, the Queen's Harpy, is the only greater rumor mill source than Richard, but she'll use it against you...(Manipulator 5).
Was Barkovia's appointment as harpy a recent one...?
|
|
I'm having a lot of fun coming up with what Ringtunes characters have on their phones; like, when you call them, it plays a song instead of "ring ring ring".
I'm going to add that as a mandate for character creation. What is your character's ringtune?
Edit: I added it.
I also wanted to give a disclaimer about how much (bad) use of Christian (Catholic) doctrine I'm using so far in the game: I am not trying to push doctrine on you, and I neither condemn nor condone those who practice any sort of religion and/or faith, unless it involves baby eating, in which case, I think you should jump off a bridge, you baby eater you, which, I think you'd aptly agree, is a modest proposal. And be Swift about it.
Hah. If I've got Thomas figured out he's got that phone on vibrate. also, as far as religion goes, its fine with me. I haven't read the gameplay thread, kinda waiting until I have a chance to, but I realized that if Thomas has done errands and such for people he may not know much about what he is, but he's met some other vampires. Like, he probably knew who George was. He may have hoped he wasn't pushing in in his territory, but had some idea that there are boundaries. Just musing.
oh, and perhaps we create a new recruitment thread. the only season I suggest, is that when someone sees one with a bunch of posts like ours, the may not bother looking into it.