Andrej Bulavin's page

Yeah, I've been busy on the personal front. I've recently been named as Principal of a nearby elementary school.

That being said, I think its time for me to pull back a bit in the PBP department. I'm running 3 games and I think that might be too many, especially since they are all running different rulesets. This one is probably the youngest one, and its very much the one with the slowest rate.

It's been very fun, and I've enjoyed everyone but adieu for now and happy gaming.

Congrats, GM N! (It doesn't look as though they've updated the name, though.) And thanks for running--I had fun, even though I had to take that long break.

Victoria, I'm interested, though that depends on how much time I have after the break. Too much happening at work--we had a small fire, which on the one hand didn't cause any injuries and no one got contaminated, but it spun up into a major investigation (and time sponge).

Seven of diamonds is the best card we have, so let's play it.

The Russian removes his pistol from under his coat and makes sure it's loaded with silver. "Jo and Jaime, if you are carrying guns tell me. I have more silver bullets, and also a silver dagger. I am thinking, though, that we should shoot it and then let Victoria close with it. She is very dangerous in close quarters, and if we can wound it first so much the better."

GM N, do the two NPCs get Wild dice on their skill checks?

Survival check to follow & ID tracks: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Wild die: 1d6 ⇒ 3

The dice module does not love me...haven't rolled over 4 on this.

Andrej mutters Russian curses under his breath as the trail peters out. "Be watchful."

Just in case Knowledge (Occult) will let us ID whatever did in the deer:

Knowledge (Occult): 1d6 ⇒ 6
Wild die: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Ace: 1d6 ⇒ 6

It figures: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Total 14 Knowledge (Occult), add +2 if vampires or werewolves involved.

The quartet makes their way to the attack site, Andrej occasionally wincing as his old wounds pain him. "We are best off splitting up in pairs, but staying close enough to each other to at least hear. If there is cliff here, we are starting at top and looking for strange things in the sea, then going down to beach and looking for tracks. If we are finding nothing, then perhaps we get boat. I am not wanting that."

Notice check to see anything from the top of the cliff: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Survival check to see tracks on beach: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Wild: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Victoria, I suggest playing the jack--it's high enough that they'll hopefully have to strip out their top card to take it.

I'm letting Victoria start the talking.

The smells of salt, rotting vegetation, and fish waft in on the sea breeze as the quartet of Rippers approaches the docks. "Once we have introduced ourselves and learned what we can, we may be splitting up to look at what we can find."

Victoria--sounds good to me.

Is Jo a woman? I've seen it used as a male name, but not as often as a female nickname.

Andrej offers firm handclasps to the two novices. "It is being good that you are here." He shrugs. "Gospozha Lawson is good at talking to people. You and I, we can listen and learn, yes?"

I'm thinking Victoria's got the best Persuasion, and between that and Streetwise should be doing most of the talking. Once we know more, we can decide where to go from there.

A heads-up for everyone--my work finally got around to blocking the rest of the Paizo site, so I no longer have access to the boards during workdays. Although I can still post from my phone, it's a right pain these days with the Wayfinder app not working. That's likely to slow my posting down a bit.

I'm good with that as well.

I'm here, when there's a here.

Andrej would be best at that one as well, along with any parts of the search for inmates that involved following trails (as opposed to talking to anyone).

ETA: It looks like all the novices can do is fight, notice, and shoot. We can have one or two of them come along on each mission, to give them some experience.

Excellent!

Those of us who have money to spend, anyway.

That makes sense to me. The advantages of the Historical Society seem to be able to be duplicated using other resources.

Andrej crumples the paper in one hand, shaking his head at his own stupidity. "Proklyat'ye! I am an idiot! Of course Bucharest is far too close to Mother Russia, and I've been here too long." Memories flooded through his head...the itch on the back of his neck as he walked the gardens around the newly-built Athenaeum, the feeling of being followed through the Lipscani. The Russian approaches his hosts as quickly as he can. "My friends, Grand Master van Helsing has recalled me to London. I'll need a way out of Romania without being seen. If you can get me to Austria so much the better. Bulgaria is too friendly with Russia."

Thus it was that Andrej found himself in the false bottom of a wagon leaving Bucharest. A quick trip west and north across the Southern Carpathians took him to Timisoara, and on to the Kingdom of Hungary. The rest of the journey involved far fewer chances to be caught by Russians, but the Grand Master's words still stayed with him, darkening his mood. What does he mean, "Something is brewing?"

The dust of travel still clinging to his clothes, the Russian entered the London lodge quietly...until he saw his onetime comrades-in-arms. "Ah, Lord Colbourne! Grand Master van Helsing is telling me to be speaking with you. And Gospozha Lawson! I am seeing few new scars...you are perhaps having good story to tell? Herr Doktor Jung, Gospodin Singh. Ha! Is good to be back."

I am indeed.

It's not a good time to be living anywhere on the Gulf Coast or the eastern seaboard. Best of luck!

By an amazing coincidence, I'd just PM'd the GM to let him know that I was going to be able to rejoin you sometime in mid-August, after a vacation and conference.

I'd meant to catch up and post something tonight, but I'm not feeling well and my wife is encouraging me to go pass out. (OTOH, if I have to stay home tomorrow, I'll have plenty of time to post something. We'll see.)

-Posted with Wayfinder

Still working on it, but it's been a busy week. So far I figure this will involve a relapse and an encounter with one of his important people, possibly accompanied by a flashback.

Will give that some thought, and try to post tonight or tomorrow.

"Andrej Bulavin, at your service." The Russian bows slightly, then extends his hand.

I have a major audit this week at work, so after this posting will generally be scarce. Andrej is looking for Rasheed or Carl to do some magic to convince Swinburne, if it isn't obvious.

Andrej turns to Carl and Rasheed. "Gentlemen?"

I'd like to use an example of a person from one of his stories who's an actual Ripper, preferably one whose real name was close to the character's. If that's not possible, let me know.

Andrej sighs. "Mister Swinburne, you are telling story of <insert name here>. This person is being real. Events you write of are very close to things that have happened to <insert name here>. We are wanting very much to know how you know."

Persuasion check, untrained: 1d4 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1
Wild: 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2

Sigh...and I'm fresh out of bennies.

Intrigued despite his reluctance to talk to the poet, Andrej asks, "Is there anything you do that seems to bring on these dreams? Is it only since you are staying here that they are coming to you?"

"Vivid dreams, is it?" Andrej glances over at Carl Jung. "This is being your area, da?"

Andrej gives a somewhat forced smile. Degenerate. "Not for debt collection. You are being poet Algernon Swinburne, also Strand author Algernon Rose? We are having few small questions for you."

I'm using Oladon's campaign management tool in Firefox, and am not seeing shading.

I'm still seeing dots, but the unread posts indicator has gone from all forums.

Andrej leaves the talking to Tristan.

Andrej nods at Victoria's speculation. "It is easy for us who deal in shadows to suspect all others of doing same. Sometimes we are being right, though."

"Other point to remember is that now you have formally met solicitor Watts--can now call on him at home without fear of disapproving manservant."

Andrej greets the returning travelers with bear hugs. "Welcome back to glorious gloom of London! We are calling in many favors and obtaining important information from house of solicitor Watts. Author of Strand tales is poet Algernon Swinburne. We did not talk to Gospodin Swinburne--we were in hurry to depart house before encounter with police. Here are letters."

I'm good with that.

We did, and it was only as a poet that he was known.

We're still on hiatus due to the GM's Disneying, I believe.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Enjoy! Don't worry about us; you concentrate on having fun.

"Da. Agreed." Andrej idly thumbs through a copy of "Poems and Ballads," shaking his head. "I am not knowing English well enough to follow his words. What does he mean, 'the rain has ruined the ungrown corn?'"

"We wait, I am thinking. While we wait, though, maybe Swinburne writes under own name. Trip to library? Gospozha Mei, you are being good at research, I remember."

Andrej, taken aback by van Helsing's brusqueness, gratefully addresses the secretary. "Ah, I am understanding. Question I have is whether this Swinburne is known to Rippers for any reason--is he friend to someone who talks too much? Former member? Anything like that."

If van Helsing is around, Andrej will try to get in to see him, with the following:

"Gospodin van Helsing, Gospozha Lawson and I have learned name of Strand author. It is Algernon Charles Swinburne, and he is living with solicitor Watts in Chelsea. Do you know name?"

"So it is being Swinburne we are wanting. First, though, we are asking if anyone knows name at Lodge, yes?" On their return, Andrej will inquire about the man, trying very hard to keep the moral judgments to a minimum. English, pah! How is it that such moral weaklings can fight against Mother Russia?

Andrej motions to Victoria and hisses, "We have name. That is being enough--we go!" He retreats quickly, trying to disturb as little as possible.

"Da. Gospodin Kray, thank you for your help." The Russian leaves his gun and knife behind, but takes his cane. "Robbery is one thing. I fear if we are armed, police will claim we are murderers."

Stealth check: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Wild: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Agility check: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Wild: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Streetwise check: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Wild: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Streetwise wild ace: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Looks like one Stealth success, one Agility success, and a Streetwise success with a raise. Definitely worth calling in the favors for this!

Let's take the bonus.

I count three favors as well.

Amazing coincidence, there.