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Barney Lipscomb's page
103 posts. Alias of scranford.
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Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
The gang all receive word that their companion Barney has been admitted to a local hospital, and wishes to speak with them. When they arrive they find their companion in traction with bandages covering most of his body, and a morphine drip keeping him at least partially pain free. He looks up as the others enter, and for the first time they notice a sun weathered presence standing at the foot of the bed.
Barney's eyes move to the group as they take in the scene. His dry lips part and he begins to speak in a whispered pained voice. "Thank you for coming. As you can see I'll be out of action for a time... and honestly I'm not sure if I'm cut out for this type of work. Had too much to drink, and walked out in front of a train... guess I'm lucky to be alive".
He starts to strangle and the stranger approaches and lifts a paper cup with a straw to Barney's lips.
"Once I get on my feet again, I think I need to take some time to deal with my own inner demons before I can help others. This hear's Colt. He's an old friend... almost a brother... we grew up in the same orphanage and have kept in touch over time. He's got some particular skills that might help you guys out, and might be willing to help. I've filled him out on what's happened to date... you can trust him".
Barney twists in discomfort, and eyes the morphine drip as though wishing it was flowing more freely.
The stranger turns to the others and nods in greeting. "Name's Colt Malone. Maybe we better go down to the cafeteria, and I can give you my story".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney will do his exit post when the interview (which he didn’t show up for BTW) is over.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
1d100 ⇒ 36 (44%) Sanity Check
"Run! Get away with the evidence! I'll make sure they can't follow us"!
Barney starts looking for flammables.
Maybe a trip to the looney bin, prison, or the morgue will be a good way to exit Barney as a character. I'll start working on a replacement".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
I feel like Barney is having a hard time fitting in... might be the dice rolls. Honest question... do you think he'll perform better in later parts of the adventure? If not maybe I could design a new character... Barney's brother Cary? who might bring some more "Streetsmart / Rogue like qualities to the game"?
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Sanity Check 1d100 ⇒ 89 (44%)
I've never had a character make a lower percentage of dice rolls. Starting to think I should make a new character that fills in some of the gaps in our group?
"Here let me help".
STR Check1d100 ⇒ 38 (65%)
And just for the heck of it...
Anthropology: 1d100 ⇒ 44 (01%)
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Spot Hidden 1d100 ⇒ 87 45%
"As usual... I don't have a clue".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"No that's all. I think we know what we need to do next".
After they leave...
"Well let's find somewhere to have a cup of coffee, and plan our next move".
Assuming they find a diner with a quiet corner...
"The time for action has come. We need to infiltrate that stupid 'Ju Ju' house. Do you guys think we can do it on our own or should we try to recruit some strongarms"?
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"Everything comes back to the JuJu house. Since direct comfrontation failed, do you guys think we could sneak in and 'disrupt' things? Maybe while in the midst of a meeting. We could probably hire some muscle to accompany us".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney nods and thanks the woman as they make their exit.
"I bet you're a good doctor he tells Sylvia. I can tell by the way that you handle people, you have a gift for getting what you need out of them without making them feel uncomfortable. Good job in there".
He gives his newest friend a big smile.
Onward to Sing Sing I guess? I would say let's burn down the whole JuJu house, but there may be innocents in there against their will, or the fire might go out of control".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney seems a bit distant as the others interrogate first Kensington, then attempt to contact Carlyle.
"I'm beginning to think there are a lot more forces at work here than we first discovered. Hope we don't end up like Jackson".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
After the reading Barney calls the others together and tells them what he discovered.
"Nothing good is going on there. I'm thinking we might have to rely on more forceful methods to ferret out what we need. Let's see what the PI comes up with, but I think evil is being done there, and the longer we wait the worse things could get".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
I've been playing Trail of Cthulhu instead of CofC lately, and I really appreciate the way it handles Investigation. It gets frustrating sometimes to put yourself in position for a clue, but the dice keep you from getting it. TofC assumes that if you put yourself in the right position, and you have the right skills you find the clue.
Also, I can't read the last clue. Writing is too small and when I zoom it up it gets digitized. Could you summarize?
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Listen (34%) 1d100 ⇒ 91
Barney simply takes notes and brief descriptions of everyone he can see. He silently hums to himself to take his mind off wanting a drink.
He tells everyone what he observed when he sees them before the reading of the will.
Sorry about the delay. Having some internet issues. You can feel free to make rolls for Barney to move things along... or just assume he will fail them.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"Yeah. Sounds Okay to me. See you guys in the morning".
GM:
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney steps to the podium, his hands obviously shaking.
"Jackson was my friend. We didn't often see each other, but when we did it was if we'd never been apart. He had a way of looking at the world that often revealed what others had missed. Unfortunately his curiosity served him ill this time.".
Barney then goes over and throws a single white rose on his casket.
"Sleep well old friend till we meet again".
And then more quietly so that others might not hear.
"I shall avenge you".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney shrinks in on himself when the dreaded "Ju-Ju" house comes up again.
"Since we're... and by that I mean I'm not welcome there perhaps we could sneak our way in and see what's going on there. Or you guys could maybe disguise yourselves and try again... or maybe we could go in and apologize for my behavior and see if that gets us anywhere".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"Your plan is solid. I'll let you guys do the talking this time... and it will be good to get Jackson buried and last respects paid".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney stays quiet, refusing to make eye contact with any of his friends, as the consequences of his actions bear meaning. He shuffles his feet and looks out the window every now and then.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"Yeah... I get it I messed up. I hoped to scare the old man into giving up some info, but it backfired. I'm just angry over the needless deaths, and I let my emotions get away from me. Sometimes Intimidation works other times it doesn't and obviously it didn't work".
Barney reaches for a glass of the bourbon, gets it to his mouth then with a scowl, puts it back on the table and pushes it away.
"Let me know what you decide to do next and count me in".
Barney then moves to the bar takes a seat at the end and orders something.
Easy Spot Hidden
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney makes sure the man gets a glimpse of his gun.
"Are you sure? Think long and hard about your next answer, cause it might be your last. My friend Jackson is dead... he wasn't mistaken... and I intend on finding who killed him. I can assure you that cooporation from you will go a long way towards my actions over the next few minutes".
Intimidate (25%) 1d100 ⇒ 45
Sigh. I believe this game system is put all your points in a couple of skills so that you might be able to actually do something every now and then.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"OKay what is our strategy? Do we simply ask for Silas? If they ask why we want to see him do we want to purchase something, or need his advise for something? What pretense is there for our visit. Want to make sure we have our stories synchronized before we go in".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Finally rested and restored a bit mentally since he's accepted Jackson's death... if not the circumstances surrounding it, Barney stands by a little out of the doorway, and waits for a response.
Are there any windows on the side we're approaching? Fire Escapes? Roof access? What are the surroundings like? Is anyone watching us?.
"Maybe we should have cased the place a bit before barging in"?
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
I got a little confused. What is the time of day?
"Well we have a lot of questions and very little answers. What say we split up and investigate some of these clues, then meet back up at Jackson's funeral if not before then. I'll check out the Ju Ju House if someone would like to come with me".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"Thank you Sylvia. I would very much like a chance to pay my last respects. I fear that our next destination might be the Ju Ju House... no"?
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Does Barney know if Jackson had any living kin to contact?
"I guess if Jackson doesn't have any kin we know about, some of us should check into funeral arrangements"?
Psychology (25%): 1d100 ⇒ 86
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
After the previous days trials, and his lack of sleep and hangover from the day before, Barney sleeps the sleep of the dead, and is still trying to clear the cobwebs as they meet the man. He is content for now to simply listen.
I started keeping notes on what we're finding in the notes/clues tab. Please feel free to contribute. Lots of moving parts here and it might keep us from having to backtrack too far for posts.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"Sounds like as good of a place to start as any".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
A combination of hangover, lack of sleep, and the traumatic events of the day have left Barney quiet and introspective.
"Elias... Jackson Elias... Do you know him? Were you and he corresponding or talking about anything"?
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Was Barney allowed to look around the room. He made his "Fast Talk" roll by quite a bit?
See post above Sylvia's.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
1d100 ⇒ 35 Fast Talk (65%)
Barney can hardly take his eyes off his old friend Jackson's body. "Why? Why Jackson? You should have contacted us earlier".
He then looks around the room seeking Jackson's personal belongings and anything that might offer them clues.
"Do you mind if I look around the room a bit. See if I can figure out why Jackson wanted to meet us? I promise not to take anything that might prove to be of use as evidence".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Sylvia Bouche wrote: Sylvia was upstairs, but came down to meet the police. She led the police around the corner to where Jake and Barney had just subdued the cultist.
The police then asked Barney to lead them upstairs. My post was assuming that you did so, but I admit that was premature. I'll edit it slightly so there aren't any assumptions.
Henry is still upstairs.
No problems... just confused. I guess more time passed than Barney had assumed :-)
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Just trying to clarify the scene. I thought Jake and Barney were downstairs in the street with the recently knocked out thief, and everybody else was upstairs in the room with the other two. Is this right. We seem to be teleporting around.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"My friend Jackson Elias called us to meet with him. When we arrived we found him viciously murdered, and this here is one of the culprits. There were two others upstairs... hurry and see if my other friends are safe. Cuff this one and I'll watch him till that is resolved".
1d100 ⇒ 89 Fast Talk (65%) Attempting to get them to leave Barney and Jake alone with the cultist while they address the situation upstairs.
Damn it I always roll so high. Wish were playing Rolemaster, I'd be kicking butt.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney, now that numbers are in his favor, attempts to tackle the man, disarm him, and hold him till the police arrive.
1d100 ⇒ 58 Brawl (38%)
1d3 + 1d4 ⇒ (2) + (3) = 5 Damage (subdual?)
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney twists to the side to avoid the lunge.
1d100 ⇒ 78 Knive (35%)
Unfortunately the smashing of the headlight of the car distracts him, and his hangover has slowed his reactions. and he ends up stabbing... Air.
"This isn't going to end well for you! Perhaps you should throw down your weapon. Your friends are already dead, so you can pin the murder on them and get off with an accessory charge... if you cooporate".
1d100 ⇒ 36 Fast Talk (65%)
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
If the cultist is running for the drivers side Barney will intervene, running forward with his pistol out and demanding surrender.
If he is headed towards any other door, Barney will take cover and try to remember details about the car (Make, model, License plate, number of individuals, any damage, direction headed etc.)
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney was running for the stairs to try and cut off the murderer. I thought that might take a while.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney shake off his shock when he sees one of the villains trying to make an escape, and fires off a shot.
1d100 ⇒ 67 (58%) Colt 45
1d10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 Bullet
But sees his bullet strike the window sill.
"I'll try to cut him off".
Barney heads for the stairwell.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
1d100 ⇒ 73 SAN (45)
Barney is prepared for anything... or so he thought. As the body of his friend and it's horrid condition became clear to him, he stared, bile rising in his throat, and for the moment forgetting the 45 at his side.
He starts at the sound of Henry's pistol.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Seeing all the quick movements and activity at the door, Barney's hangover evaporates. He instinctively shields Sylvia from the opening, as he draws his trusty .45.
"What is it! Is Jackson Okay"?
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney almost misses the meeting. He had been up all night, and woke up in an unfamiliar hotel room with an equally unfamiliar broad. He sneaked out of bed, his piercing hangover making him stumble, as he gathered most of his clothing, and quietly exited the room.
Stopping at a newsstand as he waited in line for a taxi to take him back to his hotel, he purchased the latest copy of the times, a bottle of asprin, and a mug of hot coffee. He browsed the headlines as he headed back to his hotel, as the words in the story kept moving around as he was probably still a bit drunk.
Before heading up to his room the bellhop stopped him. "Mr. Lipscomb. Sir there has been a man trying to urgently reach you. He's called four times this morning already. Here's the message he left".
Barney orders a ton of room service, then passes out on his bed sleeping the sleep of the recently dead. He awakes with a start to see it's already dark outside, he rushes through the shower, puts on last nights clothes that he forgot to have cleaned, and rushes towards the destination... trying to not be late.
He arrived in the office just as Jake began to open the door. "Wait! I'm here... better late than never right"?
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney makes quick eye contact with Henry and Arthur, before addressing the question.
"Oh we go back away. Most recently we had quite an adventure with him in Peru, and have only seen birthday and Christmas cards since then. I guess he couldn't go without seeing for us another day".
He then stands and respectfully pulls over another chair for the new arrival, and reaches out his hand in greeting. "I'm Barney, this here's Henry and Arthur, and our new friend here is Jake. Welcome to the first meeting of the Jackson Elias fan club. What are you drinking"?
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney looks at the new arrival, and leans over to Henry whispering. "Say does that guy look familiar to you? He's reading one of Jackson's books. What are the chances of that being a coincidence"?
He then walks up to the bar for another round, seeing the man open a familiar looking telegram as he approaches. He turns to address the new stylish arrival.
"Hi Friend. Couldn't help but notice that you seem to be a fan of Jackson Elias. He happens to be a personal friend of myself and the gentlemen over there". He nods his head in Henry's direction.
"If you're not awaiting anyone, feel free to join us at the table".
He then nods at the mans obvious good taste in cocktails.
"Any friend of the brown liquor is a friend of mine".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
I hope that's not anybody I owe money to.
But even as the big man turns to see who addressed him the voice's familiarity hits home.
"Henry! Henry Chandler"!
The big man moves forward to engulf the man he had shared so much horror with in a bear hug.
"It's great to see you healthy and hale. I bet you're here for the same reason I am. Let's find a spot out of this blasted cold... hopefully with something to warm us from the inside. I'm buying".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
After the adventure in Peru, Barney decided to read some of his new friends books... however they kept bring back memories of the weird situations in Peru, and he found that the books gave him nightmares, so he gave up. Still after some time to separate himself from the incidents he was more than happy to answer the call of his old acquaintance.
...After all somebody has to save the world from indescribable horror...
Arriving in New York a few days ahead of the meeting, Barney remembers why he stays down at his home in Houston during the winter, and ends up purchasing a heavy coat and scarf to tour the city for a bit before the meeting. He hadn't been here except for a casual overnight for business meetings since his high school field trip, and was eager to enjoy what the city had to offer despite the frigid temperatures.
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
I don't think I lost any sanity... but just in case...
1d8 + 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + (4) + (2) = 13
1d10 ⇒ 8 Fast Talk
1d10 ⇒ 4 Listen
1d10 ⇒ 10 Spot Hidden
1d10 ⇒ 2 Track
1d10 ⇒ 3 Colt 45
1d10 ⇒ 3 Brawl
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"Wait... Let me hold that part while you try to press the rest back into the depression".
Assist??? Extended task???
1d100 ⇒ 28 Dexterity 65
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
"Let's burn the pool, and the bodies first so I can get too the seal. Hope my blood won't cause any problems with replacing the gold". Barney quickly grabs a torch, and sets the body of Mendoza aflame.
"This one first, as he doesn't seem to want to stay dead. One of you guys set the pool on fire. Larkin seems to have gotten into something he wasn't too proud of, so let me search him first before we add him to the pyre".
Barney stands and the blood wells from beneath his shirt. "Then hopefully I can get one of you to bind this wound, so I don't bleed out. You might need me to carry some of the loot".
Male Human (Scottish American) Bounty Hunter
Barney slashes out again with his sharp hunting knife.
1d100 ⇒ 90 (35%)
1d8 + 1d4 ⇒ (5) + (3) = 8
His blood loss beginning to frighten him.
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