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Post by Legionnaire on Jul 25, 2018 11:04:30 GMT
1985 - A Crooked Brick Building on a StreetcornerThe Basement of Ben's BrewhouseAngel Dietrich kept her composure as the dealer flicked two cards, face down, across the table towards her. She'd been counting cards all evening, and had been savvy enough to be subtle about it, so her winnings were large and the suspicions of the other three at the table were only just beginning to grow. The cards stashed up her sleeve had been an extra insurance policy that she'd used sparingly. Lifting the cards, she saw she had a five of spades and a nine of hearts - fourteen total, and seven away from blackjack. As luck had it, she had a six stashed up her sleeve right now. Angel's winnings were impressive, but ultimately they were a distraction, and she was meant to start drawing attention. The three-person coterie who had bought their way into the card den in the basement of Ben's Brewhouse hardly expected that she would empty their vault for the treasure they were after - that was why Levi "Macca" MacDonald had managed to slip away and get into the rotting ceilings. With adroitness belied by his bulk, he had made his way nimbly through the narrow spaces until he found the backroom he was looking for. Through a gap in one of the ceiling panels, he saw a thick steel safe sitting at the back of a room, its door hanging open. In the center of the room, an Asian man counted money and made notes in black pen in a large logbook. His target was in the safe, sitting among stacks of cash. Uninvolved in the game but watching it closely, Rusty Shafiqah had taken a position near the small bar where she could see the whole room. The play had been her idea, and now she needed to see it through. Rather than money or documents, the trio sought a camera. A desperate Gangrel Caitiff had reached out to them for help and set them on the trail of an amateur photographer from the university, who she believed had unwittingly taken night-time photos of her playing with her abilities. When they'd finally caught up with him, the stroke of luck that he had yet to develop the film was quickly marred by his confession that he had lost the camera in a card game. Their goal was to get the camera and get rid of the film, in return for a reasonable sum of money (and a connection to the Caitiff community that roamed just beyond the city limits, for Rusty). With a keen eye on everything, Rusty was the one to notice a brutish man emerge from a backdoor and start whispering intently to another. He nudged a third, and they surreptitiously spread out around the room - all to places where they could get a clear look at Angel as she played. This, coincidentally, happened at the same moment as the cards were dealt, and escaped Angel's notice. This was the wrong sort of attention, and too soon. Your starting Blood Pool is half your maximum, rounded down if necessary. Rusty is 11th Generation and has a max BP of 12 (Rusty loses a few more due to her Flaws which Xaos will lay out). Macca is 10th Generation and has a max of 13. Angel is 9th Generation, so she has 14 and can use 2 BP per turn.
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Xaos
Administrator
Posts: 351 
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Post by Xaos on Jul 26, 2018 1:40:58 GMT
"Rusty" Shafiqah had never been under the illusion while planning this job, nor had her two coterie mates, that she could have just walked in like Angel or navigated the claustrophobic and inconveniently placed breach in security like Macca. Even though Shafiqah had enough friends in the right places to secure welcome in many of Oddhaven's key places, this place was not one of them. And even if it had been, the only way people ever didn't noticed Shafiqah, even before her Embrace into Clan Nosferatu, was if she were invisible. And so that was how she had chosen to enter and remain in this place, invisibly. Seeing the trouble brewing told Shafiqah that the coterie's time was about to start running short. She wished she had some way to warn Angel without breaking her own cloak, but just as Shafiqah's crutches belied her speed and stealth, the Nosferatu knew that Angel's appearance belied her hitting power. Besides which, with Macca no doubt already close at hand, Shafiqah knew she'd just be getting in the way if she made to help Angel. Instead she would do what she was best suited for in this situation and search the premises for any sign of the camera. Obfuscate 2 is active, rolling Perception 4 + Investigation 3 to start searching for the camera (Perception has a spec in Careful if you think that applies), in case Shahfiqah winds up in a situation that requires a roll to not blow her Obfuscation she has Dex 4 + Stealth 4 (Stealth has a spec in Camouflage if you think that will apply) |
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Narg
Independent Alliance
Posts: 153
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Post by Narg on Jul 27, 2018 17:42:01 GMT
"Ehhhhhhhhhhhh… Hit me." Angel said, nonchalantly, as another card came flying her way. She palmed her six in her hand as she picked up the three cards. Unless it was a seven she would make the swap, and the count certainly wasn't in her favor on this hand.
She noticed the stares of the three other players at the table. They looked jealous. None of their winnings were nearly as large. Angel almost felt bad, but not really. It's not the humans fault that they can't see the smudges from their fingerprints or the way the cards are slightly bent. Or the fact that they're just dumb. But hey, whatever. I was told to make a distraction.
"Lady luck am I right?" The awkward looking, punky teen said hesitantly as she looked at her cards. Mainstream looking fuckers are just jealous that I'm better at this than them. I could set the shitheads on fire if they keep staring at me like that.
Angel continued to play, blissfully unaware of the bouncers coming her way, to toss her out of their illegal establishment, and most likely take what money she had anyways.
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Post by Lord Lucifer on Aug 18, 2018 3:10:15 GMT
Macca ignored the sounds he could make out from the main building, while he was working it was strictly all business where Levi 'Macca' MacDonal was concerned. The only thing it did worry him about was anyone finding out he is was not where he was supposed to be snooping about.
The sounds meant time was running out and so he took what he thought was initiative. Quietly he attempted to remove a silenced beretta pistol 9mm from a holster in what space he had, without trying to alert the clearly Asian man below. And then he attempted to take aim at what he hoped was just one of many unfortunate mortals to have crossed his path before. He had no time to get picky, less witnesses...the better. He poked the weapons muzzle through the ceiling gap and unleashed a double tap aimed for the head.
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Post by Legionnaire on Aug 29, 2018 7:50:47 GMT
Angel rolls Dexterity + Subterfuge (difficulty 6) to swap cards.
6SBStoz0p_p_p_p_p_
Oh dear.
The local thugs oppose with Perception + Alertness (2 each) to catch her cheating - I'll only roll for them once.
p_p_p_p_
Oh dear.
Rusty rolls for the camera search; specialization does not apply.
p_p_p_p_p_p_p_
Two successes. I will make a blanket Perception + Alertness roll to see if any thugs notice Rusty (difficulty 6).
p_p_p_p_
One success. Rusty rolls Dex + Stealth to remain in cover (difficulty 6):
p_p_p_p_p_p_p_p_
Yup she's fine.
Macca rolls Dex + Firearms to shoot the main in the head. Difficulty will be 7 as even though Macca is aiming for the head through a gap in the ceiling, he is not stressed and has plenty of time to line up his shot. Specialization of Precision Aim applies.
p_p_p_p_p_p_p_p_
Three successes, plenty. Angel checked the most recent card - a three. Time to make the swap. Deftly, she waited until the dealer's eyes were on one of the other players (all of whom were staring at their own cards), and attempted to slip the three up her sleeve while simultaneously replacing it with her six. As she tried to get it into place, the card caught on the hem of her sleeve, and as Angel tried to push past it - she managed to push the cuff wide open. Out slid two cards, and she hurried to snatch them up - but her frantic motion caused more to spill out, and she gave up as a torrent of playing cards came cascading out of her sleeve and spread all over the table. The room went silent. The dealer stared at her incredulously, seemingly amazed by her shear gall - the other three players stared at her thunderously, their hands curling into fists and disappearing under the table. From the corners of her eyes, she saw two thugs start shoving patrons aside as they beelined towards the table, and was unaware of the third doing so from right behind her. Moving with incredible swiftness and stealth, the ultra-soft 'clacks' of her crutches doing nothing to give her away, Rusty's small form flitted in and around conversations, through doors behind individuals, trailed behind thugs and listened at doors. She moved with the easy grace of a rogue, and her efforts were soon rewarded. In the currently-unused kitchen she observed a man enter from a distant door holding something in his hands. She was savvy enough to stop and see what it was, and saw that it was a roll of film. The man unrolled it and held it up to the light with a curious expression, and then seemed to fixate on one particular photo, befuddled. He soon gave up on whatever he saw, because he shrugged and tossed it into a bin. As he passed Rusty's position, he hesitated in his steps, but shrugged again and continue on towards a walk-in freezer. Macca's shot found its mark with practiced precision. The only sound a muffled pfft-clack as the weapon fired, the bookie toppled over backwards as his head disappeared in a red cloud. Easing a tile up and away, Macca dropped down into the room and saw up-close the ruins of the man's head. Macca just killed a man in cold blood, so he's gonna make a humanity roll. Macca rolls Conscience (2) at difficulty 6 (base 8, -2 for the act being so extreme):
p_p_
Macca passes and avoids degeneration. Macca was a hardened soldier - but not a killer. He felt the taste of ash fill his mouth as he realised what he'd done so casually, and for a second between blinks he saw the face of one of his children on the dead body. What would they think of him, if they learned what he'd done? What would his brothers in the search for Golconda say? He put his gun away, and knew he would be shaken for the rest of the night. Macca's intense remorse for his action will result in a +1 difficulty penalty to any attempts at inflicting Lethal or Aggravated damage for the rest of the night. ····································· |
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Xaos
Administrator
Posts: 351
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Post by Xaos on Sept 5, 2018 0:30:08 GMT
Shafiqah decided immediately that she wouldn't tell the others exactly where she'd found the film, the cliche of a Nosferatu digging out something vital from the trash was a little to much for her Clan pride to bear. Reminding herself that she wasn't completely sure that she actually had what they'd come for yet, Shafiqah held the film strip up to the light and looked for anything that seemed like a Masquerade breach. If the film did turn out to be the object of their assignment, then she'd take a quick look at the room from where the man had originally emerged. This was partially to check for any additional rolls of film, and partially to see if she could get the camera back. Gambling was a sin, and she'd stop these men from profiting from it, even if only in this small way, if she could.
She heard the muffled clack of Macca's gun but, having never heard a silencer before, assumed it to be an empty tray or glass falling; at her height she couldn't have seen what happened either, mercifully sparing her the grizzly scene for now.
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Narg
Independent Alliance
Posts: 153
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Post by Narg on Sept 6, 2018 0:16:23 GMT
Distraction sure is right... Angel mused. I could only be smooth as Bond for so long.
"You know what, guys? I have an idea." Angel cast her eyes down, trying to get a glimpse beneath the table at what the other players might be reaching for. "Since all the money is right here, right now, I could just leave and never come back, and not have to tell all your friends you were getting swindled by a little girl," The teenage redhead quipped with a charming smirk.
Her joke had bite to it, coated with a false bravado that she hoped would thread the line between threatening and weak. If she were to outright apologize and beg, they would have to make an example of her. And if she blustered about needlessly throwing threats around, she would get beat up on principle. As much as she wanted to throw fire around, breaches of the masquerade were serious business, and these people weren't too likely to kill her. They were gamblers not cold blooded killers. She could heal her wounds later, but if she could weasel her way out of the consequences of her actions, she would have a much better night for sure.
If anything particularly deadly were to show up, she planned to flip the table over and make a break for the door, using blood to alter her physical prowess as necessary.
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Post by Lord Lucifer on Sept 8, 2018 19:26:35 GMT
Macca tried to swallow, but being undead there was nothing to swallow...had he been alive he would of swallowed the bile. As a hardened soldier, not a killer and considering himself somewhat moral even when he was alive in the traditional sense, the killing of a innocent irked him. He could feel taste of ash fill his mouth, the true ramifications of what he had just done hitting when the face of one of his children appeared on the dead body.
He tried to wipe the image from his eyes but found he could not. The thought of what they would think of him, if they learned what he'd done and what his brothers in the search for Golconda would say to the act replayed several times before he calmed himself. He decided from here on he would be far more careful at what actions he undertookcanf make sure those he killed were truly deserving of it, he would not harm another innocent civilian if it could be helped this night.
Taking a deep breath of nothing, more to steady himself more than anything, he had a brief look about, making sure No-one else was nearby that might see either him or the body. Once she was certain, Macca proceeded to look inside the safe and stretched a hand inside to retrieve the item he was here to collect, hidden among the stacks of cash. Some of which he was half tempted to pocket...they wouldn't miss it, but then he decided better of it.
He had already done one wrong this night, it was not wise to tempt the fates again.
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Post by Legionnaire on Sept 9, 2018 13:02:27 GMT
Macca lifted the camera out of the safe and checked it over. Flipping it over, he checked the underside of the device - its owner had told the coterie to look for a sticker with his name on it. Finding the sticker, Macca was content that he had found what he was looking for. Macca makes a Wits roll.
G_nL2LF9p_p_
That's one success. Before he left, Macca realised it would be prudent to check the real prize - the roll of film - was still in the camera. Popping it open, he saw the film was missing - meaning their job wasn't done yet. Looking back up at the ceiling, he quickly deduced that while getting down had been easy, getting back up would make a hell of a lot of noise. With no other way out, he went to the door, eased it open, checked outside and emerged into the empty, dimly-lit service corridor. At the same time, Rusty had fished the roll of film out of the trash and held it up to the light. Rusty rolls Perception + Alertness, difficulty 4; specialization applies.
p_p_p_p_p_p_
That's plenty. While most of the photographs were meaningless - some of nature, a few of the cityscape, and a few considerably risque photos - in a two of the nature photos she saw what the Caitiff had warned the group of. In one, the Caitiff seemed to be visible as a dim shadow, but with a close inspection Rusty could make out his features and the distinctive boneclaws of a Kindred using the Protean discipline. In another he seemed to be in flight in the opposite direction, his features halfway between human and boar. These were both fairly wide-angled photos, and if she had not known what to look for she likely wouldn't have noticed it - given how late the photos had been taken, it was no wonder the mortal hadn't noticed what he was really snapping. The group's goals met, Rusty tucked the roll of film into a safe space and click-clacked her way through the doorway the man had entered from. On the other side she found not a room, but a dimly lit service corridor with a few doors spaced along its length. As she entered, the next door over opened - but instead of an unsavoury sort, she saw Macca slip into the corridor. The Australian Special Forces soldier likewise noticed his fellow Kindred. With the camera in his possession and the roll of film in hers, it was time to leave this fine establishment. As successful as Rusty and Macca had been, it seemed like they'd leeched it out of Angel. The third Kindred found herself faced with a difficult situation that she tried to smooth over with a few carefully considered words. Angel rolls Manipulation + Expression at difficulty 8; specialization applies.
p_p_p_p_p_p_p_
That's one success. As venomous as their looks were, the other gamblers at the table backed off. Angel had a point - they made their livings at these tables, and if word got out how easily a teenage had gotten one over on them and almost cleaned them out then they'd become laughing stocks, the kind that everybody would want to play with. Even as they sat down and pulled Angel's winnings away from her, the three thugs bee-lining towards her were clearly not going to let her walk out. So just as they were about to reach her, Angel's hands snapped out to grab the table and flip it over, bolstered by the blood burning away in her veins. Interpreting Angel as having spent a blood point to increase her strength score, she rolls Strength (difficulty 7) to flip the table.
p_p_p_
That's no successes, but not a botch either. Angel then rolls Dex + Athletics to evade the three thugs at difficulty 8 (three thugs, crowded and cramped room):
p_p_p_p_p_
That's no successes, Angel's having immensely shitty luck so far! The closest thug attempts a Hold action on Angel (Strength + Brawl, difficulty 6, thugs have 3 Strength and 2 Brawl):
p_p_p_p_p_
That's one success, Hold succeeds. Even with her enhanced strength, Angel was taken aback by the deceptive weight of the card table. Frustrated, she realised it was probably bolted to the floor and realised she'd have to make her escape sans distraction. By then the thugs were upon her, and before she could turn and try to bolt away one of them lunged at her from behind and grabbed her in a bear hug. Much taller and naturally stronger, he lifted the young Kindred bodily off the ground and shouted to the others, "I've got the little cheat! Larry, go and get the boss!" In the back rooms, Rusty and Macca's conversation was cut off as both Kindred heard the sounds of shouting from the cards area. Though distant, they still managed to make out the words "little cheat!" and "get the boss!", and it wasn't hard to surmise that Angel had succeeded with the distraction plan. ··························· |
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Xaos
Administrator
Posts: 351
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Post by Xaos on Sept 17, 2018 0:57:07 GMT
While several of the film frames made Shafiqah almost waste blood to draw a blush (the knowledge that the influx would only excite the revolting creatures living inside her face held her back), she was quite pleased to see that this was the roll in question. Encountering her compatriot in the hall beyond the door, Shafiqah quickly abandoned the idea of taking money for charitable redistribution, seeing it as providence that they should make good their escape.
"Hello, Macca," she said in her usual friendly tone, "I have the film, and you clearly found the camera. Maybe you should hand it to me and I'll get it all back to the car while you check on Angel? Last I saw her she looked like she was in sort of a bad situation."
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Narg
Independent Alliance
Posts: 153
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Post by Narg on Sept 26, 2018 4:02:01 GMT
"Get off me you fucking pervs! You like grabbing little girls, huh? Fucking creeps!" She wished she had time to kill them. She hated being manhandled almost more than anything. Enough handsy highschoolers had drunkenly grabbed at her for a lifetime, not to mention the physical beatings that those in The Order would oftentimes give her for disobeying. Angel activated her powers of blood potency tried to rush even more efficient blood through her system, before trying to fling the men grabbing her away. She needed to get out of here. Many a Vampire had met their end in a mob of angry mortals, be they aware of the bloodsucker's nature or no. The door would be a welcome friend should she break away from these thugs grabbing at her. Given my thaumaturgy succeeds I will be at +3 to strength related dice pools. |
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Post by Lord Lucifer on Sept 29, 2018 23:36:17 GMT
Mecca slipped into the corridor, cautiously and hoping that he wouldn't have to re-arrange someone's face for seeing him. As it happened his luck was good, instead of a muscular guard or two he was met by none other than Rusty Shafiqah and her rattling crutches. Listening he decided she was right, perhaps it was better he gave the younger Kindred girl a hand, just as always appeared to be the case whenever the two worked together.
That girl always seemed to get herself in trouble he noted.
"Probably a good idea. If we know Angel, and we do...she is always getting herself into a bad situation. Which means I am needed, here is the camera. I'll try get her out of the mess she got herself into while you as suggested take the items to the car during the chaos.
Wish me luck."
With that Macca was soon off after depositing the camera into Rusty's hands. Heading to where he could hear the noises and screams of various gamblers trying to get out of the way, Macca soon opened a door and entered the main area, quietly attempting to slip in while the guards were distracted. Only once he was inside did he speak up after attempting to grab and hold one of the closer ones in a iron grip, ready to be flung at his mate and ensue some type of brawl. He would not use his gun this time...not if he could help it.
"Do we have a problem here? Put her down, let us go peacefully and there won'tbe trouble, I won't need to get nasty. Believe me, you won't like it if I get upset, in fact you might regret if that happens, most soon do."
Mecca awaited the response, he had a feeling it wasn't going to be pretty but at least he might have allowed Angel a slight reprieve for now.
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