mgrasso: diversion: Changeling Chapter Four

Scene One
Scene Two
Scene Three
Scene Four
Scene Five
Scene Six

Chapter Five: Resolutions

Scene One: A Hallway on the Sixteenth Floor
mgrasso> Let me set up the hallway; the two pallid goons just came out of the elevator. Closest to them and to the elevator are Ingrid and Jack. Then, James, and then, closest to her own room, Gemma. *** Julia is now known as Ingrid
mgrasso> All right, so now, it's obvious. I need initiative rolls! Wits + Alertness, Diff. 4.
Jack> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 9 1 5 6
Gemma> !dice 3 4
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 3d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 1 10 8
Ingrid> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 5 9 6 4 3
James> !dice5 4
James> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 3 5 5 6 2
Jack> (wow)
mgrasso> OK, Gemma, you declare your action first.
Gemma> I'm getting out of their path
mgrasso> And going somewhere? I'll put you down for a Dodge.
mgrasso> You're closest to your room, or you could run down the hallway.
Gemma> Down the hallway...
mgrasso> (Everyone check in, please? I fear lag)
Ingrid> here
James> present
Gemma> (i fear the only thing lagging is my brain, mike :) ) -> [Jack] PING
Jack> hi
mgrasso> OK, down the hall. Next to declare, Jack.
Jack> Assuming I can
Jack> can't permanently harm these guys here?
mgrasso> How do you mean?
Jack> What we talked about w/ the Redcaps...
Jack> That only applies in the dreaming yes?
mgrasso> Well, they're not fae.
mgrasso> It's only when you kill a fae that you get Banality.
Jack> Guk! Oh, okay...
mgrasso> Yeah, you can tell with your super-Changeling-vision, they ain't fae.
Jack> Might be time to call upon the Wyrd.
mgrasso> Awesome!
mgrasso> James? Your action?
James> I never specified if I had my gun on me, do I?
mgrasso> It's probably in your room.
James> damn... in that case I'll dodge down the hall as well.
mgrasso> But you do have your chimerical crossbow. Of course, they're not fae, but...
James> but...?
mgrasso> But you could call upon the Wyrd, or do an enchanted strike.
James> could you either explain that, or give me page numbers? (I'll still dodge this time)
mgrasso> Calling upon the Wyrd means your fae seeming enters the real world, and the enchanted strike will enchant them.
mgrasso> Enchanted strike, 245.
mgrasso> Calling upon the Wyrd, 211.
mgrasso> Dodge. Ingrid? These men are quite clearly going to shoot you if you get in their way.
Ingrid> Dodge for me. Into the room.
mgrasso> All right.
mgrasso> First to go, are the men and Ingrid. Ingrid goes into the room.
mgrasso> Both the men train their pistols on Jack, who is the only one standing in their way.
mgrasso> They bury two slugs into Jack.
Jack> Oof!
mgrasso> Two soak rolls, Jack.
mgrasso> Stamina.
Jack> What do I type again?
mgrasso> Diff. 6.
Jack> Thanks.
mgrasso> So, !dice Stam 6
Jack> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 9 5 8 8
mgrasso> The first slug buries itself in Jack's thigh with no noticeable effect.
mgrasso> Second roll?
Jack> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 6 1 10 9
mgrasso> The second one, however, wings his left shoulder, doing some real damage. Take 2 levels of damage.
mgrasso> You are now at Injured.
mgrasso> No, scratch that.
mgrasso> Your big size gives you something, one sec.
mgrasso> Ah, ok. So you are just Hurt.
mgrasso> -1 to all dice pools.
Jack> (Cool...)
mgrasso> Gemma and James run down the hallway. No one gets to see Jack invoke his trollish heritage and bring his fae mien into the real world.
Jack> (damn!)
mgrasso> Including, a big ass sword, armor, and a shield. :)
Ingrid> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 3 3 4 6
mgrasso> Hold on, make a Willpoer roll, Sam
mgrasso> Diff. 4.
Jack> That's affected by being Hurt, right?
mgrasso> No.
mgrasso> Go with four.
Jack> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 4 3 5 4
mgrasso> OK, you successfully call upon the Wyrd. Take off a point of Glam and WP.
Jack> Can I use up the temp. Glam and WP I gained last time?
mgrasso> The two chalk-white goons see you charging at them in troll form. They seem *very* scared.
mgrasso> Sure, Jack
mgrasso> By the way, everyone msg me their present Temp. Glam, Banal, and WP totals?
mgrasso> Gemma, James, you see the man from inside your room come out with a .22 pistol in his hands. He's walking toward the goons and firing at them.
Jack> Should I be at 3,3,3 then?
mgrasso> I think so, yeah, Jack.
Jack> Kay.
mgrasso> The young man from inside the room fires his .22 and misses both goons.
mgrasso> Next round! Wits + Alertness, Diff. 4!
mgrasso> (Sorry, took me a while to get going)
Gemma> !dice 3 4
* DiceWell Gemma rolls 3d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 5 8 9
Ingrid> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 6 1 3 1 8
Jack> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 10 3 9 6
James> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 5 successes.
* DiceWell 8 6 4 8 4
James> =)
mgrasso> OK, Ingrid, you're in Gemma and James' room. Your action?
mgrasso> It looks like both goons are levelling their guns at the troll, and backing up as they do.
mgrasso> (You can msg your action if you want, Julia)
mgrasso> Jack and Gemma, what are you both up to?
Jack> Taking a swing at these two SOBs...
mgrasso> Splitting the dice pool?
mgrasso> (hold on, looking up forcible enchantment)
Jack> No, sorry, I'll just go for the closer one.
mgrasso> Fair enough.
mgrasso> Gimme a minute guys.
mgrasso> Ok, here's the system on Enchantment when you can't give a mortal a present. :)
mgrasso> Spend a point of Temp. Glamour, roll your Glamour with a Diff. of the mortal's Banality. It lasts only about an hour.
Ingrid> I'll try that on the other guy.
mgrasso> Gemma? With that knowledge, will you try to Enchant them?
mgrasso> Hold on, Ingrid, please.
Ingrid> oh, sorry. :)
Gemma> Um... yes. Sure.
mgrasso> Ingrid's coming out of the room to also try?
mgrasso> And finally, James?
Ingrid> yes.
mgrasso> (Remember, if they get enchanted, they can be affected by chimerical stuff)
James> I'm going to cast toughen on Jack, and expend one wp to do it. This would use the "Fae" realm, but I have no Idea what the difficulty is, 2 sucesses= one aditional health level
mgrasso> Cool, James. You run up to the troll, and I need a Bunk, please.
James> I'm going to knock on his chest and spit.
mgrasso> Diff will be 7 without expending extra glamour. Dice pool will be Intelligence + Fae.
mgrasso> And you can do that first. :)
mgrasso> Do you want to spend extra Glamour to bring the Diff. down?
James> yeah, good Idea
mgrasso> How much?
James> 1pt
mgrasso> OK, it's difficulty 6 now.
James> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 8 4 7 2 5
mgrasso> All right! Jack, give yourself another health level, you're now unhurt, and your dice pool is unaffected.
Jack> Thanks James!
James> sure
mgrasso> Jack's stony skin gets even more so, as James spits on the troll's back (more practical) and knocks on his armor.
mgrasso> (I like that bunk)
mgrasso> All right, Gemma, try to Enchant, Jack, try to swing.
James> (=)
mgrasso> Gemma, Glamour dice, Diff. of 8.
mgrasso> Jack, Dex + Melee, Diff. of weapon you're using.
*** Gemma has quit IRC (Read error: 54 (Connection reset by peer))
Jack> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Jack rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 6 9 5 4 3
mgrasso> Shit!
James> argh
Jack> Doh
mgrasso> OK, that mook is trying to dodge, Jack.
mgrasso> He dodges your swing, ducking underneath it with inhuman quickness. He and his bud are ready to shoot you again.
mgrasso> (Gotta wait for Mellie)
mgrasso> Yeah, she crashed.
mgrasso> Ingrid, I'm going to let you try to enchant. Glamour dice, diff. of 8.
Ingrid> !dice 5 8
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 7 4 5 6 8
mgrasso> Good enough. One of them is enchanted.
mgrasso> The guy who came out of Gemma's room drops his gun at his side. He then leaps forward onto one of the mooks, knocking him backwards and his big-ass gun out of his hands. The guy in the Reservoir Dogs suit from Gemma's room seems to be.. biting the big mook on the ground, feasting on him.
mgrasso> (He took out the unenchanted one)
James> gah
James> /me gah's
James> argh
mgrasso> (heh)
Jack> What the hell...
*** Mellie (sheepvixen@98CB6FCB.ipt.aol.com) has joined #Changeling-Tucson
mgrasso> Hi Mellie. It's next round now.
Jack> (Yay!)
mgrasso> mgrasso> The guy who came out of Gemma's room drops his gun at his side. He then leaps forward onto one of the mooks, knocking him backwards and his big-ass gun out of his hands. The guy in the Reservoir Dogs suit from Gemma's room seems to be.. biting the big mook on the ground, feasting on him.
mgrasso> Wits + Alertness, Diff. 4, everyone.
James> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 6 1 10 10 9
*** Mellie is now known as Gemma_Esqu
Ingrid> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 4 2 10 5 3
Jack> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 9 2 10 7
Gemma_Esqu> !dice 3 4
* DiceWell Gemma_Esqu rolls 3d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 10 9 2
mgrasso> Gemma, you first. One of the mooks is enchanted, the other one is being attacked by Andy.
mgrasso> The mook who's enchanted is trying to shoot Andy.
mgrasso> The other one is hissing and trying to knock Andy off of him.
mgrasso> (him himself)
mgrasso> Gemma?
Gemma_Esqu> I'll try to stab him
Gemma_Esqu> with my dagger
Gemma_Esqu> (damn enter key)
mgrasso> Gemma takes out a tiny mechanical pencil (in the Dreaming, that green-black dagger) and tries to get into melee with Jack.
mgrasso> Ok, now, Jack, James and Ingrid, please.
*** mgrasso sets mode: +o Gemma_Esqu
James> the enchanted one is affected by any chim. weapons?
mgrasso> Yessir.
mgrasso> Wanna plonk him with the crossbow? Or slice him with the sword?
James> I'm gonna shoot him W/ the x-bow
Jack> I'll take another poke and try not to miss...
mgrasso> OK, great.
mgrasso> And Ingrid?
Ingrid> I'd like to try the chimerical circlet on the enchanted one, if necessary.
mgrasso> You aren't carrying your frisbee. :)
Ingrid> I'm not? Why didn't you tell me? :)
mgrasso> Well, carrying a frisbee around Vegas seemed a little.. weird. :)
Gemma_Esqu> (Weird in a town with Elvis preachers???)
mgrasso> (Heh. Point taken. Ok, you've got your frisbee on you.)
mgrasso> Wanna fling it?
Ingrid> Cool! Yes!
mgrasso> OK, Jack, you first.
Jack> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Jack rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 4 8 5 7 2
mgrasso> No Dodge, this time. Damage is on the weapon, Diff. 6.
mgrasso> Remember, you ARE a troll.
mgrasso> Use your strength bonus.
Jack> !dice 11 6
* DiceWell Jack rolls 11d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 5 successes.
* DiceWell 4 5 5 4 6 7 7 7 4 6 2
mgrasso> Gah. 11 dice!
Jack> (believe it)
mgrasso> You clout him a good one off his bald head.
mgrasso> He gets knocked back into the wall.
mgrasso> Ingrid, Dex + Athletics for the Frisbee. Diff. 6
Ingrid> !dice 2 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 2d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 4 6
mgrasso> OK, now, Str + 1 damage.
mgrasso> Diff. 6.
Ingrid> (what?)
mgrasso> Roll Str + 1.
mgrasso> Diff. 6.
Ingrid> Okay.
Ingrid> !dice 3 6
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 3d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 1 10 7
mgrasso> The frisbee hits the mook up against the wall with a *thunk*.
mgrasso> It drops by his side.
mgrasso> (no damage, sorry!)
mgrasso> James? Crossbow. Dex + Firearms
James> !dice 8 7
* DiceWell James rolls 8d10 at difficulty 7. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 4 6 5 5 8 4 10 6
James> (does "steady hand" apply?)
mgrasso> Actually, James, diff, is 5.
mgrasso> Reroll, please.
mgrasso> And yes, it will.
James> (really? cool)
James> !dice 8 5
* DiceWell James rolls 8d10 at difficulty 5. S/He gets 5 successes.
* DiceWell 2 7 2 10 8 10 7 2
James> !dice 2 5
* DiceWell James rolls 2d10 at difficulty 5. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 9 4
mgrasso> Ok, damage is 5 dice.
James> =)
mgrasso> (he's not dodging that!)
mgrasso> Gemma, care to stab? Dex + Melee.
mgrasso> James, 5 dice for Damage, diff. 6
Gemma_Esqu> (diff?)
mgrasso> Gemma, Diff. 5.
Gemma_Esqu> !dice 3 5
* DiceWell Gemma_Esqu rolls 3d10 at difficulty 5. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 9 7 1
mgrasso> OK, Damage dice = Str, Gemma.
mgrasso> Str +1, actually, sorry.
mgrasso> James, I still need you to roll damage.
James> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 8 2 3 6 9
mgrasso> Wow. OK.
Gemma_Esqu> (same diff?)
mgrasso> Yup. it's 6.
Gemma_Esqu> !dice 2 6
* DiceWell Gemma_Esqu rolls 2d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 9 9
mgrasso> The crossbow bolt is dead-on, but he soaks the damage.
mgrasso> Likewise, Gemma going in to stab also sinks a chimerical wound, but he soaks that as well.
mgrasso> The mook against the wall tries to punch Gemma.
mgrasso> There is some sort of supernatural quickness and strength to this guy; his punch flies at Gemma from out of nowhere.
mgrasso> Gemma, roll Stamina, Diff. 6.
Gemma_Esqu> !dice 2 6
* DiceWell Gemma_Esqu rolls 2d10 at difficulty 6. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 2 3
Gemma_Esqu> (eek)
mgrasso> Gemma takes four levels of temporary damage. She is knocked out cold.
mgrasso> The other mook throws Andy off, his mouth caked with blood and flesh. Andy licks it off and goes in for another charge, his fingernails long and sharp-looking.
mgrasso> He sinks those nails into the mooks chest, ripping into him, spewing more blood all over the floor.
mgrasso> Next round, Wits + Alertness rolls for everyone except Gemma, please. Diff. 4.
James> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 9 3 1 10 9
Ingrid> !dice 5 4
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 5d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 1 7 3 6 6
mgrasso> Jack?
Jack> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 2 7 3 1
mgrasso> Oof.
Jack> (caught me off guard...)
mgrasso> OK, Jack, I guess you're attacking again?
mgrasso> James? Ingrid?
Jack> (Yup.)
James> I'm gonna shoot him W/ the x-bow again
mgrasso> OK.
mgrasso> Ingrid? -> [Ingrid] PING
Ingrid> I could try dictum on the enchanted one.
mgrasso> Yes. It wouldn't cost you any base Glamour, but you'd have to spend at least 2 Glamour to get the Diff. down to 10.
mgrasso> These guys have Banalitys of 8.
mgrasso> 8 + 4 = 12.
Ingrid> I don't have it.
mgrasso> Damn.
mgrasso> Anything, then?
mgrasso> Remember, Andy dropped his .22.
Ingrid> I can't think of anything.
mgrasso> It's within reach.
Ingrid> Oh, I could go for that!
mgrasso> Yep. Shoot the unenchanted or enchanted one?
Ingrid> Which one's more dangerous right now?
mgrasso> Can't tell.
Ingrid> unenchanted.
mgrasso> OK.
mgrasso> The mook tries to hit Jack.
mgrasso> Soak, Jack.,
Jack> Diff?
mgrasso> Stamina, Diff. 6.
Jack> !dice 4 6
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 9 6 10 3
mgrasso> You and your armor easily soak this guy's attack.
Jack> Har!
mgrasso> Andy again leaps at the dude near the back of the hallway. His claws again sink into the mook's chest.
mgrasso> Ingrid? This guy's trying to run towards the stairs... still want to shoot him?
mgrasso> James, you can shoot the enchanted one. Dex + Firearms, Diff. 5
James> !dice 8 5
* DiceWell James rolls 8d10 at difficulty 5. S/He gets 3 successes.
* DiceWell 4 6 8 6 1 9 5 1
Ingrid> no, let him go.
mgrasso> Damage, 5 dice, James.
James> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 8 9 2 4 3
mgrasso> He takes some chimerical damage, and he, too, is attempting to run towards the stairwell. Anyone pursuing?
mgrasso> Gemma, you are waking up from being knocked out.
mgrasso> Andy rushes to your side.
Ingrid> no pursuit for me.
mgrasso> Ingrid, Int + Intuition, diff. 7.
Ingrid> !dice 3 7
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 3d10 at difficulty 7. S/He fails the roll!
* DiceWell 2 2 3
Ingrid> argh.
mgrasso> "Gemma, are you okay?" Andy's face, suit, and hands are covered in the mook's blood.
Gemma_Esqu> "Leave me the hell alone."
mgrasso> "No, please, Gemma, let me help you. The police will be here soon, and I have a place we can lay low."
mgrasso> (Is anyone else saying anything?)
James> she said back off
Ingrid> Gemma, who is this bloody person?
Jack> (heh Ingrid)
mgrasso> Andy gives a look to James. "Shut up."
mgrasso> James shuts right up, and finds he can't say anything.
Gemma_Esqu> Just go away, Andy.
* James punches him square in the jaw
James> (or trys to
James> )
mgrasso> Hah! OK, James. Dex + Melee!
mgrasso> Diff. 6
James> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell James rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He botches the roll.
* DiceWell 7 1 2 2 1
James> (wp)
mgrasso> OK, that'll avoid the botch. It's still a failure.
mgrasso> The punch doesn't even faze him.
mgrasso> He says, "Listen, you guys can take my help and come with me, or sit here and get arrested. I want to help you get out of this mess."
* Gemma_Esqu sighs tiredly
mgrasso> Ingrid, give me another one of those Int + Intuition rolls, diff. 5 this time.
Ingrid> !dice 3 5
* DiceWell Ingrid rolls 3d10 at difficulty 5. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 4 5 2
mgrasso> (Anyone? Anything?_
mgrasso> )

Scene Two: Gemma and James' Room
* James goes into his room, as he's been trying to do all along.
Ingrid> We'd better get out of the hall. The elevator's on its way up.
mgrasso> James goes into the room.
Jack> Will someone explain what the hell is going on?...
* Gemma_Esqu glances at Andy
Ingrid> in the room, everyone, and maybe we can get some answers?
Gemma_Esqu> There was ... a mix-up.
* Jack heads for the room.
mgrasso> "For God's sake!" Andy screams. "The room's not safe! We need to LEAVE! Now!"
* Gemma_Esqu goes into the room
* Ingrid herds everyone into James and Gemma's room.
mgrasso> Andy follows you, gesticulating wildly.
Gemma_Esqu> Damn it, Andy! What the hell makes you so sure?
Ingrid> I am NOT LEAVING until I get some explanation.
Ingrid> What the hell is going on?
mgrasso> In the room, you see Gemma's case dumped on its side, and all over the floor are little packs of 100-dollar bills.
Jack> What in the...?
James> I want him the furk out of here.
mgrasso> From the looks of it, there's well over a quarter of a million dollars in there.
Ingrid> Geez, Gemma. You've been busy.
* Gemma_Esqu glares at Ingrid
Gemma_Esqu> Andy's been busy. This is his.
mgrasso> "Yes. And I came back to retrieve it."
Gemma_Esqu> So retrieve it already!
Ingrid> Well this is as good a time as any. Andy, who the hell are you and what is going on?
mgrasso> He continues licking his hands, suit, and face of all the blood.
James> take your money and get the fuck out
mgrasso> "Fine." He starts packing his bag.
* Gemma_Esqu gingerly rubs her neck
mgrasso> "I never wanted to get you people involved, obviously. But Gemma... I want you to be safe."
Jack> Off to a great start. Were those mooks after you?
mgrasso> "Yes. They're Giovanni's men. They want me to pay up."
James> then go pay already
mgrasso> Jack, Int + either Streetwise or Police Procedure, Diff. 8.
Jack> !dice 4 8
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 2 successes.
* DiceWell 7 4 10 10
mgrasso> Jack: the Giovanni family are a shadowy crime family who have dons in almost every state.
Jack> Oh man, you are in a world of pain, aren't you, buddy.
mgrasso> "Yeah, yeah, I am." He sighs, and says, "Gemma, I'll get out of your life. But don't forget me. Please."
Jack> If you dragged us into a Giovanni affair...
James> Jack... if you want to "interrogate" this bastard, take him to your room. I want him the furk out of here.
mgrasso> Gemma seems entranced by Andy's eyes...
Ingrid> What did he do to you, James?
Jack> (mutters) Yeah, or maybe I'll just arrest him...
James> Whatever, just Get him the furk away from Gem.
mgrasso> Andy says, "You saw what I can do. I wouldn't advise trying to arrest me."
Jack> Tell you what then, why don't I just give you until the count of 10...
mgrasso> Andy finishes packing the bag.
Jack> ... to get yourself and your dirty money the hell out of here.
mgrasso> "I'm gone. Gemma? One final kiss?"
James> NO!
mgrasso> Gemma, make a Willpower roll, Diff. 8.
Gemma_Esqu> !dice 3 8
* DiceWell Gemma_Esqu rolls 3d10 at difficulty 8. S/He gets 1 success.
* DiceWell 7 5 8
* James Pulls his pistol
James> out, now.
Ingrid> Gemma? THIS is your type?
mgrasso> Andy leans in, Gemma backs away, and James pulls his gun.
* Jack draws on Andy.
* Gemma_Esqu grimaces
mgrasso> Andy smirks, his thin, pointed face showing a smile. "You, little guy," he says to James, "are one ballsy dude."
mgrasso> He picks up his bag and opens the door.
mgrasso> There appears to still be no one in the hallway.
mgrasso> You hear Andy running towards the stairs.
mgrasso> The door shuts behind him.
* James lets his gun drop to the floor... and then sulks over to the bed and flops down
* Jack collapses into a chair looking exasperated and exhausted.
mgrasso> Jack morphs back into human form.
Ingrid> Well, which of you would like to explain this little incident?
* Gemma_Esqu burries her face in her hands and groans
Ingrid> Well, the quicker you fill us in, the less I bug you about it.
Gemma_Esqu> Can't you go for one second without bugging?
Ingrid> I'm sorry, no.
mgrasso> Does anyone think we should leave the building? Or at least contact Baron Nicolas?
Jack> Probably a good idea.
James> maybe Jack and ingrid should go contact the baron...
Ingrid> We probably should let Nicky know there's blood all over his hall.
Jack> You two still owe us a goddamn explanation.
mgrasso> Nicky could be one of two places; down at the poker tourney, or in his suite.
mgrasso> You could simply call both from the room.
Ingrid> good idea.
mgrasso> All right, guys, who's doing what?
Ingrid> I'll try and call the Baron.
* James is sulking on the bed.
mgrasso> OK, you try downstairs first.
* Jack checks the action on his 9mm.
Gemma_Esqu> !dice 5 6
* DiceWell Gemma_Esqu rolls 5d10 at difficulty 6. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 10 6 7 3 6
mgrasso> (I'm going to paste Ingrid's side of the conversation in the room)
* Jack paces to the door and checks the hallway.
* Gemma_Esqu watches James for a moment
mgrasso> Ingrid> Hello, Ed. This is Ingrid Kane looking for Nicky?
mgrasso> Ingrid> All right. Thank you, Ed.
* Jack glowers at James for a bit.
* Ingrid hangs up, then picks up the phone to dial again.
mgrasso> The silence in the room is palpable.
* Gemma_Esqu moves to sit closer to James
Gemma_Esqu> James?
* Gemma_Esqu tentatively puts her hand on James' shoulder
* Jack checks the hallway again before flopping back down in the chair.
* James shakes it off, but not agressively
mgrasso> Hallway is clean.
mgrasso> Nick! This is Ingrid Kane. Have I caught you at a bad time?
James> so, what? you just couldn't furking resist lestat, or andy, or whatever the furk his name was...is that it?
mgrasso> Well, I can tell you where they came from. They tried to kill me and my friends.
* Gemma_Esqu wrings her hands together
Gemma_Esqu> Basically... yes. I told you. It wasn't my choice.
* Ingrid sighs and hangs up the phone again.
Gemma_Esqu> I mean, yes, it was. In a way. But ... James, I'm so sorry.
James> not your choice? not your furking choice to get in to a cab with him, leaving me stranded in a casino with no furking clue where you were? not your choice to- ah furk it, what do you care.
Ingrid> The Baron's sending trolls down to get us. The cops are in his penthouse. They caught our bloody guys.
Gemma_Esqu> I care!
* Gemma_Esqu jumps to her feet
* Ingrid looks at Gemma with mild surprise.
Gemma_Esqu> I care! I'm not smart, but I care damn it!
Gemma_Esqu> I don't know what the hell came over me. I wasn't thinking.
James> sure... bloody furking good excuse.

Scene Three: To the Luxor
mgrasso> There is a loud and insistent knock at the door.
* Jack jumps up.
* Gemma_Esqu is trembling slightly
* James dives for his gun
* Ingrid goes to look through the peephole.
* Jack looks out the peephole w/ gun drawn.
James> and tuckes it in his suitcase
mgrasso> Jack was closest, Ingrid. :)
Ingrid> okay. :)
mgrasso> Jack sees the two trolls from the 7-11 and the jousting competition.
Jack> I think we're okay.
mgrasso> "Jack! It's us. There's a car waiting downstairs."
mgrasso> Open the door?
Jack> yep.
Ingrid> Let's get out of here.
mgrasso> The two trolls work their way into the room. "Boy, Jack, you guys made a mess out there!"
mgrasso> (By the way, Ingrid still has Andy's .22)
Jack> We were'nt planning on it, but...
James> not us... this furkin weird bastard who ate blood
mgrasso> "You'll have to tell the story of it on our way over to the Luxor..."
mgrasso> "Nicky's got rooms for you over there."
James> singles I hope
mgrasso> "He wants you to stay there until things clear up."
Jack> Thanks.
* James intones
* Ingrid has slipped the .22 into her handbag, along with her retrieved frisbee. (?)
mgrasso> "Apparently, the two bald pale guys you beat up are now under the influence of the Mists."
mgrasso> Ingrid: sounds good. :)
Jack> They're mortals then?
Jack> They seemed unusally...powerful.
James> too fast, I think
Ingrid> the Mists? Could you explain, please?
mgrasso> "Mortals, but not normal. You said this dude 'ate blood.'?
James> yeah, furking sicko had it all over his face and cloths
mgrasso> Ingrid: "One of them was definitely enchanted, and it seemed like both of them were a little dazed by seeing some fae stuff." The troll smiles.
James> and nails like as long as my fore arm
mgrasso> "Was this the guys you were fighting? Or someone else?"
James> some one else...
mgrasso> The elevator goes "Ding!"
mgrasso> Empty car, going down.
mgrasso> You pile into the elevator.
James> He had lots of misplaced mob money and a hankering for women.
mgrasso> "Hmm. Sounds like you guys got into some nasty Kindred shit."
Gemma_Esqu> Not women, James.
James> bite me... ohh.. wait, you did that don't you.
James> (dig, sorry)
Jack> Kindred?
mgrasso> "I don't think you want to stay in town too long. This is not the kind of thing you want happening to you. And I'm sure Nicky doesn't want any problems with them, either."
mgrasso> To Jack: "That's what the blood-suckers call themselves. Dirty disgusting creatures, full of affectation and no Glamour."
* Gemma_Esqu edges away from James
mgrasso> "Ding!" Floor 6.
Jack> Shit...vampires.
mgrasso> Two people, an older married couple, come on the elevator, just as Jack says "Vampires." :)
James> "yeah, great game, isn't it?"
mgrasso> The rest of the way down to the lobby, people stay in silence.
mgrasso> The elevator opens up to the lobby, and you see a regular police convention.
mgrasso> There are about 15 uniforms milling around, and hotel security is as thick as thieves.
mgrasso> The two trolls usher you through the throng and over to the cul-de-sac in front of the hotel.
James> wow, I wonder what happened here...
mgrasso> The same limo is out front.
Jack> Deja vu...
mgrasso> "Ok, kids." One of the trolls takes out four card keys. "These are Nicky's rooms over at Luxor. Stay there until tomorrow morning."
Ingrid> I don't think that'll be a problem. I could sleep for a week.
mgrasso> "I'm sure it won't be a problem for us to clean up the place and keep you safe."
mgrasso> OK, over to the Luxor, the big black pyramid.
Ingrid> Thank you very much, kind sirs.
mgrasso> If anyone wants to do any RP over the night (ordering room service, calling people in their rooms on the phone) msg me.
mgrasso> Gimme a minute or so, guys.
mgrasso> Jack? Doing anything overnight?
mgrasso> msg me if so.
Jack> !dice 4 4
* DiceWell Jack rolls 4d10 at difficulty 4. S/He gets 4 successes.
* DiceWell 9 10 6 4
Jack> Hoo-ah!
mgrasso> (we'll play for another 15-20 minutes, is that ok?)
Ingrid> (sure)
mgrasso> (I can finish in that tme)
Jack> Well, I don't want to open a can a worms here Sharpe, but I think I might have spotted a couple of their soldiers here in Vegas.
Jack> oops forgot to msg.
mgrasso> I got it, Jack.
mgrasso> OK, folks, it's next morning!
mgrasso> Everyone get back one point of Willpower.
mgrasso> Ingrid calls everyone and tells them it's brunch at Nicky's. James does not answer his phone.
mgrasso> What do you do?
mgrasso> Hello?
mgrasso> Anyone here? -> [Ingrid] PING
Ingrid> (thinking here)
* Jack heads to Ingrid's to confer. -> [Gemma_Esqu] PING
Gemma_Esqu> (here!)
mgrasso> sounds good. Gemma, also to Ingrid's room?
* James is asleep
Gemma_Esqu> Sure.

Scene Four: Ingrid's Room
mgrasso> OK, It's Jack, Ingrid, and Gemma in Ingrid's room.
Jack> We have to face facts Milady...James has become unreliable.
* Ingrid sighs.
* Jack glances at Gemma like he has doubts about her as well.
mgrasso> (5-10 minutes left to go, guys?)
Gemma_Esqu> He is *not* unreliable.
mgrasso> (I can go later, I just worry about others)
James> (I'm good till whenever, no school tommorow)
Ingrid> I'm afraid he has, Jack, but it seems as if there are factors at work here which we do not know.
mgrasso> (oh, really, Mandy? why?)
Jack> (I'm cool.)
* Ingrid looks pointedly at Gemma.
Ingrid> (I'm okay)
James> (teacher professional day)
mgrasso> (EXcellent, it was you I was worried about. :) )
mgrasso> (Weird. :) )
mgrasso> (sorry, didn't mean to interrupt)
* Gemma_Esqu rolls her eyes at Ingrid
mgrasso> (carry on)
Gemma_Esqu> (it's okay :) )
Ingrid> Roll your eyes all you like, Gemma. It doesn't change the fact that when we gt here, James was fine. After one night out with you, we were all almost killed and James is unreachable.
Gemma_Esqu> Typical modern newsperson. Always editorializing.
mgrasso> (*snort*)
Ingrid> You're avoiding the issue.
Gemma_Esqu> James is probably just asleep. That's hardly an issue.
Jack> You'd better level with us, kitty. What's eating him up inside?
Gemma_Esqu> What, I don't rate a Milady Kitty to you? Or a Sister Pussy? Is chivalry so unconsistant?
* Gemma_Esqu glares stubbornly at Jack
James> (ha!)
* Ingrid rolls her eyes.
mgrasso> (quiet, peanut gallery :) )
Jack> We don't have time for these damn games. We're an oathcircle, aren't we?
James> =( (sad peanut gallery)
Gemma_Esqu> Are we? You two are so ready to dismiss James for the wretched crime of sleeping in.
Ingrid> Is that really what you think, Gemma?
* Gemma_Esqu shrugs
Gemma_Esqu> Does it matter?
Ingrid> Perhaps you should ask yourself that question.
Ingrid> It seems as though all you have to contribute is sneering and evasion.
Gemma_Esqu> I can see that it's obviously a great effort and insult to have to go to his room and knock on his door when he should be at the beck and call of the Great Ms Kane.
* mgrasso smirks like mad
Ingrid> This isn't about him sleeping in, Gemma.
Jack> What about what happened last night?
Gemma_Esqu> Yes, it is. It's what you complained about.
Gemma_Esqu> As I recall, a man tried to claim his baggage, and two other men thought to prevent him. And we got in his way.
Gemma_Esqu> Then Ingrid gave us a change of pace and didn't bitch about being given normal replacement rooms.
Gemma_Esqu> A grand and fufilling night, I'd say.
Gemma_Esqu> Now then, if it so pleases my lady Ms Kane, I can go and wake James.
Ingrid> Last night you apologized to James and told him you care, too. Do you really? Or would you like to argue that as well?
Gemma_Esqu> I refuse to indulge your nosiness. What I feel is between God and me. And perhaps James. But you don't need to know about it.
Ingrid> It seems to me that if you care, and Jack and I both care, then we're really wasting a lot of time and energy being petty.
Gemma_Esqu> Yes. *You* are, Ingrid.
* Gemma_Esqu smiles mockingly
* Ingrid levels a gaze at Gemma.
mgrasso> Shall we go wake James and go to brunch?
Gemma_Esqu> Yes!
Ingrid> Let's do, please.
Jack> Anything to break this tension...
mgrasso> It takes about 5 minutes of pounding to get Mr. Goldstein up.
* James answers his door after a few minutes, grummbling... he looks like shit and is still in a t-shirt and flannels, but when he sees Gemma he smiles.
* Gemma_Esqu shyly smiles back
mgrasso> Shall we go on over to Excalibur and talk over brunch?
Ingrid> Sure.
* James shuts the door and scrambles for pants... then comes out, still in the same "I hate vegas" shirt

Scene Five: A Private Room at the Excalibur
mgrasso> OK, At a private brunch in a private room at the Excalibur, Baron Nicky sits with you and the two troll bodyguards.
mgrasso> "Well, here's what we know," Nicky says. "These two goons apparently were trying to rob a room on your floor. The cops went through all the rooms on 16, and no suspicion was laid on you."
mgrasso> "So, on that regard, you're safe."
James> but...
mgrasso> "But, it appears you folks crossed the Giovanni. And that can be trouble."
Jack> So I hear...
mgrasso> "So, I can give you protection as long as you're here. But when and if you come back to Vegas, either as honored guests or as regular visitors, you're on your own."
James> /me rubs his eyes with his hands groggily, as if he just can't shake the sleep, and then mutters "shit"
James> (wtf)
mgrasso> Nicky flashes his winning smile. "I can grease some of the gears, but I'm not in as deep with the criminal element as I used to be."
* James blah.
James> (that time it worked...? weird me out.)
mgrasso> "Some good news... your boy Knack's in the second round."
mgrasso> "He kicked some butt last night."
mgrasso> (That's all Nicky has to say)
Ingrid> Oh, how nice to hear some good news!
James> oh hurrah. (alla ben stein, aka monotone)
mgrasso> "Now, I need you folks to stay in the Luxor the rest of your trip."
Jack> Fair enough...
mgrasso> "For my sake and yours."
* Gemma_Esqu glances at Ingrid, as though expecting something
James> "but we wanted suites!"
mgrasso> If I might... fast-forward now, unless people have anything important to say.
* Ingrid thanks Nicky kindly for his assistance and hospitality.
* James is infinately sarcastic
* Gemma_Esqu bites her lip to keep from smirking
Gemma_Esqu> (nope! not a thing)
mgrasso> You guys can spend the rest of your time in Vegas as you would like; there's no more vampire hit squads coming your way. :)
Jack> (phew)
mgrasso> Spend the rest of it as your well-earned vacation.
James> I still have a few grand in my pants.
Ingrid> I want to try that chimerical slot machine again.
mgrasso> By the way, Knack wins the tournament on Sunday, and thanks you all for taking him here.
mgrasso> (Ok, Ingrid. You can roll 3d6 for the slot machine for each play)
James> good for knack
Ingrid> (right now?)
* James is really excited "oh wow, a chimerical slot machine!"
mgrasso> (sure!)
Ingrid> 3d6
* DiceWell throws the bones for Ingrid (3d6) and gets 8.
Jack> Oh NOW James is excited about it...
mgrasso> Oops! My mistake, 3 d6
mgrasso> Sorry.
Ingrid> 3 d6
* DiceWell throws the bones for Ingrid (3 d6) and gets 6 6 6.
Ingrid> gah!
mgrasso> Holy crap.
mgrasso> Tons and TONS of chimerical gold pieces come POURING out of the machine.
James> oh god! its EVIL
mgrasso> (you basically just got the equivalent of 3 7's)
mgrasso> There's 1,000 chimerical gold pieces there!
* Ingrid claps excitedly
* Jack is stymied.
mgrasso> What a way to end the trip!
Ingrid> How are we going to carry all these?
mgrasso> (The machine's empty, by the way)
* Ingrid laughs
mgrasso> Ingrid: your chimerical bag?
mgrasso> Wow, that's something.
Ingrid> great idea!
James> (bag of holding!)
mgrasso> Lucky chick. And she's rich, now, too.
* Ingrid scoops them into her bag, which remains dainty-looking.
mgrasso> So, let's fly back to Tucson and receive the baronial treasure.
James> so, mary poppins, do you have a lampshad and a mirror in there?
* Ingrid smiles slyly at James and says nothing.

Scene Six: Back at the Freehold
mgrasso> Lady Sharon, first of all, thanks you for your service to the Barony and the County.
mgrasso> Second, she presents you with a baseball-sized red gem.
* James raises one eyebrow and says "yeahso?"
mgrasso> "This," Lady Sharon says, "is a gem of misleading. When it is activated with Glamour, it will create an illusionary duplicate of the wielder."
mgrasso> "This duplicate can be controlled within line of sight of the wielder."
mgrasso> "It has been bonded to your oathcircle, which means, you may all use it, but *only* when you are all together!"
mgrasso> Lady Sharon smiles at Ingrid.
* Ingrid smiles back and inclines her head
mgrasso> "So, you may decide to leave it here except when you need it for quests or such."
James> or not.
mgrasso> "I hope your trip to the Barony of the Golden Wheel was pleasant and profitable!"
James> yeah, except for the vampire and the mob...
Ingrid> Thank you, My Lady, it was quite an adventure.
Jack> It was our honor to serve, My Lady.
mgrasso> Sharon nods at all of you, and leaves the chamber, leaving the red gem behind for you.
* James picks it up
Gemma_Esqu> I bet it's a ring pop.
mgrasso> James picks it up, and can feel the energy inside it. Wanna try to use it?
mgrasso> A duplicate image of James appears and starts to walk towards the door backwards.
Ingrid> Total Recall!
* James and the duplicate smile
mgrasso> (heh)
mgrasso> So, that's the game, and the chapter, and the story!
mgrasso> I'm going to total experience points up for the last five chapters.
*** James is now known as mandy
*** Gemma_Esqu is now known as Erica
*** Jack is now known as Sam
*** Ingrid is now known as Julia
*** mandy is now known as James
Julia> Thanks, Mike. That was cool. :)
*** James is now known as Mandy
mgrasso> Thanks guys! That rocked!
Sam> Yeah, killer session man.
Mandy> (damn capitilization)
Mandy> hurrah!