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  1. - Top - End - #601
    Titan in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    "Been a pleasure doing business with you," said Mr. Grey in a neutral tone. "In the future, know that I usually expect transactions to run in the four figures, or it's simply not worth the risk, time and trouble of bringing buyers over here. And yes, Rebecca will be escorting you back, of course. Just because we made a deal doesn't mean I trust you yet."

    Rebecca was already reaching for the blindfold and handcuffs.

    "One last thing, young man." Mr. Grey pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes. There was now a distinct aura of menace around him. "You are now aware there are valuable things in here. Some people older and more experienced than you have been tempted to take them by deceit, force or strength of numbers. They have always failed. Just know that the best weapons at my disposal aren't on my shelves. What you see here? It's nothing. Now, I don't think you mean ill; I just want to be crystal-clear, because I hate when paying customers die for stupid reasons. You don't rob this place any more than you rob a gun store."


    OOC
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    Unless something particular happens, the next post will be the big update where Conrad is driven back to the bus station. If anyone is planning to do or say anything else, now is the time.
    Spoiler
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    Running:
    Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)

    Playing:
    The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSummoner View Post
    Oh wow. I will never again underestimate [our characters'] ability to turn friendly conversation into a possible life or death situation.
    Quote Originally Posted by LeSwordfish View Post
    Ludo has a crowbar, if that helps.

  2. - Top - End - #602
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Adam looks grimly at the building, speaking in a deadpan, "Nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."
    -Odentin

    Quote Originally Posted by Skype
    Odentin: Wait. Weren't we going to stop off in the capital and murder the emperor?
    Bladecutter: We might as well, it's on the way.
    GM: "We might was well" has never been used in that way!
    Bladecutter: Well, we really don't like him...

  3. - Top - End - #603
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Jonah just cradles his head in his hands, trying to come to terms with everything he was hearing. "Adam's right..." he mutters weakly, shaking his head a bit. "This is out of our league. If everything he's shown off tonight is 'nothing' and just for display purposes? Even the Abbey would steer clear of him. He's not something we can handle. He's not something we want to even know we exist. We would probably just amuse him..." he sighs, before leaning back on the sofa and groaning. "Well, at least he didn't directly call us out. Or... maybe he did," he frowns. "I don't think he would have given that warning spiel to anybody he didn't suspect of being a potential problem. Lovely thought..."

    He rubs his temples, and lets out another sigh. "I'll need to debrief him when he gets back, in case Grey had some sort of a tell. Sometimes creatures can look human, but give off 'tells' that betray their nature. Hard to spot, if you don't know what you're looking for..." he muses.
    Anemoia: Nostalgia for a time you've never known.

  4. - Top - End - #604
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    "Or he could be bluffing to stave off an athlete from grabbing some friends and rolling him over. Not too far out of the normal range of jock activity."
    -Odentin

    Quote Originally Posted by Skype
    Odentin: Wait. Weren't we going to stop off in the capital and murder the emperor?
    Bladecutter: We might as well, it's on the way.
    GM: "We might was well" has never been used in that way!
    Bladecutter: Well, we really don't like him...

  5. - Top - End - #605
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Rebecca handcuffed and blindfolded Conrad with practiced ease and led him back to the passenger seat of her Crown Vic. Outside, Adam and Leon watched as the garage door opened and the large sedan emerged. By this time, the snowstorm was starting to abate.

    Similar to the trip from the bus station to Mr. Grey's shop, the return trip was very sinuous and indirect in an obvious attempt to confuse Conrad's sense of direction. Rebecca, obviously not a talkative one, remained silent for the duration of the trip. After maybe half an hour, she parked her car and removed Conrad's handcuffs and blindfold. They were back in the darkened parking garage near the bus station.

    "Okay, we're done," she grunted. "You know where to find me if you want to do business again."

    OOC:
    Spoiler
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    You can fast-forward to Conrad's return to the safe house if you want. I'm assuming Adam and Leon are still following the Crown Vic using the tracker.
    Spoiler
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    Running:
    Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)

    Playing:
    The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSummoner View Post
    Oh wow. I will never again underestimate [our characters'] ability to turn friendly conversation into a possible life or death situation.
    Quote Originally Posted by LeSwordfish View Post
    Ludo has a crowbar, if that helps.

  6. - Top - End - #606
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    It all seemed a blur, honestly. From the time that the blindfold was put on until he returned to the car garage, Conrad felt an odd sense of space and time, mostly because he couldn't easily track distance without the benefit of sight but also... Did it seem wimpy to say that these folks were a little bit gruesome? A homeless fanatic under the wing of an emaciated sterile-smelling old man with a cavalcade of dangerous and exotic ways to kill... And they were human! They didn't even have devil horns or anything. Why would people do something so sinister? In his short life, Conrad had met a lot of scum; junkies, gangbangers, used car salesmen and the like, but these folks were on a whole separate level. Their whole operation can tear Chicago apart. It wasn't as if Conrad felt a civic duty to stop them, but deep within his core, there was a friction against these people.

    As he was finally dropped off, Conrad gave a somewhat subdued response to Rebecca as he walked off. He couldn't remember exactly whether it was a "Sure, yeah..." or even a simple, "Uh-huh", but almost like someone who had realized the terrible situation he had just escaped, a sense of disillusion spread. Stuffing the fairly small mason jar in his pocket, Conrad moved through the streets of Chicago with a definite pace, keeping to lighted areas and finally stopping some five blocks from the complex outside a convenience store. He flipped open his phone and called the club. Frankly, he called Adam, the only one he actually knew and seemingly the de facto leader. His tone was terse and slightly flat as he listed off his address.

    Mission Complete. In a game, this would be the time where you could look at your score, see what kind of secrets you found, compare your rankings with others. Save your file. This was real life and as Conrad prepared a cherry slush with a mile long stare, he felt a deep sense of worry creep through, as if Mr. Grey knew the whole time... He wasn't safe.

  7. - Top - End - #607
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Rebecca left her car in the parking garage and walked away in the direction opposite Conrad, presumably to return to her usual haunt, the bus station. It was no longer snowing outside, but it would take time before the streets were cleared of snow.

    Adam had just parked his car on a lower level of the parking garage when his cellphone rang. The screen of his phone displayed Conrad's number.
    Spoiler
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    Running:
    Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)

    Playing:
    The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSummoner View Post
    Oh wow. I will never again underestimate [our characters'] ability to turn friendly conversation into a possible life or death situation.
    Quote Originally Posted by LeSwordfish View Post
    Ludo has a crowbar, if that helps.

  8. - Top - End - #608
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Adam parks the Jeep on the ground floor of the parking garage, expecting Conrad to come by and hop in on his own time. As the minutes pass, though, he begins to worry. If not for the wire feeding them the details of Talon's departure from Rebecca, he would go into full cavalry mode. As it is, however, he forces himself to remain calm, until the call comes in.
    Once he has the fencer's location, he hangs up and pulls the SUV out, muttering under his breath all the way to the street. A few minutes later, he silently pulls into the convenience store parking lot silently, hits the power locks without a word, and waits for Talon to climb in. He still says nothing as he drives back to his home, to the safety of the bunker beneath it. He only speaks if directly addressed by one of the others, expecting to have an at-length discussion of the night's events once underground once more...
    -Odentin

    Quote Originally Posted by Skype
    Odentin: Wait. Weren't we going to stop off in the capital and murder the emperor?
    Bladecutter: We might as well, it's on the way.
    GM: "We might was well" has never been used in that way!
    Bladecutter: Well, we really don't like him...

  9. - Top - End - #609
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Leon is the first back into the safehouse, where he promptly flops down on his makeshift couch and closes his eyes. "So. That was a thing. Talon, put the scorpion in the gun locker for now; I'll take it apart in the next couple of days. No one's going to look at me funny for dissecting a scorpion."
    Quote Originally Posted by CN the Logos View Post
    They're just there, and horribly fatal when one stumbles across them, like self-aware landmines.

  10. - Top - End - #610
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Jonah just kinda sits on the sofa, face cradled in his hands, staring into space thoughtfully. When the others enter, he looks up at them with a dour frown. "Well, that went... er... interestingly, I suppose could say."

    His frown deepens a bit at Conrad. "I'm glad to see you back in one piece. I'm not entirely happy with some of your actions and the risks you took, but I suppose you did your best, given the situation and the options presented to you. Now, have a seat. Would you like some coffee? I'm not about to interrogate you, at least not until you've had a moment to gather your thoughts and shake off the adrenaline." Factual and to the point, as always. But at least he's being courteous enough not to immediately bombard the poor Hunter with questions. Those can wait. For now.
    Anemoia: Nostalgia for a time you've never known.

  11. - Top - End - #611
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    The drive was quiet. Adam didn't seem to want to talk and frankly, neither did Conrad. For all intents and purposes, the mission was a success. Mr Gray had been infiltrated, his location now noted, and ready for a more tactical decision, however, the deeper implications still remained. How dangerous was this guy? Was something more sinister lurking beneath his benign yet creepy exterior? Beneath that, he felt like he made some sort of faux pas. The silence and the facial expression on his fellow hunter seemed to indicate that he made something foolish. Well, he would face the music eventually. In the meantime, he held the jar in his lap, pondering... Was there really a demon in this thing?

    Entering the safehouse, tensions was certainly buzzing. Conrad took little time to watch as he placed the scorpion jar on the counter. Happy to be away from it, he flopped onto a chair himself, weary from the extended espionage, "Guess that's how a spy feels in hostile territory. Knowing you could get crumpled at any minute by a false turn. A bit of a rush, but now I could use a good drink. So yeah, you heard what he said. This guy's serious stuff, but now we know where he is. How are we going to take the bastard out?"

  12. - Top - End - #612
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    "We need to know what he is first," Jonah says factually, with a dour little frown. "I need you to tell me everything you noticed about him. What he looked like, yes, but I need to know more. What he acted like, what he moved like, what he felt like. Was there anything wrong about him? It doesn't matter how trivial the information is, the more you can tell me about him, the better. And if you've got any skill with a pencil, by all means, give me a sketch. Even a shoddy one would suffice."

    Knowledge! Jonah needs knowledge!
    Last edited by Lycan 01; 2015-01-12 at 02:44 AM.
    Anemoia: Nostalgia for a time you've never known.

  13. - Top - End - #613
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    "A bit of a rush, but now I could use a good drink.

    "You're not driving home, are you?" asked Allison. She opened the liquor cabinet, right next to where she sat. "Huh, that thing's still pretty empty. So you got raspberry Smirnoff, white rum, room-temperature Guinness and... bleh, Fireball whiskey. Who drinks that? I can't stand the stuff."

    "How are we going to take the bastard out?"

    "Why are you going to take the bastard out?" Allison countered. When gazes turned her way, she said defensively: "This might be way above our weight category. I don't think it's losers like Danny who keep that man in business."

    OOC
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    Disclaimer: Allison's opinion of Fireball whiskey in no way reflects my own.
    Last edited by -Sentinel-; 2015-01-21 at 09:16 PM.
    Spoiler
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    Running:
    Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)

    Playing:
    The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSummoner View Post
    Oh wow. I will never again underestimate [our characters'] ability to turn friendly conversation into a possible life or death situation.
    Quote Originally Posted by LeSwordfish View Post
    Ludo has a crowbar, if that helps.

  14. - Top - End - #614
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Adam stares at Allison as she lists off the various liquors in the cabinet. After blinking a few times, he turns to Leon with a confused look, "When did you put a liquor cabinet in here? And why didn't you tell me?"

    After she asks her question, he clears his throat, "Some of the things he mentioned are seriously dangerous, especially in the wrong hands. Danny is a moron, but he had the good sense to put those hearts into something soft. In something harder, like a hard clay? Those things could be seriously lethal." He shakes his head and sighs, "A frontal assault is out of the question, though. We have to do this strategic like. I vote firebomb. Wait until the snow clears out a bit and we have some more maneuverability, set up a smaller fire within the same Department's area, then throw some firebombs in key locations. By the time the firemen get done with the first one and get to the target, it's too late. Hopefully we burn the bastard and all his stock in one go, and no one has to get up close and personal."
    -Odentin

    Quote Originally Posted by Skype
    Odentin: Wait. Weren't we going to stop off in the capital and murder the emperor?
    Bladecutter: We might as well, it's on the way.
    GM: "We might was well" has never been used in that way!
    Bladecutter: Well, we really don't like him...

  15. - Top - End - #615
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    At Adam's question, Leon glances over at the liquor cabinet and then at Adam. "I thought you were the one who put it in. It's been there for a while. I don't remember it being there when we first moved in, though."

    When Adam suggests firebombing the place, a stormy look passes over Leon' face, but only for a moment. "The scientist in me is screaming about all the lost data if we burn the place, but that doesn't change the fact that it needs to be destroyed. Of course, we can't just destroy the shop we found. Remember that Grey mentioned that he doesn't keep the really potent stuff anywhere near that place."
    Quote Originally Posted by CN the Logos View Post
    They're just there, and horribly fatal when one stumbles across them, like self-aware landmines.

  16. - Top - End - #616
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Adam shrugs and looks back at his girlfriend, "Any Coke to go with the rum?"

    "If we get Gray, then it won't matter where his potent stuff is. And that's still assuming he wasn't bluffing."
    -Odentin

    Quote Originally Posted by Skype
    Odentin: Wait. Weren't we going to stop off in the capital and murder the emperor?
    Bladecutter: We might as well, it's on the way.
    GM: "We might was well" has never been used in that way!
    Bladecutter: Well, we really don't like him...

  17. - Top - End - #617
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Leon shrugs as he settles back on his couch. "True, but do you really think it's wise to take him out and risk leaving a bunch of really powerful sh!t lying around unattended? He pauses and thinks for a moment, and then adds, "Course, we could see if what's-her-face, his assistant, can provide any information on where he keeps the good stuff. Maybe we'll get lucky."
    Quote Originally Posted by CN the Logos View Post
    They're just there, and horribly fatal when one stumbles across them, like self-aware landmines.

  18. - Top - End - #618
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    For a few seconds, Conrad sat in his seat, staring up at the smooth plastered ceiling. idly noticing the spreading bands of off-white stain going along in foot-wide intervals... He wasn't a contractor, but he wagered it might have been the weak spot, some two-by or shim or something that held up the plaster and the consistent mopping through the years had paid its toll. It made an interesting juxtaposition with the eggy wash of smoke from god knows how many years ago. It came to Conrad's realization that he didn't know if any of the club smoked. He hadn't taken all that much time to bond, focusing on the greater objective of hunting monsters and such. How ridiculous it was in retrospect.

    "So yeah, Mr White..." The Gambler let his eyes close, images flitting past his mental reservoir as he recalled the interaction not a few hours ago. Every bit of detail was essential... These fellas knew more about monsters, so he didn't want to skimp on his memory, "The first thing I remember was the smell. I have a feeling it was important. Lots of Lysol and disinfectants, even the stronger stuffs. I don't recall the garage itself being clean, so I figure it's Mr. Grey himself. Wants to cover up his smell. Aside from that. Well, picture a fella about my height but all bones, you can see them in his wrists, probably a ribcage you can marimba off of. Little bit of grey hair and a moustache. Yellowing skin. Not asian, but old. Probably a Czech from the accent, but I can't tell them apart. Must have been older than he looked. Didn't want to move much at all, but when he did.... When he fired the crossbow at Rebecca, he was ungodly fast."

    "Oh yeah, and the place... It was a garage. Couple old cars, tires... Not anything to write home about, but when we got into the shop proper... Christ. I never saw such a death room. With all the jars of preseved animals, those hearts you fellas were talking about. Weapons straight from a Ren Fair. All sorts of crap. You heard him talk with... eagerness about all the ways he could kill in that very room, and that place doesn't even have the really nasty ****. Damn, now I'm thirsty. Some of that whisky sounds like it'll hit the spot."

    Rising from his contemplation, he rustled in his pockets, pulling out half a pack of cigs and knocking one out of its confines. Twirling it with a finger, he offered, "Anything else you want to ask? I need to have a smoke."

  19. - Top - End - #619
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    "You can smoke in here unless anyone else objects. Too cold to force you outside." He sinks lower into his junk-couch, contemplating the implications of Conrad's description. "Vampire's a possibility, we know they're active here in the city, and given the levels of atrophy in the two I dissected, I don't think apparent physical age would meaningfully impede their motor functions. He could be 200 years old, and look it, and still move like a twenty-something. Of course, he could also just be an elderly man, using some of those trinkets of his to augment his failing body. Can't necessarily blame him if he is, growing old sucks. Either of those could explain the smell: vampire to cover the smell of blood if he'd recently had dinner, or grave dirt, I think I heard in one myth somewhere. Neither of the club vamps smelled like it, but then they couldn't grow claws, either, so there's probably different strains. Maybe different strains gave rise to different myths? I'm rambling."

    Leon pauses for a moment, collecting his thoughts. The young scientist bordered on manic at the best of times, and after the evening's excitement, it was a bit of a challenge to keep his thoughts from racing off on their own. "Anyway, him just being old could also explain the smell of disinfectant just due to regular use. Or recent use, if he was cleaning a different room than what you saw. I'm sure there are other possibilities that I'm forgetting about. Anyone else have any ideas?"
    Quote Originally Posted by CN the Logos View Post
    They're just there, and horribly fatal when one stumbles across them, like self-aware landmines.

  20. - Top - End - #620
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Jonah listens to Conrad intently, his eyes sharp and focused. It's clear that even though he's not writing anything down, he's absorbing every fact and detail, filing it away for analysis and future recollection. Eidetic memories are a wonderful thing...

    However... they're not much use if you haven't got the catalyst needed to put all that information together.

    Jonah closes his eyes, lost in thought for a moment after Conrad finishes. Finally, the scholar gives a deep sigh, and flops back to recline into the sofa cushions. "Congratulations, Conrad!" he states crisply, with a pleasant smile... before opening his eyes and frowning. "You've stumped me," he deadpans.

    The scholar rises from the sofa, folding his hands behind his back, and begins to idly stroll about the room. "Everything you've given me is informative. Important. Fascinating. But... it doesn't tell me what I need to know. It doesn't tell me what Grey is or isn't," he sighs. "I mean I could prattle on about things he could possibly be, but most of it would be grasping at straws. He... he could very well be anything!" he states with a roll of his eyes, clearly exasperated with the whole situation. "Vampire, werewolf, necromancer, lich, sorcerer, a demon clad in flesh, a ghost made manifest, a bored alien, a parasitic organism cavorting around in a dead body, an old man with way too much time on his hands..." he idly lists off, before turning back to frown at the group. "Those weren't serious theories, mind you. But none of them can be entirely discounted, either, unpleasantly enough."

    Jonah gives another shake of his head, shoulders slumping. "So yes. I'm stumped. I don't know what he is. And without that knowledge, I can't come up with a plan, or agree to one. Burning the place down could be pointless if he's a sorcerer and has anti-fire wardings or some sh!t like that set up. Kidnapping his henchwoman could be pointless if he's a vampire and she's a ghoul, or if she's otherwise enchanted or soul-bound or some bullsh!t like that. Taking the bastard down himself? Bah," he scoffs, waving a hand dismissively. "That would be a tough task even if we knew what he was. The most we'd accomplish now would be, at best, amusing him. He may even be expecting it. That's a pleasant thought..." he muses.

    The young occultist sighs again, before sauntering over to the liquor cabinet. "I may have already mentioned it, but I suppose it bears repeating. I'm going to let you in on a little... not so much secret, but an unpleasant truth. My mentor at Ashwood Abbey advised me against going after... not Mister Grey specifically, but entities of his sort. Powerful, mysterious, lots of connections. Not because Ashwood has an interest in protecting or associating with such entities. Perish the thought. But rather... well... It's a bitter pill to swallow, but there are just some things beyond the scope of what even the best-equipped Hunter cadres can handle."

    He plucks a shot glass from the cabinet, and begins to idly peruse the selection of booze. "I fear Mister Grey may fall into that category. We are, simply put, barking up the wrong tree. Our best bet may not be taking out Grey himself, but rather..." he starts to pour a shot of whiskey, "Taking out his customers. Vampires, occultists, the occasional dumbass like that Danny fellow. Mayhaps monitor his shop, and see who or what frequents it. Of course, even then, that could come back to bite us. Or eat us. Or shred our souls into tatters of transcendental suffering." He shrugs, and turns to look back at the group, taking a casual sip of his booze. "No telling, really," he idly muses with an aloof smile.
    Anemoia: Nostalgia for a time you've never known.

  21. - Top - End - #621
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    When the RPG club parted ways for the night, its members were still feeling indecisive about the whole situation. They agreed to sleep on it and keep an eye out for any developments arising from this.




    Sunday, January 12th


    Ellen Dobson was certainly dedicated to her job as editor-in-chief - even on a Sunday morning, she posted an update on the campaign on the website of the Maxwell University newspaper.

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    It would seem that the naked pictures of Ashley Parsons that were leaked yesterday have not deterred the candidate, who has steadfastly owned up to the pics. When called to comment on the scandal, she replied, and I quote: "Scandal? What scandal? That I have nude pics of myself? No, the only scandal is that someone literally stole my boyfriend's laptop to get them. Whoever did this thinks they're literally the next Julian Assange. Well, I've got some news from you, you thief: I literally don't give a flying [expletive deleted] about the pics. If you give my boyfriend his laptop back, I'll even give you more nude pics. What I do with my own body is less shameful than what you do with other people's property."

    On her social media, candidate and incumbent president Michelle Warner had some harsh words for Ashley, calling "disgraceful" her cavalier attitude regarding the pictures and adding later in the day that Ashley "brought this on herself by taking the pics in the first place". In turn, Christina Arkin, head of the Maxwell Feminist Council, has sternly denounced Michelle's comments as "the kind of puritanical slut-shaming that sets women's rights back by six decades", and thrown her support behind Ashley. Candidate Zach Lewis's response to the leak also drew criticism, with some on Facebook and Twitter calling him a "misogynistic douche" and "the reason why frat bros have such a terrible reputation".

    No matter the net effect of the leak on Ashley's campaign, the political landscape has certainly changed since Joshua Chapman's unexpected withdrawal from the race. Notably, Michelle Warner's support has melted away in less than two days due to widespread but completely unfounded suspicions that she had a hand in the assault and battery against Joshua. Nevertheless, the incumbent president is not giving up, and may even have a few ideas to turn the tide - more on this in the Monday issue! According to the last poll (before the leak), Ashley was ahead, with Zach Lewis and "comrade" Max Hodges not far behind.

    There will be no poll results today or tomorrow, since even your humble editor-in-chief cannot conduct a reliable survey on a weekend.



    Outside, the Windy City was being slower and quieter than usual; not only was it Sunday, but the heavy snowfall from last night still made it difficult to move around despite the city's ongoing efforts to clear the streets. The sky was cloudy, but the temperature was thankfully a tad warmer (relatively speaking) than yesterday.


    OOC
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    I don't have a whole lot of things planned for today in-game. Most events in the story are directly linked to the campaign, which takes place on weekdays. Unless somebody has specific plans, I will skip over the rest of the day.
    Last edited by -Sentinel-; 2015-03-19 at 08:42 PM.
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    Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)

    Playing:
    The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSummoner View Post
    Oh wow. I will never again underestimate [our characters'] ability to turn friendly conversation into a possible life or death situation.
    Quote Originally Posted by LeSwordfish View Post
    Ludo has a crowbar, if that helps.

  22. - Top - End - #622
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Monday, January 13th

    Monday brought back the usual buzz of activity on campus. It was hard to turn a corner without being assaulted with the sights and sounds of the campaign for student council president. Zach Lewis, in particular, had gone all-out, with many enormous posters and professionally-designed pamphlets. Conrad noticed that the graphic design of pretty much all of Zach's campaign material was credited to Asuka, the cute international student who waited tables at the coffee shop. He remembered her telling him that she worked on Zach's campaign because of the very generous wages he paid his employees. At this rate, it seemed like Zach would be spending more money just to get elected than what he would get from the Slater Scholarship offered to the winner of the election. Then again, Zach was filthy rich and had stated that money mattered little to him, but it seemed rather strange that a frat boy known as a deadbeat partygoer would suddenly be so interested in student politics.

    In the print version of the Maxwell Chronicle, pretty much all articles and editorials were devoted to the campaign. An announcement of note was Michelle's food drive for the needy. The charity event was not officially linked to her campaign, but its timing was of course highly suspect, despite Michelle organizing it off-campus (at a nearby church) to maintain plausible deniability as to her intentions. The event was to take place this very day and last from one to five in the afternoon. Michelle had milked her fame as the face of the Halloween Massacre survivors to get a number of local celebrities and VIPs to attend the drive, including a state senator, a judge, two players of the Chicago Bears, a retired police commissioner and a few businesspeople. Their attendance was, of course, highly publicized. There was also to be live jazz and blues music, performed by several semi-famous Chicago bands. One had to admit that whatever her faults may be, Michelle's planning skills and network of contacts in high places were impressive; as far as Jacob knew, she had whipped up this logistically complex event over the weekend, which was quite an exploit.

    The other Chronicle piece that drew major attention was Adam's open letter to Michelle, signed Geoffrey Wade.

    Spoiler
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    An open letter to Michelle Warner


    Michelle,
    While it brings me (and countless others, no doubt) limitless joy to see you falling so far behind in the polls, I do feel some small amount of pity for you. It is because of this that I write this open letter to you, in an attempt to clarify WHY people are fed up with you. Perhaps this will help you grow as a person, though I doubt it.
    First off, you need to stop using the Halloween Massacre as a weapon. You have been using that night as a justification for your terrible attitude for two years, now. While I won't trivialize what happened to Gavin, you need to understand that you aren't the only one who has ever lost someone, especially not on this campus, or on that night. In fact, judging by how soon you started showing up with your new thug boyfriend, I'd wager that you got some kind of closure when Jamie Price was arrested. Continuing to harp on about how your boyfriend died while hanging off the arm of a new guy just seems disingenuous.
    Secondly, the religion thing. Not that there is anything wrong with being a Christian, but forcing it down the throats of everyone else, while holding on to this holier-than-thou attitude while treating people like garbage, is hypocritical. No one really cares what your religious beliefs are. Your actions matter, not what God you believe in.
    Finally, is the falsity. You hide it well, but the facade you put on for everyone is all a lie, and we know it. You smile sweetly and speak well (usually), but we all know that you're two-faced and manipulative.

    I doubt you will take any of this to heart, but it matters not. I don't hold to the belief that you hired a thug (or thugs) to attack Mr Chapman, but it seems that many others do. I also don't believe you will win this election, which is rather good news for Maxwell. You do not deserve the position. You are a corrupt and vile person. I pity you, but that is not enough to earn my vote. And I am not alone in this.

    -Geoffrey Wade


    Jacob had just finished reading the open letter when he got a text from Michelle:

    Get to the campaign HQ ASAP.


    .
    Last edited by -Sentinel-; 2015-04-07 at 08:08 PM.
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    Running:
    Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)

    Playing:
    The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSummoner View Post
    Oh wow. I will never again underestimate [our characters'] ability to turn friendly conversation into a possible life or death situation.
    Quote Originally Posted by LeSwordfish View Post
    Ludo has a crowbar, if that helps.

  23. - Top - End - #623
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Skimming through a copy of the Chronicle he had found en route to his first class, Leon is slightly amused by the notion of Michelle's food drive, but makes a mental note to swing by the grocery store and pick up a couple of non-perishables for it just the same. He also makes a note to pick up some Little Debbie snacks for the kids. His face brightens considerably upon seeing the letter, and he continues on his way with a smug grin on his face. Glad to see somebody else is fed up with her BS, too. Wonder who wrote it? He stops suddenly and chuckles as a thought occurs to him. Wonder if she'll think I wrote it? Meh, maybe if she remembers the monument incident. Ah well, that wouldn't be so bad. It'd be nice to have an enemy that doesn't want to eat me for once.
    Last edited by ToySoldierCPlus; 2015-04-13 at 06:18 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by CN the Logos View Post
    They're just there, and horribly fatal when one stumbles across them, like self-aware landmines.

  24. - Top - End - #624
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    OOC
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    I'm skipping straight to the ending so we can put this behind us without having to leave the story hanging. All apologies for the wall of text; I'm condensing in one post what was supposed to take much longer.







    The rest of the week was rather chaotic, even by the standards of Maxwell University, as the campaign for student council president reached new heights – or new lows, depending on one’s perspective. The promise of a juicy Slater Scholarship for both the council president and class reps had stirred up something ugly in the candidates and their closest allies. No punches were pulled, no backs went unstabbed, and few of the candidates’ friendships survived the ordeal.

    Michelle’s food drive, on Monday, was perhaps the only good thing to come out of the whole mess. It was a success where its official purpose was concerned, being attended by a large number of local celebrities and managing to raise a sum that was comfortably into the five digits, in no small part thanks to the extensive network of wealthy contacts cultivated by Michelle and her boyfriend Kale. However, by mid-week, few Maxwell students were still talking about the event, as it had been swiftly eclipsed in conversations by the less positive goings on of the campaign.

    On Monday evening, when candidate Ashley Parsons returned to her tiny apartment after a hard day of campaigning, her smoke detector was blaring and the air was filled with smoke that stank of burnt meat and hair. She was quick to find the source of the smell – her pet rabbit, burned to a crisp in the oven. The perpetrator had left her a simple note in red lipstick on the mirror of her bathroom: WITHDRAW. First thing in the morning, Ashley posted a terse message on Facebook announcing that she was dropping out of the race. She did not turn up to class for the rest of the week, but sources close to her testified that the killing of her rabbit had – justifiably – shaken her.

    Shortly afterwards, Brandon – Ashley’s boyfriend and campaign manager – encouraged Ashley’s orphaned supporters to vote for Zach Lewis instead. This struck many as strange, given Zach’s lewd remarks to Ashley’s leaked nude pics just a few days earlier. Word on campus had it that Zach, not blessed with an excess of subtlety and never one to let a crisis go to waste, had outright bought Brandon’s support to bolster his own campaign. This seemed consistent with the many reports of bribery that had been plaguing him since the start of the election. If half of the rumors about his bribes and the salaries he paid his staffers were true, he must have spent much more on his campaign than he could ever hope to earn by winning it.

    The same day that Ashley’s apartment was broken into, highly specific death threats were sent to several candidates via a Twitter account under the name of Max Hodges. “Comrade” Max, the top contender by this point of the campaign by virtue of being the only one not caught up in some kind of scandal or controversy, claimed in his defense that he was not even on Twitter, and pointed out that the offending account was less than a day old and had no followers. Several students from Max’s drama class, plus a teacher, testified that Max was rehearsing a play with them at the time some the tweets had been sent, making him a highly unlikely suspect unless he used a script to send delayed tweets. Lastly, Max and his supporters remarked, who would be stupid enough to send threats under their real name while campaigning for student council president? Most likely, someone had been impersonating him.

    The very next morning, Ellen Dobson, head of the student newspaper, posted an open letter to the principal, demanding that the election be cancelled this year. “Things have gone too far,” she wrote. “The promise of money to the winner of the election has poisoned the entire democratic process. Far from making students interested in politics, it has been destroying our faith in the system. When candidates are dropping out because of attacks and threats against them, it is safe to say that no victory can be legitimate. You have been silent for too long, Mr. Thompson. It is time for you to live up to your responsibilities.”

    Her letter must have fallen on deaf ears – nobody saw Mr. Thompson that week. Even teachers, when asked about his whereabouts, would only shrug and explain that they were equally puzzled. The principal was said to be on campus (the continued presence of his Buick in the parking lot attested to that), but any attempt to speak to him was stonewalled by his secretary, who was apparently under strict orders to keep everyone away from her employer. Even direct emails to him remained unanswered.

    On Wednesday morning, the last day before voting day, Zach Lewis quietly fired his campaign manager, Jeremy, with no announcement or explanation. If he hoped no one would notice, he was disappointed; the ever-vigilant Ellen Dobson learned of it almost immediately and started sniffing the trail, knowing there had to be a dirty secret behind this. From an anonymous source within Zach’s campaign team, she learned that Jeremy was the one who, last week, had stolen Brandon’s laptop – containing Ashley’s nude selfies – and leaked its contents, without Zach’s knowledge or approval. However, some other pics on the laptop were protected by password, and Jeremy had just consulted Zach in hopes that the frat student could point him to an acquaintance capable of hacking those pictures. As it turned out, Zach drew a line somewhere, and did not tolerate overtly illegal activity in his campaign.

    In the evening, a last-ditch attempt was made to take Michelle Warner out of the race. Michelle, who had gone up in the polls since her food drive, was walking home after dark with her boyfriend Kale when three well-built young men got in her way, obviously intent on breaking a couple of bones. They were smart enough to target Kale first, since they knew he could handle himself in a brawl, but made the mistake of underestimating Michelle, who had been getting hand-to-hand lessons from her boyfriend and never went anywhere without a can of pepper spray. When the dust cleared, the relatively unscathed couple had to call both an ambulance and the police. The attackers all happened to be members of Maxwell U’s football team – on which they would not be playing for a while, given their injuries. This was as good as a smoking gun against candidate Dwight Thorpe, who enjoyed the unswerving support of pretty much all of his football teammates. The attempted attack also matched the pattern of the assault against Joshua Chapman, the previous week.

    Thursday, voting day, was thankfully rather free of foul play. Ellen Dobson wrote an editorial exhorting the student council to dismiss Dwight’s candidacy, given last night’s event, but it was apparently too late for that. It would not have done much good, anyway; Dwight’s campaign had already crashed and burned, and the man himself was under an investigation that might lead to his expulsion from the football team or even the university. The only serious candidates left for the top position were Michelle, Zach and Max, who were almost equal in the polls. As the joke candidate, Max was getting the support of pretty much everyone who did not want to choose between a Bible thumper and a drunken frat boy.

    Despite several calls to boycott the election, turnout at the polling stations was very high, above 70 percent of full-time students; over double the turnout of previous elections. The booths closed at five in the afternoon, and the announcement of the new student council president – and all class representatives – was to take place at six in a special ceremony in Tyler Hall. Mr. Thompson was supposed to come out of wherever he was hiding to announce the winners, while Douglas Slater, as the sponsor, was to present the cheques.

    At 5:50, the better part of the student body was gathered in the vast room, chatting excitedly while waiting for Thompson and Slater to appear. Michelle, Zach and Max all stood on the front rows, surrounded by their closest supporters and staffers. Michelle and Zach seemed rather nervous despite their smiles, while Comrade Max, still in character, projected the sneering arrogance of the tin-pot dictator he was roleplaying.


    OOC
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    Pausing briefly here to let you catch up. The part of the story I've been building up to is about to begin.
    Last edited by -Sentinel-; 2015-05-27 at 08:51 PM.
    Spoiler
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    Running:
    Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)

    Playing:
    The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSummoner View Post
    Oh wow. I will never again underestimate [our characters'] ability to turn friendly conversation into a possible life or death situation.
    Quote Originally Posted by LeSwordfish View Post
    Ludo has a crowbar, if that helps.

  25. - Top - End - #625
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Leon sat on the far edge of one of the rows in Tyler Hall. He'd voted for Max Hodges, if only because of the guy's dedication to his character and former connections to the RPG club. Been a hell of a week so far. Assorted crimes against the remaining candidates, Mr. Thompson's invisibility, and a general sense of unease over the whole campus. Lots of fun all around, except for us. He, at least, hadn't had the opportunity to do anything about any of the situations the RPG club was ostensibly monitoring. Mr. Grey remained at large, and the scorpion undissected. Presently, it was stored, inert, in the same case Mr. Grey had sold it to Conrad in, now with the addition of significant amounts of duct tape to ensure there could be no breaches. The duct tape had been Leon's idea: never a fan of arachnids in the first place, his research into that species of scorpion had revealed it not to be particularly deadly, but Adam and Jonah's concerns had struck a chord with him. As for the assorted foul play and general awfulness surrounding the election, while he had been paying attention, he hadn't seen many opportunities to get involved in doing anything about it. And so, aside from a small donation of various canned goods, peanut butter, Ritz crackers, and Little Debbie snack cakes to the food drive Michelle had organized, Leon had done very little of consequence during the last few days.

    Pulling out a cosmic brownie (he had picked up an extra box of those for himself, since he was buying them anyway), he unwrapped it and began to eat, pondering how the election would turn out. Wonder who's going to win? Hopefully not Michelle, but beyond that... Eh. Something honestly seems wrong with all this. Foul play and mudslinging are common in any election, welcome to Human Nature 101, but this has gone well beyond the norm. Is it just because of the money? That can't be it. This is so far beyond the expected level of viciousness... I mean, burning Ashley's rabbit alive? Yeah, fine, I didn't want her in the race, either, but that's just cruel. Not to mention the risk of jail time for breaking and entering and cruelty to animals. Not that she doesn't deserve some sort of punishment for her behavior, but Michelle almost getting beaten by those thugs? That's just not right. Three on one, football players versus a scrawny twig like her? Good thing Kale was there. We know who leaked Ashley's nudes now, so that's something. I wonder if that kid had anything to do with her rabbit? He pauses his train of thought, chewing on the last bite of his brownie while his subconscious cogitates for him. Wonder if it's all connected somehow? Danny Novak and his snowlems, the mysterious Mr. Grey, this Douglas Slater person, the money for the winner of the election, all this foul play and general awfulness... Were we looking at it wrong the whole time? What if Mr. Grey has ties to Douglass Slater? And what about Mr. Thompson? Could he be in on whatever's going on here, too? That's an alarming thought.
    Quote Originally Posted by CN the Logos View Post
    They're just there, and horribly fatal when one stumbles across them, like self-aware landmines.

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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Adam sits next to Leon and Allison, quietly scanning the room. This week had been nuts. Adam had been torn almost every night between patrolling and hanging out with his girlfriend, to the point where she had accompanied him one night (Adam had made a vain attempt at talking her out of it, but you can't argue with a psych major). He hadn't been out the night that Michelle was attacked, but he was thankful that Kale was there with her...and thankful that Kale had pulled his punches. Adam knows what Kale could have done if he had been in full combat-mode.
    All in all, he feels helpless. This whole situation SCREAMS that it's the RPG Club's kind of fight, but without any real leads to run with, he hasn't been able to make any progress. For the first time in half a decade, Adam misses his father. Dad would know what to do, how to ferret out the source behind all of this...

    He glances over at Allison, squeezes her hand, and smiles. Time for this whole fiasco to draw to a close. Hopefully with a peaceful resolution. He glances at the door, just a few paces away, retracing the emergency plan. He has his Jeep parked just outside the hall; he parked it there in the middle of the night last night, just in case. Inside was his weapon and gear, although he prays he doesn't have to use it in public. Too many questions if there is a repeat of Halloween. Thankfully, he also thought to bring along a few guns from the armory, for the other members of his group. A long sigh escapes through his nose. Hopefully tonight goes down without incident.

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Adam voted for Max, as well, for the same reasons as Leon.
    -Odentin

    Quote Originally Posted by Skype
    Odentin: Wait. Weren't we going to stop off in the capital and murder the emperor?
    Bladecutter: We might as well, it's on the way.
    GM: "We might was well" has never been used in that way!
    Bladecutter: Well, we really don't like him...

  27. - Top - End - #627
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Douglas Slater was first to arrive on the stage. The businessman as, as always, sharply dressed in a dark three-piece suit. He put on a smile, took up the microphone, and called for silence. Only half of the room quieted down, then resumed chatting when they saw the other half was not cooperating. Two more attempts by Slater to start his speech had similar results.

    When Owen Thompson stepped on the stage, the audience fell deadly silent in an instant.

    Calling him bedraggled would be a gross understatement. With his scruffy hair and beard, he looked like a homeless man who had found his suit and tie in a dumpster. His clothes were rumpled and stained, and one of his shoes was untied, though he did not seem to notice (or care). His face was lean and pale and had a sickly look to it. He emanated a foul smell, as if he had not washed in a while. What made the whole thing incredibly disturbing was his demeanor; rather than the haggard expression one would expect given his appearance, he stood straight and with an air of cool authority and dignity, as if unaware of how he looked.

    “The hell is going on,” murmured Allison, her hand in Adam's.

    Shocked whispers began coursing through the room. Douglas Slater seemed somewhat embarrassed, though not especially surprised or puzzled. Thompson walked over to the microphone and cleared his throat; unlike Slater, he was able to command immediate and undivided attention, for all the wrong reasons.

    “Good evening,” he said, his voice strong but somewhat raspy, like his mouth was dry. “Thank you for coming in large numbers as we conclude the election. I wish to congratulate you all for participating in the democratic process.”

    There was something a bit off about the tone of that last sentence. He sounded almost sarcastic and dismissive, as if sneering at the very notion of the democratic process.

    “We, at Maxwell University, take very seriously our mission to educate,” Thompson went on, “and education is not limited the classroom. This election, too, was an opportunity to learn how the world works, and how to fit into it. Look at your candidates.” An unsettlingly large grin spread across his face. “Look at how they cheated and lied. Look at their violence, their treachery, and their disdain for every principle that democracy holds dear. And most of them did it for a scholarship. For money. Given all that happened these past two weeks, are you still naďve enough to think your voices amount to anything? Do you still believe there is real power at the polls? As a teacher, I cannot let you cling to such ridiculous notions. Let me drive the point home: I hereby declare all of your votes null and void.”

    The entire audience stood with their mouths agape, scarcely able to believe Thompson’s scornful words. The candidates in particular – not only those for the student council, but also the numerous would-be class representatives – looked as if next Christmas had been cancelled. The only one who did not seem surprised was Slater, who nonetheless fingered his tie nervously as if expecting Hell to break loose at any moment. There was, indeed, a palpable aura of hostility growing.

    “But... the scholarship,” said someone weakly from the back of the room.

    Thompson’s grin widened even more. “Ah yes, the scholarship. Your candidates may have relied on the power of public opinion, but deep down, most of them still understood the name of the game. They knew that playing fair and square would not give them victory. I am not condemning them; they are, in fact, the wisest people in this room. Here, young people, is the most valuable lesson you will ever get: if you want something, you have to take it... because the world does not care whether you deserve it. You came here to know who gets the big, juicy prize, didn’t you? I’ll give it to whoever can wrench it from the dead hands of the one who currently has it.”

    Hundreds of students just stared at him in puzzlement... then dawning understanding. For the benefit of the slower-witted, Thompson clarified his last statement.

    “Michelle Warner,” he said, pointing at the stunned-looking president of the student council in the front row. “Kill her, and you get the scholarship.”

    He snapped his fingers.

    And the room exploded into pandemonium.

    As one, scores – perhaps hundreds – of students let out an animalistic roar and began shoving their way towards Michelle, their faces contorted with bloodlust. The one closest to her, a member of her own staff, managed to grab the front of her shirt before Kale brought him down with a single, well-aimed punch to the face... but yet more were coming, from every direction. A few of Michelle’s campaign workers rallied to defend their bewildered leader, but most of them were not fighters, unlike Kale, and had trouble containing the tide of attackers. Meanwhile, most of the students not caught up in the hysteria scrambled for the nearest exits, unwilling to stay and see how the situation would turn out.

    A look of savage exultation twisted Mr. Thompson’s face. “KILL HER!” he screamed, barely audible over the chaos. “KILL HER FOR ME!”


    OOC
    Spoiler
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    Everybody roll Resolve + Composure, with a -2 penalty if you have Greed as a flaw.

    You, and all students in the room, are being hit by a greed spell that has been building all over the campus during the two weeks of the election. If you fail the test, you are so overcome with greed that you are willing to murder Michelle for the scholarship. Your character now passes under GM control, and remains so for the rest of the scene (or unless something happens to make you snap out of it, at my discretion).

    If you pass the test (one success is enough), you are free to act normally. This scene plays out much like a combat situation, but the chaos and the sheer number of combatants makes the normal combat rules impractical when it comes to Michelle’s situation. I will soon post some homebrewed rules to simplify it all. For now, just make your roll and indicate what you want to do. Don’t worry too much about distances and positions, but if you wish to make a movement (be it towards an exit, towards Michelle or towards Thompson), you need to make a Strength or Dexterity test to push or weave your way through the crowd – one success takes you where you want, while failure means you must try again next round.

    Since your characters are near the front of the audience (third or fourth row), the nearest exits are the ones on the stage, leading backstage. The way there takes you right past Thompson and Slater, who don’t seem to be making any effort to keep people from fleeing.
    Last edited by -Sentinel-; 2015-06-04 at 06:37 PM.
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    Running:
    Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)

    Playing:
    The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSummoner View Post
    Oh wow. I will never again underestimate [our characters'] ability to turn friendly conversation into a possible life or death situation.
    Quote Originally Posted by LeSwordfish View Post
    Ludo has a crowbar, if that helps.

  28. - Top - End - #628
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Resolve + Composure: (6d10)[2][4][6][8][4][3](27)
    Edit: Closer than I would have liked, but I'll take it.


    Adam stares, dumbfounded, as the scene unfolds. He feels a small twinge of bloodlust at the command, but manages to push it down. When he sees the sheer number of people rushing Michelle, though, even ones who he knows are already on full scholarships or otherwise don't need the money, his eyes narrow. He glances over at Leon and Allison before he acts, comfortable in the fact that Kale will be able to protect Michelle, at least for the time being. Hopefully he doesn't kill any of them in the process...

    Spoiler: OOC
    Show
    Checking to see what Leon and Allison are going to do. I doubt Parkour will have any affect on the crowd, but I'll mention it in the off chance that it'll help.
    Last edited by Odentin; 2015-06-04 at 07:43 PM.
    -Odentin

    Quote Originally Posted by Skype
    Odentin: Wait. Weren't we going to stop off in the capital and murder the emperor?
    Bladecutter: We might as well, it's on the way.
    GM: "We might was well" has never been used in that way!
    Bladecutter: Well, we really don't like him...

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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

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    Rolling first, to see what Leon can do: Resolve + Composure (5d10) (5d10)[3][7][7][10][9](36)

    EDIT: I was worried for a moment.


    Leon looks like he's about to leap up, but then thinks better of it and leans toward Allison and Adam. He felt the tug of magic at the edges of his mind, but he remembered Gregory's trick and was able to resist. "This isn't good," he shouts over the roar of the crowd. "We might be in over our heads! We need to get up there and get Michelle out of here! We can deal with Thompson and Slater later."
    Last edited by ToySoldierCPlus; 2015-06-05 at 12:41 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by CN the Logos View Post
    They're just there, and horribly fatal when one stumbles across them, like self-aware landmines.

  30. - Top - End - #630
    Titan in the Playground
     
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    Default Re: [nWoD] Campus Vigilantes 3: The Root of All Evil

    Quote Originally Posted by ToySoldierCPlus View Post
    "This isn't good," he shouts over the roar of the crowd. "We might be in over our heads! We need to get up there and get Michelle out of here! We can deal with Thompson and Slater later."
    Jonah and Conrad nodded in acknowledgement, already shifting into a battle stance and preparing to move, but Leon's words were clearly lost on Jacob, who was already pushing his way towards Michelle with a maniacal look in his face – clearly swept up by whatever murderous frenzy had seized many of the assembled students.

    Attacked from every direction, Michelle was already in dire straits. The berserk students came against her with everything they had; most with only their hands and feet, but others with pens, keys and other sharp tools, tripping over each other with no regard for strategy or personal safety. Michelle’s campaign workers were brave and loyal, but they were not fighters, and they could do little to get in the way of the storm of kicks and punches aimed at their leader. Kale was doing his best – without him, Michelle might have gone down in the first few seconds – but he could only defend his girlfriend from one direction at a time. For every attack he blocked, two landed on Michelle, soon covering her with vicious bruises and scratches. The usually composed president of the student council fought back with ineffective frenzy like a person covered in bees, and screamed for help at the top of her lungs.

    Up on the stage, Mr. Thompson laughed and laughed.
    Spoiler
    Show
    Running:
    Voyages of the Ghostlight (Risus)

    Playing:
    The Bloody Crown (WFRP) as Elsabeth Holt, rogue pyromancer and court wizard

    Quote Originally Posted by TheSummoner View Post
    Oh wow. I will never again underestimate [our characters'] ability to turn friendly conversation into a possible life or death situation.
    Quote Originally Posted by LeSwordfish View Post
    Ludo has a crowbar, if that helps.

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