Choose Your Own Adventure: Urban Fantasy Edition

[Heliomance]

Choice 1
>I'll tail the vampire in my truck.

Choice 2
>I played a mean game of hide-n'-seek back in my grade school days.

Choice 3
>I drive for a living. It's no problem.

Sounds good.

[GorinichSerpant]

choice 1:
>tail the vampire on truck

choice 2:
>good at hide and seek

Choice 3:
>could become a stunt women

[Liodre]

Choice 1
>I'll tail the vampire in my truck.

Choice 2
>I played a mean game of hide-n'-seek back in my grade school days.

Choice 3
>I drive for a living. It's no problem.

[blacklight101]

Choice 1
>I'll tail the vampire in my truck.

Choice 2
>I played a mean game of hide-n'-seek back in my grade school days.

Choice 3
>I drive for a living. It's no problem.

I like this, +1

[The_Werebear]

Choice 1
>I'll tail the vampire on foot.

Choice 2
>I played a mean game of hide-n'-seek back in my grade school days.

Choice 3
>I drive for a living. It's no problem.

[CarpeGuitarrem]

Spoiler: OOC

Show

A quick Wikipedia check reveals that it's from Yiddish laks. Not surprising, since it's something of a staple in Jewish cuisine.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Yup! It gained prominence from the rise of Jewish delis in New York, and has since spread across the US. Mm-mm lox.

Choice 1
>I'll tail the sketchy dude on foot.

Choice 2
>I'm about as subtle as a sharknado in a china shop.

Choice 3
>I was actually planning on becoming a professional stunt(wo?)man. I went through the whole training course, got certified, did a couple low-budget movies. Then, one day on the set, the other stunt guy they hired headbutted me in the chest. While his legs and most of his torso were still 50 yards away shooting a chase scene. I decided that driving around cadavers was a safer way to get paid, but stay behind the wheel.

[rs2excelsior]

Choice 1
>I'll tail the vampire in my truck.

Choice 2
>I played a mean game of hide-n'-seek back in my grade school days.

Choice 3
>I drive for a living. It's no problem.

[Tarlek Flamehai]

Choice 1
>I'll tail the vampire on foot.

Choice 2
>I played a mean game of hide-n'-seek back in my grade school days.

Choice 3
>I can manage to get from A to B. With a map. And written directions. If it's sunny. And the traffic isn't bad.

[Visivicous]

Choice 1
>I'll tail the vampire on foot.

Choice 2
>I played a mean game of hide-n'-seek back in my grade school days.

Choice 3
>I drive for a living. It's no problem.

[Xefas]

Character Sheet

Spoiler

Show

High Concept: Part-Time Vampire Hunter
Other Aspects: Justice Be Done; Luddite
Will: *** *** *** *

Skills
Driving: Fair
Investigation: Good
Melee Weapons: Good
Rapport: Fair
Stealth: Average

Equipment
Wallet (No Cash)
Keys
Bowie Knife
Ostensibly Worthless Amulet (Slightly Broken)
Vampiric SIM Card

Other Possessions
Big Ol' Pickup Truck

Mechanics: Exercising Free Will

Spoiler

Show

Now seems like a good time to introduce a new mechanic. In Fate-based games, they're called Fate Points, but in the Dresden Files, they represent essentially the opposite of 'fate', so for maintaining the aesthetic for this adventure, I'm going to call it 'Free Will', or just 'Will' for short.

Free Will is the difference between a person and a monster. People have choice. Monsters have nature. A vampire is a predator; it sees humans as food. It cannot choose to do otherwise. It's a collection of hungers and instincts that use a humanoid form and the vestiges of a humanoid mind to get what it wants. For a more sympathetic example - an angel is the same way. Angels were created without free will. They can no more deny the shackles of their nature - a nature of justice, righteousness, and utter servitude - than a vampire can.

Humans, however, can fight their nature, and they can fight the course of fate and find a new destiny for themselves, other than the one prescribed by the universe. They have what we'll call Reserves of Will. These Reserves generate Free Will from nothing, up to a certain amount depending on the person, refilling a human's capacity for true choice every now and again. Most humans will never actually exercise their full potential in this regard, but those that do tend to be quite exceptional individuals.

In the middle, we have humans that have been touched by the supernatural - they are both human and other. These include sorcerers, half-breeds, werewolves, divine champions and so on. While these statuses give great power, they also require giving over one's self, one's humanity, to that power, and losing some of one's Reserves of Will in the process. If one's Reserves are reduced to nothing, and thereby they can no longer generate their own Free Will, they become slaves to their nature just as any monster. This doesn't necessarily make them a bad person - a holy paladin that dives too deeply into the power of their benevolent deity might lose their capacity to be anything other than holy and benevolent. Whether or not that's tragic is up to your point of view. It was their choice to do so, after all. Their last choice.

Now, what can you do with Free Will? There are a number of things, but we'll focus on the simplest application. You can spend some to give yourself an edge in a contest. If you throw a punch, and fate ordains that you miss, you can tell fate to shove off and hit anyway. There's just one little proviso. Free Will isn't exactly omnipotence - you can't suddenly become a world-class knitter if you've never knit anything before, or sneak up on someone from the front in broad daylight in a clown suit while they're looking right at you. Your Will needs a conduit through which to work; a justification for how events might change to alter your course.

Fortunately, in this case, you're a Part-Time Vampire Hunter. Being a Vampire Hunter is enough justification to give you a bonus on just about anything involving the hunting and slaying of vampires if you've got the Will to spend. But, if you were facing off against say, a demon, you'd need to use the environment or other character quirks to aid you.

For now, since it has not yet been established whether or not the main character has any supernatural oomph, we'll assume she has a Reserve of 10, and therefore 10 Will to spend. (That's a lot.)

You wait for the vampire to move to the other side of the crosswalk, then discreetly leave the bookstore and slide into your truck a little ways further down the street. Then the stalking begins. The vampire continues walking north for a few blocks, turns eastward, walks another block, then enters his own vehicle - a small black sedan, maybe a few years old. You scribble the license plate on a pad of paper.

Choice 1
>I continue following him across town. It feels like he might've noticed me, but he hasn't made any erratic movements. Still, my instincts tell me to keep my distance just to be safe. (No chance of losing the target, high chance of being noticed.)
>I continue following him across town. I notice him eying me, trying to decide if I'm a threat or just happenstance. I could back off, try to be a bit sneakier, a bit more evasive, hope he doesn't notice me. That's how prey acts, and this is a vampire - every sense tuned to inhuman acuity to find prey. No, I'm going to get right up in his face, act like just another ass on the road. He won't see me coming. [-1 Will] (No chance of losing the target, very low chance of being noticed.)

[CarpeGuitarrem]

Choice 1
>I continue following him across town. I notice him eying me, trying to decide if I'm a threat or just happenstance. I could back off, try to be a bit sneakier, a bit more evasive, hope he doesn't notice me. That's how prey acts, and this is a vampire - every sense tuned to inhuman acuity to find prey. No, I'm going to get right up in his face, act like just another ass on the road. He won't see me coming. [-1 Will] (No chance of losing the target, very low chance of being noticed.)

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Nice explanation of FP, and I like the rename.

[Amaril]

Choice 1
>I continue following him across town. I notice him eying me, trying to decide if I'm a threat or just happenstance. I could back off, try to be a bit sneakier, a bit more evasive, hope he doesn't notice me. That's how prey acts, and this is a vampire - every sense tuned to inhuman acuity to find prey. No, I'm going to get right up in his face, act like just another ass on the road. He won't see me coming. [-1 Will]

[Drakefall]

Choice 1
>I continue following him across town. I notice him eying me, trying to decide if I'm a threat or just happenstance. I could back off, try to be a bit sneakier, a bit more evasive, hope he doesn't notice me. That's how prey acts, and this is a vampire - every sense tuned to inhuman acuity to find prey. No, I'm going to get right up in his face, act like just another ass on the road. He won't see me coming. [-1 Will]

[blacklight101]

>I continue following him across town. I notice him eying me, trying to decide if I'm a threat or just happenstance. I could back off, try to be a bit sneakier, a bit more evasive, hope he doesn't notice me. That's how prey acts, and this is a vampire - every sense tuned to inhuman acuity to find prey. No, I'm going to get right up in his face, act like just another ass on the road. He won't see me coming. [-1 Will] (No chance of losing the target, very low chance of being noticed.)



He won't think a thing of the big green dodge following tailgating him a little bit. Maybe lay on the horn at a stoplight too, might piss him off enough after a while that he starts making mistakes.

[Xefas]

He won't think a thing of the big green dodge following tailgating him a little bit. Maybe lay on the horn at a stoplight too, might piss him off enough after a while that he starts making mistakes.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

It's too crazy not to work.

Anyway, one way or another the next post is probably gonna be decently sized. And I gotta go do work stuff. So, unfortunately it won't be up until much later tonight.

[rs2excelsior]

Choice 1
>I continue following him across town. It feels like he might've noticed me, but he hasn't made any erratic movements. Still, my instincts tell me to keep my distance just to be safe. (No chance of losing the target, high chance of being noticed.)

[Zelphas]

>I continue following him across town. I notice him eying me, trying to decide if I'm a threat or just happenstance. I could back off, try to be a bit sneakier, a bit more evasive, hope he doesn't notice me. That's how prey acts, and this is a vampire - every sense tuned to inhuman acuity to find prey. No, I'm going to get right up in his face, act like just another ass on the road. He won't see me coming. [-1 Will] (No chance of losing the target, very low chance of being noticed.)



He won't think a thing of the big green dodge following tailgating him a little bit. Maybe lay on the horn at a stoplight too, might piss him off enough after a while that he starts making mistakes.

I'll jump on the bandwagon. +1 to this.

[Kane0]

>I continue following him across town. I notice him eying me, trying to decide if I'm a threat or just happenstance. I could back off, try to be a bit sneakier, a bit more evasive, hope he doesn't notice me. That's how prey acts, and this is a vampire - every sense tuned to inhuman acuity to find prey. No, I'm going to get right up in his face, act like just another ass on the road. He won't see me coming. [-1 Will] (No chance of losing the target, very low chance of being noticed.)

[The_Werebear]

>I continue following him across town. I notice him eying me, trying to decide if I'm a threat or just happenstance. I could back off, try to be a bit sneakier, a bit more evasive, hope he doesn't notice me. That's how prey acts, and this is a vampire - every sense tuned to inhuman acuity to find prey. No, I'm going to get right up in his face, act like just another ass on the road. He won't see me coming. [-1 Will] (No chance of losing the target, very low chance of being noticed.)

Lets honk at him too.

[GorinichSerpant]

>I continue following him across town. I notice him eying me, trying to decide if I'm a threat or just happenstance. I could back off, try to be a bit sneakier, a bit more evasive, hope he doesn't notice me. That's how prey acts, and this is a vampire - every sense tuned to inhuman acuity to find prey. No, I'm going to get right up in his face, act like just another ass on the road. He won't see me coming. [-1 Will] (No chance of losing the target, very low chance of being noticed.)



He won't think a thing of the big green dodge following tailgating him a little bit. Maybe lay on the horn at a stoplight too, might piss him off enough after a while that he starts making mistakes.

I also jump the bandwagon.

[Xefas]

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Well, we've been thrown in the Structured Games oubliette. I'll try to stay optimistic and hope we don't lose anyone in the transition. And maybe this subforum has regulars that'll want to join.

Character Sheet

Spoiler

Show

High Concept: Part-Time Vampire Hunter
Other Aspects: Justice Be Done; Luddite
Will: *** *** ***

Skills
Driving: Fair
Investigation: Good
Melee Weapons: Good
Rapport: Fair
Stealth: Average

Equipment
Wallet (No Cash)
Keys
Bowie Knife
Ostensibly Worthless Amulet (Slightly Broken)
Vampiric SIM Card

Other Possessions
Big Ol' Pickup Truck

As time stretches on, you begin to realize that the vampire is heading back to the general area of the alley in which this all started. Indeed, a few minutes after this realization, you drive by the exact same alley, though it looks much different in the bright afternoon sun than it did at night. Only a handful of blocks down, he turns into a small parking lot surrounding a decrepit old apartment building. It's six stories high, looks to have four apartments per story, all accessed by external entrances via rickety, rusted old metal grated walkways. If you had to guess, the building probably used to be off-white, or maybe beige.

Pulling into the same parking lot would be a tad too obvious, so you continue down the street, rubbernecking as best you can - he appears to have entered apartment 3B with the briefcase. Third story, all the windows are blocked by thick black interior curtains, the door has two or three more locks on it than everyone else's.

You find a place to park two blocks away and double back on foot. You don't like parking in this neighborhood, but now that your quarry is so close, it just seems foolish to waste time. Plus, you figure, one way or another, this will probably be over quickly.

You stand at the foot of the decaying building, looking at the monster's lair. Full disclosure time.

What I know about Vampires: (Since no one bothered to ask )

Spoiler

Show

They're super fast, super strong, and super tough to kill. Their senses are sharper than humans', especially their hearing, and they're incredibly sneaky. When they're trying to be quiet, they're freaky quiet, and in even partial darkness, they practically melt into it. They must drink blood to survive, and can transmit their vampirism through a bite, though they cannot spread it accidentally. Their saliva is poisonous. It can mess you up with just skin contact (and, of course, they can spit it at you as a weapon). Ingestion might knock you right out.

Vampires also have a second form, beneath the human one - their true form. Or boss mode, if you prefer. I'm not sure how they create the meat-suit they wear, but they seem to only be able to create it with a single appearance - a more beautiful, idealized version of their former self. Anyway, their true form is a giant black hairless bat-monster with malformed hand-wing appendages that don't seem to be able to fly or operate with much manual dexterity. But, they're razor sharp - like slash through solid stone sharp. And their teeth remind me more of a shark's than a bat's. If it sinks its monster-form teeth into you, you probably won't have enough bones left to worry about becoming a vampire yourself.

Personality-wise, they tend to be confident to the point of arrogance, believing few things to be a real challenge. Of course, they also don't like a real challenge. They like preying on lone, unsuspecting people, the more vulnerable the better. Presenting them with likewise arrogance and a show of force can throw them off. Wolves don't expect bunnies to stand their ground.

Weaknesses? Sunlight burns through them like a lightsaber through cheap trade federation droids. I tried waving a cross at one and it didn't do anything. But I've been told that real holy stuff can mess them up, like holy water blessed by the Pope, or a spear whose head contains one of the four lost teeth of the prophet Muhammad, or the Buddha's own drinking cup. Something like that. I'm not sure where to get an item like that to test it.

Running water? Nope. Holy wafers? No. Garlic? Nada. A wooden stake through the heart will kill one, but that's not saying much - a wooden stake through the heart kills pretty much anything. And a metal knife is a lot easier to get there. Decapitation is the best way to make sure one stays dead. Missing an arm or a leg doesn't seem to bother them all that much. I haven't seen one do anything weird like turn into mist, summon a storm of ravenous, flesh-eating bats, or crush someone's soul with eye-contact. That's not to say that they can't.

You're as mentally prepared for this as you can be. No sane person is completely prepared to look death in the face and spit in his eye. But you're as ready as you'll ever be. Physically, well...

Choice 1
>I skip leg day at the gym. Eh, who'm I kidding? I don't have a leg day.
>I work out at home with some motivational VHS tapes. My thighs clap when I walk less and less loudly every day.
>I run every morning that I don't wake up unconscious in an alley, I go to the gym occasionally, and I try my hand at the annual charity marathon in town every year. I... don't win or anything, but I try, dammit.
>I was on the track team in high-school. I decided college wasn't for me, but I was offered a few scholarships around the state. I've made it a personal goal of mine to maintain an athlete's level of fitness.
>I live at the gym. I was a fitness enthusiast before my life was regularly threatened by super-fast nightmare monsters. Now, while they're skulking through the dark, preying on the weak and the desperate, I am training. I am becoming strong. Stronger than them. Faster than them. Deadlier than them.
>The only thing keeping me from a track-and-field medal at the Olympics is motivation and vampires.

Choice 2
>I have trouble opening jars of pickles.
>I have a set of weights at home. They're not big weights. But my arms jiggle less and less every day!
>I go to the gym a few times a week. Personal experience has told me that I'm strong enough to crash through a wooden door if I have to.
>There's a lot of social pressure for women to be fit - but only a very specific kind and amount of fit. "Look good in a bikini" fit, basically. I passed that line years ago. Rippling biceps and rock-hard abs get me odd looks, but I'd rather have them than not when I'm wrestling a vampire off my throat.
>I've thought about cosplaying as Wonder Woman or Brienne of Tarth at the annual comicbook convention, but I'M JUST TOO RIPPED, RAAAARGH.
>But seriously, I can deadlift over 600lbs and pull the limbs off vampires with my bare hands. I know because I've done it.

And that's not to mention your other secret weapon.

Choice 3
>Moxie! Good old all-American stick-to-it-tiveness.
>I'm a were-hawk. It's kind of a long story. I can't turn into some kind of rad woman/hawk hybrid monster, but my hawk-form has flight and super-sight and is quite inconspicuous and that's nothing to sneeze at. [-5 Reserves]
>During my first run-in with a vampire, my life was saved when I discovered I could control (element we'll vote on) with my mind. My first use was explosive, but I have since learned a measure of control. From what little truth I've been able to glean on the subject, this sort of power is typically genetic. I'd like to ask my birth parents about it if I ever find them. [-2 Reserves]
>Every Monday, at midnight, whether I'm awake or asleep, I receive a vision of the future that is meant to pass sometime in the following week. Sometimes they're vague, other times they're very precise. I don't know where they come from, but I've been using them as guidance for years now. This week's vision is what prompted me to patrol farther into the bad side of town than I usually do. Not that this really helps me now. [-0 Reserves]
>While researching the supernatural, I stumbled into some bad juju. On the upside, I discovered that I have a measure of arcane talent, and I have some small practice summoning and binding demons. On the downside, I flubbed my first attempt and now my soul has a powerful roommate. [-5 Reserves]

[Drakefall]

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Well, we've been thrown in the Structured Games oubliette. I'll try to stay optimistic and hope we don't lose anyone in the transition. And maybe this subforum has regulars that'll want to join.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

At least the links here are still on the front page of the Roleplaying Games forum for the moment. That's a thing.

Choice 1
>I was on the track team in high-school. I decided college wasn't for me, but I was offered a few scholarships around the state. I've made it a personal goal of mine to maintain an athlete's level of fitness.

Choice 2
>There's a lot of social pressure for women to be fit - but only a very specific kind and amount of fit. "Look good in a bikini" fit, basically. I passed that line years ago. Rippling biceps and rock-hard abs get me odd looks, but I'd rather have them than not when I'm wrestling a vampire off my throat.

Choice 3
Moxie! Good old all-American stick-to-it-tiveness.

Because 'Murica!

[blacklight101]

1. I run when i'm not unconscious in an alley

2. I go to the gym a few days a week, i'm no slouch.

3. Vague visions, I love them and hate them at the same time, but they keep me alive.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

I subscribed to it already, I hope others did too, cause im having fun with this. Hopefully its not as much of an oubliette as you think.

[GorinichSerpant]

Choice 1
>I was on the track team in high-school. I decided college wasn't for me, but I was offered a few scholarships around the state. I've made it a personal goal of mine to maintain an athlete's level of fitness.

Choice 2
>There's a lot of social pressure for women to be fit - but only a very specific kind and amount of fit. "Look good in a bikini" fit, basically. I passed that line years ago. Rippling biceps and rock-hard abs get me odd looks, but I'd rather have them than not when I'm wrestling a vampire off my throat.

Choice 3
Were-hawk

[rs2excelsior]

Choice 1
>I run every morning that I don't wake up unconscious in an alley, I go to the gym occasionally, and I try my hand at the annual charity marathon in town every year. I... don't win or anything, but I try, dammit.

Choice 2
>I go to the gym a few times a week. Personal experience has told me that I'm strong enough to crash through a wooden door if I have to.

Choice 3
>During my first run-in with a vampire, my life was saved when I discovered I could control (element we'll vote on) with my mind. My first use was explosive, but I have since learned a measure of control. From what little truth I've been able to glean on the subject, this sort of power is typically genetic. I'd like to ask my birth parents about it if I ever find them. [-2 Reserves]

Element: Earth (or Fire, as a second choice)

[Amaril]

Choice 1
>I was on the track team in high-school. I decided college wasn't for me, but I was offered a few scholarships around the state. I've made it a personal goal of mine to maintain an athlete's level of fitness.

Choice 2
>There's a lot of social pressure for women to be fit - but only a very specific kind and amount of fit. "Look good in a bikini" fit, basically. I passed that line years ago. Rippling biceps and rock-hard abs get me odd looks, but I'd rather have them than not when I'm wrestling a vampire off my throat.

Choice 3
>During my first run-in with a vampire, my life was saved when I discovered I could control (element we'll vote on) with my mind. My first use was explosive, but I have since learned a measure of control. From what little truth I've been able to glean on the subject, this sort of power is typically genetic. I'd like to ask my birth parents about it if I ever find them. [-2 Reserves]

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Mind if I cast my vote for the element now? I think it should be fire. Of all the classical elements, that's what vampires are most vulnerable to, so I think it'd round out our character well flavor-wise. Knowing she had a power that could hurt them like that could have been what pushed her to decide to start hunting them in the first place.

[A_Man]

Choice 1
>I was on the track team in high-school. I decided college wasn't for me, but I was offered a few scholarships around the state. I've made it a personal goal of mine to maintain an athlete's level of fitness.

Choice 2
>There's a lot of social pressure for women to be fit - but only a very specific kind and amount of fit. "Look good in a bikini" fit, basically. I passed that line years ago. Rippling biceps and rock-hard abs get me odd looks, but I'd rather have them than not when I'm wrestling a vampire off my throat.

Choice 3
>During my first run-in with a vampire, my life was saved when I discovered I could control (element we'll vote on) with my mind. My first use was explosive, but I have since learned a measure of control. From what little truth I've been able to glean on the subject, this sort of power is typically genetic. I'd like to ask my birth parents about it if I ever find them. [-2 Reserves]

[The_Werebear]

>I was on the track team in high-school. I decided college wasn't for me, but I was offered a few scholarships around the state. I've made it a personal goal of mine to maintain an athlete's level of fitness.

>There's a lot of social pressure for women to be fit - but only a very specific kind and amount of fit. "Look good in a bikini" fit, basically. I passed that line years ago. Rippling biceps and rock-hard abs get me odd looks, but I'd rather have them than not when I'm wrestling a vampire off my throat.

>Moxie! Good old all-American stick-to-it-tiveness.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

If we do pick element, I vote for earth. Fire is kinda overplayed for a vampire hunter, and I'd rather have a power that is less typically selected. Plus, we're voting of a tough, strong female melee fighter. The more Toph-like we get the happier I will be.

[Xefas]

Character Sheet

Spoiler

Show

High Concept: Part-Time Vampire Hunter
Other Aspects: Justice Be Done; Luddite
Will: *** *** **

Skills
Athletics: Good
Driving: Fair
Endurance: Good
Investigation: Good
Melee Weapons: Good
Might: Good
Rapport: Fair
Stealth: Average

Equipment
Wallet (No Cash)
Keys
Bowie Knife
Ostensibly Worthless Amulet (Slightly Broken)
Vampiric SIM Card

Other Possessions
Big Ol' Pickup Truck

The element you command is:

Choice 1
>Fire.
>Ice.
>Water.
>Earth.
>Air.
>Sound.
>Force.
>Metal.

Your mastery of it is still in its infancy, but your natural talent and minimal practice has provided...

Choice 2
>...a trickle of power...
>...a steady stream of power...
>...a fierce torrent of power...
>...a raging storm of power...
>...a vast ocean of power...

Choice 3
>...and no control with which to use it.
>...and a novice's skill with which to use it.
>...and deadly precision with which to use it.
>...and a surgeon's control and precision with which to use it.
>...and a level of control that borders on innate, as if the magic was birthed from your very blood and breath.

[blacklight101]

1.Earth

2. A steady stream

3. A level of control that borders on innate, as if the magic was birthed from your very blood and breath.