Session #3 1/15/21 - A Scare at the Circle K

 Session #3 1/15/21 - A Scare at the Circle K

Making a First Appearance

Reginald the Senior – Very Old Ghoul of Clan Lasombra. He is so old he does not remember his birthday. He is respected for his age & experience. Often seen as the top ghoul in the pecking order. The Anarch Council knows a task placed in Reginald’s Care will be done and professional. This evening he has been asked to go see if Evelyn needs some help. Do assist if possible.

So near the end of Session #2 Mike Walters got a message from his only surviving mortal family member. His Niece is apparently in trouble. Her pack is going to battle. They have no choice but to fight the toxic polluters. They are releasing a virus. She was told if she ever was in serious trouble to contact him.

After the battle is over from Session 2. He ask Franco V to back him up he has to see about something. It might get rough. Franco V agrees to go with Mike Walters.

The address she gave takes them to a burnt down strip mall. They find some werewolves fighting some people. One of the wolves goes down. Mike makes haste getting out of the car and into action. Franco V uses Obfuscate and exits the vehicle slowly taking in the surroundings. Another wolf goes down and yet another is thrown some distance away. Mike is sure that is his niece.

Mike hurries over to his niece. Before he can get there a big werewolf comes to her side. Apparently getting ready to pick her up. Mike and the werewolf argue over who is rescuing her.

The group fighting the wolves is charging at them. Mike and the werewolf decide to have this argument elsewhere. The werewolf steps sideways and enters the umbra. Mike uses his magic phone to enter the umbra. Then they speed off towards the mountains.

This whole time Franco V is studying the corpse of a fallen werewolf while safely Obfuscated from view. The werewolves & Mike Walters stop at a clearing up in the mountains. The werewolf says there is an old healer at this place. Mike satisfied she will live takes off heading back towards Franco V. All this travel took place in the Umbra so it only took a little over a minute.

Franco is just observing the aftermath of the battle and transformation of some of the fallen werewolves from monstrous beast to humans. Then Mike Walters steps out of the shadows and says we have to go now. They jump in the car and get out of there.

On the freeway Mike Walters sees a Hells Angel Gang Member Pulled over and getting taken down by Several Highway Patrolmen. He guns the car and drives into the two patrol bikes. Franco V fires off some rounds from his Glock in the air. This is America you Pigs! The Hells Angel gets away.

Meanwhile at the Zoetrope Society Theater (Site of Session 2’s Big Battle). Evelyn has nominated JJ for site cleanup duty. As JJ rolls up his sleeves in walks Reginald. The two exchange pleasantries as Reginald sees Evelyn. As Reginald takes in the scene Evelyn excuses herself from the theater.

Reginald gets a call from his current Master. After the call Reginald decides he has to go to a hospital and see what's going on with a patient there.

Reginald arrives at the hospital and finds the patient. Some questions are asked nicely. Some question are asked not so nicely. In the end Reginald is stumped. He has decided that he needs to talk to the Children of Set.

Mike Walters and Franco V decide they need to get the car off the road. They find a Circle K. About this time JJ calls. He is helping Reginald get in touch with the Setite Elder Franco V.

Soon everyone is shopping inside the Circle K. Then 3 armed men storm inside the store demanding money! JJ wins initiative and uses a Dread Gaze on them.

The armed men and the cashier run away out of the store. Mike Walters chases down the leader of the armed men. He tackles him down to the ground and forces him to drink some blood. Makes a ghoul out of the man. Mike tells him to come back to this spot tomorrow night. Mike walks over to a tree and uses Protean – Earth Meld to spend the morning at the park.

Back at the store JJ continues shopping while Franco V and Reginald talk. Presently the store clerk walks back in trying to act like she was just outside on a break. Franco V and Reginald head off towards the Setite Mansion in the hills. JJ drives off to see his squeeze Carla.

-Session #3 End

Diablerie Handbook – Guidebook to Amaranth

 Diablerie Handbook – Guidebook to Amaranth

A little guidebook of Sabbat / Kindred Lore that floats around in game from time to time.

#1 You must consume every last drop and draw the soul of the victim into your body.

#2 Do not be on the path of Humanity – If you follow the Path of Humanity you will permanently loose 1d10+1 points of humanity. If that put you in the negatives? Well ummmm.

If you follow a Path of Enlightenment you will check the List of Sins – maybe make some die rolls and or spend some Willpower Points.

#3 You will gain some Infamy and Camarilla Hatred. If you already got that? You just got more of it. Citizens of the World of Darkness Will Know. Diablerie and Secrecy do not go together. DO NOT EVER THINK YOU CAN JUST HIDE THIS AWAY. Note once may lead to a second. A second may lead to a third. 3X’s you are a confirmed addict! See you at group!

#4 So you just took a foreign soul into your body. It may be getting a little crowded in there? It is generally assumed the act of Diablerie knocked the soul of the consumed out of action from 1 to 1000 years. At some point it will wake up and want to fight.

#5 In this book are secrets and techniques to winning the war for continued control of your body. Time tested and proven techniques by your brothers and sisters at the Sabbat.

Level 2 Thaumaturgic Ritual

-Heart Balm

Gives the receiver of the balm the Merit Calm Heart for 2d10 days. If the subject already has the Merit. Instead of lowering difficulties by 2 it lowers them by 3. *Must cut chest open and apply directly on subject’s heart. May be left with a permanent scar. *To create must be made under a full moon. Must have Thaumaturgy of at least 2. Will need fresh lamb’s / goats heart + fresh flour, sea salt, aconite, alfalfa, allspice, fresh apricots, aspen, bay leaf, & olive oil. Mash it all together. Need 2 Successes on Craft + Manipulation Roll with target 6 to create. 2 Successes on Medicine + Dexterity Roll target 7 to apply.

Level 3 Thaumaturgic Ritual

-Strength of the Will Potion

Gives whoever drinks the potion a minus 2 to all Willpower Rolls for 1d10 Days. *To Create Must have at least 3 rating in Thaumaturgy. Will need Fresh blood of a Virgin Young Woman, Fresh Blood of a Veteran Warrior, Black Cohosh, and Celery Seed. Mash it up good and sing a song to Caine. Performance + Wits Roll target 7 – 4 success needed. Potion shelf life equals months of makers Thaumaturgy Rating.

Level 4 Thaumaturgic Ritual

-Amulet of Will

Gives whoever posses it a little willpower piggy bank. -Put 2 blood in & store or take out 1 willpower. *To Create Must have Thaumaturgy Rating of at least 4. Will need a cheap jewelry amulet, + 4 Kindred Blood, +2 Blood of a Chimera (if you do not know what that is – then you do not have a Level 4 in Thaumaturgy), +1pt of Sorcerer Blood (human spell caster – not a ghoul). Mix it up and feed it to the amulet under the Moon Light of March 20^th (if you do not know why -please do not try this). Yes this can only be created once a year. Need 4 Successes Occult + Manipulation target 7 to create. Failure = Permanent loss of 1 Willpower Point. Maximum amount of Willpower stored equals the makers current willpower rating +1. Duration ???? Seems to last until broken / destroyed. For rules on possession see NFL Rules on Possession of Foot Ball. Don’t fumble friend.

9pt Merit Blood of the Will

 So I found this in my old Notes.  Pete & I worked on this and it was supposed to go in one of the books that never got released. 

Blood of the Will - 9pt Merit 

Spend 2 Blood to Restore / Add One Willpower Point.  Can not have spent a Willpower for the previous & current round.  May go over normal amount of Willpower to a Max of 20 Willpower Points.  The amount over the character's normal Willpower is temporary and will only last 48hrs. 

Session #2 played 1/8/21 Recap Report

 

Session #2 1/8/21 Recap Report

New Characters Enter the Story

Jason Stone - Tremere - Karen’s Bloodline. He is a martial artist driven by a desire to invent a new study of magic. In need of funding for the expensive items his research demands. He is forced to sale his skills. He seeks patronage of the War Councilor Evelyn.

James JJ Jenkins - Childer of Carter Nolles aka James Bond – Clan Brujah. Driven by a need to outdo and be more infamous than Carter Nolles in the Spy Game. Known to take any job as long as it is flashy and fame worthy.

NPC Carla Del Toro Daddy would not let her be a race car driver. No track well there is always the street. Girl has to go fast. Rumors abound of her renting out her skills as a get-a-way driver for hire.

NPC Fernando De La Salle Former Sabbat Pack Leader and typical Lasombra Power Mad. Lately controversy and rumors float around of his back stabbings. Perhaps he has gone to far? Many say his time is now short. He seems desperate for money for a kindred.

Out front of the Electronics & Computers Store at an average strip mall USA. Several elite citizens of the World of Darkness are making a plan. The Black Night Barron and Mira Secrets urge the others. They insist that any plan of action must involve luring the kidnappers off the Mission Property. They say the kidnapped Baroness suffers from Echoes. These Echoes will make it dangerous to rescue her.

Two New Kindred show up JJ the Spy and Jason Stone the Tremere. Jason senses that a Tremere will be needed. JJ is drawn to the action and is miffed that someone diverted the airliner he had arranged to land at Ontario Airport instead of LAX.

Jason notices that his friend Mira Secrets is not so well and they discuss her condition. Jason is able to help her by forming 2 gumball size glowing balls of quintessence (raw magic energy). While doing so he takes note that this Computer Store is actually a chantry house. What type of sorcerer, or mage would have a computer shop? Jason’s contemplation is interrupted by the gift of an orichalcum nail from Mira Secrets for helping her.

Just as it seems they have finally worked out a plan. A joker has been drawn from the deck. Fernando De La Salle resident Lasombra has shown up. He walks right up to Fernando V and offers to sell him the Cup of Souls for $7m. This shakes things up a bit. Fernando does some quick figuring and is short by a lot. The others look to Evelyn who is just studying Fernando. A bored Mira decides to have some fun and puts a love spell on JJ. She puts an image of the Baroness into his head.

The Dark Knight Barron steps forward and gives Fernando his price and one of his Squire’s takes possession of the Cup of Souls. Fernando immediately drives off in a hurry.

Tai Makara realizes time is getting short and comes up with a wild & daring plan of action. JJ and Mike Walters are onboard. Soon everyone else is going for it.

Unfortunately for me the party is split in 3 now. Some going with Mira Secrets to her Zoetrope Society Theater down the street from the Mission Inn. Mike Walters seeking for some place to pull a diversion and set off a fire alarm. Tai Makara and JJ make a plan to rescue the Baroness from her kidnappers.

The big plan is while the distraction and fire alarm has their attention. JJ & Tai will step out of the Deep Umbra and grab her. Then either step back into the Deep Umbra or just run like hell.

Meanwhile Jason is using Tremere Stuff to lock the theater up tight. Only 1 way in & out. They are unsure of what or who the kidnappers are. So best to be prepared for anything. It is assumed the kidnappers will follow the rescuers back to the theater.

Mike Walters finds two guard looking dudes lounging just outside one of the possible exits for the Music Room where the Baroness is most likely being held. He is standing in the Garden of Bells Courtyard. It is called that because there are a lot of big loud bells here. He is in the Umbra but is just able to get a few of the bells moving and ringing. This is causing a magnificent distraction. Mike casually pulls a nearby fire alarm just for finishing touches. He decides he better get going to the theater asap.

Tai and JJ find the Baroness and her Kidnappers in the Music Room. They notice they are not human while observing the kidnappers from the Deep Umbra. They note the ringing bells and fire alarm and decide the time is now. JJ grabs the Baroness and while trying to cover her Tai gets tackled from a diving Fomori Monster. The baddies have transformed into four armed three legged grotesque giants. Tai suffers a bruise but is otherwise okay. JJ prepares to defend the Baroness.

The Baroness has decided that she is no longer a victim but a hero now. Takes on her Knight Aspect and hits the enemy with all her beauty & rage. This overwhelming charisma attack sends the enemy cowering into various corners & whimpering.

Tai activates his magic ring and pulls the other two into the Deep Umbra. They head to the Zoetrope Theater.

Back at the theater everyone prepares for a retaliation attack form the Fomori. The Fomori Monsters do not disappoint and three Giant Foul Beast Attack. With greater numbers and mighty head chopping blow from Tai the party defeats the monsters. Soon as the battle is over the Dark Knight Barron and his Squire’s depart through magical means. Quickly followed by the Baroness and Mira.

Session 2 has come to an End!

Vampire WOD Game 1 Recap 12/18/20

 

Vampire Game 1 Recap 12/18/20

Storyteller me – Mordenkainendogpissbeer

Franco V – Old World Follower of Set who has come to America to avenge the murder of his 

            Childer Sebastian V. - Local Follower of Set who a few weeks ago was thrown 

            out of the back of a van on a bright sunny day. It is unknown who did it and why.

Tai Makara – Not Human / Not Kindred – very old – Associates and befriends many 

            Kindred. Most notable Sebastian V. Now working with Franco V seeking revenge 

            for Sebastian V.

Mike Walters – Clan Gangrel – Eco Warrior and sometimes works for Evelyn Portia 

            Owlinski the local Anarch War Councilor as a cleaner / mercenary.

NPC Evelyn Portia Owlinski – Local Anarch War Councilor – infamous for committing 

            Diablerie on a Nosferatu Archon back 2002. Former Sabbat Pack Leader – Now lives 

            in Chino Hills.

NPC Mira Secrets -Unseelie House Eiluned Sluagh Changeling – Official Scribe to Baroness 

            Vita DePlume of House Eiluned – Secretary to the Zoetrope Society of Riverside, Ca

             – Has a reputation in the WOD as being a healer for hire and seller of secrets. Recently 

             started a side business of selling magic / enchanted items. Attends Canyon Lake High 

             School. Mother works for Riverside County District Attorney. Father is Assistant 

             Chancellor of University of California Riverside.

Date Thursday 12/17/20 around 1730hrs. Mike Walters awakens early. He was disturbed in his sleep and had a restless morning. He assumes it was the neighborhood children playing to close to his house again. As he rises from his coffin he is surprised by the smells and sights of a recent bloody battle. Several not human looking things have been carved up and dissected indiscreetly around his coffin. A voice says – Fear not. I’m no enemy of yours. You & I both protect the children. You may not know it but you living here in this neighborhood has afforded protection to the children. Like your kind my kind is hunted. However those hunters are loathe to attract attention of your kind. Thus you keep them away.

A couple of nights ago the kids noticed you were followed home. Then this morning 2 vans pulled up and these things came out. They children ran and fetched me. I slayed them. Long ago my people called these Fomori. My name is Verzon DuLasse Count of House Balor. My sword and I are at your service. Mike was busy taking this all in and studying the equipment of the dead creatures.

I suggest we both immediately begin moving. There will undoubtedly be more than 2 vans of these things. It is a shame we never got to know each other as neighbors.

Mike took the advice and began planing to burn and run to a safe house. Just starts settling into the safe house / flop motel when his phone begins ringing. It is Evelyn Owlinski.

She tells him that she needs him asap. An airliner coming in from China was supposed to land at LAX. However it was being diverted to Ontario Airport. Then as it was beginning to land was diverted to March Air Force Base Landing Strip leased out to a small air freight shipping company. On board was an Artifact of Interest that was recovered from a Pyramid in China. The Archaeologist is a member of Clan Gangrel.

Meanwhile across the Valley in the La Sierra South District of Riverside, CA Franco V receives a frantic call from from Mira Secrets his Contact / Ally. She is sobbing & crying on the phone as she ask for his help. Her BFF the Baroness Vita De Plume of House Eiluned has been kidnapped! This time Mira is afraid it is real. This time it is not a game of hers. She is over her head. These people will kill her.

Mira is distressed as the kidnappers keep insisting that Mira trade them the Cup of Souls for the Baroness. Mira tells Franco that she has no idea what the Cup of Souls is or where it could be. However the kidnappers are adamant that she has it and should give it to them. They want to do an exchange at 9:30pm at the Mission Inn of Riverside.

Franco agrees to help. He rounds up Tai Makara to go with him. They jump in a convertible 2019 Mustang and head over to pick up Mira.

Meanwhile the other team while driving around in Evelyn’s 3 Axle AMG Mercedes Truck heads to March Air Force Base. They have obtained fake paperwork to get them on to the base. The plan seems to work as the guards let them in. They spot the passenger liner as it sticks out from the cargo planes. Evelyn drives up close to the plane. The party hopes there are under-hatches they can get inside the plane. Luck is with them and they do this.

https://www.hotcars.com/a-look-at-what-makes-the-g63-amg-6x6-unstoppable/

Inside the plane Evelyn uses Mask of Thousand Faces to hopefully appear as an Air Line Official or Stewardess just checking the seats. They find the seat the Gangrel was supposed to be sitting in. Mike grabs a backpack from the overhead bin and Evelyn grabs a waist pack tucked in to the seat. Mike had to crawl down the aisle on his belly.

On the way out of the aircraft they see the AMG 6x6 has new friends with swirling red & blue lights. Evelyn tells Mike we have to take them out. I got the far one on the count of 3. They pop claws and use Celerity to rush up on the Officers in the vehicles and take them out quickly.

Wasting no time they jump in the AMG 6x6 and drive towards the exit at a normal speed. As soon as they are off base Mike jumps out of the AMG 6x6 and carjacks a Hyundai Sedan. Everyone gets in the new car. Evelyn abandons her AMG 6x6.

They get on the freeway and take one last scan to see if followed. Notice a strange dark shadow following the car. They form a hasty plan to pull over at the next gas station and set an ambush.

The werewolf. Yes it was a werewolf rips the back end of the car off in one swipe of it’s claws.

Mike blast it with a shotgun at point blank range. Evelyn’s two other goons blast it with Glock 19’s and Evelyn’s herself rakes the beast with her own claws. It’s dead Jim.

Evelyn carjacks another ordinary Honda Accord. (I felt I was running GTA at this point) They all pile in. Mike gets in the back seat. Takes a look inside the back pack. Finds some loot. Most interesting is what appears to be a laptop shrunk down to fit in the palm of a person’s hand. He opens it and pushes the power button. The micro laptop powers up.

Mira in the backseat has begun laying out Tarot Cards. She does not seem to like the answers the cards are giving her. She holds up the Knight of Swords and says – we have to go see someone I do not want to go see. Mira cast a Hopscotch Spell and sends the car into the deep Umbra. Everyone has to jump out of the car before it crashes into a moat. Before them is a giant black castle. Trumpets sound and a Black Knight in Full Armor comes riding out on a great black horse.

Mira hails the Knight and they talk. Mira makes a deal with the Knight. She seems distraught over this deal and very worried. The Knight introduces himself as the Barron of Black Castle. He has a plan to make a switch with a fake Cup of Souls. First they need to go see someone who can possibly find out more about this thing.

So as the Micro Laptop is powering up they hear it say – Security Retrieval Program Initiated. Mike and company find themselves whisked into the umbra as the laptop pulls the car they are inside of into the Umbra. While they are in shock and wondering what to do the car quickly arrives out front of a nondescript strip mall. There is a store with a sign Electronics & Computers. A nerdy looking fellow comes out of the store.

He introduces himself as Simon Haltech Techno Sorcerer. He ask if they have the Cup & the Sword. Some banter goes back and forth. The party learns that there is supposed to be the soul of a Mummy bound in the cup. This was done over a 1000 years ago. It is lost to time if it was Horus or Set who bound the soul in the cup.

The other team with the Black Knight Barron shows up. Everyone is agreeing to work together and make a trade for the fake cup they made from pics provided by Simon.

That concludes Session 1