World of Darkness campaign journal

Mission 2
Local law has closed down a building, all lines have been cut except for power. Blue Earth has been suspected of using that building, and the tech department wants three computers they didn't get to hack into before the internet was disconnected. Leandero takes this opportunity to take the offer to transfer to the tech department.

The party gets in after a Combat agent dressed as an officer talks a real officer into letting a special ops team into the building. Inside they quickly find the office, and are surprised by an alcoholic hobo. He rushes at Father Douglas shouting something about "My home" but Vincent gets in the way, offering him his hip flask. Father Douglas asks if that's the best idea, but the hobo hands it back empty, passing out shortly after. Vincent takes the hobo out to Agent Carson, not to be confused with the party member Recruit Carson. In the next room the group find an odd combination, there's a desktop, laptop, and an iMac sitting on a table in a circle. Father Douglas turns on the computers and walks away, leaving Leandero to deal with the password screens.

The iMac denies the first password, and on the second attempt fries the hard drive. At this point Vincent returns, see's what just happened, and shuts power off to the laptop, taking it downstairs to his van. Leandero takes the desktop apart, removing a strange device from the hard drive. they decide to take the iMac to the van, and pull the hard drive from the desktop, just bringing that.

Two computers survived, back at the agency they are thanked, and Vincent tries to get Father Douglas to fire his now blessed (+1 dice in the hands of the faithful) rapier out of the rail cannon. He is answered by the tip of the rapier coming at him through a door. Father Douglas insists they have lunch instead, and while they eat he tells Vincent his views on reincarnation, and how he wishes he could just put on full plate armor and fight those who oppose those he is loyal to, as he may have in previous lives.

. . . is Pure AWESOME!!!!!

Keep the journals coming, man.

I've got the WoD book, and we're all learning the system. I've given the book a good read, but this is our first true use of the rule set. I don't want to say to much, my players know I'm posting this here, but...

I plan to house-rule the were-beings, but I'm not sure about even including undead. When Death is an actual being it seems like a bad idea to try cheating her...

I don't remember if I said it or not, but almost everyone took Justice as a virtue, it'll be interesting when she shows up.

Also, rule of cool prevails, and I'm ruling Spaghetti-o's are non-lethal (Bludgeoning) unless fired out of the rail gun.

Next time: (Two weeks from the last game) we see if the tech department can build what Vincent wants, and what the turncoat had to say.

...have a short story about Justice planned, but it got sidelined when I ditched the idea of doing the Sins/Virtues anthology...which I should probably revive at some point.

I believe it's nWoD, the copyright is 2004. This game was cut short because it was day three for me with what I've been calling "Headache of Doom"

Also, the guy playing Leandero is going back to college so Leandero is going to the Tech department full time until further notice.

Two Days after the car scene:
As Father Douglas came out of his room in the morning, he saw a Tech Recruit at the end of the hall staring at him. He started walking to him, just to have the Recruit run down to the next hallway. After two more corners being dealt with he started walking away, and the Tech Recruit began following him, staying at a corner until he turned another one. So he waited after turning a corner and surprised the Recruit, cornering him and demanding to know what he wanted.

Being told not to tell him why, the Recruit explained Vincent had done something, and wanted him at the firing range. He said it was a surprise, so he wouldn't tell him what it was right away, but if he really wanted to know before he got down there he'd tell him. Father Douglas told him to go back to where he may be needed and headed down to the firing range. He was followed halfway by the recruit before he turned and yelled at him for pestering him. The Recruit walked away mumbling about the firing range being neat-o.

Vincent and Carson were at the firing range, with the new device already set up. Father Douglas walked in to see two Crafter Recruits, Vincent, and Carson, standing around a strange device that looked like a few slingshots, a pistol grip, and some scrap metal all welded together, with "CHEF" painted on the side. It's gravity loaded, he has to point it down to have a can slide into place, then he pulls back a slide, as he does a small claw (think those rip-off claw machines) pulls back the can. On a table off to the side was a case of Spaghetti-o's, and inside the device there were five more.

Vincent went down range in his riot gear, and managed to take damage from the first shot, despite the riot shield. They put up a few tires and shot at those, Fahter Douglas working his was through the cans in the side. with seven left when he's done, he finds a messenger bag, putting the rest of the cans, a can opener, and a fork in the bag.

About this time, Vincents phone rings, it's a detective he knows down at the police station, turns out all the guns he used in the car chase are registered, and there's going to be questions. He offers to willingly come in for questions, and bring his group with him. When he explains to his superior, Agent Harper, the group is given Agency ID cards in leather bi-folds, identifying them as recruits.

The Van is widely known now, however going to and from the police station nothing happens.

At the station: (they could have left everything in the van...)
The door to go back and talk to the officers has a metal detector, Carson hands over some loose change and his keys. Father Douglas hands over his credentials from the Vatican (3 dots, he's an important guy) along with a small pistol and "Chef" the spaghetti-o's launcher. The guard knows him from the you-tube videos as the "Spaghetti=o Priest" and sets his things on a table in the back. Vincent is also recognized, and the man puts a large box on the table. In goes a belt, steel toe boots, a clip of ammo, brass knuckles, and a Kevlar vest. The guard accepts the box, the two of them acknowledging there's no gun with the clip, and he pages the officer that called Vincent.

They go to a conference room, no large mirror on the wall, but the officer points to the intercom in the ceiling before he begins talking. He explains that they've had some guys splice together some of the better you-tube videos to make one long video, and plays it for them. Father Douglas confirms the video is all in the right order and doesn't look edited. (Eidetic Memory)

The video starts with the passenger of a car shooting at the van, and Vincent grabbing the assault rifle, going full auto on the car, and ends with them driving off. Inquiring as to what specifically started that, as well as why there were reports from children about a guy with a sword in the park. They explain that they don't know exactly what they can share, but hand over the Agency ID cards, and explain that the park was an extraction of an informant that got a little hairy.

The only two reasons they weren't arrested on sight was Vincent having the contact in the police force, and Father Douglas having such a standing with the Vatican. Flashing Agency ID works like pulling a government ID, it outranks plenty of people who know about it, and for the sake of simplicity the officer was familiar with what happens when these are looked into.

Writing down names and ID numbers, the officer began to fiddle with the iPad the video was on, setting it to camera mode, he asked Father Douglas if he could have a picture. He explained to Father Douglas, when a big shot investigator gets help from local law, or the Mayor stops by, sometimes they'll get a picture with an officer. In a lucky situation a reporter will get a good shot of a big arrest, and all these pictures go near the pictured officers desk. He wants a picture with the "Spaghetti-o's Priest" to one-up everyone else. Father Douglas allows the picture, scowling, so Vincent begins making fun of him to get him to smile. He does, then as the last picture is taken, he throws the can at Vincent. Vincent dents the can on the table and gives it back after they leave.

Back at the Agency they explain what they told the officer, and that they'll be looking into verifying the IDs and getting what info/cover story they can. They went up to see the guy they knocked out at the park and kidnapped, the doctors had been keeping him sedated, but they wanted to ask questions. After giving him a shot to wake him up they waited a short while for him to wake up.

The man started making demands, first of all that the doctors give him a tranquilizer gun to fight back with or that they give up the one they used on him when he tried to run. Then he demanded that they get out of his way and let him run just as soon as his legs regain feeling. Father Douglas told him to calm down, and explain himself, and to explain everything about his organization. Father Douglas rolled six successes to interrogate him with a simple "Calm down and explain." The man rolled zero successes to resist the interrogation...

That's where we called it because of Headache of Doom. Now I've got to come up with a hierarchy, headquarters, and a few safe houses the guy knows about. He doesn't know everything, but he's a full time member.

First of all, the guy that plays Vincent Kyler found this, and as all back stories were just verbal he pointed something out. He doesn't have the store, Leandero does. Anyway, they're both way to rich for this game, seriously, lots of money.

The woman they met is named Carla, she's a were-bear, and has been in charge of the pack for a while. Father Douglas began asking about contracting Lycanthropy, what it takes to join the pack, and things like that. Meanwhile Vincent turned on his radio so Leandero could pick up the conversation on his end of things. Carla explained that not just anyone was welcomed in, they either had to be born in or prove themselves to be turned.

Changing the topic, Carla asked them to deliver a letter to a former Pack member taking sanctuary within Madchester. The park they pulled Melanie out of has a guardian in the form of a tree covering an entrance to the fey realm, that is fairly close to a gate of Madchester. The letter is explained as a general greeting, and a sort of current events newsletter.

The former Pack member they seek, Keven, is not allowed to leave Madchester without fearing the Packs hunters. He lost his temper defending the construction site from a couple of vandals, killing one of them, and Pack law states that such a loss of control is to result in death. Every member of the Pack is taught self control, to loose control like that is to dangerous for a shifter, so the laws are harsh. Carla allowed him to escape to Madchester, and they occasionally write one another. She respects what he did for Pack territory, and they both accept that he can not leave his new home.

The van, and Father Douglas both have a level of local fame, and the van was spotted by a Solstice on the way to the park. By the information Ian gave them they've put quite a dent in local Solstice membership, but they never found out that they'd been spotted, so they didn't get the chance to make the dent bigger.

At the park they quickly got to the tree they were told about, and with nobody nearby the bark warped, forming a door with a face over it. The guardian greeted them, noting how quickly they got there. She was just told of them the previous day, and here they were already. It quickly became apparent she was a bit curious about having legs, and the ability to travel in general, and mildly jealous as well. She welcomed them and told them just to head through the doorway before she had to close it again.

Inside the tree they found a spiral staircase going down, the walls seemed to glow with a natural light. There was no instant teleportation, but each step they took seemed to take them much farther than usual. At the bottom of the stairs they came to an alcove made to grant a small amount of privacy, it was set back from the walkways so people just arriving had a place to be for a moment. The sun was about where it was when they went into the tree, and market stalls offered a multitude of various wares.

A fairy roughly three feet tall in a blue uniform approached them, asking how they were, and if it was the first time they had come this way. Vincent told him it was the first time any of them had been through a tree, and explained that they had to visit Madchester and deliver a letter. The fairy explained the bus stop down the street went to a Madchester gate, and gave them six coins, for bus fair there and back. After warning them not to start trouble, he waved them on toward the bus stop and went back to his post.

On the way to the bus Vincent looked to Father Douglas, and asked what his church would say about the three foot tall officer. All Father Douglas had to answer him with was "Child actor."

Once they got to the bus stop they looked to the route maps, the next bus would take them to the Madchester gate, and they could get back later in the day on a similar route being run in the other direction. The bus that pulled up was a triple decked bus. The top had no access stairs, just a posted person with a collection box for those who didn't want to fly everywhere. Inside the bus the front half was two open stories, at the middle of the bus a support was put in to hold the roof, and a staircase attached to the support. The back half of the bus was two separated stories to give human sized passengers more room.

Getting on the bus Father Douglas lost his composure and began staring at a twelve foot tall stone giant, sitting slouched in the front of the bus. Vincent asked what explained that, and all he came up with was "Growth spurt." Carson just followed along, looking at everything he could.

After telling him he was big, and being told he was little, Vincent moved past the giant and sat in the back near a woman who seemed to be made of plants. Father Douglas decided to stare at the floor and ignore everything. Vincent began unloading a clip in his duffel bag and loading the amethyst laced rounds he was given back at the first safe house raid. The plant girl seemed interested in what he was doing, but he didn't notice her staring until he finished. When he looked up they began talking.

The rest of the bus trip went between Vincent and the plant woman asking things back and forth. It was generally an interview of "You're a plant, WTF?" but here's the best one I remember.

Vincent: "Why don't you have roots? I mean, you're a plant right?"
Plant Woman: "Why don't meat creatures have roots?"

He kept trying to get Father Douglas to look at her, but he was pretty intently studying his foot the entire bus ride. The bus came to a stop and they had to get off after Vincent asked her if she was a fruit or a vegetable, as the bus drove away she called to him out the window "Are you chicken or pork?" and he quickly replied "Cow!"

Walking up to the gate of Madchester, two large pale skinned beings with soft features asked what they wanted in Madchester. They explained they were looking for a Pack member who sought sanctuary, to deliver a letter. The guards told them he would be in the third hallway to the right, and allowed them in. Once inside they again got the feeling that each step was somehow much longer than the distance they felt they were covering, and Vincent began running down the hallway, shouting "Look at how fast I'm going!"

Vincent got to the end of the hallway to find an open air area much like where they first arrived in the fey lands. A cafeteria off on the left, a park and open courtyard area, and on the right a few much less hectic looking shops. As Carson and Father Douglas were catching up Vincent had already found a man with feathers running up his arms and onto his face, who claimed to be Kevins neighbor. Vincent asked about his feathers and tried to get Father Douglas to talk about them, even getting permission to touch one, but Father Douglas insisted it was trickery and he would take no part.

He lead them across the courtyard into another hallway, lined with doors and windows much like small hotels. Finally arriving at a door that seemed no different the man pounded on the door, it was quickly answered by a man in the familiar uniform of baggy sweatpants and a loose fitting t-shirt. The bird-man introduced everyone, this was indeed Keven. They handed over the letter and were invited in to the small living area.

Inside there was a small couch, a pile of books on a small table, and not much else. They waited while Keven read his letter, offering to wait for him to write back. When he finished he looked to Father Douglas, "So you're the Spaghetti-o's Priest! Don't let the girls in the cafeteria know." Father Douglas just nodded as Vincent confirmed his identity.

While he wrote his reply Vincent went out to the cafeteria to see if they would accept paper money or if he needed to find a way to make fey currency. Father Douglas followed him, but stopped short of the cafeteria, he didn't want to be recognized. Approaching the counter the woman offered to take his paper money to a currency exchange herself for his being new to the realm. He purchased what the woman suggested, imitation unicorn burger and chips. Then he asked if she had any "plain" alcohol, nothing fancy, just something to drink. Seeing how slowly it sells there she sold him an entire (small) bottle of Jack Daniels. He drank it all with his unicorn burger, and before going back to Kevins apartment he tipped the cafeteria server off about the Spaghetti-o's priest being in Madchester.

Back at the apartment Kevin had written the letter and waited calmly with Carson for Vincent and Father Douglas to get back. He handed them the letter and explained why he was there. He told them about protecting the pack territory and that he accepted being restricted to Madchester, a fair trade for breaking Pack law. He saw them off, and went back to his books.

Father Douglas made a point to sneak past the cafeteria, but they got all the way back to the alcove they arrived in without an issue. At the alcove they met the guard who had given them bus fare. He was in plain clothes, and was glad they hadn't had any problems. They said goodbye, and went on their way, back up the spiral stairs to the guardian tree.

At the top of the stairs the guardian made them wait for a group of children to leave before letting them out into the park. She mentioned that she would like to experience walking, but would continue to do her job. Vincent asked if the woman from the bus was a relative, but she seemed confused as to why walking plant-folk would be related to a tree guardian. After twenty minuets she let them leave, sure that nobody was within view. Vincent gives Carson his keys, and starts drinking more on top of his meal at Madchester once he gets into the back of the van.

Returning to the Pack construction site/headquarters, a new security guy opens the gate for them. Inside he introduces himself as Illario, and takes them back up to see Carla. She's still in the conference room, staring at the city as well as the scaffolding will let her. She reads the letter, and is pleased that Keven approves of them. She welcomes them as Pack friends, and shortly after Vincent passes out drunk on the conference desk.

They are put up for the night in rooms right by the elevator, every room seems to have a mattress or two, and a dresser full of the Pack signature loose sweats. Vincent wakes up with his weapons and riot gear in a neat pile next to him and falls into a sort of survival mode. He quickly dresses and readies his shotgun, leaving the room to find Illaro waiting.

They have a quick discussion about Vincent not being a prisoner, just a passed out guest, before Carson and Father Douglas come out and meet him as well. Vincent quietly expressed interest in the aspects of were-beings, after Illaro in just his sweat pants and tank-top didn't seem to be afraid of him in full gear. Illaro took them to Vincents van, and opens the gate for them again, taking a post outside with a yellow construction hat.

They don't know they were spotted between Pack headquarters and the Agency on the way back, but a Solstice intelligence group is starting to get a feel for them. Vincent reported success to Agent Harper, after asking for a reward they were each offered a few days off. A small expense account was offered, for fey or normal spending money, and each person wanted time to think over where they wanted to go.

That's where we called the game on account of "I wana go to Hawaii!" "I want to go to the fay realm and just stare at all the different people!" and "I'm going to spend some time in study of fey creatures in the Agency library."

...everything is ok. :) And we'll be waiting patiently for the next instalment.

>_>

<_<

Spaghetti-o's!!!

A week and a day late again. I'm getting lazy here.

Douglas is now living with the Pack, while Vincent and Carson are living at their own homes commuting to the agency every day. Vincent is also at about day five of sobriety, he's all kinds of fun. Vincent, upon knowing that they'd be working with the pack much more frequently he asked the tech department about getting a pair of silver arm guards with retractable blades, just in case, before heading out, they had them finished and fitted for him, they work two different ways, punching they work unarmed as brass knuckles, blade out they work as weaponry, as he makes a slashing motion with them. (Think of a silver switch blade built onto the back of a glove with silver knuckle covers)

At the agency training gym Vincent at Carson are called to Agent Harpers office. Vincent immediately began drumming his fingers heavily on Harpers Desk. Harper ignored it and explained that the pack would like to work closer with the Agency, as both Agency and Pack try to keep neutrality in larger politics. The Pack has found a family of shifters living in an old house outside of town, it's in the woods and has decent space between neighbors, but the pack doesn't want the potential issues with a family of shifters near the city. If one of them lost control and went on a rampage all they would need is one mauled hiker or to be spotted by someone driving the back roads to ruin the packs reputation with everyone who knows of them.

The mission is to invite the family into the pack, and turn the home into a Pack/Agency safe-house. Vincent and Carson will be sent with someone from the Pack to explain what the Pack is about, and officially extend the invitation. If the people living in the house were hostile, they are allowed to defend themselves as needed.

At the Pack construction site the leader of the cats came to Douglas with two were-leopard from the security group. He explained the same thing, that a family has been found living near the city, and they don't want the potential bad publicity. The two were-leopards would go with him and help where needed, combat, moving the family out, whatever. They are to stay there and be the first two pack members at the new safe-house.

Vincent and Carson arrived at the construction site in Vincents van, picking up Douglas and the two other Pack members. Vincent didn't seem to care either way, and drove off with the group in the back of the van. The trip was uneventful, Vincent left a decent distance between the van and the house, and hopped out, letting Douglas go to the door. The two other Pack members stayed near the van, Carson stayed in the back of it.

Knocking on the front door Douglas was greeted by a small girl, maybe seven years old. He asked for her parents, and she just stood there at the door, and yelled for her mom to come to the door. (Kids these days, am I right?)

A woman came to the door, took one look at him, and said "You smell different. Like one of..." she gestured back into the house.

"Yes." Douglas simply explained. He went on to tell her he was from the pack, and extended an invitation to any shifters living here, and any others they know of.

A man came to the door, explaining he heard most of the offer, after a single attempt at diplomacy (Douglas could talk a bear into thinking it's a rabbit with the rolls he's been making) they agree, he says he'll load up some personal belonging in the van they have, and they'll be ready to follow them in a little while. He walks away, leaving the door open, and Douglas watches the little girl go back to playing before catching a scent off in the woods.

Looking back, Douglas sees the two were-leopards have shifted to hybrid form and are stating at the thick underbrush by the driveway. Vincent is looking in the same direction with his hand on his pistol, but doesn't know exactly what they're looking for. Douglas tells the girl to get her family to a basement or other shelter, and closes the door. Shifting to hybrid form as he looks back everything Douglas has is shredded except his sword belt.

Everyone spots what's wrong at the same time, as two rifles open fire on Vincent. His riot gear stops the first round, the second shot gets through but does minimal damage.

Carson, still in the back of the van, sees Vincent get hit, grabs Vincents assault rifle off the rack, and holds it out to him. This is probably the best teamwork I've ever seen. Seriously. I mean it. Remind me to give Carson extra points.

Vincent grabs the assault rifle, flips it to full auto, and sprays the two men, missing one, ripping the other a new one. The mans bullet proof vest is the only thing that kept him from falling.

Douglas charges in from the front door and claws up the guy Vincent missed, doing minor damage, but getting his attention. This is where it gets complicated, Douglas spots two more guys with pistols.

The man next to Douglas pulls a combat knife and hits Douglas, then looks at his knife, wondering why it didn't do anything. Hybrid forms grant a little armor, and this man is a shooter, not a knife fighter. The more you know...

The other rifleman turns to shoot at Douglas, doing good damage, but not with silver rounds, so it's bludgeoning, not lethal damage.

The two were-leopards wait, not seeing the other two gunmen, wanting to see how good Douglas is now that he's opening up in combat. They get ready to jump in if need be, but they don't think they're needed quite yet.

The two men with pistols open fire, one at Vincent, the other at Douglas. Vincent of course has his riot gear on, stopping most of the shot from doing anything, Douglas takes another few points of bashing damage.

Carson steps out of the van, shooting wide, Vincent reigns it in a bit, going semi-auto on the man with a pistol who shot him. Douglas steps past the knife wielder, grabbing both riflemen, throwing them out of the woods towards the van. The were-leopards take the chance to pounce on them. Both men drop what they have as Douglas throws them, that means no guns, and one without a knife.

The man who pulled a knife on Douglas makes a solid attempt at kicking the were-leopard away, failing horribly, but it was better than panicking, I'll give him that. The man who still had a knife pulls it, sinking it into his were-leopards leg, not doing a whole lot.

The two with pistols open fire on the same targets, Douglas taking more damage, and Vincent taking one more small hit. The heavily wounded one begins to retreat, but having taken the time to fire doesn't go incredibly far.

Carson shoots the man aiming at Douglas, walking towards the forest as he takes aim. Vincent goes full-auto and empties his clip at the man who shot him. This makes Wrath happy. (More on that as plot develops)

Douglas runs up, drawing his sword in one hand, grabbing the pistol and hand of the man shooting him in the other, he lifts him up, stabbing him, and throws him in the air. He botches his landing, but remains awake.

One were-leopard beats his target into submission and sits on him, the other has his target scratched up but is still fighting at this point. The man Douglas threw surrenders, the other one with a pistol got taken down by Vincent.

As the last were-leopard beats his target into submission everyone else begins binding attackers hands with zip-ties and loading them into Vincents van. Vincent radioed in that they were attacked and sustained injuries, but had all four attackers subdued and in need of medical attention. He made sure they wouldn't bleed out on the way to headquarters.

We called it there, kids had to be put to bed and whatnot, and people work in the morning. The good news is the next game is a week from now, and I don't see anything happening that weekend that should keep me from posting it sooner than I just did.

Some notes I gave away to the players:

That was the first wave of Solstice that's been stalking the Van. They know the construction site means something, but not what it means. No escaped survivors also means the next wave only knows these guys were taken out, they don't know how.

So the next group of specialists to come after the group is just going to know what the last group did, and that the last group disappeared. It'll be fun once they realize there's a were-lion in the group.

Next time: The safe-house gets set up, prisoners get interrogated, and whatever I think of to spring on the party might happen too.