Post by Cassian on Dec 2, 2023 20:02:21 GMT -6
Desires for the Night:
- Jack: To find White Frankie Ardelino
- Harri: To track down Kimber and investigate her connection to the mask purchase
- Cassian: To set up a gun workshop lab for making Dragon’s Breath rounds
December 27, 2004
Marshall Manor, Marshall Campus District
6:00 p.m.
Avalon Hill Mortuary
6:17 p.m.
- Jack: To find White Frankie Ardelino
- Harri: To track down Kimber and investigate her connection to the mask purchase
- Cassian: To set up a gun workshop lab for making Dragon’s Breath rounds
December 27, 2004
Marshall Manor, Marshall Campus District
6:00 p.m.
- Jack confronts his father about the call with Balthazar. Jack Sr. says, “It was me that called him, son. I felt I needed to.”
- Jack tells his father, “You have to fight the Beast.” Jack Sr. nods and then leaves to go hunting alone.
- Harri receives an email from Sheriff Fakkir regarding Alanna: “We must investigate her quickly, but carefully.”
- Cassian wakes at Hunger 4. He heads out to the museum district and feeds on a tow truck driver in his hunting ground. He kills him, earning a Stain!
- Cassian leaves the body slumped over inside the tow truck and drained of blood.
- Harri says he’s headed to his old apartment to look for Kimber.
- Jack calls the blacksmith and leaves a message asking for an update on his custom sword. He then leaves to visit with Dr. Francis Scott, the mortician.
Avalon Hill Mortuary
6:17 p.m.
- Upon arriving at the mortuary, Jack activates Awe.
- Dr. Scott welcomes Jack into his office and shuts the door. Jack asks him for the location of White Frankie Ardelino.
- “I want to warn him,” says Jack. “Nothing to be concerned about. It’s mostly an abundance of caution. And, of course, you were never involved.”
- Dr. Scott says Frankie spends time at Toby Laveccio’s restaurant in Little Italy (#45 on the map), La Bella Fortuna.
- Jack thanks Dr. Scott and then feeds on him, slaking 1 Hunger, and leaving the mortician in a stupor.
- After Jack leaves the mortuary, he calls La Bella Fortuna and makes a reservation for 10 p.m. that night.
- Jack sends a text to the Duke: Will report back before midnight.
- The Duke responds: I am pleased. Meet me at The Sovereign. [the steakhouse restaurant located above his private offices]
Harri’s Apartment
6:24 p.m.
- Harri finds his old apartment looking very lived in (glamor magazines, take out boxes, etc.) and reeking of rotting food (his lack of humanity is affecting his sense of smell).
- Kimber is not there, but Harri finds a list of names and addresses scrawled in Kimber’s handwriting on a torn page from a magazine. Some names are in different colors of ink.
- Harri sees the name “D. dos Santos” and an address in Calexico District that seems familiar to him, but he can’t place it.
- Harri then checks on Allison Shaw’s apartment within the same complex. He uses Auspex and his enhanced sense of smell and detects… nothing. Not even Allison’s scent.
Earl’s, Hohenheim College District
7:00 p.m.
- Cassian meets up with his old Army buddy (and touchstone) Hank McGough.
- They catch up a bit and then Cass brings up Desirée. He asks Hank to check in on her because he’s concerned that she’s developed a drug problem.
- Cassian rolls 5 successes! Hank stands up immediately, “Yeah, sure, Cass. I’ll go right now…”
- Cassian then asks Hank if he’d like to go shooting with him again at the range sometime and get some practice with long guns.
- Cass says he could use Hank’s help setting up a new gunsmithing workshop. Hank agrees to help any way he can.
Canterbury Apartments, Calexico District
7:30 p.m.
- Harri goes to the address in Calexico. Upon arriving, he sends a text message to Cassian: checking on a lead
- Harri parks a block away, grabs his lock picks and makes his way down the alley next to a brownstone.
- From the alleyway, Harri sees a car pull up and a guy gets out. He has dark hair, boots and jeans… nothing out of the ordinary. The guy checks a note he’s holding and approaches the building.
- Harri uses Sense the Unseen and doesn’t detect any supernatural activity nearby.
- Harri sees the man ring the buzzer for #209. Desirée answers! The guy is Hank coming to check in on her.
- Desirée says it’s not a good time. Hank is insistent and says he’ll be back in 15 minutes.
- Harri waits until Hank walks away and then picks the main door locks to enter the building. He goes to apartment 209 and hears two female voices within. He recognizes Kimber’s voice!
- Harri exits the building. From the alley, he calls Kimber’s cell and tells her he’s right outside the building and that she needs to come down immediately.
- Kimber is a bit surprised and confused to hear from Harri. “How did you know I was here…?” she asks him.
- “I know the streets and I have my methods,” responds Harri. “What are you doing here?”
- Kimber tells Harri that Desirée owes her money for drugs. Harri presses her further and Kimber says she’s been providing Desirée pain meds.
- Harri tells Kimber to back off of Desirée. He gives her $40 cash and tells her he’ll cover the rest later. Kimber accepts and leaves.
- Moments later, Cassian calls Harri. They agree to meet at Allison Shaw’s apartment to check on Allison and Papagenno.
Harri’s Apartment
9:15 p.m.
- Harri returns to his apartment and finds Kimber there. He asks her about the credit card charge at Shenanigans. Kimber asks, “Did the Syndicate rob us? What did they buy?”
- When Harri mentions the mask, Kimber puts on a cuckoo mask and says, “Like this…?” But, this doesn’t happen…
- Harri asks Kimber about the drugs. She says that Desirée needed pain pills for a goose egg on her face.
- Harri receives a text from Cassian telling him that he’s arrived. Harri leaves Kimber in the apartment and meets Cassian outside of Allison Shaw’s apartment door.
- Detecting no sound within, Harri picks the apartment lock and the vampires enter. The apartment is empty.
- Cassian uses Premonition and detects conflicting energies: He senses joy and Papagenno’s presence. But he also detects a vague oriental spice smell and a feeling of danger. His power also reveals a flash of moonlight on steel.
- Cass tells Harri what his powers revealed. They both suspect that Masuko has been here.
- Cassian calls Jack and asks if he knows why Masuko and Invictus would be involved with Allison and Papagenno.
- Jack tells Cass that he and Harri should go to the Duke’s apartment and scope it out at midnight… when the Duke will be preoccupied meeting with Jack.
La Bella Fortuna, Little Italy District
9:50 p.m.
- Jack arrives at La Bella Fortuna. The restaurant is a scene right out of Goodfellas: Crowded, loud; rich smells of food, bread, olive oil and wine; tables full, Italian music, glassware and silverware clinking as waiters hustle from table to table.
- At a table toward the back, Jack spies a rotund, large man in a cheap white suit, tie slung back over one shoulder, slurping back spaghetti. He’s laughing and joking with various goombas and call girls who are all simping and hanging on his every word.
- Jack goes to the bar and buys an expensive bottle of Chianti Classico Riserva. He uses Awe, approaches the fat man, introduces himself and offers the bottle as a gift.
- White Frankie is super impressed with Jack and invites him to sit down. After pleasantries are exchanged, White Frankie asks, “And what can I do for youse?”
- Jack says there’s a shipment arriving at midnight on December 30th from Italy for McVaigh Enterprises. He wants Frankie to scope out the docks when it arrives.
- At first, Frankie says it sounds like a task that some of his underlings can handle. But Jack insists that Frankie be there personally.
- Frankie looks Jack over, glances at the bottle of Chianti… and says, “Okay. You bring your people, and I’ll bring mine. We’ll be at the docks at 11 p.m. on the 30th.”
- Jack says he’ll propose a specific spot for the meeting and then orders a second bottle for the table.
Invictus Building, Hoyt Cross District
11:38 p.m.
- The Invictus building looks like Nakatomi Plaza. Decorated for the holidays, it’s brightly lit and alive with activity.
- Cassian and Harri are reminded of Elysium: An endless stream of luxury cars pulls into the lobby car port expelling exquisitely dressed, elegant couples who make their way inside.
- The Duke’s apartments are on the 31st floor, while The Sovereign is located on the 32nd. There are lots of security guards everywhere—alert, highly trained, all with earpieces.
- Cassian drives his black Suburban behind the building and just out of sight of security cameras. The vampires decide to access the building via the parking garage.
- Harri gets out and approaches the guard manning the parking garage booth. He asks for jumper cables and uses Mesmerize to make the guard follow him to Cassian’s car. The guard obeys.
- As soon as Harri and the guard are in the back seat, Harri tries to feed on the guard!
- A massive fight ensues… Harri rips the guard’s throat open. Cassian uses Lethal Body to break the guard’s arm as he tries to use his walkie. Harri enters a feeding frenzy and kills the guard, earning a Stain. The car and Harri are a bloody mess.
- The vampires take the guard’s badge (“Operator 246”), key ring, gun and clip. Harri changes clothes with the guard and then uses Cloak of Shadows to disappear.
- Cass parks the Suburban in the garage making sure his face isn’t visible to security cameras. He and Harri use the guard’s badge to activate the elevator, which takes them up to the lobby.
- Cass and Harri quickly move across the lobby hallway to enter the next bank of elevators undetected.
- As Cassian enters the second elevator, he finds a couple already inside. The woman—a classic Karen—starts to pepper Cassian with questions: “Who are you? How did you get in here?”
- The door closes and the elevator begins its ascent. Cassian looks at the man, puts his finger up to the woman’s face and says, “Shhh… men are talking…” before using Mesmerize on her to make her passionately kiss her partner.
- A second Mesmerize on the stunned man makes them forget about Cassian. A curious Malkavian chuckle emerges behind Cass from the shadows of the elevator.
- As the elevator stops at floor 32, Cassian receives a voice mail message from Desirée: I need to see you. It’s bad. Henry left me. Call me.
- The elevator doors open and Cassian steps out into the waiting area for The Sovereign. An attendant provides Cassian with a jacket. (Harri steals one from the shadows.)
- Cassian makes his way to the bar and tries to blend in with the patrons while Harri scopes out the rest of the restaurant without being seen.
- Moments later Jack strolls into the restaurant. He clocks Cassian and notes a bit of blood on Cass’s jacket.
- Jack makes his way to a private dining room in the back of the restaurant. A guard opens two large double doors for Jack.
- Within, Cassian sees a large, opulent long dining table laden with a feast fit for a king. Seated at the table are the Duke, Masuko, Papagenno and Allison. Two security guards stand flanking the Duke.
- Cassian finds the stairwell. Harri uses Mesmerize on the security guard standing outside the stairwell door and orders him, “Escort us to the Duke’s offices.” The guard obeys.
The Sovereign Restaurant, Hoyt Cross District
11:55 p.m.
- Jack enters the lavishly appointed dining room. An entire wall made of glass from floor to ceiling offers an incredible panoramic view of Newcastle far below.
- The Duke says, “The food is for our guests. It is all on the house. Any friend of Papagenno is a friend of ours.”
- The Duke orders Masuko to take the guests to the balcony.
- The Duke then motions to Jack to kneel. “I am pleased that you kept your word. There are some who would resist.” He offers his wrist to Jack.
- Jack responds, “I will not cower.” He drinks from the Duke and now has a Blood Bond 2.
- The Duke then pulls the Dragon’s Breath gun. “Someone close to me wants my power. Someone is plotting against me. That is an error.” He turns to to Jack. “Tell me right now who this is.”
- Jack says that Masuko and Balthazar are plotting against the Duke.
- The Duke says, “Do you know why I had you made? You were made to rise high in Invictus. Bring me absolute concrete evidence that there is a traitor in my midst and I will bestow upon you the title of Adjutant Majoris. I want you at my right hand. Earn my trust and the title is yours. We don’t need the Church or the Carthians. What we need is order. Law. Purpose! Your sire holds sway here. Bring me evidence and you will stand at my side as equal to your own sire.”
- Jack responds, “Our house will be in order, Your Grace.”
December 28, 2004
Duke Almengore’s Penthouse, Hoyt Cross District
12:09 a.m.
- The guard escorts the vampires into the Duke’s offices but says he doesn’t have access to the inner rooms. Harri uses Mesmerize to make the guard take them to the Duke’s drawing room.
- Once there, Harri orders the guard to go down to the parking garage and man the booth. He succeeds, but with a Messy Crit...
- The guard responds to Harri with “I understand. Right away, sir.” However, what Harri hears is, “Yeah, fine, but why should I listen to you… you two-bit crook, low life, street scum piece of shit. I’ll do it, but you can go fuck yourself.”
- To Cassian’s horror, out of absolutely nowhere, Harri cracks the security guard across the face with his brass knuckles!
- The guard drops and Harri pounces on him, raining punches and turning the guard’s face into a bloody pulp. Harri kills him (another Stain!).
- “What in the fuck, Harri?” says Cassian as blood quickly pools all over the Duke’s fine carpet.
- Thinking quickly, Cassian rips a piece of the guard’s shirt, dips it in the blood and writes “VII” on the wall.
- Harri reaches into his pocket and pulls out the rubber clown mask. He slips it over the guard’s ruined head.
- Cassian receives a text message from Jack: Abort!
The vampires earn +3 Experience.