Third Session - Act III: Black Court Vampire
Who Was TherePippa Cavallo,
Descendant of Epona.Longfellow,
Spell Slinging Thrill Seeker.Sophia Rodriguez,
Agent of the Fury.Lucia Marie Santos,
Reporter Who Turns into a Cat.What HappenedIn the last several weeks there have been three murders - two men and one woman. Each victim was found in their car with their throat ripped out. It is July in Orlando, the height of tourist season, and the authorities seem reluctant to name this a serial killing. Thus far, the media have gone along with downplaying the deaths. A series of strange happenings brought four women to the parking lot of 601 South Semoran Blvd, where they encountered another dead body. The four women investigated and are now following a suspect related to the crimes...* As Digger leaves the lounge, the investigators are approached by Gary Schwartz. He asks to speak with them. They agree and he mentions that he overheard some of the conversation Pippa had with Edwina Spenser and Moondove. He wants to be sure they understand what Accorded Neutral Ground really means and gives them a brief explanation: The Unseelie Accords are... laws. They govern how the various supernatural nations, I suppose you'd say, interact with each other. There's a lot of them signed on: the wizard group, several of the vampire groups, the faerie courts and powerful individuals. I hear at least one dragon's signed on. One of the rules is that a place that's been set as neutral ground, like my lounge, are violence free. If one member of a group that's signed onto the Accords has a problem with another member, they're obligated to take it outside. If they don't, there's no immediate punishment but, down the line, they're probably going to find an agent of the Queen of Winter coming after them for insulting her honor by breaking her rules."
**
Lucia is awarded a Fate Point for allowing her curiosity to get the better of her - staying to hear Gary's explanation even though Digger might get away.* The investigators pay for their drinks and tobacco, thank Gary for his explanation, and hurry outside. They see Digger's black truck down the street, driving away. Quickly, they move to follow. Longfellow hops on her bike with Lucia. Pippa and Sophia follow further behind in Pippa's truck.
**
Longfellow rolls Driving (+3) w/ a -1 modifier for her Stealth. +-+O for a total of +3. Digger's roll to notice he's being followed is a +0. Pippa rolls Driving (+1) to keep Longfellow's bike in sight. +OO+ for a total of +3. Longfellow is awarded a Fate Point for choosing the more thrilling method of following Digger - she could have easily done another tracking spell.* Digger doesn't notice he's being followed. He also drives almost drunkenly through a few stop signs. He eventually pulls into the parking lot of College Park Towers on Eggleston Avenue, a low income housing project in a neighborhood that's one part low budget commercial, one part warehouses, and all broken street lamps. This neighborhood reeks of cheap living filled with desperate people who can afford no better and predators that prey on their needs. This isn't the Orlando the tourist brochures talk about.
* The investigators park in the lot of the Auto Parts store next to the housing project and watch as Digger staggers inside the building. A quick check shows he parked his truck in the superintendent's parking space.
* Lucia transforms into cat form and sneaks over to the apartment building. It isn't too hard to get inside - the door is propped open by a brick. The superintendent's apartment is right on the left and she listens and sniffs and determines Digger is inside, probably watching television. She begins a floor by floor search of the building, sniffing and listening at doorways.
* Outside, Pippa and Sophia observe the building while Longfellow ponders - is Lucia a reporter who turns into a cat? Or a cat who turns into a reporter. Pippa and Sophia, meanwhile, notice that the windows of an apartment on the fifth floor have been painted black and that none of the other lights on that floor are on. Realizing that Lucia might be in over her head, the others head inside College Park Towers.
* They make their way up the stairs. Lucia is several floors ahead of them. It is quiet - strangely quiet. Even this late at night, there should be signs of life. Babies crying. People talking behind closed doors. Music. Laughter. Something. But it is like being in the forest while a predator is on the move.
* Pippa, Sophia and Longfellow reach the fifth floor where they see Lucia, in cat form, staring at the door of apartment 5B. Pippa can smell death inside. By now, weapons are drawn. They all feel the essential wrongness of this place. Something unnatural has claimed this building as a home.
* Longfellow moves forward and touches the door. With her will, she reaches for the metal of the deadbolt and twists. The door unlocks with a soft click.
**
Longfellow casts a 2 shift evocation to unlock the door. With Discipline (+3) she rolls +-O+ for a total of +4. She takes 1 mental stress.**
Longfellow: Mental Stress X O O O.* Beyond the door, a voice with an African accent calls out:
"I did not summon you Digger. Return to your apartment before I decide I am still hungry."*
Physical conflict begins. The initiative order is: Pippa, Lucia, Vampire, Sophia, Longfellow.* Pippa steps back with her sword drawn, ready for conflict.
* Lucia arches her back and hisses, her claws digging into the floor board.
* The vampire steps up to the door and sniffs. He puts his hand on the knob, ready to open the door then pauses as he sniffs the air and realizes.
"You aren't Digger. Digger doesn't smell like horses and motorcycles and cats..."* Without hesitating, Sophia rises the pistol given to her by the Furies and fires over Longfellow's shoulder, through the door. While the bullet hits, between the door and the vampire's own natural toughness it does no damage.
**
Sophia rolls Guns (+3): +OOO for a total of +4. The vampire rolls Athletics (+3) w/ a +1 for Inhuman Speed. -O-- for a total of +1. With the barrier rating of the door added to the vampire's Armor:2, he takes no damage.* Knowing the vampire is right behind the door now, Longfellow turns the handle and throws her body weight against it, attempting to shove him back and surprise him. The vampire roars in rage and yanks the door off the hinges and tosses it away behind him.
**
Longfellow rolls Might (+0): O+-+ for a total of +1. She spends a Fate Point to invoke her "Different Job Each Week" Aspect - she does a lot of manual labor - and it raises to +3. The vampire rolls +OO+ and with his Inhuman Strength the total is +4. Longfellow does not shove him back but the door IS removed when he rips it away.* Pippa takes advantage of the opening and rushes forward in an attempt to shove her blade into the vampire's chest. The vampire moves so fast he blurs and the blade pierces nothing.
**
Pippa rolls Weapons (+3): --+0 for +2. The vampire rolls Athletics (+3) w/ +1 for Inhuman Speed: +-OO for a total of +4. He dodges.* Lucia attempts to rush past the vampire, seeking to distract him. The vampire, rather than turn to follow her progress, moves with insane speed and kicks. The cat is thrown across the room. Luckily she lands on her feet.
**
Lucia rolls Presence (+2) w/ a +1 bonus for Inhuman Speed. She rolls -O+- for a total of +2. His counter roll is Discipline (+3) w/ a +1 bonus for Inhuman Speed. He rolls -+OO. Total +4.* The vampire lunches, his broken, claw-like nails sweeping out towards Longfellow. She just barely scrambles back, avoiding the attack. As it attacks, the vampire screams. "I am tired of this! I come to this country for opportunity and my education is ignored! I am forced to drive other people around like a servant!"
**
The vampire rolls Fists (+3): O-O- for a total of +1. Longfellow rolls Athletics (+1): O-O- for a total of -1. She spends a Fate Point, invoking her 'BFF Forever' Aspect. She and her best friend spent a lot of time mock fighting. She rerolls: -+++ for a total of +3 and dodges.* Sophia aims her revolver and focuses on her mission. The Furies charged her with bringing death to murderers. This monster killed at least four people. The scorpion sigil on the revolver flares with orange light as she squeezes the trigger. The bullet flies true and buries itself in his chest, reeking of burnt flesh and garlic.
**
Sophia spends a Fate Point to activate her Item of Power's "Nobody Escapes Vengeance" ability. It counts as a Catch for this attack. She rolls Guns (+3) w/ a +1 bonus for True Aim: +--- for a total of +2. The vampire rolls Athletics (+3) w/ an Inhuman Speed +1 bonus: +--- for a total of +2. The vampire is dealt 2 Physical Stress. He chooses to negate that with a Mild Consequence: Garlic Burn. Sophia has the tag.**
Vampire: Mild Consequence - Garlic Burn.* Longfellow takes the vampire's words and throws them back at him, teasing him for being foreign born and suggesting he probably drives on the wrong side of the road. In his enraged state, the vampire takes the bait and is provoked.
**
Longfellow rolls Intimidation (+2): +-OO for a +2. The vampire rolls Rapport (+0): +O-+ for a total of +1. Longfellow puts a single round 'Provoked' Aspect on the vampire and gains a tag on it.**
Vampire: Mild Consequence - Garlic Burn | Temporary Aspect: Provoked.* Pippa moves with the inhuman speed granted to her by Epona, leaping past the vampire and into the apartment. As she does so she turns, stabbing towards his back. The vampire twists out of the way.
**
Pippa rolls Weapons (+3): -O--- for a total of 0. The vampire rolls Athletics (+3) w/ a +1 Inhuman Speed bonus: -++- for a total of +4. He dodges easily.* As Lucia, in cat form, peers around the apartment she sees four ghosts: three men and a woman, all with their throat torn out, all staring with anger and despair at the vampire. Realizing these are the vampire's victims, Lucia communicates with the ghosts as all cats can, begging for their help. The ghosts seem to agree and small objects begin randomly lifting from around the apartment. They go tumbling towards the vampire with enough force to distract him, though not enough force to hurt him.
**
Lucia rolls Rapport (+2) w/ a Mark of Power bonus of +1: +O+- for a total of +4. The GM determines this is enough to reach the ghosts and prod them into action. The vampire gains a 'Harried by Ghosts' Aspect.**
Vampire: Mild Consequence - Garlic Burn | Temporary Aspects: Provoked, Harried by Ghosts.* Angry and in pain, the vampire reaches out in an attempt to rip Sophia's head from her shoulders, screaming all the while.
'"Ignorant, arrogant Americans! Bullies! Every one of you! My employer! My customers! Even the superintendent of this bulding! But it is I, Joyful Changari, who is the bully now! The Digger, his mind is MINE to mold and terrorize! He is MY servant!"' Sophia, however, dodges quite well despite the narrow space of the corridor.
**
Joyful Changari rolls Fists (+3): O-++. His total is +4. Sophia rolls Athletics (+2): O+++ for a total of +5. She dodges.* Sophia takes a step back from the vampire. Time seems to slow down for her as the gun whispers that this murderer must be destroyed. It must know the power of the Furies. She squeezes the trigger. The bullet flies true and seems to burst into sunlight as it strikes. Joyful Changari's left arm is shredded into meat. The sunlight bullet ricochets off the bones on the vampire's arm and blasts a hole into his ribcage as well. Black ooze, the remains of his liquified organs, pours to the floor.
*
Sophia spends a Fate Point to activate her Item of Power's "Nobody Escapes Vengeance" ability. She is then given Longfellow's tag on the "Provoked" Aspect and Kitty's tag on the "Harried by Ghosts" Aspect. She chooses to use both tags as well as her own tag on the vampire's "Garlic Burn". She rolls Guns (+3) w/ a +1 bonus for True Aim: +O+O for a total of +12. Joyful Changari rolls Athletics (+3) w/ a +1 bonus for Inhuman Speed: +OO+ for a total of +6. He takes +8 Physical Stress (the difference between her roll and his and +2 for the gun's base damage - the Nobody Escapes Vengeance ability negates his Inhuman Toughness armor). He chooses to erase those by taking a Severe Consequence: Mangled Arm and a Moderate Consequence: Gushing Side Wound. Sophia has tags on both of those.**
Joyful Changari: Mild Consequence - Garlic Burn | Moderate Consequence - Gushing Side Wound | Severe Consequence - Mangled Left Arm | Aspects: Provoked, Harried by Ghosts.* Longfellow lifts her arms. Metal wires that are coiled around her wrists flies out and slashes at Joyful Changari, slicing pieces of flesh and bone from his body.
**
Longfellow creates a 7 shift evocation to damage the vampire. Sophia hands Longfellow one of her tags and Longfellow has a foci that provides a +1 bonus. She rolls Discipline (+3): ++OO for a total of +8. Joyful Changari rolls Athletics (+3) to dodge w/ a +1 Inhuman Speed bonus: -+OO for a total of +4. He takes 4 physical stress but his natural armor reduces it to 2. At this point, the 'Provoked' Aspect, which was fragile, vanishes. Longfellow takes 4 Mental Stress.**
Joyful Changari: OXO (OOOO) | Mild Consequence - Garlic Burn | Moderate Consequence - Gushing Side Wound | Severe Consequence - Mangled Left Arm | Aspects: Harried by Ghosts.*
Longfellow: Mental Stress X O O X.* Pippa leaps and swings with the gladius that came from her ancestor, Epona's, temple. She does not behead the vampire but cuts hard into his neck, sending a spray of ichor and flesh splattering across the hallway.
**
Pippa rolls Weapons (+3): O+OO for a total of +4. She spends a Fate Point to activate her "My Special Gladius". Sophia also hands Pippa her remaining tag. The final total is +8. Joyful Changari rolls Athletics (+3) w/ a +1 bonus for Inhuman Speed: O-++ for a total of 5. His armor negates two points of stress so she inflicts 3 Physical Stress on the vampire.**
Joyful Changari: OXX (OOOO) | Mild Consequence - Garlic Burn | Moderate Consequence - Gushing Side Wound | Severe Consequence - Mangled Left Arm | Aspects: Harried by Ghosts.* While the others battle, Lucia searches the room, looking for something else that can help. She realizes the stove in the tiny kitchenette is a gas model. Lucia transforms back into a human, uses the stove to light a book on fire and tosses it at the vampire. It bounces off his chest but he barely notices the book. A book, even on fire, is nothing compared to the wounds he has already taken. Not to mention the other objects that keep pelting him in the head.
**
Lucia attempts to create an Aspect to distract the vampire. The flaming book is really a prop for her Presence (+2): OO-O for a total of +1. Joyful Changari rolls his Discipline (+3) to ignore it: --O+ for a total of +2.*
"I WILL DRINK YOU ALL DRY FOR THIS!" Joyful Changari attempts to grab and break Pippa's sword arm but she dances out of the way. He's slowing down, especially since he only has one arm he can use effectively.
**
Joyful rolls Fists (+3): OOO+ for a total of +4. Pippa rolls Athletics (+4) w/ a +1 bonus for Inhuman Speed: --O+ for a total of +4. Spend spends a Fate Point to activate her "Tiny but Fierce" Aspect which brings the total to +6. She dodges.* With the vampire focused on Pippa, Sophia has a clear shot and takes it. However, she's having trouble focusing her will on her mission and the bullet leaves the barrel of her revolver without any special power. It does little damage.
**
Sophia uses Guns (+3) w/ a +1 bonus for True Aim: ++O- for a total of +5. Joyful Changari rolls Athletics (+3) w/ a +1 bonus for Inhuman Speed: -OO+ for a total of +4. His natural armor blocks two points of stress for he takes just 1 Physical Stress.**
Joyful Changari: XXX (OOOO) | Mild Consequence - Garlic Burn | Moderate Consequence - Gushing Side Wound | Severe Consequence - Mangled Left Arm | Aspects: Harried by Ghosts.* Longfellow spots the stove, past the vampire, with the burner still on. She reaches out with her magic and yanks, hard. The stove leaps from the wall. The gas line rips and there's a small explosion, setting the walls of the apartment on fire.
**
Longfellow casts a 3 shift Evocation. She rolls Discipline (+3) w/ a +1 bonus for her foci: +OOO for a total of +5. That's enough to yank the stove from the wall and put an 'On Fire' Aspect on the apartment.* As Joyful Changari looks over his shoulder he roars in fury, seeing his apartment on fire. At that same time four ghostly figures materialize and grasp hold of the vampire, dragging him back inside. He is soon engulfed in the flames. Meanwhile, the building's fire alarm, apparently actually working, rings. In short order, people are fleeing the building - including the four investigators.
GM Notes* This was the end of our first casefile. It was just past midnight at this point so I decided that, with all three Consequence slots filled in and three stress boxes checked off, the team had won the fight. Joyful Changari was their first major bad guy but he wasn't a master criminal. The ghosts and the fire provided a good way to end the fight.
* According to news reports, one body was found in the building, on the fifth floor. However, authorities believe the body, belonging to a former taxi driver named Joyful Changari had been dead for months before his body was burned in the fire. No one else was hurt in the fire and the damage was limited mostly to the fifth floor. The city believes they'll have College Park Towers repaired by the end of the summer and is working with insurance companies to find housing for the residents in the meanwhile. It wasn't front page news but Lucia's story on the fire did make page three, at least.
* Follow-up investigation will discover that Joyful Changari was Nigerian and came to this country fleeing political persecution. He wasn't granted asylum but was given a work visa. He had a degree in mechanical engineering but ended up working in Orlando as a taxi driver until the company went out of business due to pressure from ridesharing services like Y'all.
* Digger ended up in a hospital for psychiatric evaluation. Joyful Changari was slowly torturing him into a Renfield, sadistically drawing the process out over months.