[Department] Bert says, "Log on."

Roger has arrived.

Maria arrives from the east.

Taleslinger arrives from the east.

Taleslinger says, "Ah"

SATSAM has connected.

GM says, "We'll hold off until two to start, in case lps is able to make it."

Taleslinger shouts, "You haven't seen the last of Taleslinger! Now goodbye forever."

Taleslinger has disconnected.

SATSAM says, "Sure"

Maria says, "Ok"

SATSAM asks, "Is Peregrine here?"

GM says, "Oh, huh. Apparently not yet..."

Penny says, "I'M afraid he's doing the whole tortured artist things now"

GM sends him an email.

GM says, "(I don't suppose anyone has a better way to contact him.)"

Maria says, "Maybe Facebook. But I have a child who literally just started freaking the fuck out."

Penny says, "get a grip, Cassie"

Penny says, "Stop acting like a ba- oh"

GM says, "I don't have a facebook, account, and the ifMUD one apparently needs some security check before I can log in. Bah."

GM says, "I suppose if he's not here by 2:10, we can start without him."

GM says, "...or as soon as Maria comes back from putting Cassie down to nap. :)"

Penny says, "heh"

Penny says, "Peregrine will be here in 5 minutes"

GM says, "Oh, yay."

Peregrine has left.

Peregrine has arrived.

GM says, "Woo."

Penny exclaims, "...and so I say we kill his character for being late!"

Peregrine says, "gasp"

GM says, "ggg is just putting Cassie down for a nap; when she gets back, we'll be ready to start."

Susan says, "I'm looking for my character sheet"

Susan says, "also drinking beer on Zoom with film music friends"

Penny says, "hash, as if there is a better way for people to communicate online than text"

Maria says, "Ok. I'm good. I think."

GM exclaims, "Woo! Welcome back, everyone!"

GM sets his current fate point total to 3.

Penny says, "Yay people"

Susan sets his current fate point total to 3.

GM says, "This morning, the Chief said that as soon as you finished catching up on all your old, overdue paperwork, you should head to his office for a special assignment."

Maria sets her current fate point total to 3.

Penny sets her current fate point total to 3.

GM exclaims, "That was about nine hours ago. It's now around six o'clock, and you're finally caught up!"

Penny has finally figured out how many e's go in banshee.

Susan broods, as if contemplating a nasty pun.

GM says, "You all sit down across from his desk. It's a cold December evening, and it's getting dark and windy outside."

Chief says, "Alright, here's the situation. There's a gang of vampires in town called the Southside Bloodhounds. We have a long-standing contractual agreement with them that if they don't physically harm any human beings, we won't turn them into the cops."

Chief says, "But lately, people have been going missing near their neighborhood, and we want you to find out if they're somehow involved."

Maria hm.

[Crows-Nest] Penny exclaims, "No! Noooo! Nooooo!"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Vampires are basically pun-central"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Ha ha ha."

Penny asks (of chief), "Do we have any leads?"

Susan asks, "Or silvers?"

s Chief says, "We know the address of the gang's last known headquarters, and we know that all the disappearances have been within a couple blocks of there, at night time. We also have the name of their leader. And we know that, unless they've come up with some clever magic, they haven't officially violated the contract, which is surprising."

Maria asks, "Could there be a rival gang?"

[Crows-Nest] Maria asks, "And can they have a dance off to decide who stays in town?"

Chief says, "That's definitely a possibility. If another gang is involved, and they bring too much police attention to the area, that could be bad. We don't want the public finding out about vampires living in the city."

Penny says, "I mean, we should just go ask. If they are involved, they're probably not gonna outright disappear us."

Maria says, "And then what? They just tell us, "Yes, we're involved." And then maybe they can demonstrate."

Penny says (to maria), "Well, going on the idea that they went this to stay secret."

Susan says, "If they tell us 'this a spear', we can always say 'this a stake'"

[Department] Maria says, "Oh, so, I had some massive internet connection issues yesterday during work. So.. heads up, I guess."

[Department] GM says, "(Argh, drat, AFK a minute.)"

Penny says, "Maybe we should just check out the neighborhood, get the picture."

[Department] (from Maria) GM says, "There's a cat on my computer."

Maria muses, "Do vampire show up in pictures?"

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "In before Susan can say something like that :D"

Maria quietly, "ho ho ho".

Penny quietly, "I hate this job."

[Department] GM says, "(Back.)"

Chief says (to Maria), "That's a good question. As you know, there are many different strains of vampires with different rules. We don't have a lot of details on which kind these are."

Penny says, "I've only seen the most recent vampire movie, Nosferatu."

Maria knows ALL ABOUT vampires. Especially the sparkly kind.

GM says, "The Chief slides a large manilla envelope across the desk to you."

Chief says, "This may be of some help."

Maria reaches to take the envelope.

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "The envelope, a least, does not bite."

Maria shrugs and opens it.

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "Mostly I was waiting b/c folk seem to be idle."

GM says, "The top sheet say 'Southside Bloodhounds. Leader: Albert Domingo'. Below that is an address."

[Crows-Nest] Penny asks, "How dreamy does Domingo look?"

GM says, "The rest of the pages appear to be a photocopy of some kind of legal contract."

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "oooooooh Alberto"

Penny studies the contract.

GM says (to Penny), "The most important part seems to be on the second page, where it says 'I agree not to cause any physical harm or injury to any human except in proportionate self-defense, nor to take any blood from a human without consent, nor to mentally dominate any human. I also agree to take steps to ensure, to the best of my abilities, that no other member of my organization performs any of these actions.'"

GM asks, "Are you reading the rest in any detail, or just getting the gist?"

[Department] Maria asks, "It's been a while. Is "mysteries" == Lore?"

Penny says, "Just the gist for now"

[Department] Maria says, "Looking thorugh my character sheet."

Penny asks, "Can I get a secretary to type me up a copy of this?"

[Department] Maria says, "I also have academics. I guess we split it into two."

[Department] GM says, "For this game, Lore was split into two parts: Academics for normal real-world knowledge and Mysteries or Arcana or something for wacky stuff like aliens and vampires and magic."

[Department] Maria says, "Cool, ok"

Chief says, "This is a copy. You can do with it as you wish. The original is stored in the Department vaults."

Penny pockets the contract for now.

Maria says, "So. *IF* they're involved.. either they're getting attacked regularly, or they have consent from some fringe group of vampire fetishists. Clearly."

GM says (to Penny), "So the gist is what I just said, plus that in exchange, the Department will try to protect them from being discovered as vampires."

Maria says, "Some loophole, basically."

Chief nods. "Those seem like plausible possibilities."

Maria beams

Penny asks, "We'll get to the bottom of this jiggery-pokery. Question is, how do we go about this?"

Maria pulls up the address on her smartphone.

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "Unnaturally prolonged life? Again? THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "That's cold"

GM says (to Maria), "It's -- unsurprisingly -- on the south side of town. It's in a very old neighborhood, in an area you remember thinking of as a bit run-down."

Hunter disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.

Penny asks (of gm), "Um, so do we have silver bullets? Crosses? Anything like that?"

Hunter arrives at home.

Penny asks, "And this contract says they have the ability to mentally dominate folks. Do we have any protection from that?"

Susan says, "They'd have to be mental to try and dominate me, that's for sure"

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "Oh good. Y'all both have will = 1. This is going to be great."

Chief says, "The armory should have silver bullets and crosses. I think we're out of holy water. But I don't think we have anything specifically to deal with vampire domination, unfortunately."

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "don't forget your bag of rice"

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "Rice and garlic. Afterwards we can make dinner."

[Department] GM says, "If you'd like to gear up before you leave, I'd consider that a Create Advantage with Resources."

[Department] Penny says, "I don't have Resourced and Penny is unlikely to shoot anyone anyway"

[Department] GM says, "Opposition 1, since you're right here at the Department with a well-stocked armory."

[Department] GM says, "(One of you can roll, but anyone else with the skill can assist.)"

[Department] Susan says, "Sorry, don't have the skill"

[Department] Maria asks, "I think none of us have it, so just a +0 roll from someone. Who feels lucky?"

[Department] Susan says, "I only have... the KILL"

[Department] Susan exclaims, "I feel lucky!"

Susan rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 0 0 0 | Average (1)

[Department] GM exclaims, "Tie! That's a boost!"

[Setting the zoned flag.]

[Department] Penny says, "Minor cost: Susan has to go on a date with the chief of munitions"

[Department] Penny says, "oh"

[Department] GM says (to Penny), "Hee."

[Department] Maria | https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1h88N6VTO6dtQ2RVzk1tqx4NdA5PNyShAjpXcoVjhU8M/edit#gid=1468403495

[Department] Roger says, "hey baby it's not often you'll meet a man of my calibre"

[Department] GM says, "So you don't get a full aspect, but you can tag the boost for a one-off bonus if you need it."

Chief says, "Are there any other questions I can help you with before you go?"

[Department] GM says, "Hmm, looks like many of those are specific to Vomisa."

[Department] GM says, "But I'll let you guys handle that bookkeeping."

[Department] Maria says, "Yeah, they can just get wiped, so we can use the doc still."

[Department] GM says, "Also, hmm. Penny suggested something earlier; let me make it canon."

[Department] Penny asks, "Oh?"

GM says (to Penny), "Also, ther is a photo of Albert Domingo. It's a very old, black and white picture, but he's wearing what to you seems like a very nice, stylish suit (although anyone else here would consider it pretty old-fashioned), and he *is* quite dreamy."

[Department] Penny says, "ha ha ha ha"

[Department] Maria asks, "Hee. Is this from the beforetimes? Or does that answer the photo question?"

Penny says (distractedly), "We should definetely talk to him"

[Department] GM says, "The beforetimes? If you mean covid-19, the coronavirus is not canon in my game universe."

[Department] (from Penny) GM says, "It's called covid-20"

[Department] GM asks, "So what is everyone doing now?"

Susan checks her gun.

[Department] Maria says, "Before he became a vampire."

Penny loads her old Webley revolver with silver. just in case.

Maria reluctantly puts on a crucifix, kind of frowning all the while.

[Department] GM asks, "It sounds like you've basically wrapped up this scene. Where is the next one taking place?"

[Department] Maria says, "Maria should have said this, since she's got all the fantasy book learning, but silver is not a thing for vampires. That's werewolves :)"

[Department] Maria says, "But she didn't, so... we'll see what happens."

[Department] GM says, "Hee."

[Department] GM says, "Perhaps that's why you only ended up with a boost instead of an Aspect."

[Department] Maria says, "Ok, also I'm wrong. Hm."

[Department] Maria says, "Says the internet anyway."

[Department] Susan says, "Susan hardly needs silver anyway"

[Department] Penny says (to maria), "Stick to biology :P"

[Department] Susan says, "She killed ghosts before"

[Department] Maria says, "So.. vampire bats? :)"

[Department] Penny asks, "Re: Next scene: I say we just check out the neighborhood the next night?"

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "That's a different game, Penny."

[Department] Maria says, "Yeah"

[Department] GM asks, "OK! So you're heading there in the evening?"

[Department] Penny asks, "Yeah?"

[Department] Susan says, "No problemo"

GM says, "It's a cold, dark, blustery December evening. There are snow drifts up against the buildings, where it was shoveled off of the sidewalk."

Maria wears a jaunty red scarf to cover her neck.

GM says, "It's a very old neighborhood. You pass by apartment buildings, a cheap clinic, a small convenience store/market... before you eventually find the address."

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Penny's winter outfit: http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-LhEitqjQrhc%2FUp9DfCmgwHI%2FAAAAAAAAEtQ%2FJFKKSPkISXA%2Fs1600%2FScreen%2BShot%2B2013-12-04%2Bat%2B9.59.09%2BAM.png&f=1&nofb=1">https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=http%3A%2F%2F4.bp.blogspot.com%2F-LhEitqjQrhc%2FUp9DfCmgwHI%2FAAAAAAAAEtQ%2FJFKKSPkISXA%2Fs1600%2FScreen%2BShot%2B2013-12-04%2Bat%2B9.59.09%2BAM.png&f=1&nofb=1"

GM says, "It's a two-story building, you'd guess at least a hundred years old. The windows are boarded up. There's also a narrow allow running along one side of it."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Nice."

Penny says, "So, which approach do you suggest? I'm still for just walking in, figuring out what's what."

Maria shrugs. "I guess so?"

Maria asks, "Just.. let's be careful, ok?"

Penny says, "Sure. Let's show our moxie."

Maria asks, "The soda?"

Penny asks, "Pardon?"

Maria says, "Oh. Nevermind."

Penny gets out of the car and walks towards the building.

GM says (to Penny), "You stand at the front door."

Maria follows. "Should we knock?"

Penny says, "I kind of expect it to open on its own. (nervous chuckle)"

GM says, "...the door does not open on its own."

Penny knocks politely.

Penny asks, "Hello? Senor Domingo?"

Susan says, "More like *Door*mingo"

GM says, "A short, pale man in a cheap pinstripe suit opens the door. He looks like a figure straight out of an early 20th century gangster flick."

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "*swoon*"

GM says, "He does not look like the photo of Albert Domingo."

Man says, "Whaddya want?"

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "Soes I checks out the gams on this one, see"

Penny says, "We are here to talk to Mr. Domingo, sir."

Man says, "Sorry, dame, but he ain't here. If you've got business, it'll have to be with Mr. Malone."

Penny looks at the others questioningly. "Um, sure, I guess?"

Maria nods.

Susan rolls her eyes.

Man says, "Who should I say is callin'?"

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "Avon."

Penny says, "Just say we're here from ... the city. About the building ... contract."

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "smooooooth"

GM says, "He shrugs and goes down the hallway. He calls into another room:"

[Crows-Nest] (from Maria) Man says, "Dinners here."

Man says, "Hey, Two Fingers, I got some broads at the door who say they're from the city and wanna talk about some kinda building contract. You want I should send 'em away?"

Penny whispers to susan Listen doll, just be ready to release all hell, okay?

GM says, "You hear a muffled response, and then he comes back."

Susan whispers back, 'I'm always ready.'

Man says, "Mr. Malone says we're all paid up on our 'city fees'. If you're here to renegotiate our 'rates', then you'll have to make an appointment. Right now he's in the middle of important business and can't be disturbed."

Penny says, "Um. No, there is, uh, another contract? Listen, does Mr. Domingo have a mobile telephone? Maybe you can call him."

Penny says proudly, "Or maybe send him ... an iMessage!"

Maria sighs.

GM says, "A figure emerges from the other room. He's taller than the man you were talking to and uglier. Similar fashion era, except his suit is of a much nicer quality."

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "I misread that as "a finger emerges". Since two fingers.."

Two Fingers says, "I'm sorry, but Mr. Domingo has... retired from the business."

Penny wipes sweat from her brow. "Are you, uh, are you his replacement, sir?

Two Fingers says, "That is correct. I am James Malone, or 'Two Fingers' to my friends."

Maria looks at his hands, trying not to be obvious.

Two Fingers says, "My associate here says that you represent the city, and are here about some financial matters?"

GM says (to Maria), "They *seem* perfectly normal. Aside from being a bit pale."

Penny asks, "Well, Mr. Domingo had a contract with our employer. Maybe you talked about this?"

[Crows-Nest] Penny asks, "We never mention the DouA directly, right?"

Two Finger says, "And your employer is who, exactly?"

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "oh yeah, Tony Four-Toes"

[Department] Maria asks, "From our quick perusal of the contract, did it name the parties involved?"

[Department] Maria says, "Like, some alias for the department"

[Department] Susan asks, "Isn't the 'Department' in itself an alias?"

[Department] GM says, "It did! In fact, it was specifically between two individuals, Albert Domingo and David Penderton, although there were some clauses about formal procedures for designating successors in the case of one's death."

[Department] Penny says, "Curse this vaguely defined mythology"

Penny says, "Mr. David Penderton"

Two Fingers says, "Oh! Then you must be from the Department! Of course."

Maria oh!

Two Fingers says, "So how is Mr. Penderton these days? Still dead, I assume?"

Penny asks, "Very much so. Maybe we can chat somewhere in private?"

[Department] Penny says (to gm), "You failed to mention wether Malone is dreamy or not."

Two Fingers says, "Of course. Come into the parlor and make yourself comfortable."

[Department] GM | He's taller than the man you were talking to and uglier.

[Department] Maria says, "He said he was uglier."

[Department] Penny says, "Ah. Aw."

[Department] Maria asks, "So.. values of dreamy?"

Penny steps into the parlor.

GM says, "He leads you into a room with a card table in the middle of it, set up mid-game. He shoos away the other men around it, and offers you each a seat."

Maria smiles politely and sits down.

Penny sits down and checks her hand, just out of curiosity.

Malone says, "Would you care for a beverage?"

Maria says, "Um."

Penny says, "Bourbon, straight. Thanks."

GM says (to Penny), "Ooh, it looks like the guy sitting there was probably gonna lose. He might be grateful that the game was called off."

Maria says, "Just water for me. Thank you."

Two Fingers passes your drink orders to one of his men who goes off someplace, presumably to fill them.

Two Finger says, "So! I assume that there's no difficulty with our 'contract'? I trust your token is still intact?"

[Department] Maria says, "I would like to use danger sense to do a notice check on my drink when it arrives, if possible."

Penny says, "We are kind of taken aback that Mr. Domingo has ... uh ... retired."

[Department] GM says, "When the drinks arrive, they seem uncontaminated. You do sense that Mr. Malone might not be entirely trustworthy, but that could just be the fact that you're here looking for vampire mobsters."

Two Finger says, "Ah, yes, well. He's been in the business for a long time now. Surely he's due for a little break, no?"

Maria sips.

Susan downs her drink in one go. 'Not bad.'

Penny asks (of Malone), "Could you give us the details of what happened to him?"

Susan says, "This may not be al-cool-hol, but it's alright"

Two Fingers frowns. "I'm afraid that Mr. Domingo's private business is his own private business. I find it rather intrusive that you're asking so many questions about it."

[Department] Penny says, "afk for a moment"

Susan says, "You may find us intrusive, but we also find you obtrusive."

Two Fingers says, "Did you have any actual business matters to address? Because if you're merely here to ask after Albert Domingo's well-being, I have rather little to say."

Penny says, "You do understand we had a contract, Mr. Malone? And now one of the parties is indisposed. And we only have your word for any of this."

Two Fingers says, "If you've read the contract, you know that Mr. Domingo could never have willingly left me in charge unless he had complete faith in me. And you know from the token that the contract hasn't been breached. So what is there to concern yourselves about?"

Maria raises her eyes at "willingly."

[Department] Maria says, "Erm. Eye brows."

[Department] Penny asks, "Can I roll Lore if that willingly bit cans be true?"

[Department] Penny says, "Eyebrow."

[Department] GM says (to Penny), "Based on your understanding of the contract? SUre."

Penny rolls Good (3) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 0 | Good (3)

[Department] GM says, "Opposition 2."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Success!"

[Department] GM says, "What he's saying fits the wording of the contract. If Domingo thought there was a likely chance that Malone would act contrary to the agreement, then willingly putting him in charge would be a violation of it."

[Department] Penny says, "Okay."

[Department] GM says, "In fact, if he thought that Two Fingers would do that, then he'd be obligated to do his best to try to prevent it."

Penny takes a gulp of her drink. "Well, and how about the people that disappeared around here? Were you just gonna gloss over that? And don't tell me you had no idea. You don't strike me as the kind of man who has no idea what's going on in his neighborhood.

[Department] Penny says, "Um, I feel like I'm taking the lead here. Feel free to chime in."

Two Fingers says, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

[Department] GM says, "(Would anyone like to Overcome with Empathy here?)"

[Department] Maria says, "I've got no such thing. And Penny, I don't have rapport, so I imagine Maria to not be the sort to speak up."

[Department] Penny says, "I thought that would be more of a Rapport thing?`"

[Department] Susan says, "Empathy? Susan? Don't make me laugh"

[Department] GM says, "Empathy is used to try to sense someone out -- e.g., to tell if they're lying."

[Department] Penny says (to gm), "would this help me? | Attention to Detail. Use Investigate instead of Empathy to defend against Deceive attempts."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Yes!"

GM rolls Mediocre (0) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 0 | Mediocre (0)

[Department] Penny exclaims, "We shall overcome, then!"

Penny rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 +1 +1 -1 | Good (3)

GM says (to Penny), "He is so very clearly lying."

[Department] GM says, "(With style -- you get a boost!)"

[Department] Penny asks, "I want to try to convince him to work with us, using Rapport maybe?"

[Department] GM asks, "What does 'work with us' entail here?"

[Department] Penny asks, "Give us more information about the disappeared people?"

[Department] GM says, "It seems like that would first require somehow making him admit that he was lying."

[Department] Penny says (to maria&susan), "My gut tells me we should gather more info before antagonizing him further"

GM says, "As you chat..."

[Department] Susan says, "Bulletshit"

GM says (to Susan), "I bet that it must be very uncomfortable sitting here with someone who has defied death."

GM says, "Not least because of the aura that surrounds him, with traces of the phantoms of every person whose blood he's ever consumed..."

GM asks (of Susan), "Do you think that you can really tolerate staying in this room with him for even a second longer?"

[Department] Maria says, "Yeah"

GM tosses a fate point from one hand to the other.

Susan says (to GM), "Compel: accepted."

GM gives a fate point to Susan.

[Department] GM says, "(I assume that Susan is typing.)"

Susan says (to Two-Fingers), "SO MUCH SASS FROM SOMEONE WHOSE DEBT IS OVERDUE."

Penny jumps a little.

Maria's eyes go wide.

Two Fingers snaps his fingers. A moment later, he's surrounded by mobsters.

Two Fingers says, "I think this conversation is over. Please leave now."

Penny says, "We're leaving. But we'll be back and then we'll see how much you really don't know, Mr. Malone"

Susan says, "POSTPONING THE INEVITABLE. HOW TYPICAL."

GM says, "And, unless you resist, they usher you out the front door. And you're back on the sidewalk in front of the building."

Maria says, "Well. That was rude."

Maria laughs nervously.

Penny asks (of susan), "Any helpful insights from your little episode?"

GM says, "As before, it's cold and dark. There's snow on the ground, and the windows of the building are boarded up. There's a narrow alley beside the building, and of course the rest of the neighborhood."

Susan says (to Penny), "Insights? I'd rather have that vampire in my sights."

Maria peers down the alley...

GM says (to Maria), "Trash cans, fire escapes. It continues around to the rear of the building."

Penny asks (of susan), "Maybe we can ask around here about the folks who went missing?"

Maria nods, "C'mon", and heads towards the alley.

Maria doesn't wait.

Penny follows Maria.

GM says (to Maria), "At the back of the building, there's a short flight of cement steps leading down to a basement door."

[Department] Maria asks, "No windows in the door, I presume?"

[Department] GM says, "Correct."

[Department] Maria asks, "Like those folding out doors?"

[Department] GM says, "Like a fairly regular door."

[Department] Maria says, "Ah, ok."

Penny asks, "Anyone here good at lockpicking?"

Maria shakes her head, frustrated.

[Department] GM says, "Sorta like https://i.pinimg.com/originals/9f/8d/6f/9f8d6f9d7950c9c12723364c62065f2c.jpg but much more urban."

[Department] Susan says, "Have burglary"

[Department] Susan says, "will lockpick"

[Department] GM asks, "Burglary is indeed the skill for picking locks. Are you going to give it a try?"

[Department] Penny says, "sounds like we're at Death's door then"

Susan rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 +1 +1 -1 | Good (3)

GM says, "You try to pick the lock, and..."

GM exclaims, "...discover it's not locked. The door swings open!"

GM says, "Inside is a small room with a large, muscled man reading a book."

GM says, "He looks up at you."

[Crows-Nest] Penny asks, "Which book?"

Bouncer says, "What's the password?"

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "two frogs on a bench"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Pride and Prejudice."

[Department] Penny says (to susan), "This is your cue"

[Department] Penny says, "Unless someone has a clever idea on how to get past him"

[Department] Penny says, "Or we could rethink our approach and maybe try to get out of her"

[Department] Penny says, "*here"

[Department] Susan asks, "My cue?"

[Department] Susan says, "Oh, beating up people"

[Department] Susan says, "(Waiting for the clever ideas, then if no clever ideas arise, switch to intimidation mode)"

[Department] Penny says, "Honestly, I'm for just leaving"

Maria says, "Oh, uh. Sorry. WRong door."

Maria backs out.

Bouncer shrugs and goes back to reading.

[Department] Maria says, "He must get that a lot. So chill."

[Department] Maria says, "Secret underground rave."

[Department] Penny says, "In his defense, it's a pretty good book"

[Department] GM asks, "OK, what do you, the heroes, do next?"

Penny says, "Let's check out the neighborheed, check out if there's a bar or restaurant. A place where folks hang around."

Maria says, "Sure."

Penny says, "We'll get a lot of gobblygook, but maybe also some important info."

Susan says, "Detective work."

GM says, "You find a little corner pizza place about a block away that seems to be pretty busy."

GM says, "If you're looking for a different kind of establishment, you can keep looking."

Susan says, "Might as well get *pizza* pie-faced."

[Department] Penny says, "In a bar, people might be more willing to talk"

[Department] GM says, "OK! Then you can find a bar another couple blocks out."

GM says, "You end up at the Karloff's, a neighborhood bar."

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "Booo. Booo."

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "Bar-is Karloff haha"

[Crows-Nest] Roger says, "good place for a stiff drink"

GM says, "The bartender is a broad-shouldered, stern-faced man. He's wiping a glass with a cloth as you come in, as bartenders are wont to do."

GM says, "There are also several people at the bar who seem to know each other, as if they're all regulars. And others are seated at tables."

Penny sits at the bar.

Maria sits next to Penny.

Bartender says, "What can I get you?"

Penny says, "I'll have a Bourbon, straight."

GM serves up your drinks as you order them.

Maria orders whatever is on tap closest to her.

Bartender says, "I don't recall seeing you three, before -- what brings you around here?"

Penny says, "We recently moved into this neighborhood."

Bartender says, "Well, welcome. It's nice to have some new faces around here."

Penny says, "Sounds like we chose a bad time, though. What with all these people going missing."

Bartender nods. "True enough. I've lost a couple of good regulars myself. Real shame."

Penny says (to bartender), "What's the word round here? Is it a serial killer? Me and my heterosexual room mates are kind of scared."

[Department] Penny says, "Penny has not *quite* understood what HR tried to tell her."

[Department] GM says, "Ha ha."

Maria leans in conspiratorily, "I bet it's aliens."

Bartender says, "Some think it's some kinda organized crime thing -- there's always been rumors that there's some kind of syndicate in the neighborhood..."

Bartender says, "...but so far as I know, none of the people who went missing are the sort you'd expect to be enemies of the mob."

Penny asks, "I mean... was there ANY pattern to it?"

Bardender says, "Well, from what I've heard, they were all healthy and young, and it always happened at night..."

Penny leans in. "I heard that something was done to the bodies, is that true?"

Maria asks, "Penny! You're so creepy. ... Seriously, though? Is it?"

Bartender says, "From what I've heard, none of them have been found! Except for the blood stains near where they vanished."

Penny says (to maria), "So it was Aliens."

Maria asks, "Ok. That rules out-- Oh. You think?"

[Crows-Nest] Penny feels bad, because all the aliens he met were super nice.

Penny says (to maria), "Probably."

Bartender says, "I dunno if they got shipped out of town, or if they meltted them down with acid, or maybe someone's just got them all locked up in a cell somewhere. Who can say?"

Susan asks, "Who can say what?"

Penny asks (of Bartender), "That's so spooky. But I mean, none of them disappeared around *this* place, right?"

Bartender says, "Oh, no. I'm sure you're perefectly safe here."

Bartender says, "Just don't go too much further south at night time, alright?"

Penny says, "Sure won't. No, sir."

[Department] Penny says, "trying to think of inconspicious way to ask him about the mobsters."

Maria says, "You mentioned the mob. Like, for real? Like in the movies? That's so wild."

[Department] Maria plays dumb.

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Nice!"

Penny asks, "Yeah, like in those movies from Francis Ford Coppola?"

[Department] GM exclaims, "This seems like a good time for a Rapport overcome!"

[Department] GM says, "Opposition +2."

[Department] Maria looks at Penny.

[Department] Penny asks, "Can anyone support me?"

[Department] Maria says, "I cannot"

Penny rolls Great (4) + 4dF: 0 0 -1 -1 | Fair (2)

[Department] Penny exclaims, "I'll tag heart of gold!"

[Department] Penny says, "I'm just so *nice*"

[Department] GM exclaims, "A clear success, then!"

Penny spends a fate point, leaving her with 2.

Bartender says, "Well, you hear things, you know? People saying they know where they can go to buy things that 'fell off a truck', or where to place a bet, or secret clubs that you're not allowed into unless you know the right people..."

Penny nods. "Like the prohibition."

Bartender says, "Yeah! Like they're sharing the password to some kind of speakeasy or something! It's crazy, though. Alcohol's completely legal, so why would they need to a password to get into someplace just to buy a drink?"

Penny has disconnected.

Penny has connected.

Penny asks, "haha, the password is probably something silly, right?"

Bartender says, "Yeah, like 'horseradish', I think? But they seemed to be taking it so seriously."

Maria says, "Huh."

Penny says, "Man, these guys sounds like total fuddy-duddies."

Bartender says, "You get all kinds, I guess."

Susan says, "Horseradish? More like horsehit"

[Crows-Nest] (from Penny) Remba says, "Language!"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Yay."

[Department] Penny asks, "We stay for a while and then go back to that cellar, I suppose?"

inky has arrived.

[Department] GM asks, "Alright! Shall we cut to the alley?"

[Department] Maria says, "Sure"

[Department] Penny says, "Cut away, great GM"

GM says, "And so eventually you find yourselves again in the back alley behind the building with the boarded up windows."

GM says, "When you open the basement door, the bouncer looks up at you."

Bouncer says, "Oh. You again?"

Penny asks, "Yeah, turns out we had the right door after all. Embarassing, right?"

Bouncer chuckles. "Yeah, I'd be pretty embarrassed if I were you. Password?"

Penny mumbles, "Horseradish"

Bouncer nods. "Alright, welcome to Club Rosa."

Penny says, "Thanks.""

Penny struts in.

Maria follows.

GM says, "He unlocks the door behind you and lets you into a quiet, dimly-lit basement club. There's a bar to one side and several tables with patrons nursing drinks."

[Department] Susan says, "I should be more mentally present now that the Zoom call is over :)"

[Department] Susan says, "No more multitasking"

Penny orders her third Bourbon of the night and looks around.

GM says, "A pianist in the corner is playing soft jazz, and the rear part of the room is blocked with a heavy curtain."

Maria says, "Classy joint."

[Department] GM says, "Distracting level reduced, but alcohol level..."

Penny says wistfully, "Reminds me of a different time."

[Department] Susan says, "I only had one (French craft) beer :D"

GM says, "You notice that the people here are dressed in styles from different time periods -- some from the early 20th century, some more recent, some older."

Susan says, "One must cope with one's mortality, I suppose."

[Department] GM says, "Ah, so you're definitely more sober (OOC) than Penny is (IC)."

[Department] Penny says, "Hey, Penny comes from a time of Mad Men-style drinking AND is Australian. She's probably fine. :D"

[Crows-Nest] (from Maria) Maria says, "Looks like a LARP convention."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Ha."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "It turns out they're all just here from the V:tM game next door."

Penny takes out her phone as if to check for messages, but secretly waves it around in camera mode to see if these people show up on it.

GM exclaims (at Penny), "Bizarrely, none of them do!"

Penny whispers, "Heavens to Betsy!"

[Department] Penny says, "Hopefully they assume we're Vampires as well."

[Department] Penny says, "Otherwise we need to go full Dusk till Dawn."

GM says, "As you're taking it all in, one of the drinks goes up to the bar and orders 'another round of sangrias, Rosa style'."

[Department] GM says, "(One of the *drinkers*, I mean.)"

Maria purses her lips, suspecting what "Rosa style" must mean.

[Department] Penny says, "I'm sort of stumped as to what to do next."

[Department] Maria asks, "Look for someone who seems particularly... recent?"

[Department] Maria says, "Maybe they're not dead dead, just.. turned? And hiding."

[Department] Maria says, "I dunno."

[Department] Penny says, "Well, nobody showed up on camera."

[Department] Maria says, "Right. So recently turned vampires."

[Department] Maria asks, "Wearing modern clothing?"

[Department] Penny says, "Ah, hmm."

[Department] Penny says, "Worth a shot."

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "Cat purring on my feet."

[Department] Maria says, "maybe they're building a vampire army. Heh."

[Crows-Nest] Penny asks, "The rascally one?"

Penny looks for someone in modern clothing.

[Department] GM says, "(Should I diagram the room?)"

[Department] Maria says, "Sure"

[Department] GM says, "https://miro.com/app/board/o9J_ko-ihnU=/"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "That wants a login"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "I think it accepts a Google account."

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "Requesting permission"

[Crows-Nest] Maria says, "I had to request access."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Oh, huh."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "(Opening sharing settings... man, I liked the old web white board bettter.)"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "Sorry, need to watch the 3 minute orientation video first"

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Noooo."

[Crows-Nest] GM says, "OK, I think you're all invited now."

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "yay"

GM asks (of Penny), "You see someone dressed in what seems like relatively modern clothing. Something from around the 80's or 90's, perhaps?"

[Department] Penny says, "That's still a bit to old for our purposes."

GM asks, "So what do you do now?"

[Department] Penny asks, "So: battle plan. We're still on info gathering, right?"

[Department] Susan says, "We do need to know who we're going to kill, yeah"

[Department] Susan says, "Also, I recall a certain stunt that could speed things up"

[Department] Penny says, "So find just *one* vampire to talk to."

[Department] Penny says (to susan), "oh? Stunt away."

[Department] Susan says, "We need an existing aspect that I can ask a future-related question about (Visions!)"

[Department] GM says, "Ooh, excellent."

[Department] Maria says, "Hm."

[Department] GM says, "As for general things I've mentioned that I could count as aspects, we have the Southside Bloodhounds, Mysterious Disappearances, and the Contract..."

[Department] GM says, "For things specific to this location, we have the Piano, the Curtain, and the Quiet, Dimly Lit Atmosphere."

[Department] Susan says, "Hmmm"

[Department] Penny says, "Hmmm indeed"

[Department] inky says, "time for a piano solo"

[Department] Susan says, "I think I will use Mysterious Disappearances and attempt to foretell the next 'disappearance'... unless someone has a cooler idea"

[Department] Penny says, "sounds good"

Susan spends a fate point, leaving him with 3.

[Department] Susan says, "Death should be willing to assist in this 'debt collection'"

GM says (to Susan), "You feel a sense of time passing, as if you were slipping into the future... it's two weeks later, and the Club is closed..."

GM says, "This is somehow superimposed over the present."

Susan smiles faintly. One of the perks...

GM says, "And you see a figure, dressed like the mobsters you saw earlier, emerge from behind the bar, carrying an indistinct shape, like a large, heavy sack..."

GM says, "He crosses the club to the curtain, which he slips behind. You hear some kind of faint clicking noises, and then suddenly..."

GM says, "...reality rushes back, and you're in the present."

Susan says, "This is the place, all right."

Penny says, "looks like we have 2 weeks to sink our teeth into this case"

Susan says (to Penny), "You know, I think I might actually like you"

Penny says, "Aw shucks"

[Department] GM asks, "By the way, how is everyone on time?"

Penny asks (of susan), "Can you use your death sense thingie to find out more about these vampires?"

[Department] Susan says, "I'm good"

[Department] Maria says, "I'm fine"

[Department] Penny says, "I'm starting to grow tired, but otherwise good"

[Department] GM asks, "So if we run over, everyone is OK?"

[Department] Susan says, "yep"

[Department] Penny says, "Sure."

[Department] GM says, "Cool."

[Department] Penny asks, "This is gonna be 2 sessions at least, no?"

[Department] GM says, "That's what I'm trying to figure out right now :)"

[Department] GM says, "But it depends on what you guys do, of course."

GM asks, "What does everyone do now?"

[Department] Susan says, "We should kill vampires"

[Department] Susan says, "(IMO)"

[Department] Susan says, "Knowing our GM, though, there's probably nuance at play"

[Department] Penny asks (of gm), "are there any other vampires at the bar?"

[Department] GM asks, "Do you want there to be?"

[Department] Penny says, "ALSO, remember that we technically still have a contract and these vampires are, for all we know, doing nothing knowingly wrong."

[Department] Penny says (to gm), "Sure."

[Department] GM exclaims, "Then sure!"

[Department] Susan says, "Dragging people in sacks, in the future? Ahem"

[Department] Penny says (to susan), "That was the mobsters"

[Department] Maria says, "The contract is about not turning them into the cops, not killing them."

[Department] Susan says, "The contract basically says we can kill them, but then they have the right to kill us back"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "I'm not having another performance reviews about those technicialities!"

[Department] GM says, "Hee."

[Department] Maria whispers, "Let the bodies hit the floor."

[Department] Susan says, "yay"

Penny asks (of vamp), "Hey, this new batch of the Salsa is something else, eh?"

[Department] Penny says, "*sangria"

GM says (to Penny), "The lady in the skirt suit with huge shoulder pads and even bigger hair turns to you, fanning her mouth."

Lady says, "But so hot! I don't know if I can handle it!"

Penny says, "That's why I mix my drinks these days."

[Department] Susan says, "Penny is always cool"

[Department] Susan says, "being the ice lady and all"

Lady says, "What have you been having?"

Penny asks, "Just my usual. I haven't been coming here this long. Any recs?"

[Department] Penny says, "I'm trying to hide the fact that I have no idea wether vampires can drink regular stuff or not :-)"

Lady says, "My favorite is their Bloody Mary. Cliched, I know! But I've always been a sucker for anything with vodka in it."

[Department] Maria asks, "I mean, they served you whatever you ordered, yeah?"

[Department] Maria says, "So either yes, or you've got blood in there."

[Department] Penny says, "Yeah."

[Department] GM says, "The bourbon you ordered earlier seemed normal."

[Department] Penny says, "Bourbon is usually clear. But I wonder if this means the barkeep knows we're humans."

Lady waves down the bartender. "Can you make a Bloody Mary for my friend? Rosa style?"

[Department] inky says, "I wonder how vampires feel about dumb vampire puns"

[Department] Susan says, "They think that such pun suck"

[Department] Penny says, "They are a mi-stake"

GM says, "He agrees and returns shortly with a thick, red drink in a clear glass, with apprriate garnishes."

Penny says, "Cheers! *pretend sip*"

[Department] Susan says, "If you pretend to sip, how can you tell what it is? :D"

[Department] Susan says, "...I guess the smell would give it away"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "I'm not drinking human blood! That mission to the Dragon Island doesn't count!"

[Department] GM asks, "Are you trying to, uh, analyze the beverage in any way?"

[Department] Penny says, "I pass it on to whoever sits beside me. "Hey, uh, Laura, check this out."

[Department] GM asks, "You're giving your drink to a different random stranger at the bar?"

[Department] Penny says, "And then I try to sit in a way that hides Maria from the 80s vamp view for now."

[Department] GM says, "(Oh, or are you calling Maria 'Laura'?)"

[Department] Penny exclaims, "Yes!"

[Department] GM exclaims, "OK!"

GM asks (of Maria), "Penny has given you a drink! What will you do with it?"

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-QtnIaG0xE"

Maria looks at it.

Maria swirls it around the glass.

GM asks, "Would you like to try a Notice overcome to detect if it seems different from a normal Bloody Mary?"

GM says, "(Vs. +2.)"

[Department] Maria says, "Sure."

Maria rolls Good (3) + 4dF: 0 +1 0 -1 | Good (3)

GM says, "Something is definitely off. The texture, the smell... there's something in there other than a normal Bloody Mary."

GM says, "And given the context, you're fairly confident that it's probably blood. Most likely human."

[Crows-Nest] Maria debates drinking it anyway :D

Maria smiles, says, "Thank you" and walks away. Is there a plant somewhere?

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "I was waiting for the Department agent turns evil storyline :D"

GM says (to Maria), "There are a few in the corners, of the room, near the piano or the curtain."

[Department] Maria asks, "Is someone at the piano?"

Lady says (to Penny), "I think it's fabulous how prices have come down in here lately. This used to be my weekly treat, but now I'm in here almost every night!"

[Department] GM says, "There's a man playing it, but he's not paying much attention to you."

Penny asks (of lady), "Two-Fingers knows how to run this place, eh?"

Lady says, "Who? Is that the owner?"

Maria walks over to the plant near the piano, and pretends to listen intently while stealthily pouring the drink into the soil. She quietly mourns the loss of the garnish.

[Department] Maria says, "I am happy to make a stealth check and see what happens :D"

[Department] GM says, "OK! And the pianist will oppose..."

Maria rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 0 +1 +1 | Great (4)

GM rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 0 0 +1 | Great (4)

Penny laughs girlishly. "Oh, let me be real. I just heard that name being thrown around."

[Department] GM says, "It's a tie! You succeed with a minor cost..."

Penny whispers to Lady, "We've not been here this long."

[Department] Maria says, "Hm. Nausea at how viscous the liquid inthe glass is? Or I accidentally drop and break the glass and get some nasty looks."

GM exclaims (at Maria), "The pianist glances over at you, but you quickly step away from the plant with your empty glass -- but trip over the curtain and get your feet tangled up in it!"

[Department] Maria says, "Or that"

Lady says, "Oh, I know what you mean. There are always new people here. You have a friend who knows about the place, because their friend told them, and so on..."

Lady says, "It's so hard to find a good, safe source these days!"

Pianist stares at Maria. "Do you need help?" He doesn't miss a beat in the melody.

Maria flails awkwardly. "No, no. I'm ok. Thank you."

GM says, "He glances toward the tip jar on the piano for a moment before turning his full attention back to playing."

Susan says, "Well played."

[Department] GM asks, "So how do you proceed now?"

Penny asks (of lady), "Do you know anything about their source? is it really safe?"

Lady laughs. "Well, I mean it's safe in that we don't have to go hunt for it ourselves! Can you imagine? But I guess they probably must have gotten a better source recently. Why else would the price have come down?"

Penny asks, "Makes you wonder, though, doesn't it? I mean, is it naturally sourced?"

Susan almost snorts.

Lady says, "Oh, are you into all that granola, eco-nature stuff that's going around these days?"

Penny shrugs. "I can send you this video I saw about vaccines"

Lady says, "I'm not worried about that. Whatever keeps the shakes away for another week is good with me."

Penny asks, "Sure, we shouldn't worry too much. So what else can our kind do around here for fun?"

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "just realized that Penny is the ideal character for infiltrating vampire mafias"

[Crows-Nest] Susan says, "she has the looks"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "plus cold to the touch"

GM says (to Penny), "She starts chatting with you about mundane, normal night life activities -- it seems that aside from Club Rosa, she spends most of her time just blending in with regular humans."

[Department] GM says, "It feels like people might be running out of ideas for things they want to try."

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "yeah (also tired)"

[Department] Maria says, "Yeah"

[Department] Susan says, "Other than spamming visions and/or bullets"

[Department] GM asks, "Are there other things that you're thinking about that you'd like to do now, or do you want to wrap up for the moment and thinkg about stuff in between?"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "I think I'd prefer wrapping up"

[Department] Susan says, "yeah"

[Department] GM asks, "I see that ggg is out on August 8/9 and August 15/16 -- given that, should we try to squeeze in a session next week, on August 1?"

[Department] Susan says, "That works"

[Department] Maria says, "That should be fine."

[Department] GM says, "(Penny?)"

[Crows-Nest] Penny says, "checking"

[Department] Penny says, "That should work"

[Department] GM says, "OK! I'll update the schedule and email lps."

[Department] Penny says (to gm), "Great session! Sorry that thiings were a tad slow on our end there at the end"

[Department] GM says, "That's OK! I'll try not to run so late next time."

[Department] GM says, "Also, if anyone happens to know which weekends they're likely to be free/not free in August, it wouldn't hurt to add them to the schedule too."

[Department] Penny says, "Sure"

[Department] Penny says, "But these days everything feels up in the air"

[Department] GM says, "That's why you need a mask."