The group splits up again. One group heads off to visit the leader of the white court vampires. Another to touch base with a paranet group leader and Roberto? He goes Batman-ing – or does he? You make the call.
Knights of the Night
181 - DF2 KotN Actual Play Podcast - DFRPG I Don't Think I'll Stop There
(upbeat music) - Hello and welcome to Night to the Night actual play podcast. This Dresden File Story Rituals was written and run by a GM town. And now please enjoy episode 181, title. I don't think I'll stop there. Actual play begins immediately. (upbeat music) - All right, so we're gonna start our Dresden File Ritual episode. My name is Tom, I'm your GM. I'm starting on my left, the players are. - Good job playing Roberto Martinez, the People's Guard in the power of that hall of agents. - Tom is playing Maxwell Edison, an undercover homeland security operative. - Bob playing Stephen Tomin, a reporter and photographer, who would do anything to get the story. - Mike playing Ellen Montgomery, the soul-sundered warden of Cleveland. - Scott playing London Deals, a moral seer to the supernatural powers. - I am Jim, playing Edmond Chidowski, who is a rich businessman and black court-powered scientist. - I'm Rachel, playing Zelda Sykes, an American Gypsy, who uses the lore of her past to construct the future. - I'm Michael playing Repa Piers, an anti-ogenic, organic alchemist. - All right, when we last left, I don't think anything was really in the middle of the flow here. We had some things that we're about to get started, so we're gonna give everybody a total refresh. The only exception of that was probably Roberto, who was in his car driving. - Batmaning. - He was Batmaning going off on that solo mission. - How unusual. - Yes, let's go figure. So everybody gets their refresh, and if you have more, you keep those. Everyone, as well, gets to do a minor milestone. The minor milestone is known that we have each time the significant milestone is when you conclude a major plot line, and a major milestone is a big shake up in the story, conclusion of the scenario, or the end of a large scale plot. - Like rescuing the warden? - That's not a major milestone, but I think we can call that significant, so that means everyone gets both the minor milestone, but they also get one additional skill point, free to put anywhere, one new skill point. - Wow. - Nobody has to stay with the pyramid set up, correct? - Yeah. - You can still do the minor milestone in addition to that, but everyone gains one skill point that they can put anywhere, skill point. - Can you save it? - Right, if you want, sure. - And we were allowing before, I don't know if you cut that out, that we can have a skill above superb. Please, don't become them. - Who's got the highest skills? What's the one that did it? - Scott's got fantastic. - I've got a fantastic in presence because I'm London. - Yeah. - I think Maxwell should use his unrunning. - My athletics is already five. I have a very broad pyramid. I can't actually pump it. - Personally, we just add another skill into our pyramid, and once it doesn't screw it up. - Right, and this is all earned because of the fact that the warden is not dead. Are you saying you have to pass away because I saved him? - Because it's all, yes. - You mean I saved him. - Oh, now that you would have got that if I didn't engage him, so I disagree. - Thanks. - Thanks for cutting the cord, Roberto. - Okay, you didn't actually want to grind this to a halt by everyone. - Why are you doing it? They're character sheet, but that's homework. What are you doing? Don't do your homework now. - Zelda was in the act of gathering together a group to go with her to talk to a paranetter. - Correct. - That's right. - I was going to visit the crime boss, and Batman was going out on his own. - One crime boss. The Reynolds is a family. - My court. - Can't believe. - I would have probably have contacts with those in the bitterness. - I have friends in most places. - Right. - You're allowed to come along for the ride? - I think I was going with Maxwell, perhaps. - Yeah, unless it was Edmund. - I think, yeah, Edmund wanted to, because he wanted to check up on them for the day. - Yeah, he wanted to talk to you about something. That's right. - He went to protect Zelda. - I got wrapped up in Jim's request to do some background research on what's his face. - Right. - I think it's a bit more important to protect him. - And the written reppa go with Zelda and make sure she's, it's not something to trap or something. - The war is disguised, reppa's not, but he doesn't need to be. - Okay. By the way, I was in Batman-ing. I'm the only one who can track this demon. I want to make sure it doesn't ambush one of you. If it comes down to that, I'll follow him to an ambush and I'll be there. We do need to keep tabs on him. If I'm the only one who can do that, we need to do it. As long as keeping tabs means not engaging him or being found out. - We're doing anything right on us. - Or if he shows up and attacks one of you guys, well, that would be me defending you anyway. - That's all good. But it'd be somewhere where we're not. I would just suggest that you don't. If he's doing another ritual and harvesting another organ, Paul, what do you guys want me to do? - Call us. - I will definitely do that, but I don't think I'll stop there. - Call us. - Don't think he'll stop there? - He's got a teacher that says, "I don't think I'll stop there." That's like his motto that's happening there. - That should be an aspect. - He also should be an aspect. - So who's going first? - The person who started in action was Roberto. - All right. - So we'll deal with you. You're driving in your car as you're heading towards Midtown from Ohio City as you're getting closer and the reading you're getting on this demon is getting more powerful. You get about a block away and I would like you to roll a alertness roll. - Ooh, that's terrible. - That's minus four. - Wow, what? - There's something on the radio for-- - It's really engaging. - What type of music does Roberto listen to? - So that's minus two by one. - You just, it's pretty damn bad actually. That's a very bad roll. - So it's minus two texting while driving. - Yeah, apparently you slammed right into three senses and I'm trying to tune into them. I'm not, I'm new to this. - Your voice is whispering to you. The reason it's so powerful is there's a new player in town that's, we're heading towards something very, very dangerous here. - Oh shit? - Yes. You know the gorilla spider dude? - Yes. - This is more powerful. - This is not him. - He's there but he's apparently talking to his boss. - Fuckers a boss? - He's somewhat of more power. - Would he be able to detect us the same way I can detect him? - Possibly. - Let me know when they separate and I drive around for a while. - I could give you the ability to hide from them. - I can't hide from them. I'm driving around in circles. I'm biting time until they separate. - How many people have you got? - Two. - His character is not tempted by his demon in a fake one sense. It's a little different for him. - When the demon really wants to put the pressure on, then Roberto has the ability to fight it with his discipline. It's a different kind of mechanic we're using simply because his character is different. It's not strictly a fake point economy. - So you start driving in circles near the area but not approaching any closer? - Right. - And you're trying to take additional readings on this. You're finding it difficult to be driving and concentrating at the same time. - I pull over and stop a shot person. Since you just were walking around. - It's too, that's pretty evident. - While this is occurring, London is getting into a car with who and heading to talk to? - With Stephen. - Okay. - And Edmund. We're gonna head out to word all these. Oh, I'm assuming. Do we move that from-- - Is that what you're going with us? - It's now at the horseshoe downtown. - Okay, that's where we're going. Excuse me? - We got the whiz? - No, he's helping through it. He's gonna go as a protection for Zelda and Rapa. - He's got a woman in it. - Like he just did. - He just needs some help. - He needs some help. - The air flow protection. - London, I can't help it. - Yeah. - He didn't say that out loud though. He said it's a him out loud, but not around then. So yeah, he's going with them because they need some protection. - Air flow, it's protected. - Mm-hmm. - Okay, so you guys get to the horseshoe casino downtown. - Correct. - That's where all these now, that's his new base of operations. - Sure. - And work your way into the casino and you can get near the offices, but you have to talk to somebody there because there are people that prevent Rifrath from giving in. - Right, but I am Rifrath. - Yes, you are Rifrath. - Well, they'll take your money. They don't have a problem with that. - Now, were they good? - I had some money. I politely request that Mr. Rinaldi is expecting me. London deals. - One of the bodyguards heads back to the office area and after a short while comes back, and nods at the guard, which allows you to go past. And you're escorted back and you're in all these office. - Ah, Mr. London. - John, I reach out and shake his hand. One time, I tell him it's been too long, make some pleasantries, ask about the wife and the children that I know that he has because I studied my-- - Well, that's from his wife or from someone else. - But just do my normal, laying the groundwork of dealing with important people and knowing how to basically associate with them. And so I go ahead and make introductions. This is a colleague of mine who's working on a case organ now. This is Stephen Tillman. And I'm sure you're very well aware that you would mention actually you wanted to speak with my other colleague, Edmund Shudowski, which I'd like to-- - Yeah, so he talks a bit about Edmund's restaurant and how much he's enjoying the new cuisine and the improvements he made to the area of Ohio City. He really appreciates it. - And I appreciate you stopping by. - Yes. - He wished to discuss with you the signing of the accords. He realizes that you're gonna need his signature. - John's signature? - Well, yes, as a representative of the white court. That would be something you would need. And yes, he has a white court. - What? - He has a white court, Mike. Yes, ma'am? - What? This guy, like who is this person? - He is part of the crime family in Cleveland. He owns a horseshoe cafe and being a white court vampire, his particular family feeds on misery, which is why they love living in Cleveland. But also they love owning gambling casinos because people there are-- - They feed off at the store. - Pretty miserable. The majority of the people don't tend to win and therefore it's a nice background-- - Good at-man. - Emotion that they feed off of. - So he's a powerful player and when you have a place like a neutral accorded ground where people can come and talk and not be threatened about, you know, there's no combat. It's just a place to talk. You need to have the signatures of all the major factions of supernatural creatures or even normal humans that might interact with the supernatural creatures. You need to have all those signatures together. - So I have a bit of a problem. I don't have a bit of a problem signing your agreement. I think it's a wonderful idea and something that could be beneficial to Cleveland as a whole but I may need some assistance and you brokering a deal with me to handle a situation that I find a little bit difficult. And this unfortunately had something to do with our other issue that you wish to meet with me about. - Roberto's father. - He said you had some information regarding. - I do. - And a associate of our families. How do I put this delicately? He's currently in possession of Mr. Martinez. Well, could you associate then just tap him on the shoulder and let him know who's in charge? - I would, but it's a little more delicate than that situation unfortunately. They have a child who is the verge of becoming an adult and well, to put it bluntly, they have a use for Mr. Martinez. Now, our family has many resources in which the Martinez family does not. The most important one is money and we feel if you would help us broker a deal with Mr. Roberto Martinez. - Then to overlook what's going on here, we could probably help his family situation if you understand what I'm saying. - Let's just cut to the chase. What do you need? I mean, what's so hard here? If someone needs to feed or spend on those lines, you have countless unwashed masses including the juice from. - Have you met Manny Martinez? - He is the epitome of the unwashed masses. - Yes, he's the epitome of a colleague of mine. You can choose anyone. You choose someone who's under my employees. - This is not my choosing. - It is, this is my family. - And maybe your family, is it not? I mean, do not hold a position of authority in your family? Am I talking to the wrong person? - The resource we're talking here is, let's be blunt, cash. And I think that the net worth of Manny will be exceeded greatly. And that the situation for the Martinez family will benefit greatly, simply of his removal, if not for the reimbursement we're talking about here. - John, it's not your choice to make. It's that simple. - No, of course it's not. - He watches why I'm saying. - Edmund here can perhaps help us. - It doesn't have to be a man who watches another. - It can be anyone filled with despair. You do not have to take someone who is under my purview. - I'm sorry, are you an expert now in whiteboard vampires on how they achieve adulthood? - I'm an expert in the idea that you do not have to have Manny to make this work. Simply John, it's off the table. It's not an option. - I don't think it is off the table yet, because we don't need to come to you and ask this favor. We already have the meal. - How many do we just want to? - How many things have I found for you? - John, now you cannot say that you're not, at least the slightest bit in my diet. I haven't called in this diet in a very long time, but this is someone that I work with. And this is someone that is important to the individual I work with. - I understand that. - So you're saying it's more important than the accords, because the strife it's going to cause within my family is going to make it very difficult for me to be getting consensus. - Explain to me, John, what is so important about Manny as opposed to any other desperate, unwashed piece of filth on the streets of Cleveland? You explained to me what's so important. - Have you ever gone to a restaurant and would Manny offer you the choice of steaks? - Of course. - And you choose the one that you wish to dine on that evening. That's all this is here. He is a piece of fucking meat. - Now, me personally would find him just tasteful, as I think anyone who has ever met him has. But we have a problem here that can be solved so easily. Mr. Edmund here gets his signature that he needs. Mr. Martinez loses a hindrance of a father and gains financial security for the far, far future. - The problem that we're going to have with this, there's no way I can, there's no way. If I wanted to, there's no way I can tell Roberto. Hey, don't worry about it, your dad's dead. Somebody fed on him and he's going to come in, guns blaring anyways. And I wouldn't let that happen to a friend of mine's father. So it's not going to happen. There's got to be another situation. - So you tell me your negotiation skills are not up to par, but you can't handle the situation. - I'm telling you that there's got to be another solution other than we need this one to feed on. - Perhaps you're not the man's skilled enough to run a neutral accords restaurant. And we're going to take a break here. And by spending that faith time, we're going to put a aspect in place in the middle of the table. Would you have a free cap off because you've set up a circumstance? What do we want to call this aspect? Favors are owed? - Yes, I definitely found something that he was looking for. It was incredibly important to him. At least I thought was-- - Ask Favors. - Favor owed is fine. - Near somebody right then through a favor. - And I owe you. That works too. - Whatever John is writing now. - Just a point of clarification for the warden. You allowed me to use some magic to put a perception filter on my necklace. Did I also get to extend that to my sword? That it's not making it invisible, it's just making people not notice it. - So you're looking for a blur. Similar to the thing you do with the sound, but you're doing it with vision. - Right. - So that the swords are harder than a necklace is harder than that. - I'm doing it with attention. So for example, it's just something you wouldn't notice it. Just like a perception filter makes it seem like-- - You're supposed to have so many rote spells. I don't think you have a full group of them, or do you? - I do. I mean, you only have five, right? - And do you have five? - As long as you're lore. - Oh, I can only have four. My lore went down after the trauma of the last thing. We'll take away that. - Why isn't it London's disguise doesn't omit these gems, the necklace and whatnot? - And they could. That's why I was going to try-- - I think they do. - I mean, as far as hiding the sword, the gem, and your London can do that all with one. - When he makes a bodyguard, he doesn't leave him hanging out with a sword and a necklace. - The whole idea was to put him incognito because we want to pretend like he's dead right now. - Right. So I think I could beat your sword. - If you wanted to do something that made the sword and the gem more difficult to see through than even the glimmer you have on you. - I think the glimmer's damn good. - We could, but as far as I remember, his was pretty high. - That's fine. It was just a thing where, look, if I'm gonna be carrying a sword around, I'd prefer that people just not notice it. - Right. - Not make it invisible and-- - Well, I think we could say you're working on this. - So where were they going though? - More of a routine spell that you can do that, but at this point, it is simply being hidden by London's climber in which you look like a totally different person. - Right. - A totally different clothing. Your sword's not even there, but yeah, it is. When you have access to it. - All right. - And then we will focus on Zelda, Rappa, and the Lambert Warden who are heading to the east side to meet with a perinator by the name of-- - Darren. - Darren Porter. So you guys go and meet where? - Phoenix. - Phoenix. - Is there one on the east side? - Oh, of course there is. - Yeah. - You guys meet there, there's a gentleman sitting in the corner and he seems to be waiting for someone, some 50 years old, buzz cut hair, his brain, and when you guys walk in, he nods and he beckons you over. - These guys are with me though, right? - Yes. - Yeah, on the way over, we should discuss how we want to do this, do we all gonna sit down or we just gonna pretend we're not with you or what's the deal? - I think we should, is there any reason why we can't be with her or not, I mean, where? - Well, I want him to feel comfortable enough to speak, other than that, I don't, you know. - Well, then we can-- - You can mention you two coming along in our meeting. - And how about this, we do a little theater and say, let Zelda have the opportunity to talk confidentially dismiss us and we can just move to positions close enough to respond and react, but not close enough to scoop the guy. And then that way, that gives a little measure of credit to Zelda to talk with this guy. - Looks for me. - Sounds good. - All right. - Okay, so you all enter together, approach the table, you say hello, introduce each other. Was it Rey or that was in his parent or was it Leon? - Actually, they were both in his. One was concerned about the other one being missing and then the second one turned up missing. Leon was the first one that meant missing and Rey Barnes was asking about him and then later he went missing as well. - Okay, then I'm gonna sit down and probably go right into it. - Are you making any effort to overhear what's going on magically? - Not more. - Well, other than just trying to use my natural abilities to pay attention but using maybe the seat that looked like I'm not listening. We don't have to give our names, right? - He introduces himself and then Zelda does, so, I mean, you should probably give a name or-- - I have a name to give. I'm just not sure if we needed to introduce ourselves. - It is kind of hard to say. - It is kind of hard to say. - Is it a table or? - No, I don't wanna back it up. I just, I wasn't sure if we needed to provide a name. My understanding was all three of you were walking up and then Zelda was saying, you know, so probably some name given just for convenience sake would have been-- - Jason Mcdonald. - Jason Mcdonald. - And? - Redwood. - Your actual name. Once they move farther back, it's just the two of you. He says, well, you're the one that kind of brought this together. How is it that I can help you? What type of information are you looking for here? - Well, I know that Rey and Leon were in your parentette, your group, and I don't know whether or not you know this, but including Rey and Leon, there are five members of the Cleveland parentette that are now dead. - There have been murmuring going on in between members of the parentette that something's happening. I mean, obviously, as a group, we were aware of it. There's not really that many of us. As a group, we have maybe a total of 12. On most meetings, we get seven or eight of us will show up, you know, schedules are different. And when two of us disappear off the face of the earth and then turn up dead, then that's definitely a concern. And I had heard rumors that there were other parents that were also not necessarily being targeted, but I guess, yeah, that might be what's happening here. - That's definitely what it seems to be. And with five of them gone already, we really don't want any more if you could help us by giving us any information on why maybe Leon and Ray were targeted. - I'm going to want an empathy role here to see how well you are trying yourself as-- - Caring. - Well, truthfully, actually, because you are trying to be caring, but it's something for best foot forward where you keep going. - I don't have anything on empathy. - Okay, well, what else? - I believe it's rapport. - Yeah, rapport with your work, sure. - Okay, I'm good, rapport. - Okay. - And minus one? - So you started as-- - Good. - Good, so he was fair. - His potentially could be empathy. He's trying to read you. Unfortunately, plus one in his was good as well. So his-- - He might be doing a good job convincing him, but he's in that and he's probably realizing that he's pretty sincere. - Right, right. And what you're saying is the truth, too. So I think it is. But we're going to say that he's got a decent read on you, but he's still-- - Doesn't trust him. - He's not really unsure whether he, I mean, what you're saying is true, but we should be careful. And I agree with you, that is a true statement. But I don't know if necessarily sharing more information with you wouldn't bring my people into more danger. I mean, because I don't know-- - Well, really then, I mean, what would you rather? I mean, what else can you do to stop people from dying at this point? I mean, really, if you had the opportunity to make it so that Leon and Ray weren't dead right now, would you take advantage of that? - Well, obviously, I would. But I think the problem is, most likely, external. It's the people we don't know. And it's trusting the people. So if anything, we should be more inclusive. We should-- - Question then. So in this scenario, mine, me knowing people in the parent doesn't have any sway over the fact. - Oh, it might. You could spend a fake point in-- - Yeah. - And start naming people that you know and people that you've helped, sure. - Specifically, I mean, Claire, it wasn't she the one that I knew-- - Yeah, that you had Matt before, sure. - So then, yeah, I'll do that. - I mean, if you're gonna apply it to the previous role, would it take you up to great, which would be equal to his? I have so feel free, go ahead. - Okay. - So you start mentioning names that you know of people. - And they ask that she's tapping as Baronette? - Friends of the parentette. - Claire specifically, 'cause she's one of the victims. - So I also understand where you're coming from. - Right. - I understand that you don't want anyone else to get hurt, but you don't know if you can trust me right now. - Are you saying you have more information than I do? I mean, that you can provide us with something that'll be helpful in keeping people safe? Because I-- - I do have some-- - I mean, the whole point of the parentette is to learn from each other, and we still like to gather together, but if it's only bringing our people to danger, I mean, we're thinking about maybe starting to cancel and hide until this blows over. - Right now, our only chance of even figuring out who it is targeting these people is to really go through and figure out the powers and the abilities and the body parts that we're all taken from these people and see if there's any connection. If we could target who he's going after next, then we could be there and have the upper hand. That's the information that we have, and that's the information that I'm trying to get to complete this map of where he might make his next move. - Okay, so you need information on Leon? - I need-- - And Ray? - I know that Ray was a silver tongue. - He was a smooth talker, yes, that's for sure. - I also know that they took his tongue. - That was incredibly literal, isn't it? - And we think that that's on purpose. If we can figure out the other powers and the other people who were killed, maybe we can put something together. What we need to know is what Leon Hoffman was able to do. Well, it's his power. - He lost his arm, as you know, his radar, or maybe he don't know. Leon was registered nurse, but his ability was to heal. - What do you mean to heal, exactly? - Well, I've never known him to be sick. I know a few occasions he was injured, but it was for a very short time. He had the ability to heal. To heal himself, to heal others. It was very low, a low power. Not particularly able to do anything incredible, but it was just by being around, people seemed to get better quicker. - So it looks like we know that a healer and a silver tongue were taken from you, apparently. - Yes. - So far, the only other information we have is that Claire Adams, a friend of mine, was also taken. And she had the ability to go into transits. What I would like to do to help you out for giving me that information is to let you know that so far from what we can gather, there's still a left leg that is missing if you put these pieces together. We're also missing a right eye and a left arm. - You guys still have to meet with the other contact, but I feel like I've pretty much gotten all the information. - So you're investigating this for whom? - I don't know how to answer that. - But it does call yourselves. - We're the, we're further and rain nameless at this time. - Okay. - That does not, it's still trust. - Well, you know we're working for the warden. - Okay. - Can I say that, though? - Yeah, they know the warden. - Okay. - Yeah, the dead one. - Yeah, that's what I'm saying, can I say that? 'Cause I think people-- - Oh, no, you are working for me, but I don't know if it's popular knowledge, but that, use it, use it. Maybe it will shake something loose. - Okay. - Put that guy. (laughing) - Well, truthfully, I don't know that anybody in town thinks you're dead other than potentially, Ryan Nelson in, you know-- - Yeah, I don't think word has spread around him of whatever 12 hours it's been. - We should take this opportunity. - To spread it. (laughing) - To say that you're dead. - I guess that's what I mean. This is the opportunity to, like, I started this working for the warden under his protection, but he just got gagged. - I was working with the warden on this, but he's gone now, too. So we're kind of at a dead end. - Oh, wait, he was taken out. We've lost another warden? That's pretty bad. That one didn't last very long at all. (laughing) He sucks. - Maybe now you understand why this is so important. - Did he have any leads on who was behind us? - They did. - Clear the name. - Oh, Ryan fucking Nelson. - Oh, why would he think Ryan was involved with this? - Ryan is a parent under himself. He's one of the major ones in Cleveland. - Ryan was there at Rich Witch World, was it? The original one? - That was Leonardo North. - I don't know. - If you're getting no more. - Darnells, you can't boyfriend a nation to have. Maybe you should call this over. - Yeah. - 'Cause I don't know. - We had a interview with Darnell's boyfriend who had a physical description matching Ryan Nelson. - So the most recent murder? - So yeah, maybe I think I probably would call them over at this point, probably, so they can talk as long as you want more information. - Well, yes, I'd like to do whatever I can to keep my people safe. - Okay. - I walk over to the table and I politely ask Zelda if I may join them for a moment, 'cause I heard a name and I wanted to be, I had a question. I'm Jason McDonald and I'm working for Zelda here. And I heard Ryan fucking Nelson's name and this is a guy that has been showing up behind our writer. But you said, I thought Ryan Nelson was out of town for months. I didn't think he was around anymore. - Okay, he hadn't been seen since he disappeared. Well, I'm out of character right now. I thought he hadn't been seen in town since he disappeared from the safe house into the place that won't be mentioned. - The never, never. - The never, never. So the fact that the way he said it, he made it imply that he knows Ryan, well, I expect him to know Ryan, but he also sounds like Ryan and I know the guy and he's kind of in the parent end still around. So that to me, like, oh my goodness. - That is the understanding of the warden that Ryan has not been in town for the three, four months that have passed. What you're hearing here is A, that Ryan started one of the first parents in Cleveland and he was always the glue that held the different groups together. I mean, he was very prominent in Cleveland. And yeah, I've seen him, he's still around. Now, he hasn't been officially around. You haven't seen him as the warden. - No, all right. - But apparently the parent letters have. - My concern is that if people are disappearing from the parent that who better to know who's involved than Ryan Nelson, and he's showing up on our different radars here, and I think if you know where he is, we'd like to have a talk with him. - I still don't understand why you think he's involved. - We have him for, well. - He's been nothing but a friend to us, Ryan. - To me, so that I'm sitting there as well. - Sure, yeah, right. - I assume that Zelda has waved us well. - Well, yes, absolutely. - You understand that it's not that I don't want to explain, sir, but I don't want to put you in any more danger than all of us parent letters are already in. But let's just say that he is a person that we'd really like to have a conversation with. - If anything, just to cross them off the list because he has connections to the parentnet and to these people as well. - If he shows up, should we be concerned? - Yes, he's possibly a very dangerous fan. - That is what is insidious about this. One of our own has, we think, has turned around against us, and Zelda, have you foreseen this? Have you, as part of your readings, was there any danger like this? Like, there was a bigger game of foot than we understood, or that the problem was from within our circle, I can't remember. - If you're talking about the full reading, I think we did it right at the end of the night, and then you ended up not coming back for a few weeks. And the interpretation was done by the group with me helping a bit. And there was definitely talk, Ryan was brought up a few times, but was that the one? - Yeah, that's... - I don't think at that time he was a major definite. This is the bad guy. There was discussion about, one of the cards had a reading along the lines of an untrue friend, and he was brought up as a possible thing fitting in there. But then, again, so it was Roberto, and so it was, well, that was, I don't know. - You don't wanna make it a shit up? - Yeah, he'll do Warden. - Do you have an old Warden? - I don't have an old man somewhere subsequent to that reading that further indicated that Ryan was definitely an issue. - I wouldn't be alone with him, that's for sure. - Thank you for that information. We will definitely use that. Unless we have anything else really quick, we'll probably go back to London. - Okay. - Well, we'll touch with Roberto really quickly. You're circling the situation, and you're seeing that there are definite two powers. One is the one you saw before, one is a more powerful one. That second more powerful one disappears after a while. And by a while, I mean roughly 20 minutes. - In the same way the other guy did one hand. - Yeah, it's there, it's fading. It's not going farther in distance, but just the power is fading. And you're starting to understand that this is probably the demon giving control back to the human. - Or potentially stepping through a portal and you don't know the world. - You could have the same effect. - I wouldn't know that you could push portals towards. - You went through one. - I did. - So that was-- - All right, I guess what that was. - So I get back in my car when I resume tailing this one. - So you're moving closer into that? - A little bit, yeah. - Okay. - Let's get them with your car. - I wanna, I don't know, I'll get a lock. - We haven't talked to Maxwell. - All right, doing your research, let's do your investigation on this issue. - Sure. - Real quick, I'm at the office. It's a hustle, bustle of activity, but looking up shit on a guy who was apparently not out of town a few months back when we were trying to figure out where he was. I don't know why it's gonna work better now, but I've got my orders. - Okay. Let's get an investigation roll. - Yes, sir. I'm gonna hire there all the more information you get. New information could be at least great. - Plus three. My investigation is four. High rolled, a seven, which is epic. - Epic. - I'm gonna tap and under cover Homeland Security operative and use my government contacts because fuck, not knowing things. - Fuck Ryan, fucking Nelson. - So yeah, that's a total of nine. - All right, you're above legendary. - Yes. - What you find in that outstanding role is the reason it was thought that Ryan fucking Nelson left town is that airline tickets were purchased and, - Not one day. - But with your connection with the government, you can also find that they were never used. - Yeah. - It appears that he attempted to make a false trip. - See on the no fly list. - No, no, he's never bored at sea. - Never, never. - I'll put him on the list. - It'll probably die. - What you also find out through researching is that he was an employee, a small bookstore. It's kind of an occult bookstore, so it was used books mostly. It's not your typical run out of business by Amazon type of bookstore, but one of those. - It just happens to be a used bookstore like that right next door to Tommy's. You can walk directly into it. - Yes, we were, I love that bookstore. - Yeah. - They had that second story and then they had. - Yeah. - There's a lot of old books in there, please. - And that's where he worked. Strangely enough. - There's a lot of old, used bookstore. - But in tracking his employment history, you've also noticed that at the same time that the airline tickets were purchased, he was no longer working there. And he seems to have gone off the grid as far as employment and income coming in. - Okay. - Good afternoon. - Didn't see any credit card, billing, housing, anything, no paper trail. - No paper trail. - His apartment lease was canceled at the time by himself. - What the hell did he live? - Oatels? - Car surfing with car owners. - And his car homeless? - Moved in another world. - The mean streets? - Yeah, I mean, you rolled higher than legendary. - I did. - Thanks, I love you. - So, you made that happen, thank you. - I paid a fair point. - Yes, you did. You do have a car that is registered to his name, both the title and the license. And the fact that it was during that three month period, not ticketed. There was never a time that it was stopped or pulled over by police. But they have those cameras on street corners that when you go a little too fast, they go off. - I like cameras. - And there is a legendary role here higher than legendary. So you do have a case where someone was ticketed because they went through one of these and his car was in the area, perhaps facing the street as they went past. So you get his license. - This is pretty fucking impressive role. So you get a picture of his car and it appears to be his license plate. He was not the one that was ticketed. He was not the one that was speeding. He just happened to be caught in the cross traffic when the camera went off. - America. - We'll close the scene with you guys and you guys can come back to, well, we're gonna make Edmund's restaurant the... - The center of the universe for you. So you guys return to that to discuss information. We'll go back to London and we'll wrap that up with Renaldi. - Do you have anything you want to accomplish here, Stephen? 'Cause you haven't got a chance to really shine tonight. So I just want to make sure that... - You're so stupid. - Not really. There's nothing really like you. Is there anything you can aid me socially when I get into social combat with him? Just I know what you've got, so can you don't judge me? Money, usually. Money. All right. - I got a report. - You gotta go. - I mean, I have a gambling addiction. So that would probably not help out. - Right. - You bid it to some detriment here, so. - I got a report that the worker can punch you. - I have an average report, so I'm really no help here. - Average, what is your report? - Again. - My report is great. - Touching Mr. Renaldi wouldn't ask for help here. - Oh, I should have wanted to bring matters. - Perhaps. - Stephen's doing a pinball machine there, though. - The... (mumbles) - So, let me... - Cut to the chase. - We're both professionals. I think we both hold each other in a high degree of respect, and I do respect you, John, and your family and everything you contribute to this fine city, but the truth of the matter is, it's not gonna be Manny. Now, this can go one or two ways. It can go sideways, where we find each other at odds, and when your missing snuff box disappears again, sometime in the future, you won't have the city's best a container of lost items. I simply will not be available to you. It's this serious, and it's this cut and dried. Perhaps there's another way around this, but the fact of the matter is, if Manny is not returned to his family, our relationship is going to go south, and if ours goes south, your relationship with the warden will be heading very, very south. - So, was that a roll somewhere? - Yeah, so that is your... - Attempted intimidation. - Intimidation, it sounds like, yeah. - Armada. - Well, since I haven't used it very much, charisma, command, reputation. - Presence. - That happens to be presence. I'm not saying I can use it all the time, but man, I haven't used it much this adventure yet. - Do we feel that that's an adequate use of... - I'll repeat it just so people can listen in on it. Presence is charisma, command, reputation, social fortitude. - It's kind of what he's using, right? - Okay. - Okay. - If there's an intimidation, it is definitely a polite and well-mannered intimidation. - It's not, I don't think a straight intimidation. - Since that will be your friend-- - Yeah. - John, you're going to be fucked. - I'm going to take my ball. - Yeah, and then go home. - So, would you like me to roll? - No, that's fine. If you want to roll that skill, it will be in... - I got your title, by the way. The world's only consulting scavenger hunter. - All right. - This is a stunt for you. You find your lost things. - The social defense is empathy. - It's a roll-off, I forgot. - Yes. - Yeah, it's a conflict. - Come on, bitch. - It is, unfortunately, a superb. - I'm impressed. - I know what he does. - It's what he does. - Oh man, it's a minus. - Two minuses and one plus for a minus one, which is superb. - Plus and minus for a wash or his stays at superb. - So we are, I think I... - Well, you are socially attacking him. He sees defending. - And I will tap the free victim code to take it to a plus two. And then because I'm London, and London doesn't want to dig around with a long combat here, I'm going to say that information is power. I'm going to spend another one to attack, which gives me from a superb up to a one plus legendary, which is basically, because I use it twice. I tap the, it was me a favor, and then information is power, which I have information about him and his family that I had subtly laid onto the table. So I'm going to tap two. So that takes us up to one above the legendary. So plus four of what he wrote. - What you do socially is you four points of damage. - Right. - To him. Now, since he is both a white court vampire and that is his specialty, it is a stinging blow, but it is not a death hole. - Oh, no, I don't expect it to stop not stressed. - It is. Since the emotions are heightened during a social conflict, the white court vampire is kind of, it's like they're food and they can-- - They get off of despair. - This particular family is despair. - Oh, right. - Sorry, nevermind. - No, it's about despair. - The emotions are important to them, but this particular family is-- - Because we might just be like getting him excited. - You know, it's like, you know, out of yourself. - This is not working. - Now, the opposite of despair's hope, according to what I was looking off, is that what you get hurt them with. - That's a spell. - How do you hurt them with hope, though? How do you do that? How do they get hurt by hope? - It's not perfect. - Right. - Less serious, yeah. - Because it damages the demons. - How do you do it? - No, but how do you use it? - How do you use hope? - How do you use hope? - Someone who's feeding off your despair, how do you replace that new damage? - You say the grounds may be next year. - Yeah. - It can't break you. - Yeah, like, almost like, yeah, exactly. Like, I'm not gonna be defeated by you. I have, like, you know, you're so confident that it's almost like you're hopeful that you're gonna come out of time. - I'm trying to figure out how to do that. - Hope in this situation to damage him and make it harder for him. - Yeah. - I guess, like, like, okay. - But I think he's looking for a specific example of how I would use hope in a sentence to hurt him. Like, in actual, like, stinging blow of hope. Which is tough to think about. - I think you'll have to have an aspect and roll onto it and you, like, tap it. You say, like, look, and, like, look. - Right, I'm so hopeful. - But I, yeah, you know what I have is... - I mean, that would be a valid way. - But I want to be, you could set up... - I have one. That's an aspect. - That's an aspect, yes. - It is an actual aspect and he way overused it, like, I'm sorry, we're cutting. - He has such self-compass, believe himself. - But I'm wondering. - The difference between trying an oamp is a little triumph and trying all of the triumphs is, um, for whatever. And which is hope to me. - I'm like, wondering if I could use that aspect to give him a plus to... - Ah, potentially. But it's... - He's going to attack me back then. - Mr. Raul, he's turned, so we'll do that. And then maybe we'll stop here before we resolve. - Okay. - 'Cause it's getting further. - Sure. - He's returning to the argument. Manny Martinez is a waste of human flesh. He's causing nothing but pain to his family, to his wife, to his son. He has drained the family resources and he will continue to do so. And this is why his family more tired than me, to find him. - Oh, shit. - You're letting your own prejudices affect your outlook here, John. - Have you talked to Mr. Roberto? - Yes, he hired me to find his father, John. That's why I'm here. - He was hoping we could find him. - Talk to him again and tell him that we are offering his family a million dollars to compensate for the loss of his father. - John, I don't have to talk to him. If you'd like me to send a quick text just to alleviate your misguided altruism, that's fine. But he is going to send a one word response. - Everybody can gain here. - Except for the people who love him. John, is your shriveled cold heart so despairing that you can't see that it doesn't matter. It's a human emotion. It's not sensible, John. You can't lay it out like that. They love him. - You know full well that there are some loves that are just not good for anyone. - I understand. - This is one of those cases. - You understand that. The family does not, John. They want them back. It can be anyone. It doesn't have to be many. - Perhaps they don't need to know. Perhaps they are a dare told that it's already too late. That his body has found somewhere. You don't have to tell them the truth. Everyone can benefit. Edmund can benefit. The fucking city can benefit by-- - John, all I have is my reputation and what I do. If someone hires me, would you have been amenable to me coming back to you and saying, I'm sorry, I was unable to find your snuff box because someone had paid me off and said, it's not that important. It's not that meaningful. My reputation is on the line here and lying to a client is something I have never done nor will I start now. Whether or not he's a dirt bag. - Skill that he is using is-- - I would like to just punch him out. - I'm so dumb. You would never get in a signature if you punched him. - I'm hoping to marry a demon and just rip his heart out. It's making a lot of sense to me. - Yeah. (laughing) Me too honestly, but I was hungry. Alright, somebody give me a skill that his argument fits into. It's not really intimidation. It's convincing with logic, but I don't see a skill that's logic. - Almost conviction? - Man, well, I can see conviction. - 'Cause he really believes what he's saying. - I think, or he's convinced himself that he believes what he's saying. - Well, it sounds like to me that this is all business to him. It's already a done deal, so nothing that-- - Well, it kinda is a done deal. Whether London wants to find him or not, that's-- - Deceit or conviction are the two that I keep coming back to as is his way. - Unfortunately, conviction isn't terribly high. It's decent, and in fact, it's good. My defense is empathy here. Unfortunately, as well, he rolled a minus one, so that takes it down to just fair. He is, however, going to, yes. - Is my defense empathy in this situation? - What do you think? - Which I hate, but hey, you said I use it too much less. That story, so I don't wanna be-- - Yeah, I think, potentially, yeah. - I think I need to start raising my empathy, even though it seems counter London-ish. He has a strong social defense, but just not the petting people on his shoulder. - I would think yes, I would. - Okay, I'm gonna go with average then with the roll, and I rolled a plus three. - Wow. - Which I'll take, I'm not gonna reroll that, which takes me up to great. - Okay. - Perhaps he can understand a businessman. - He's gonna tap family first, because he's a leader of the White Court family. - And everything has a price. Everything has a price is yours, and his was, suck it, London. - Homefield advantage, where he's in his own turf. So he's added a total of four, you've added two? - Yeah. - That took him up to fantastic years. - All right, I started average, I rolled great, and took it up to fantastic, so it was time. - Okay, so time means that he does zero damage to you socially. - Right. - You wanna leave it there? - Yeah, and we'll stop there as he has given his best shot, and you seem unfazed, but-- - So, ending point. - So we will end at that point. - Well, let's actually take this, let's finish this out. He says to you, obviously we have nothing else to discuss here. What I'm telling you is you're throwing away your signature, you're throwing away any restitution that the Martinez family is gonna get, because what's gonna happen is gonna happen. Good luck finding him before the inevitable happens. - Well, John, that's exactly what I do. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Thank you for listening to Knights of the Night Actual Play Podcast. If you'd like to send us questions, comments, or feedback, you can reach us in a number of ways. From Twitter, @KOTN_podcast, or by email feedback at kotnpodcast.com. And don't forget the iTunes reviews, or our Facebook page, Facebook.com/KOTN.podcast. Speaking of Facebook, join like-minded folks at our Facebook fan page. And lastly, there's our blog page, kotnpodcast.com, where there's an Amazon link on the right-hand side. Thanks to Zen Audio Smith for the intro and outro music. Get your own music at zenaudiosmith.com. And join us next week for more mystery and adventure. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) - Salsa. (laughter) - That's funny. - I always thought it would be interesting to start the session, sayin' who you are, and then answer a question about your character. Who's the one around? - Not bad. - Who'd have to come up with a question. - Who it is, his favorite song is. - Oh. - Interesting. - Sayin' the same question for every player. - If I knew anything about music, that might be enough. - You know, food. What's your favorite? What is a Roberto's favorite food? And then you can do food prayer, but-- - That's part of the install. (laughter) - I like Captain Crunch. I needed for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. - By the way, London has the skill now of empathy. (laughter) - Ah, woo! - That was fun. - That was fun. - I think-- - Don't be an epic milestone. (laughter) - I think you have to start by increasing it. - Well, I think from the minus two that everyone knows it is. - I think that if people were to read the skill as opposed to the innate understanding of what we consider to be empathy, it is reading people, which London is very good at. - Okay. - A shoulder to cry at, and that's so much, but he has tried to reach out to individuals, this story, unlike the first one. - In a Frankenstein-like way. - Yeah. - You can sing. - But more importantly, social defense, social initiative. He's all about social combat, so it fits with everything, but a shoulder to cry on. - I won't make you start at minus two. - It's more like he offers them a hanky and says, "But please don't use it." You know, that's about his extent of his-- - Oh yeah, come on, Brian, if you're a one, he would be like, "No, no, keep it." - Yes, yeah. - There you go, keep it, keep it. - I don't want to back and touch it. - I was thinking of keeping. I was thinking of adding the seat at level one. - He's exceeding you in real life. Here we go. - 'Cause you are, mine is doing real life with the seat. So yeah, we were gonna head out to-- (laughing) - I was like, "Dex." (laughing) - Something to do with her. - Shit. - Manny Ramirez, he's a great hitter, man. (laughing) He's like, "You don't have her, you're the one who loves you." - We need him. - In my death. - Whoa, that was a terrible throw up. - Well, come on, I missed by two inches, so they're right. - Well, the key word that you messed. - Missed. Wait, wait, wait. (clicking) Perfect. (laughing) - Nicely done. - Good throw up. - You cannot. - Perhaps. - I'm telling you that if the storyteller would let me roll some damn dice, I would kick your ass. (laughing) - I stole that stuff like there could be. - We will allow you to do a roll eventually. - No, that's fine. - Oh, it's right, no, you're right, you're right. That's right. - And then the other guy-- - The other guy. - Hold on. - You're right. - Okay. - You can say I was right again. - You're right. (laughing) - You're really right. - You're so right. - No, that's, no, you're just constant. (laughing) - But he just got gagged. - You have been watching "Supernatural." (laughing) - That is a very popular tournament. - Oh, is that true? - Yeah, okay. - If he shows up, should we be concerned? - Yes. (laughing) - But catch right through them. - Yeah. - Finder of lost things. - Yeah, now they have speeds. - Well, contained. - And thank you. - No, it was seamless. No one to-- - It was seamless. It was really bad. That's what I was saying to somebody. - It actually wraps around, so it's terrible. - Yes. - You were so good at being stopped. - That was the next episode. - He stopped listening after, like the first, you know, after I humiliated him for a few seconds.