Kerberos 10/19/2011
Title: Dragon in the Smoke, Part I
I'm watching the street gangs in the alley below. It's an interesting microcosm of society played out before me in --
DIVEBOMB!
Oh, Alice is at it again?
Yes, and I don't think she'll believe either of us are investigators, so make yourself useful.
What time of year is it? Autumn
Alice, 8 disguise as an extremely green youth who has never been in this sort of establishment before.
Alec Campion
You know, while I am sure your cousin wouldn't believe me, I am happy that I am not contributing to your delinquency.
You most certainly are!
- Strength +5 glamour
- Strength +7 glamour ne're do well
GM's Timeline Notes
- Almacks
- Mrs. Doyle
- The Leak (the PCs avoided this)
- The Ransom Note
- The 2nd Ransom Note
Write Up
I believe our story opened at Almacks, some time during the autumn of 1837. There was a ball in progress. Alice's Martian psychic power revealed to her that Mrs. Doyle was in great distress, worrying about her children. She tried to comfort the woman, who was surprised, but worried enough to want someone to talk to.
Alice's cousin, Winston, disapproved. Indeed, that was his function in the game, to be an Adversary who Disapproves and must be overcome. But, this got modified over time as we realized a few things.
First, Winston needs to be a mental powerhouse, not just a social powerhouse. He can't get into an ugly social conflict with Alice unless he wants to ruin her socially, and what he _wants_ is for her to toe the line and be socially respectable, not ruined. Social conflicts are about how one appears to society. Mental conflicts are about backing down or holding ground in arguments.
Second, though it never came up, Josh noted that Winston needs to be immune to Alice's psychic power.
Third, Winston actually can make an interesting form of social attack. He can spread rumors that Alice is doing something he wants her to do, like marry someone he approves of as his cousin's husband. There's now a lot of societal pressure on Alice to marry the chosen spouse.
Fourth, it's something of a problem that PCs can walk all over normal folk mentally and socially if they choose the appropriate elements to buy at high tiers. Normal people can only get up to Extraordinary. We do NOT want
- Everyone the PCs interact with to have high tiers of social abilities
- The PCs to walk all over society and remold it as they see fit
We both knew that the Winston-Alice relationship should not be boring. Winston trying to keep Alice from her rightful fortune, either because he wants it for himself or because he spent it all, is boring. No, I decided Winston was absolutely doing the best job he could to make her fortune grow. Sadly, he is supporting the wrong side in the upcoming Opium War.
Regardless, Alice managed to convince Winston that she was obligated to help Lady Doyle, discreetly, of course. And, Sophronia was quite happy to help out as well, charming conversation piece that she is. Both agreed that Victor should be recruited. Lady Doyle had heard of Victor Knight, as he is Known to Many if Friend to Few, and asked if he were discreet. Alice assured her that Victor was.
Sophronia found Victor and tried to get his attention.
Victor: I'm watching the street gangs in the alley below. It's an interesting microcosm of society played out before me in --
DIVEBOMB!
That was Sophronia, divebombing him, of course. This got his attention, and she told Victor about Lady Doyle's distress.
Victor: Oh, Alice is at it again?
Sophronia: Yes, and I don't think she'll [Lady Doyle] believe either of us [Sophronia and Alice] are investigators, so make yourself useful.
Our Heroes met with Lady Doyle the next morning, learning that her children had disappeared. Like many aristocrats (so sayeth the scenario), she had relatively little contact with her children, seeing them a few times a day, and leaving them in the care of a maid. Nevertheless, she did genuinely love them, and she was distraught and worried. Henrietta was 15, and Michael was 13. (Her husband was Lord Henry Michael Doyle, and I'm not sure what it says about him that both children are named after him.)
For some reason, the published scenario has the default way of introducing the PCs be having them rescue the actual detective Lady Doyle hired from someone involved in the disappearance of the children, a someone who then eludes the PCs No Matter What. Ick. The scenario also allows having Lady Doyle hire them because the detective she hired originally did not report back. Better, but it's better still to cut out the unnecessary (at least, in my run) extra detective.
Alice, 8 disguise as an extremely green youth who has never been in this sort of establishment before.
Alec Campion
You know, while I am sure your cousin wouldn't believe me, I am happy that I am not contributing to your delinquency.
You most certainly are!
- Strength +5 glamour
- Strength +7 glamour ne're do well
