6th Session

STILL IN PROGRESS

Chris and Alessandro missed this session. Alessandro has since dropped on account of having his time taken up with real life, including a new, full time job.

While we actually forgot to cover a loose end from last time, I am fine specifying the following:

Folks wanted to check out the Trammel Mansion. The basement is buried under debris. Martin could probably have advised on how to look around as safely as possible, but it would have to be a brief look, as this really isn't safe ground.

That said, Joyce took a _very_ careful, if brief, look around, as did Lillian, and neither found any sign of the Mouth.

Preparations were made for the trip from Los Angeles to Mexico City. Joyce's brother, Charlie, was relieved to hear that Joyce was going there, rather than to Bangkok. It seemed safer to him, or at least, more the kind of environment his sister could handle.

Martin was avoiding Samuel, but did visit with his brother. His brother understood that Martin had gone on some kind of bender, probably involving drugs, not alcohol. He'd also figured out that Samuel was Martin's lover as well as Martin's boss, but chose not to comment on that.

He did urge Martin to check himself into a clinic.

Martin: I've found a clinic in Mexico City that I'm going to check myself into.

This was, of course, a lie.

GM: Are you willing to back that up with a one point Reassurance spend?

Betsy: Absolutely! Martin lies!

Quite appropriate. Lillian told her cousin-hoping-to-be-her-fiance that she was going to Mexico City. She implied that, yes, he did have a chance, and that she was a flighty person, the type who goes to Mexico City on a whim, and that he'd better be willing to accept that if he did want to marry her. He asked, half joking, if he'd need to worry about Mexican boys. She teased him about that, but put a finger over his lips as an indication that it really wasn't a thing he should worry about.

She wasn't telling him the full truth, but she kept lies and lies-by-omission to a minimum. She isn't sure whether she wants to marry Richard. But, she does sometimes desperately want the kind of normality that being his wife would likely bring.

I forget the context of these lines. I think they might have been about Samuel Jenner and Samson Trammel.

Someone: That remains to be seen.

Martin (I think): He could be lying.

Lillian (I think): Which one?

Everyone: Yes.

Joyce, her co-pilot Fred, Lillian, and Martin went to the plane. The good news: Vito's mafia coworkers were keeping a solid eye on it, and all was well.

The other news: Martin's sisters and Lillian's friends, Darla and Isabella, were there, ready to go with everyone to Mexico City. Yes, the family believed the story about the clinic, but the sisters wanted to make sure Martin got there and stayed there. And, the idea of visiting Mexico City appealed to them.

Joyce demanded money up front, I think five hundred dollars. The sisters paid. Joyce and Fred reworked their math and concluded that they'd need to do a layover in Tucson. And everyone except Darla and Isabella realized they'd better actually make arrangements for Martin to be in a clinic. Fortunately, Lillian's unusual aunt happened to be in Mexico City.

Martin: Lillian, my darling, my dearest, will you send your aunt a telegram saying that I am to be put into the most luxurious place available, one that won't keep me from going out?

Lillian: Maybe. Butter me up some more. I like it.

Martin: Lillian, heart of my heart, will you tell me about Jeremiah?

That was a horse of a different color, and Lillian stopped teasing. Her explanation was a little confusing to Martin at first, as she was explaining that Jeremiah had written a letter currently in possession of his "boyfriend". Martin asked if she meant Jeremiah or Samuel.

Lillian: No, I didn't say "your love". I said "your boyfriend".

This was a precise, accurate, and important distinction. Now, Lillian hadn't see the actual letter, but she had gotten some of the details about it from Samuel. Essentially, he'd thrown Jeremiah some business, not expecting it to be in any way dangerous. But, this had led to Jeremiah's death. The people involved had ties to the Bangkok Nectar cult.

Lillian: Those animals -- by which I mean the humans ones -- are not about bringing human pleasure to the world, but about the animal parts of the brain.

She noted that the Los Angeles group focused on lust, while the Bangkok one focused on wrath, and noted that, no doubt, the other deadly sins were represented as well.

Lillian: Dear, you know that I love you and that they hurt you and that I want to grind them into fine paste for that, and I know it won't bring him back, but I'm hoping you will help me turn the grinder.

Martin: Certainly, my dear girl.

Later:

Lillian (about the letter Samuel has): I don't know why I didn't beat it out of him. Perhaps I will send a telegram to the captain and ask if he can acquire it for me -- for you. For you.

Joyce, meanwhile, dreamed about the Black Pharoah asking her if she really thought the orgies of Los Angeles were his style. She agreed that they weren't. But, she had no intention of allowing him to talk her out of continuing her current course of action, whether or not this was the actual Black Pharoah or simply a dream of him.

Joyce: And it would were it not that I had bad dreams.

Lillian sent a telegram to Captain Walker:

SAMUEL JENNER IN POSSESSION OF LETTER FROM JEREMIAH RHODES TO MARTIN LOCKSLEY STOP CAN YOU RECOVER FOR MR MARTIN STOP ASK NICELY FIRST STOP MR JENNER KNOWS ME STOP DO NOT READ LETTER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE STOP TRUST YOU TO CHARGE REASONABLE RATE STOP DRAW FROM MY ACCOUNT AT BANK OF BLAH BLAH END

Folks arranged for Martin's rehab to take place in the fictional resort of Los Palmas Pacificas.

Lillian: We know that rehab won't help you.

Martin: But it may be kind of fun.

Lillian: Martin, I'm not helping you sneak alcohol into a rehab clinic.

Darla and Isabella would be in one hotel, with Lillian's Aunt Anna, while Lillian and Joyce would have one room in a different hotel, with Joyce's co-pilot Fred taking a different room in that hotel. Aunt Anna sat down with Martin, Lillian, and Joyce, pointing out that Martin's sisters would no doubt want to visit him. Folks decided that this was best handled by having them visit at the same time every day, and making sure Martin was there to be visited.

Aunt Anna: All right. When shall we have that scheduled for?

Martin: Early in the morning -- noon!

Anna agreed to this, but strongly suggested that Martin actually enter rehab whenever they'd finished doing whatever it was they were doing. She asked Lillian just what was going on.

Lillian: Bad people are doing bad things.

She also told Anna that she'd consider it a personal favor if Anna would teach Darla and Isabella those skills that are genereally considered not the sort of thing that ladies ought to learn, but which are actually quite helpful to ladies who do learn them.

I forget the context of this:

Lillian (I think): I'll try not to be too much of a burden, though.

Anna (I think): Yes, that's what I'm afraid of.

Joyce knew what her next step would be.

Joyce: I acquire a car -- rent, borrow, or steal. So tempted to steal.

I think she did rent, though, especially as Janet Winston-Rogers was footing the bill.

They settled in, and, after his sisters' first visit, Martin spent the day doing research to figure out where in Mexico City the post office box from which mail was sent to Trammel was located.

The next day, Lillian was up doing her exercises.

Joyce: I still don't know if that's a sexual position or a kata.

Lillian To-may-to, to-mah-to.

The three went to the post office where the box was located. Joyce was absolutely paranoid, on full alert, waiting for the inevitable person following them. With a Spend of 3 and a roll of 3 on Sense Danger, she just spotted a man watching the post office box they needed while pretending to be making a phone call.

They decided that Joyce would be the decoy, while Martin stole wallet, and Lillian dealt with the box. Martin rolled Filch against base difficulty with the man's modifier, while Lillian revealedva hitherto unsuspected talent for lockpicking.

Joyce pounded on the phone booth, pretending to be in desperate need of using it. The man quickly hung up and ceded the booth to her. He did not notice Martin expertly lifting his wallet.

Lillian got into the box unnoticed by the man -- but spotted by an unexpectedly alert postal worker. He shouted at her. She grabbed the box's contents, slammed it shut, and fled. Martin slowed the postal worker, getting in his way and pretending to be a foolish tourist. The man from the phone booth noted the commotion and Lillian's flight, and made his way methodically, but not hurriedly, out of the post office.

A bit of behind the scenes here: The text says explicitly that the PCs must call for a Spot Hidden check to have a chance at spotting the man keeping watch on the box. Cat's statement about Joyce keeping an eye out counted for that. The text also calls for a Locksmith Spend to get into the box, and says that a failed Stealth test means that the postal worker spots the break in and shouts, possibly summoning the police if the PC doesn't flee.

The text does not say whether or not the player must call for a Stealth test and whether not doing so meant the same thing as a failed Stealth test. I emailed Christopher Adair, who'd told me I could run systems questions by him. His take on it was that the player did have to specify the Stealth test and not making the test was indeed failing it -- but, the Locksmith Spend should mean that, even if the PC is spotted, she still gets the stuff in the box. This made sense. When Alden asked his the box worked and whether Lillian could slam it shut so that it didn't look obviously picked, I figured the Spend should cover that as well.

Lillian ran out of the building and around a block or two, then glanced over the contents of the box. These were a letter from Trammel asking about a new album, a postcard from someone with the last name Dominguez saying that they were about to go on an expedition and he'd write again when they were back in Merida, and an electric bill for Luz Records at an address in Mexico City that wasn't a post office box.

Joyce got the operator to connect her to the last number dialed, but quickly realized the man in the booth hadn't made that call. Martin checked the man's wallet and learned he was a private eye named ***.

Joyce: All that ever happens is that we get followed by PIs.

The man got in his car. Joyce was not good at shadowing, but Martin was, so he took the driver's seat of their car.

Martin (to Joyce): Do NOT make noises!

And off they drove.

Lillian worked her way to where she could watch the post office and the car Joyce had rented, only to see it driving right past the alley she crouched in.

Lillian: I'm sure they have a good reason for this.

She hailed a cab and had it drive her to the address she'd found on the electric bill. Once she got there, she checked the door to the place and the neighborhood, and saw an open tacqueria. She went inside to ask a few questions and buy a taco or two.

Tacqueria worker (reacting to Lillian's choice of black clothing): Are you going to a funeral?

Lillian: Not yet.

Misunderstanding, he threw in am extra taco out of sympathy.

The PI did not look for Lillian. Instead, he drove straight to Luz Records, parking about a block away and taking pictures of Lillian when she tried the building doors.

Martin went to talk to him as Lillian entered the tacqueria unaware of the watchers' presence. After all, the PI had a good look at Joyce, but hadn't noticed Martin. Martin again did his dumb tourist act, pretending to be very interested in the kind of camera the PI had. The PI pretended to believe this and asked to take Martin's picture. Martin agreed.

By now, Joyce had successfully snuck up on the PI and pointed a gun at his head. He put his hands carefully on the dashboard.

Joyce: Why were you following us?

Gonchi (truthfully): Well, I wasn't following you. You were following me.

Joyce: Right... Why were you watching the post office box?

Gonchi convinced them to have this conversation in a more friendly location, like, say, the nearby tacqueria. They agreed, and Martin disarmed him and removed the bullets from his gun, being far more competent at that than at firing a gun.

The three went inside and sat down. Lillian, still at the counter, added more tacos to her order.

Tacqueria worker: I -will- have to charge you for those.

Lillian assured him that would be fine. She joined her friends and their, ah, guest.

Gonchi: So, Trammel sent you?

All three: Yes.

Martin: I've been working for Mr. Trammel for some time.

Martin (silently, thinking to himself): Which is not untrue. F*ck.

Gonchi: Any particular description? Joyce: Walker Lillian: No, Pizner Martin: Walker sent this guy Pizner and other guys. Sketch of the two.

Next, the Mexico City group is set up as if to mirror the Los Angeles group:

Samson Trammel -- Jonathan Brooks (handpicked by Trammel, in fact) Captain Walker -- Kiriil Konovalov Jack Pizner, PI -- Gonzalo "Gonchi" del Toro, PI

That said, there are some key differences.

Gonchi was actually competent. He also wanted out, and was happy to work with folks who could help him disappear. Also, he's had Nectar, but prefers Tequila and cigarettes. (*)

(*) I have now decided that, yes, there is a reason for this, and I've figured out what that is. I've queried one of the authors as well, and told him my rationale.

Come to that, he's not the only one who wants out. Where Captain Walker didn't particularly want out -- folks had to approach him, and make it clear that there was a LOT of force moving in -- Gonchi wants out. Jorge Novo, who pressed records for Brooks, wanted out and died in a fire that burned down the record press building. Victor Cortez, hiding out in his recording studio because he was too terrified to go home, wanted out, and again, gladly worked with folks who could help him.

And, if Elena Alcatruz is right, the musicians Brooks hired to play with Leticia de la Luz and La Boca also want out, but are terrified to say anything bad about their employers. She's going to bring Josh Winters, Lillian, and Martin -- and any friends they show up with -- to a party where she thinks the musicians will be.

Trammel had a record of Leticia, La Boca, and the band playing in the room with the mouth. It seemed to contribute to the mood of endless fornication.

Joyce retrieved a different recording from a room where two of Brooks's people were staying, apparently to drink Nectar and hide from Brooks. They played it over and over, and apparently got into knock down, drag out fights of the bruise-leaving kind over the past couple of weeks, finally killing each other (one sliced the other's throat open, while the other shot the first).

And, despite Martin's best efforts -- and despite Joyce's and Lillian's fears -- there's no Nectar for sale on the streets. The distributors all vanished a week or so ago, after a couple of weeks of pushing their remaining supply hard enough that local addicts are apparently still flush.

What happened a couple of weeks ago? Why, Brooks sent a fellow named Dominguez out to Merida in the Yucatan, with people, guns, money, and Nectar to find a temple to Golxumal called Chichen Xoxul. (It wasn't originally a temple to that being, but it was, ah, taken over.) Brooks's unfinished letters indicate that he believes that Golxumal = The Fisher From Outside, and that this isn't Nyarlathotep. (Heck, if Joyce's dreams are to be believed, Nyarlathotep also says it's not Nyarlathotep.) Brooks also refers to "whatever dwells beneath" a place he refers to both as Kailash and as "that Devouring Mountain". He currently has resentment, anger, and scorn for Trammel, and seems to have respect for the woman from Bangkok known only as S.S. for now (and Martin now knows about the Bangkok connection in Jeremiah's death).

Notes on what could theoretically be researched. Up to you guys whether you think it's worth it after the party (given that you got a lot of information from Gonchi and Victor Cortez and did a lot of useful follow up) or whether you think it's a good idea.

-- There could be a visit to the burned out record manufacturing place -- There could be a visit to Leticia de la Luz's apartment (a third floor walk up) -- There could be a visit to Victor Cortez's home, which might or might not be staked out with folks waiting to jump, shoot, or burn people and places -- Researching Chichen Xoxul -- Researching Golxumal -- Playing either or both of the records -- Playing them while someone's taken Nectar (though, at the moment, there isn't any Nectar around)

[Also Kailash]

Quotes:

Lillian: Martin, stop trying to get away from us and go somewhere where there's Nectar. Joyce: I didn't want to say it, but now that it's out...

Martin, dear, you're our cover. I can get drunk! No.

Lillian does a bad job of keeping Martin's hands off her ass. Are they -on- her ass? Yeah, this is professional -- nothing personal. It's a really weird relationship.

18 May -- PO, Gonchi, La Luz

Joshua Summers -- Producer! -- No! Director! Cuz I look like a totally go to the end of the world director!

Martin: It's HOLLYWOOD calling!

La Paz -- Joyce de LA Luz's Brooke's

How do we run away from the things we're running towards?

You know how to work the crowd? In theory.

La Paz

Nectar -- addicts? ... and maybe we shouldn't put Martin in charge of that plan.

All right, then. Sleep well, love. Lillian -- should I draft a letter to Samuel? Let me take care of this for you, dear. You know... he's my... boyfriend... don't you?

I would prefer you not slaughter my boyfriend, even if you don't -like- him. You aren't my moth -- You aren't my father.

Martin, if someone wanted to hurt you, and I wanted him to die, do you think I couldn't do it with my own hands?

Well, now you put it that way.. You're a very freaky girl. You know that?

The next time you put a hit on one of my boyfriends, could you let me know first?

Martin: You look like a flamenco dancer going to a funeral. Joyce: I didn't want to say anything. Lillian: Harrumph!

Samuel: You understand why I didn't give it to you earlier, don't you? Martin: Yes. Samuel: Now, I want you to put all this behind you. Martin: I think I need you to leave.

Joyce: Oh, forchissake! I've been doing Tequila!

Lillian: That's why I don't do it in the room. That and it would break something.

I'll have to send a telegram. Are you children scheming to kill Samuel? No.

I know a lot of bad men. It's hard to keep track of them.

Lillian, there's no bi. There's only gay and lying.

Ears, fingers -- the usual stuff.

Joyce: You gonna be dressed up like an undertaker's hooker again tonight?

Why are you being so nice to me? Because you're in a lot of pain. You're not supposed to know that!

Are you in love with me, Lillian? Probably.

Joyce: You're the ones who dragged me -- wait, I'm the one who dragged you.

And yes, I -am- going to wear my flamenco dress for today -- I've almost figured out how to flamenco.

Lillian -- we're sending Martin in to find Brooks.

Get that Nect-- You're getting better. Did you just climb up the building?

Pulls out a pen and paper. The shrine? Where the hell is the shrine? Will I never be free of East Africa?

Martin, what's the worst thing you can think of? Oh, you're living that? Well, Nyarlathotep is that made sentient.

Sounds rather mournful.

I've got a bad feeling about this. Does yours ever go away? Cuz mine never does.

We're the lost ones, Martin. We have to protect Lillian.

Lillian is killing birds with a giant f*doing knife.

You may have to fight children or lizards, or snakes

That wasn't so bad. I dealt with the cats of Cairo.

What's the plan? I thought about giving it to Martin and watching to see if he either screwed Lillian or fought her, but I decided discretion was the better part of valour.

Joyce: Orange juice. Yeah, orange juice. Lillian: We do in fact have two brain cells to rub together, Joyce.