Tuesday 16 October 2012

[actual play] Vampire the Requiem - The Two Thrones

 

 

Vampire the Requiem - Manchester
 
Season 2 - The Two Thrones
 
Episode 1 - Ashen Cross
 

Part 2

 

Tristan left the club and found Patrick Falken sat waiting on the hood of his car.The sharp suited businessman was smoking and flicking the ash onto the hood of the car. Tristan tersely asked what Patrick wanted. Patrick had learnt of the missing Invictus vampire, and that there were now a number of issues to deal with. In particular he wanted Tristan to investigate the missing vampire. He suggests that they meet the next evening to sort out the details as they need to move fast.


The next evening Galen awoke in the hotel room he used for the night. He had holed up in the bathroom to ensure he was not hit by any sunlight. He checked his emails and made his way back to his haven, checking that he wasn’t followed.


Tristan met at Ship Canal House, where Patrick Falken kept his offices. The offices reflected the art nouveau design of the building, and Partick’s office was painted in dark greens with dark stained wood furnishings. He was sat before his computer and explained to Tristan that there were a number of people investigating the missing vampire. There was of course the lover, who had now drawn in a Lancea Sanctum Bailiff. He also suggested that Natalia Kerkoft’s own personal Hound would more than likely be involved. Patrick suggested to Tristan to find out why the hell any of this happened as the last thing he needed was a murder of an Invictus vampire on Carthian territory.


At Elysium, at the Circle Club, Galen sat waiting at the bar for Tristan to arrive. While at the bar he was approached by an unknown man who simply warned Galen not to speak to anyone. He gave the name of Dillinger.


Later on Tristan arrived, and together with Galen they privately spoke with Matthew Rain. Matthew suggested they speak to Rebecca Castle to find out more about the dead vampire’s lover and the Bailiff. He did mention that while the gossip was about how Fiona had died, the real issue was more to do with why, or why this was more important.


Galen headed off to go and see the Chamberlain in order to get an audience with the Constable, while Tristan headed off to the church where Rebecca held her practice.

Galen got the sense of being followed. Just as he spotted his shadow she was already in his face. She led him down an alleyway and threatened him. She knew what he did and was expecting a deal. He told her he didn’t know what she was talking about. She then said that when Galen was ready to make a deal she would meet him at the gas station. With that she slinked back off into the crowd of the busy night.

 


Arriving at the museum, Galen was told to wait, but was eventually taken to the Chamberlain. Galen was led through some of the exhibits to an older part of the museum and then downstairs. In an office which resembled a dusty library, the Chamberlain sat with an overspilling ash tray. Odans was rather anachronistic, wearing a suit more Victorian in style. Odans explained that he was happy that Galen had come seeking his advice and that of the Constable, but there are limits to what the Carthians can help with.


Tristan arrived at the gloomy church and headed around the back to the vicar’s chambers. He rapped on the door and was greeted by two ghouls. Rebecca recognised his voice and allowed him in, but briefly as she had a study group arriving. Tristan was welcome to join them.

She explain to Tris
tan on questioning that she does not favour Hoyle due to his romantic involvement with an Invictus, and it has begun to show in his growing thirst for power. She also explains that she did not know that the Bailiff was working on the case, and she finds it odd as it is outside of the Bailiff’s jurisdiction.

 


Galen had time to kill and needed to be sure of threat and so drove to the gas station he visited the other night. He went into the shop to pay for a chocolate bar and was joined by the girl. In the light it was clear that she lived on the streets, her hair lank and hair coat caked in filth. Together they drove for a bit in the direction of the grounds where Galen disposed of the body, but Galen pulled over, ending any deal the girl thought she could get out of him.


Tristan was at his club. It was busy, as expected for a Friday night. As he stood watching he got the sense of being watched, and someone kept whispering to him. It came from all directions. He then spotted at the fire exit a man with a face covered in red veins. Tristan followed him outside into the alleyway. The vile looking vampire presented himself as Dillinger and that he works for Kerkoft and wants Galen for questioning.


As the club night wrapped up, Tristan went to leave and headed to the carpark when he felt the Beast stir and was confronted by Fiona’s lover, Scott Hoyle. Scott swung for Tristan, not satisfied with the answers he was getting. But Tristan proved the faster and stronger fighter, slamming the vampire against a brick wall, leaving the man dazed, and crying tears of blood, sobbing for his missing lover.

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 9 October 2012

[actual play] Vampire the Requiem - The Two Thrones

Vampire the Requiem - Manchester

Season 2 - The Two Thrones

Episode 1 - Ashen Cross

Galen awoke on the floor, face down. It was cold and concrete, and filthy. And sticky. Galen sat up and looked at his hands as his eyes adjusted to the gloom. The dirt filtered light shone down from the flickering lights above. It reflected off the blood that was caked over his hands. And there was more. It covered his face, his clothes, and his mouth tasted of it. And then there was the body. Galen brushed his lank dark hair to the side to see better. There on the stairs with him has body. A vampire. He knew this because he could sense the blood in his mouth was vitae. Galen’s eyes widen at the realization.

Where the hell am I?

Galen reached out with his senses.The rat piss stench intensified. The light from above became an stark orange. And now he could hear the sounds of cars above. He was in a carpark, in the stairwell, and he was below ground. He hurried search the body, looking for some clue to give him an idea of who they were, who she was. He skin was sunken, like stretched vellum. And her fangs were exposed.

Galen  rushed up the steps and out into the carpark. He checked the cars there, and choose an older model that was less likely to have an alarm. With his elbow he shattered the passenger window, popped the trunk and rooted about. He found and overcoat and a bag of recently worn sportswear. He then went back and quickly dragged the body to the car and bundled the corpse into the trunk. Galen then put on some of the clothes in the sports bag, as at least they were cleaner than what he was currently wearing. With that done all that was left was to drive and find somewhere to get rid of the body.

In Fallowfield, Tristan had arrived at the Lancea Sanctum mass that he had been invited to. It was a typical red brick church that was common to Manchester. There we some ghouls as guards on the gate to the grounds and at the front doors. But they were dressed like normal parishioners. Tristen stepped out of the car and smoothed his suit down and idly check himself in the mirror, for what it was worth.
At the front door of the church waiting was Sister Rebecca Castle. She was dressed in her stern suit, but also wore the muted robes of the Westminster Creed. No regal reds and purples here. Just blacks and whites and silver Chi-Rho on each breast. She greeted Tristan, thanking him for his time and for representing the Carthians, and how that she hoped that they could reaffirm the alliance between church and government as she fears that return of the Ordo Dracul to the city is just the start of darker times.
Tristan took a seat in the church, which plain, as is standard with a Protestant church. Once the front doors were shut and locked the curtains were drawn across all windows and the nights rites began.
First Castle read out notices which were all rather mundane and uninteresting. Tristan just sat at the back of the church checking his phone. But once those had all been read out the real business began. Castle had chosen to read from the Rule of Golgotha.

‘Incline your ears, O my children of the night, and let these humble words

fly to your hearts. Know that the teachings of our father Longinus are a

great burden upon us, and that the judgment of God is most justly severe.

Recognize that these words are written not at the bidding of any man, nor

any demon, but for and through the purpose of our God.’


Galen drove from the carpark, in Ancoats, near the train station, to an abandoned factory. Along the way he stopped off to buy some petrol, which he was using to soak the body and the wood piled on top of it. To make sure there would be no other evidence Galen had also smashed out the fangs from the corpse for later disposal. He looked on as the fire blazed, and it was then he got a call. It was Ruth, and she was pissed. She berated Galen for being late, and that she had heard from the dealer he didn’t show. Galen said he could meet them in 2 hours time.


Tristan watched the Lancea Sanctum rites continue, and as 3 mortals we brought before the altar. Their thoughts were slit and from the collected blood was then used as a sacrament. New members of the Covenant were anointed with blood and then the Mass was over. The gathered vampires split up into small groups to chat, and Tristan was joined by another of the Lancea Sanctum, the androgynous Nosferatu Priscus, Amanda Heath. She asked Tristan about the mass and how it work to their benefit to ensure the close relations with between the Lancea Sanctum and the Carthians.


Tristan left the church and checked his phone, noting that there was a message from Ruth. He listened to her complaint about Galen, and she said she would meet him and Galen at the Ascension club.


At the Ascension Club, Tristan was pleased to see it busy, ripe for h
unting. He made his way towards the vip area where the ghouled security kept watch. Past the curtains and into the secluded room were two other Kindred. One was the known to Tristan, Lauren Esten. She was dressed in her typically seductive attire and with her platinum hair. She had one of her herd with her and he was drowsy from being fed upon. Another man was present, dressed in a suit and with cropped curly hair. He introduced himself as Scott Hoyle and that he was looking for a missing friend and was wondering if she had come by the club. He explain that he had thought he had seen her with Galen.


Ruth arrived and showed Tristan to the store room of the club, where they waited for Galen who had picked up the goods from the dealers. Galen brought in a large sports bag and inside were parcels wrapped in brown paper and then in clingfilm. Ruth pulled out a flick knife and punctured one to show them that it was what she needed to continue manufacturing the next batch of speed. This material was just what she was cutting the speed with.


Tristan explained that there was someone in the club looking for Galen. Galen, concerned, went to see who this person was, even though they were both sure that this man was hiding something.


In the vip area Galen met Scott, and Scott explained that he was looking for Fiona Redditch, and that he had seen Galen with her. Galen dismissed it and that the woman that Scott described had not been with him at any point in the night. Scott got increasingly annoyed with Galen, and threatened that both he and Tristan would get what they deserved if Fiona was not found.


Galen, in need of more information, went to Elysium, held in the Circle Club, located under St Ann’s arcade. Galen awaited outside the black door, emblazoned upon which was a gold circle. He went inside and showed his ID and proceeded down into the club. The club was a dark and sombre place, with black slate and under lighting giving the cool glow to the venue. Galen waited for a chance to speak to the Myrmidon, Estabelle Duncanson. She wore her typical Victorian style garb. Estabelle took the time to listen to Galen’s questions, and informed him that the real Scott Hoyle had been in looking for Fiona, and that Fiona was a Invictus lacky while Scott Hoyle was of a Lancea Sanctum and believed to be romantically involved.


Galen returned to his haven, the old house back in Chorlton, and prepared to sleep for the evening. It was as he entered his ‘coffin’ that he noted something was wrong. The fangs of Fiona he had left there earlier were gone.

Saturday 6 October 2012

Darker Days Podcast » Blog Archive » Darker Days Radio: Darkling #26 - Iron Kingdoms

Mike and Chris are joined by Simon Berman, Community Coordinator and Staff Writer for Privateer Press.

In this Darkling we discuss the recent release from Privateer Press, the new edition of the Iron Kingdoms RPG. We look at what the setting has to offer, the similarity the game rules have with the wargames Warmachine and Hordes, and briefly discuss what we can look forward to in the future for this exciting new edition.

Send any feedback or questions send us an email at darkerdaysradio@gmail.com

For more information on all the products discussed in the show go to http://privateerpress.com/

Alternatively you can get more news and information by searching for Privateer Press on Google +, Facebook and Twitter, and you can also go looking for Simon Berman on there if you are interested in all his other work.

Be sure to check us out at http://www.facebook.com/DarkerDaysRadio or our Posterous forum at http://darkerdaysradio.posterous.com/#!/. Be sure to subscribe through iTunes!

Our new domain name is http://darker-days.org

Interested in the console game for Warmachine being developed by White Moon Games? Check out the fantastic trailer from E3

Interested in getting hold of Iron Kingdoms products digitally (D20 material but hey still a great read) follow the links Drivethrurpg.

Interested in painting lessons for your new Iron Kingdoms, Warmachine and Hordes minis and you're in the UK, check out http://www.golempaintingstudio.co.uk/

Below are some examples of their excellent Warmachine figures they have painted.

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