#gurps: @William *** #gurps :End of /NAMES list. *** Mode is + *** Channel created at Saturday, December 7, 2002 7:18:09 PM William: For tonight's game, let's run the scene with Ars, UL, and Jack first (investigating the streetfront operation of the True Connectedness Society). After that, I'd like to go to during the next day with Nicole (this will be occurring while Ellis is training Wes -- that log is now up). We'll run over any intermediary meetings, and then if we have time (unlikely, I think) start in on the scene the next day with Carver. BA: Will: Jack did get back to you about being here tonight? Will_GM: Nope. BA: Hmm Will_GM: Guess it's time to start, though. I'll NPC him. BA: 'k Will_GM: ---------------- Game Start ----------------- Will_GM: Fearless, BA, (Jack NPC'd): You are standing a short ways away from a streetfront business strip at the bottom of a typical Philly high-rise; convenience stores, restaurants, small businesses. The place you have come to see is the address of The True Connectedness Society, clearly marked at this time of night by a shining awning announcing the property's presence. Will_GM: Glass doors open onto a reception area; much of the rest of the front, except for an emmergency exit a hundred feet or so down the sidewalk, is curtained off in brightly embroidered curtains. Will_GM: At the moment, the reception area is dimmed. Will_GM: It's about 10pm, and a week or so before Halloween 2001. Your move. BA: "Doesn't look like this'll take too long. Want I should mount a camera and mike somewhere?" Fearless: "Once we get inside, maybe." Fearless takes a long drag on his cigarette. Will_GM: Jack scratches his chin. "This is your thing, fellows. I'll follow your lead." Fearless: "We're probably looking at an electronic code that has to be turned off from near the back once the door is opened. Opening the emergency exit would probably signal someone, either the higher-ups and/or the police." BA gives the place's security setup a once over, seeing if he can tell how it's powered. Independant source, building's power main, etc Will_GM: BA: eyeballing from the street? BA: Yep Fearless: "BA, assuming we can get you in, you think you can get the security deactivated before it goes off?" BA: "Working on that already, Fearless." BA: Roll for it? Will_GM: I did. BA: 'k Will_GM: BA: There seem to be no indications of a security setup visible from the outside -- everything seems to be designed to draw people in, not keep them out. BA: "Doesn't look like they even have a security system installed. I could be wrong, though. City ordinance demands they at least have fire alarms, and their building insurance would demand at least a guard dog. Gimme a sec to check the back." BA ambles on down the street, casually turning the corner and heading around to the back Fearless checks out the emergency exit for anything that'd indicate a kill-switch or a connection while closed Will_GM: BA: Around the back of the building is an alleyway between two of the high-rises that occupy this block. Picking your way between dumpsters and over some nameless liquid, you see several windows at ground level (one of which is lit, flickeringly), an emergency exit door, well-marked, and a series of power meters and fuseboxes. Fearless goes back around front... "ADA" sticker on the door? Will_GM: Fearless: The emergency exit is labeled, as usual, that it will sound immediately if opened. BA checks the connections from the power poles out on the street to the fuses boxes. Most security systems are tied directly to the external switchbox Will_GM: ADA... The security people? (I'm assuming you don't mean "handicapped-friendly"... ;^) ) Fearless: Will: *nod* Nicole: or dental associations. Fearless: ADA Security handles most of the electronc security measures I've come across Will_GM: Fearless: No ADA sticker, but a discreet label indicates that the premises are monitored 24/7 by security camera. Nicole: of course they could be trying to transcend dental medication... %) Ellis: No quotes from later Spider books. ;) Shyla: hehe Nicole: I think Spider got it from somewhere else...besides, it fit. %) Ellis: Okay, granted. ;) Will_GM: BA: Can't tell which fuse box leads to which part of the building, unfortunately. They all tie in to a main trunk, which has various incomprehensible labels: "A", "B1", "B2," "S," "G," etc. BA looks for the paperwork most security subcontractors stuff into the switchbox after installing the thing Fearless goes around to find BA. "Security cameras, BA. With the suspected alarm on the back door. Can you bypass those?" BA jumps. "Dammit, Fearless! Make some noise when you walk! And I'm working on it." Fearless doesn't have Stealth or Prowl... Shyla does ;) Will_GM: Fuseboxes are locked; try to pick or destroy the lock? (It's a tiny thing, not a serious padlock.) BA: Yeah. Most of 'em are just a little piece of wire through a screw clip Will_GM: Which, if either? BA: Cut it open with my multi-tool Will_GM: Easily done. The fusebox pops open. BA looks for the subcontractor's paperwork Will_GM: You find a schematic of the building glued on the inside of the fuse box -- not in any detail, but enough to identify which lines go to which areas. The store at the Society's address runs all its power through the array at B2. Will_GM: Ars, you know more about electronics than I do. Poke me if I begin spouting gibberish. Shyla: *snrk* hehe BA: "This is wonderful. They only have a single feed in." Will_GM: Jack looks up and down the alley, apparently trying to make sure no one's seeing anything, and turns back to you. BA: "Whacha think? Disconnect 'em?" Will_GM: "You sure that's not too drastic?" He shrugs. "Never done this before." *** Signoff: Fearless (Quit: May the water you find in the desert not shine at you in the dark.) BA: *to Jack* "If they've only got one feed in, everything's plugged into that one. And these boys don't look anywhere near as paranoid as I claim to be. SO I doubt they'll have an independant generator." Ellis: Wrong cable, BA. Shyla: hehe Will_GM: He should be back in a second. (Hopefully.) BA: Ellis: Eh? Ellis: BA: Oh, just the timing on Ars' disconnect. Shyla: making a joke UL ;) you disconnected Ars BA: ah Shyla: hehe Will_GM: brb, drinkfetch Will_GM: b; but Ars isn't. Hmm. BA: Hope he gets back soon Shyla: ditto.. Shyla: can't call him can you UL? BA: Sure Will_GM: We can run Nicole's scene and hope he gets back by the time that one's done. Will_GM: Nicole? Nicole: eh? Will_GM: The day after all this, it was mentioned that you had a class with Bill Handel, one of the guys on the Analyzer list. Nicole nods. Will_GM: This would be the first time you met him after hearing all this; I wanted to run that. Nicole nods. Tries to remember what all has happened since we hiatused. BA: I do believe Ars skipped out on us. His phone's ringing, so he's not online, but he isn't answering. Which tells me he's either out or indisposed Will_GM: Okay. Until Ars gets back(or Jack gets in), then, let's jump forward to the next day and Nicole's class. Shyla: throne room work hehe Will_GM: Nicole: Anything different you do before going to math class as usual? (Assuming you even are, of course.) Nicole doesn't. Will_GM: 'k Will_GM: The usual spot is reserved for you with the chairless desk in the front of the class near the door. Nicole nods. Will_GM: Bill is there early, as he often is. He is using a stapler to hang flyers on the bulletin area above the blackboards. Will_GM: He looks over. "Hi, Nicole." Nicole pulls out her notebook and pencils. "Hey, Bill. Why the flyers?" Will_GM: He hands you one. "Announcing a party at the House." Will_GM: The flyer is at http://earl.of.sandwich.net/In_Nomine/KBLFlyer.jpg Nicole looks at it. "Neat. Theme's appropriate for Halloween too." Shyla: nifty look'n Will_GM: "Yep. We're spending money like water on it, but since we got put on suspension we're not subject to the usual budget rules. The Thanksgiving feast and the Christmas party won't be much this year..." he grins. "But this one'll *slay* them." Will_GM: "You oughta come. I never see you outside this class." Ellis: Okay, gonna be gone for a while. Nicole smiles. "I'm a bit of a grind, and it gets hard to get around." Nicole: "Silly question, though. A ritual? Like what?" Will_GM: "Brothers in robes, chanting and stuff. We found this Latin thing in an old book in one of the bookstores around campus. The town ones, not the student bookstores. Pentagrams on the floor, symbolic sacrifice of wine, stuff like that." He eyes you sidelong. "Maybe we'll try summoning Bacchus and some drunk women. It's not like your typical frat party doesn't make a solid go at it anyway." *grin* Will_GM: "Or a ghost. A ghost would fit Halloween better." Nicole laughs. Will_GM: He digs in a pocket. "The party's open to the public -- coupla dollars beer money is all we ask -- but there's some stuff for brothers and invited guests only in the lower levels. You'll be able to roll in, no problem." He hands you an orange slip of paper with "Admit One" and his stamped signature on it with the KBL Logo. "It'll be fun." Nicole: "I might just." Will_GM: (Do you take the slip?) Nicole takes the slip from Bill. "We'll see. If there's a sudden exam, you know me." *smile* Will_GM: "Yeah." Will_GM: He takes his seat across the way; class begins. Will_GM: Well, there's that scene, and Ars isn't back yet. Urgh. Nicole: bleh. Nicole: Have UL try calling again? Will_GM: Sure. BA: Gimme a sec Shyla hopes he ok..he always leaves that door unlocked... except at night Shyla: atleast while I was there... BA: Well, phone's ringing Shyla: that is unusual of him.. BA: Nope. Nicole: Huh. Will_GM: Bleh. I want to get past this scene tonight. I don't usually do this, but... Nicole: but? Will_GM: Fearless' phone vibrates. Will_GM: He picks it up and engages in a hurried conversation, then hangs up. "Sorry guys, the day job calls. Contact of mine is onto something *hot*. I gotta go." Will_GM: (I'll make it up to Ars. This'll be worth something to Fearless.) Nicole: Okay. BA: 'k Will_GM: Jack nods. "Gotta make the money." Will_GM: Fearless trots off with a "Don't get caught..." BA: "The IRS hasn't caught up to me yet." ;) Shyla: hehe Will_GM: BA: Jack turns back to you. "Okay, now what?" BA: "Now, we do something illegal. I'll need some tools from my trunk." Will_GM: "I'll wait here." BA heads back to his car and selects his instruments. 1 pair leather work gloves, 2 straight head screwdrivers, 2 Phillips, 1 small vise clamp, and a roll of electrical tape. Will_GM: Check. (By the way, you mentioned last session you were here that you brought along Rumblestrip & Co.) BA: Yep BA gets back to the switchbox and starts disconnecting the power trunk BA: "Keep an eye out, Jack. This could turn ugly fast." Will_GM: That basically means disconnecting the power for the Society's section of the building, right? BA: Yep Will_GM: Jack nods. Will_GM: You manage to identify what needs to be done, and safely do it. As soon as you do so, the flickering light which you saw in that window shuts off, and several people cry out disappointedly inside that room. Will_GM: Jack, rather unnecessarily, points to the window involved. BA closes the box as quickly and quietly as possible, then gets himself and jack back to his car BA stashes his tools, then powers up Rumblestrip for a bit of recon Will_GM: On the way back to your car, you pass two men obviously coming around the building to check the fuse boxes. One is a Philly regular, a college student bundled up in several layers of wool and denim. The other is a short Asian man in long, thickly embroidered robes, keeping pace with the first's long legs easily. You, UL, recognize Swami Alashka ben Li from his numerous pictures on the website. BA: 'k BA leaves Rumblestrip hidden behind a mailbox or magazine/newspaper box, and drives down a couple blocks Will_GM: You proceed without incident down the short distance. BA parks and flicks on Rumblestrips audio-visual pickups. Will_GM: Rumblestrip picks up the sidewalk where you have left him. Will_GM: It. Whatever. ;^) Will_GM: Rumblestrip picks up the men returning back from around the building. A somewhat high male voice says, "...must have been those two we saw coming back around the building." Will_GM: A lower voice replies, "But why, Swami?" BA guides Rumblestrip toward the building, watching for the Swami Aziz Hadid Alska Skyhook Ayatolla and his buddy Will_GM: Two pair of footsteps advance, followed by two pairs of feet in Rumblestrip's vision, one berobed. The higher voice replies, "I'm sure I don't know. But we must keep the class here for a while. I fear what somebody may be trying to do." Will_GM: They enter the front door of the Society's quarters. Will_GM: The double doors swing for a moment behind them. The Swami continues, "I sense no great hostility in the air, yet..." and fades out toward the inside. BA: "Jack, after they get the power turned back on, we'll need to get mike taped to their window back there. A camera's too bulky and would be recognized. They'll probably be watching, but they seem pretty inept. They didn't even have a decent lock on their powerbox." BA: "I wonder if they're pirating power." BA gets Rumblestrip back over to the car Will_GM: "Looked like a normal power box to me, but I'm no expert. You got one of those mikes?" Will_GM: Rumblestrip starts trundling back toward the car. You see a couple more pairs of feet, one of which is followed by a "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT THING?" BA: "Ohshit!" BA hits Rumblestrip's 'gas' and has it race past his car and turn a corner a block down BA: . o O (Hope the buildings don't screw up the signal.) Will_GM: They don't. A couple of pedestrians seem to not even really bother to comment on an RC car madly dashing past their feet on a city street. BA looks for a place to hide Rumblestrip Will_GM: Sewer grate, pile of trashbags, alleyway... BA stears RS into the pile of trash Will_GM: A slight *fwmp* later and Rumblestrip is buried beneath trashbags. BA powers Rumblestrip down, then drives down to that street and retrieves his spy Will_GM: From your car, you see the college kid you saw earlier jogging after Rumblestrip. He runs right by you and down to the corner where Rumblestrip turned. BA drives the long way around Will_GM: He looks around for a bit, puzzled, then apparently gives up and walks back to the Society's place. Rumblestrip is where you left him when you get back there. BA: "Of all the things I could have been with my skills, I chose to be a technomancer." BA picks Rumblestrip out of the garbage and stick it in the truck BA: "We'll have to wait a couple days for these guys to chill out. They'll be looking over their shoulders too much for us to put in that mike tonight." Will_GM: "You know," says Jack, "if they're inside maybe we oughta go in. They must get people wanting to join, right? Except I guess they'd have made us... maybe." Will_GM: "Waiting sounds sensible, though." BA: "Yeah. Besides, I want to check up on this place. See what I can find on it's standing with the power company." Will_GM: "Yokay." BA: "If they ARE pirating, we've got 'em by the balls." Will_GM: That looks like that scene, then. BA: Will: Yeah Will_GM: Allright, gimme a couple of minutes and I'll see if I can flesh this last scene out far enough to play. Otherwise, we'll have to wait for Ars and/or Ellis. BA: 'k Shyla: notta prob Will_GM: Actually... yeah, that sounds good. Will_GM: Shyla! Will_GM: You're on. Shyla: oh? Shyla: hehe Will_GM: As you may recall, you and Spitz had been assigned to patrol the area usually assigned to the Seraph who had been referred to as Walter Munroe. At this point, it's -- guess what -- just after 10pm, about a week or so before Hallowe'en, in a commercial district in northwest Philly. :^) Shyla: hehe Will_GM: (Also please recall that with your new stats you're not supernaturally aware anymore, just befriended and helping out Spitz.) Shyla: *nod* noda prob Will_GM: Spitz alerts, growls a little and beckons you. He taps a paw -- you realize a sign he has taught you. It means "I detect that kind of metaphysical disturbance we were talking about." Shyla *squats* down whispering "Where?" Shyla looks like she's petting him Will_GM: He points his head toward a storefront with a darkened awning, labeled "True Connectedness." Shyla gets back up kind'a ambling toward said mention place Will_GM: Spitz follows at your pace, sniffing about. Shyla has prowl if need to use it Will_GM: Nah, ambling's not prowling. Will_GM: UL: You and Jack notice a woman with a dog coming up to the Society's storefront. Shyla: *nod* trying to look like juz out for a walk BA sticks around to watch this Will_GM: The dog pauses, and appears to be searching for something. BA: "Jack, that look like normal dog behavior to you?" Will_GM: Shyla: Spitz puts a paw on the building about halfway between the front doors and the exit doors, signaling that it seems to have come from about there. Will_GM: BA: "Looks like a working dog. Drug dog, maybe even." Shyla *nods* Will_GM: "You think the police are after them? Or... us?" Shyla: <-5'10 Female Cherokee Indian, weighs 155lbs, has long flowing black hair, she has a single braid with a feather at the end, has a medicine pouch around her neck as well as a necklace of bear claws. She has black eyes and wears no makeup. She wearing dark clothing. BA: "Yeah, but since when do drug dogs not need to sniff around first?" Shyla moves up quietly checking out the door Will_GM: The front door, or the emergency exit? Shyla: emergency BA: "Stay with the car and watch in case there's trouble." *gets out and casually ambles over to the building BA: * Shyla atleast trying to be quiet this time Will_GM: Shyla: It's locked safely, as most are. Shyla: *nod* able to look inside any where? Shyla: window near by? Will_GM: BA: "Right." Will_GM: Shyla: There is a whole bank of windows in fact, but they are curtained over. The front doors are glss, however, and view a reception area. Shyla attempts to listen; gets close to the window Shyla: one of the closer curtained over window to the exit that is BA gets close enough to the building to be able to watch Shyla, trying to position himself so he's not readily noticeable Will_GM: Shyla: You pick up a conversation at normal volume, inside what from the sound of it is a large room. The curtain muffles it a bit, but apparently people are talking about a deliberate power outage to their store. One voice, slightly higher than the others, is very calm and seems to be reassuring the others -- quite effectively, too. Shyla glances over at Spitz, *pointing* at the window raising eyebrows as if questioning 'in here?' Will_GM: Spitz nods. Shyla continues to listen atleast try Will_GM: BA: You can in fact make out the dog nodding, which as you've pointed out isn't a normal dog motion. Will_GM: Shyla: you also notice a man about your age down the way, apparently trying to hide just around the corner of the building and watch you. BA: So I'm not a ninja or superspy :) Shyla *moves* her eyes toward the guy's location to Spitz Shyla: *raises* eyebrows Will_GM: Shyla: Spitz looks up at you, then looks back down and backs away from the building. Will_GM: Lickety-split, Spitz takes off toward BA. Shyla continues to listen at the window 'pretending' to have not noticed the guy Will_GM: BA: It's a little eerie: most dogs would be barking as they run toward you. This one's deadly quiet. BA waits for the dog to get close enough. If it seems hostile, he'll kick it in the chops BA: . o O (That is NOT normal.) Shyla observes the guy as she listens to the window Shyla: (that is observes BA) BA: What is Spitz? A terrier, bulldog, spitz? Will_GM: A Spitz. BA: 'k Will_GM: BA: Spitz comes up to you and slows as he gets within arm's reach. Shyla watches closely in case Spitz needs assistance BA watches the dog. "If you talk, I am going to shoot something." Will_GM: Shyla: As you continue to listen at the window, the conversation lulls. People seem to be getting calm, almost drowsy, as the Swami goes on. Will_GM: BA: The dog gives you a piercing look. For some odd reason, your mind flashes back to the moment you decided to help Fearless investigate this place. Will_GM: Spitz sits on his haunches, turns his head toward Shyla, and barks once, peremptorily. BA: "OK, if you have anything to do with 'angels' or a certain stoneyard, yip once." Shyla will step back quielty from the window, look at BA, puts her finger to her mouth in the traditional 'shhh' symbol once he sees her approaching BA decides it's a bust and walks over to the chick Will_GM: BA: The dog looks around, then says(enunciating the word), "Yip." BA 's head snaps back around to look at the dog. "OK, now I am going to shoot something. Not now, later." Shyla *chuckles* quietly as she steps up to BA Shyla looks over at Spitz, "He's clear then?" BA: "You have an interest in these guys, too?" Will_GM: Spitz looks between you two, yawns ostentatiously, and lays down on the sidewalk for an apparent nap. BA: "And what's with the mutt?" *** Signoff: Shyla (Ping timeout) Nicole: Aargh. Edward: Show of hands, who didn't see that one coming? Will_GM: Seconded. BA: *handwave* Will_GM: I give up. Kronos is taking an interest in us tonight, and discretion is the better part of valor. ;^) Will_GM: ----------------- Session End ------------------