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Strings Chart NPC List Another day in Sirocco, same as the last. Depending on where you wake up, the city reeks of damp, or if you’re unlucky, sewage from the backed-up system. Rats and seagulls infest the buildings, particularly those near the beachfront, scavenging for any scraps they can find, while in the distant Dry Quarter, the indistinct sound of a PA announcement heralds that there’ll be a ration run coming soon - medicine and the like. Of perhaps more pressing concern, in every flooded neighbourhood there is new graffiti. Normally this wouldn’t be a concern - all the gangs mark their ever-shifting territory with crude little spray-painted signs and slogans like RUSHER TERRITORY - STAY OUT! But this new graffiti is… rather different. It reads ‘Anniversary coming up soon. Make everyone remember.’ and is signed with this weird symbol, like an upside down Y with an eye in the fork. Is this a new gang, or some creepy cult, and how the heck did they spread this graffiti over such a wide area overnight? Aside from that, business as usual in this decaying city. Everyone: How do you react to this new, ominous graffiti-message? Grace: You encountered some trouble, last night. Some unpleasant encounter that escalated into violence. What happened? There’s something you had to get from Moe, and he asked a favour in return, in lieu of money. What was it? Seth: Uncle Silas isn’t happy with you, not at all. What’ve you done to piss old short-fangs off? Some vapid warm-blooded girl seems to be attracted to you, and does own some mostly-dry property in the Old Town. How do you handle her? Euphemia: The Lord gave you a vision last night, of something you must do. What was it? Speaking of which, Jeremy isn’t a true believer yet, but you know it would please the Lord if he were to become one. What have you done on that front so far? Cassie: So some lady got ahold of your pelt, and has asked you to find the source of a spring, and a woman with a blue dress. Have you started that? If not, why not? If yes, what have you done so far? That aside, how much does not having your pelt impact your day to day life in Sirocco? Eve: What’s the first order of business for your gang now that a ration drop is imminent? While most of the people likely to go pick things up will hoard it for themselves, there are always some who’ll give, or sell, to the various gangs of Sirocco, and anything you get is something the Rushers or Brickers do not, right? Bradley Thomas and his ‘family’ - mostly prepubescent orphans, have asked for sanctuary with your gang - for protection, that is, they have no intention of trying Lyssa. Have you accepted? Did you ask anything in return? Natalia: With the appearance of Seth, things have gotten more complicated. What’s the first step in dealing with this new complication? While your influence doesn’t extend far from the Parnassus, it is still a place of safety and luxury amidst Sirocco. Who has asked for shelter there, and did you allow it? AdjectiveNoun fucked around with this message at 19:18 on Sep 13, 2014 |
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Sep 12, 2014 18:03
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| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 04:52 |
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Grace: God is disappointed because you failed to trust in him, and His Plan for the world. By interfering, you may have made things better for some, but how many may suffer in the long term, trusting in a saviour that is not omnipotent, becoming lax and complacent? How many may stray from the path, if even one of His Angels ignores His will? Still, despite His disappointment, He wants what's best for you, and the people of this city, and so shows you an answer. The mark is of a cult, descended through the ages from one of the innumerable pagan faiths of the world, distilled into a modern, and malevolent context. It is one of many, just waiting for its chance to prey upon the weak. More importantly, the mark is a challenge, openly stating they plan to move soon, daring anyone to stop them. Now, what do you do? Euphemia: Pillars of salt, Firestorms, Rivers of Blood... Images of the Lord's wrath sweep through your mind, as swiftly and intensely as his desire for Justice to be meted out upon those that would profane this city. Or are those images of what they plan, in some cruel mockery of the Lord's justice? Regardless, the Lord's will is clear - they must be found, and made penitent. Now, what do you do? Casiguaya: Fish are always friendly, if a bit simple-minded. They're usually a delight to talk to, assuming you can talk to them, which surface-dwellers can't, and this school of anchovies is no different. They're exploring, and also kind of trapped - a fishing vessel just outside the city scared them in, and they can't find a way out! As for the spring, they did feel freshwater, bubbling through cracks in a sunken building, with rotting wooden models of fish and sharks and mermaids. That sounds familiar, you remember seeing a concert hall like that once, somewhere in the Beachfront... but it was occupied by a rather unfriendly group of squatters. Now, what do you do? Seth: There are plenty of places to have breakfast in Sirocco. Leah's sure to be offering something at the hotel, and there's places that offer cheap coffee and greasy food all around the city, but the best place to be is at the Atlantis Mall and its food court. Built on a raised section, the mall is dry, an island in the southern parts of Downtown, and is a semi-official meeting place for those who, for whatever reason, don't like to congregate in the government-administrated parts of town. When news involving Sirocco is discovered, it inevitably finds its way here. Plus, even a flood hasn't stopped the KFC outlet here from procuring its stock of processed and deep-fried chicken. The owner of this KFC joint, Jamie, is quite friendly with his repeat customer, and breakfast is procured easily enough. Now what do you do? Natalia: Reactions to your hints are mixed - some angry, some scared, some who are even indifferent, and just assume it's nothing major. It's guaranteed that word will spread, however, and quickly - everyone who's everyone likes to keep on top of every new development in this city. Now what do you do? Eve: There's already trouble at breakfast - Bart hazing Bradley. He might be good at making deals, but Bart's got a cruel streak a mile wide, and has already found a target outside of the established hierarchy. It's too far away to make out what exactly he's saying, but from the crooked grin he's wearing, and the beat-down expression on Bradley's face, it's nothing good. What do you do?
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Sep 13, 2014 20:23
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Cassie + Grace: The 'Pearl Concert Hall' is easy enough to find, and the evidence of habitation is immediately recognizable, from the sounds within. Sounds like an argument has already riled these folks up! What do you do?
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Sep 14, 2014 05:04
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Grace and Cassie: As you patiently wait, the argument explodes into violence. By sheer bad luck, when one of the fighters inside throws a brick, it misses its target, smashes through a window, and collides with the side of Grace's head. Take 1 Harm AdjectiveNoun fucked around with this message at 17:24 on Sep 14, 2014 |
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Sep 14, 2014 15:57
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Seth: The underpaid and overworked civil servant in charge of this station is taken in easily enough by your lie, and you get just about anything you ask for. While you wait for it all to be tallied, you hear an interesting rumour, about that rich lady... what's her name, Natalie? She seems to know something about this silly graffiti that's getting so many warm-bloods worked up. Cassie: Take the condition 'Shaken', it's /your/ fault the girl you have a crush on got hurt!
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Sep 14, 2014 17:08
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Grace+Cassie: There doesn't appear to be anyone dressed like that in the building, from what you can see in the mirror, but you can see a couple of men and woman arguing, one of the men nursing a bloody, broken nose, and one of the women holding another brick - a pile of them lying behind her. She's in tears, screaming about how she trusted them, and then they got 'that woman in the basement' and they're keeping secrets and blah blah blah it's rather muddled and emotional. Euphemia: "Of course, dear, of course..." She makes a few quick notes on some form on her clipboard, then hands it over with a pen. "Just put down your name and residence, so we can come check up on you, okay?" She wants your address, which may lead to unwelcome visitors at the church in the future. Eve: Bradley looks about ready to say something, but Bart cuts him off. "No problems, no." Bart smiles nervously. "Just showing the new guy the ropes, making sure he meets your standards, y'know..." He does this often, testing how far he can go without going too far. Seth: Most of the people here are from Downtown, and know of Natalie, but not where she lives, beyond 'some fancy place in the Beachfront'. But not far away, collecting supplies for herself, you can see that crazy lady from the church, the one who thinks 'God' speaks to her. She has a finger on the pulse of most strange things happening in this city - you wouldn't be surprised if she had something to do with this cultish graffiti, too.
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Sep 16, 2014 04:44
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Grace+Cassie: The basement is still partially flooded - not by much, it comes to just below the ankle, and to Cassie it feels... off. It doesn't even have a trace of salt, and it's... clean, not like other contaminated floodwater. There's a gentle flow to it, a miniature current from further in, from a gloomy, dark room - the only thing immediately visible inside from your current position is a washing machine. There is the sound of humming coming from that room - human humming, that is. Above you, you can still hear the argument raging on, and something smash. What are the chances one of them might come down here? Eve: Lose a string on Bart Bart opens his mouth to protest, then shuts it. "...Sure thing, Eve - I'll just go get to work, then." He's not happy, but knows his place. Getting up from the table, Bart heads off to do something away from the danger of pissing off his boss. Bradley, on the other hand, is quietly but obviously relieved. "Thanks for that. Is he always like that? Amy and Will were starting to notice, and... well, they've been having a good morning just putting together all the stuff they've been reading in cookbooks the past couple of weeks, so thanks for not letting him ruin it."
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Sep 20, 2014 04:06
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Eve: "Hah, yeah..." He... doesn't seem to know quite how to respond to being 'just along for the ride' - or what the /safe/ response would be. "Sure, gotta pull our weight, and reward you for taking us in like you did. I can get about six - seven including me, who're up for hauling stuff. Is it usually not safe?" Grace+Cassie: The room the humming's coming from used to be a laundry room, but hasn't been used since - well, the marks on the walls show where the floodwater was at its highest, and every machine down here was submerged and broken back then. Now, aside from dead machines, the only occupant of this room is a bespectacled woman in a blue dress, sat with her back to a wall, still humming. She notices you, then returns her attention to the wall opposite to the one she's leaning against. Seth+Euphemia: The Lord's touch is swift to come, and tinged with urgency: A succession of bloody, burning animal corpses - rams and calves, lambs and bulls, offered in sacrifice; A hall of penitent worshippers, wailing in supplication; A marching army, out to spread the faith by the sword As quickly as they come, the visions fade, but there's no coherency to them. What do you think they mean?
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Sep 26, 2014 04:19
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Cassie + Grace: She looks back up, absentmindedly. "Oh no, they can't hurt me. But I can't leave, either. Not without getting sick. The water here is all wrong, and my spring is still blocked." Eve: He's quiet for a bit after that question, pondering what to say. "Well... it's complicated. If you don't mind, I'd rather not talk about it. Just focus on the short-term stuff for now, you know?" He's definitely got something in mind, that's for sure.
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Sep 30, 2014 06:28
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| # ¿ Apr 28, 2024 04:52 |
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Grace+Cassie: "My name is Joan," she says calmly. "And this is not an ordinary spring. It is mine, it is me. I cannot exist without it. Anat claimed it made me a 'nymph'. Regardless of name, the fact is that until my spring is unblocked, I am limited." There is more ruckus from upstairs, and from the creaking of the floorboards, someone is heading towards the basement staircase! What do you do? Seth+Euphemia: It's always easy to find gangs that think they control an area - they're never shy about making themselves known, and letting everyone know they're 'in charge'. The gang Euphemia was told about currently make their home in an abandoned library. There's one of them sitting on the steps, keeping watch, the others must be inside. What do you do? I'll add prompts for Eve and Natalia tomorrow but I'm finding it difficult to come up with good ones, and in the meantime this game needs a bit of a kickstart. >___>
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Oct 14, 2014 03:55
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