The War in Ishval 3: Help, and Interviews.
April 14th, 1901 Ishval.
The Letter Came first, from Central, on the last supply train that was carrying civilians out of the city… all Amestrians… not a single Ishvallan being evacuated.
Any that tried to flee were escorted to an internment camp that had been hastily set up by the Hospital, where the Garrison was handing out medical supplies, but also relocating Ishvalen civilians…
For their protection.
You didn't know what was really going on… but that didn't matter. You just hoped you could get some assistance… there was so much to cover.
-[X]Request Help (Back Home): You need more manpower to cover this entire thing… your just one man… Maybe you can send a Telegram to Uncle, maybe he can send Marshel down here to help. Rolled:
1D100 => 29
"Alfred, Sorry the Letter couldn't get here faster, but we didn't have time to bribe another official for a faster train.
Marshel cannot be sent to the east to assist you, we have troubles here at home. Central is locking down on all reporters going towards Ishval and I cannot get him past the checkpoints. They are shutting down any nonofficial trains going through the Area, and diverting them North. Ishvallan fights have been hijacking and bombing the rail lines going in and out of Ishval, trying to starve out the Garrison there.
Recommend you stock up on any supplies you can make yourself with Alchemy, and get food ready, something that can last a long time. Canned goods or salted meat… and for the Love of God, don't play humanitarian there, I need you safe, not dead.
We can possibly move by Car, but that may take weeks to arrange… There is something big going on in Central, new Leadership in the Government… Don't know if it's a new election being called or a General taking command.
But I need Marshel and Sarah here. And Jon's a Cripple...
The only one I can Spare is Johan. I know you hate him but he is the only one who can get through the checkpoints by care and reach you without destroying the Paper's finances and getting any of us killed.
He'll be there as soon as he can be. He'll come in by Truck with extra supplies and bribe money.
And for the love of the Truth… Stay Safe kid.
Arthur."
Shit. Something really big must be going on if he needs Marshel and Sarah…
This is not going to be fun.
Reward: Johan Liebert Is coming your Way in (2) Turns.
His Bonuses to you are:
The Ex-Officer: The Man still has many friends in the military, both active and retired… powerful ones too. He can open doors...provided his friends still… Accept him. (+20 to investigation rolls involving military activities. Interviews no longer carry malice. +25 to bribing officials. Negates Several Negative Maluses against you. Has a chance to stop Arrests from occurring based on his presence.)
Unliked: He does not like you… nor respect you. His reasons why are a mystery to you. (There is a roll at the end of every turn to decide if he leaves you. To prevent that, you must spend time with him, and thaw your relation.)
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April 20th, 1901. Command post, First Ishval Hospital.
-[X]Bribe Officials: You want to get more pertinent access into the Military Camp, find out Strategy, resources… what the government is wishing to do. (Increase Interview, Research, and Investigation rolls into certain events) Costs 20,000 Cene. Rolled:
1D100 => 62+20-5(Beginning Stages of Something Sinsiter)=77
You slide the request over to enter the hospital. Written in the most official hand you had as the officer looked at you. The young Lieutenant wished he was anywhere but there.
He was hot, a blonde-haired pretty boy who must have been from money, old money in particular, and freshly graduated… wishing he was assigned to a quieter post.
He looked at the letter and snarled. "Oh give me a fucking break kid, fuck off."
This is Amestris' Finnest and newest Generation of military men? It appears they have lowered standards.
You then showed the 20,00 Cene. You then pointed to the Letter and frowned.
"Oh thank-" You pulled back the money, which caused him to scream "The hell is wrong with you?"
Nothing is Free mate… Briggs would have shown you that if you were unfortunate enough to get stationed there. If Armstrong didn't murder you first.
You pointed to the letter.
Now, let me in.
He read the letter again. "Yeah, this is a military command post, you can't just-"
You showed the money again… making sure to let him know if he wanted it.. .he'd get the money.
"Fine." He took the cash, "Go… I'll vouch for you kid."
Reward: You have successfully bribed your way into the Command post. Your Actions in investigating Around Ishval gain a +20 to the next turn, and +15 for this turn.
Your arrest roll is lowered by 30 when they begin the next turn. This lasts for two turns.
-[X]Photo's for the Future (The Aftermath of the First Week): You need to get pictures… of everything, you can set your lens on. Hopefully, it won't lead to your arrest. Rolled:
1D100 => 94
-[X]Interview (The Victims): There are over six hundred people with gunshot wounds in the hospital right now… you need to know what their Story Is. Rolled:
1D100 => 3-15 (Mute)+15=3
What you saw in the hospital horrified you. There were roving death Squads of soldiers going into Hospital rooms, while Families watched…
You walked through the Hospital, careful to avoid the patrols of men walking through the halls.
Some laughed at the slaughter… some were visibly weeping as they did their orders.
Those that survived the initial riots, recovering from their gunshots were dragged out of their beds, limping, or even carried by medics… away from their families who were taking care of them, or waiting for them to wake up.
Some of the Families tried to fight back… but to no avail. They were pushed back, a few men screamed. "Not them, they are not guilty yet! General Fessler claimed that Every rioter is guilty and to be relocated."
Were then brought out to the back wall, where there was… a scientist waiting. A man with a golden tooth… He was commanding them… along with an Alchemist who was overseeing it, commanding the trucks that we're loading the rioters… A State Alchemist that you didn't recognize. A Woman with… Dead eyes. An old woman or was she young?
You didn't know.
But State Alchemists weren't activated? It was illegal for them to be here…
Something was going on.
And you were in the damn dark!
You got out… Barely.
You almost got caught.
But you had proof of something… Something Damming.
Reward: You have photographic evidence of Mass prisoner movements… and sentencing without trials. General Fessler is giving the orders.
But there are unknowns that you do not know anything about.
Especially the Woman Alchemist… there wasn't a female State Alchemist in Easter Command?
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April 20th, 1901, Ishval. Enlisted Barracks.
[X]Interview (The Shooter): Corporal Willie Hitchman… the Fateful shooter of the child. Three Years served, no commendations… and currently in Military custody. You need to interview the man. Rolled:
1D100 => 92-15+15(Bribes)=92
The Following format change is meant for the Interview:
A.A: Corporal, my Name is Alfred Alitree, I'm just going to be asking about your whereabouts on the Day of March 29th, 1901, the day of the Shooting.
W.H: I was at my duty Post, and the Train Station, guarding a train full of ammunition, it was the month's resupply after a small criminal raid took out one of our machinegun positions. Just the usual vandals and sepretist fighters.
A.A: Eyewitnesses Claimed that they saw you on Main and Business Street for almost an hour before the incident, can you explain that?
W.H: I was never at that intersection. I was at the Train Station. I know that I was.
A.A: So you're claiming that someone who looked like you shot that child?
W.H: I don't know maybe… Everyone says it's me, but I know that's impossible.
A.A: Is there anyone that you can think of that looks like you?
W.H: No… Except for my twin brother, but he's been missing for over five years. He worked in the Sewers in central… a collapse happened during an Alchemy accident at one of the laboratories, and they never found his body.
W.H: I didn't kill that girl. Someone is setting me up… The Ishvalans are good people...I would hurt anyone if they weren't a threat, especially a child.
A.A: (Pause) I believe you.
Reward: You have interviewed the Shooter. He claims he was at his duty post during the time of the shooting, but everyone, including his unit, belive he left the post and shot that child.
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April 29th, 1901.
You looked at your corkboard… notes, places, people…
They didn't line up… at all.
A Child was wandering around in the street, a soldier came up and blew her brains out… that same soldier who was at the train station for hours before, at his post...
Than there are the disappearances? Who was that man with a golden tooth… and that Woman? She was an Alchemist, you could tell that a mile away… but she was a State Alchemist? Maybe…?
You were Grasping at Straws… Too many unanswered questions.
Not enough answers.
You have 6 Actions.
The News Actions:
[]investigate (The Unit): Willie says he was at his duty post… what about his unit? Do their stories match up?
[]investigate (The Orders): You need to find out who's giving the Orders around here… It certainly wasn't Fessler… But then again, Fessler hated Ishvallans'... with a fiery passion
[]Investigate: (The Disappearances): You need to find out where those trucks are going… if they are going anywhere for that matter?
[]Investigate (The Child's Family): Something doesn't feel right about this. A kid being murdered in the middle of the street while Playing… There must be something more? The Family is still alive… you think.
[]Reaserch (Anti-Amestris Protests): There were demonstrations prior to the incident… but what really happened… there was almost no press coverage of it.
[]Write: You need to write a story and sent it to the Paper… The more you know, the Better. (You must line tail what you want to write about. The More thorough and well-written, and using the information you gain from investigation/research/interviews, the better. Writing about anything without doing the research may hurt the Papers Popularity, and ruin your fellow staff members relationships)
Personal Actions:
Current Money: 230,000 Cene.
[]Humanitarian Aid (A Water Crisis): The Military is threatening to cut off the Water Supply to the city, attempt to make the more militant rioters surrender into internment. You need to get some water for the people here. (Note: If you take too many Humanitarian Actions, The Arrest Roll will get a Bonus)
[]Humanitarian Aid (Smuggling Supplies): You need to help these people… their stores and pantries are going to run out… maybe you can get some rations from the barracks… help them survive what is coming? Cost 30,000 Cene
[]Pragmatic Choices: Gather Supplies: They're blockading the city… you need to get a supply stockpile and fast… don't need to Stave yet… not now. But these people… they need help. Cost 10,000 Cene. (May make you an enemy to the People of Ishval and they will not help you.)
[]The Alchemy Preparation: You need to prepare this hotel for a raid, make sure that no one but the Staff and yourself gets your notes. Don't want to go to jail for spilling state secrets.
[]Train: Your hand to hand skills are getting Sloppy… you need to practice more… the work at the desk is making you sloppy…
[]Remember the Gate: What did Truth Say to you when he took your voice? You need to Remember.
[]Messages from Home: You need to see if you have anything from home… maybe from Uncle, Sarah or Marshel?
AN: Enjoy and please vote in plan format.
And Moratoriumn for 2 hours.