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Not Quite Lovecraft

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    • "The most important thing I can teach you is that everything has a price, and the only question is how you'll choose to pay it. The next is that there are far more options out there than you can imagine. I have only encountered a few, but I can tell you of them to help you look for yourself."

    You lead the cultists to a restaurant and booked a private room. They were uncomfortable in the upscale place, but it granted you the privacy you needed. You told them that there are gods they can contact, telling them of Isis and Pachamama. You told them of entities larger than that, of Yog-Soggoth on the train with the bending of time and space, and of the Yellow King that bled madness. You told them of learning to harness power in dreams and painting, and the power you had found in the dead. You told them of knowing a priest that could use his faith and talismans of his church to banish corruption, and of your dear friend who wrote poetry. You told them of dedicating yourself to a higher power, and how it altered the person who did it. You told them of the Deep Ones, and the trades that could be done, and the children of forbidden knowledge.

    The men asked how they could gain power. They weren't interested in a slow and steady route. They wanted something solid that they could grasp and use. Unfortunately that was much trickier for you to offer to them.

    [ ]Introduce to Emily
    [ ]Suggest beginning worship of Isis
    [ ]Open trades with the Deep Ones
    [ ]Write-in

    You felt tired after dealing with the cultists. At least you had given them a way to start forward, and enough knowledge to know what to look at when protecting themselves. Hopefully it would be enough.

    [ ]Study what you took from the cultists' lair
    [ ]Meet up with Jackson to talk about next steps
    [ ]Contact the detective team to investigate the blood paintings
    [ ]Write-in
     
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    • [X]Suggest beginning worship of Isis

    Trading with the deep ones requires resources they don't have, I expect. Emily is too strange for human minions, I think.

    [X]Study what you took from the cultists' lair

    This, then Jackson, I think. Not enough is known yet to make a conversation worthwhile.
     
    [X]Suggest beginning worship of Isis
    [X]Study what you took from the cultists' lair
     
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    Bloody Tongue Artifacts
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    • You directed them towards Isis, speaking of her position as a mother goddess and holder of secrets. There would be healing available, and knowledge if they asked in the right way. The cultists considered it before turning and heading back. Perhaps those secrets would be enough to help them in the world.

    You turned your attention away from the former cultists to the various items that you had absconded with. You had the time to truly study what you had taken now, and you planned to do so thoroughly. The books were set aside for now, as it would take time to read through them. The rest you could spend more time on to unravel.

    You started with the mask bearing the tongue on it. Careful examination revealed that the tongue was in fact once that of a human, before something was used to stretch and distort it into a band around the mask. It wasn't anything normal either. While a human tongue could be long, they didn't stretch that far, but this one did. It was disquieting to realize the human tongue had likely been a symbol of rank within the cult.

    The feathered robe itself that you had sealed the items within to carry didn't bear any magic, simply being brightly colorful in its mix of feathers. You didn't know what birds donated the feathers, likely african ones, but it wasn't anything extraordinary. The lion claws affixed on gauntlets however were enchanted to grant a sample of the lion's power and make the claws sharp blades to swipe and draw blood with. It was similar to the claws you could draw on from Nemo, simply pulling on a lion instead of the species Nemo was. It was also contained, so one wouldn't have to bind with the lion to use it.

    Studying the copper bowl unfortunately didn't get you anywhere. You could tell it wasn't normal copper, but without being able to see the runes marking it you could not tell more. The metal headband was the same. At least the staff was much easier once you studied it. It held sky magic within it, and would help the wielder channel magic more easily and wield it. It was a tool for casting, and a useful one.

    The lockbox that ended up being taken along with everything else had a disturbing collection of personal items that all belonged to different people. Likely the human sacrifices. You gingerly set that aside and tried not to think too much about the small bracelet, or the neatly folded tie inside.

    You looked at the four headed mask last. You took your time trying to sense what specifically was there. Four powerful gods had touched this. Not gods like Isis, gods like Emily's. There was a sense of cold and void, and another imprint that interestingly carried a weight of age and the hunt. Yet another presence felt wild and invigorating, endless growth reaching out. The last one you knew, Yog-Soggoth. Why the four deities were all on the same mask was a mystery, but you suspected you could use it to contact them.

    [ ]Ask Emily about the copper bowl and headband
    [ ]Try using the staff
    [ ]Try using the claws
    [ ]Attempt to contact the gods from the four head mask
    [ ]Attempt to contact one of the gods from the four head mask
    [ ]Turn the lockbox over to the police and explain where you found it
    [ ]Contact the detective team to investigate the bloody paintings
    [ ]Talk to Jackson
    [ ]Write-in
     
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    • Plenty of options here

    I'm leaning towards either asking Emily about the copper bowl and trying the staff, or talking to Jackson and trying the claws. I think gifting Jackson the claws could potentially be very smart. Also, we're not as great at acting human as we used to be. I'd like to talk over with Jackson about getting the lockbox to the police. I pointedly don't like us directly going to the police with it. Our baseline story is "Yeah, we broke into the place and burned it down, but look at this crime stuff we discovered. Totally worth it." Also, if they ask us about the guy who lived there, well, awkward.

    [x]Try using the claws
    [x]Talk to Jackson
    -[x]If the claws are safe, offer them to Jackson
    -[x]Get his advice on passing the lockbox to the police
     
    I think it's probably better to destroy the lockbox and its contents, but I guess we could also hand it over to the cops discretely and make it their problem.

    [X]Try using the claws
    [X]Talk to Jackson
    -[X]If the claws are safe, offer them to Jackson
    -[X]Get his advice on passing the lockbox to the police
     
    Police Interrogation
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    • You slipped the claws onto your hand and tried swiping out with them. It didn't feel quite right, but you knew that was because it clashed with Nemo's nature and not the fault of the gauntlets themselves. They actually molded nicely. You wore them for a few hours to see if they would cause anything to happen, but it seemed they were as well designed as they first appeared. They served, they did not alter.

    You were more than happy when you returned to see Jackson in the hospital to offer him the gauntlets. He joked about how you seemed determined to bury him in dangerous gifts with the guards you'd hired and now the weapons, but he was smiling as he accepted them and set them to the side. You explained how they drew on a lion's strength and were altered to be sharp enough to slice through people so he would know what he was getting into. They weren't decorative.

    "I found a lockbox containing, well, I think remains of the cult's victims," you told Jackson.

    "Have you documented them?" Jackson asked immediately.

    "What? Why would I do that?"

    "Ah, that would be more of a me thing wouldn't it. I'm used to hunting down groups that are, well, rather meticulous at covering up evidence. I need copies for my books as well. This last venture may have landed me here, but I still had all that evidence of who was hunting me, didn't I?" Jackson said.

    "I see." You looked at the lockbox. "I was thinking about possibly turning it in to the police."

    "You should definitely record the contents first. You'll never see them again once that happens, and you never know when things like that may turn in useful."

    You have no clue how to go about documenting what's in the lockbox. Jackson talks you through writing down detailed descriptions of each piece and how you found them, along with a single photo of the lockbox and its contents in its entirety. Then you head down to the police station and hand it over, informing the police that you found them while doing an investigation of your own around the JuJu House. The police station immediately erupts into an uproar, and you learn that you just handed over the evidence for a spree of kills that you hadn't known the police had been attempting to solve. Furthermore, they had thought they had the suspect arrested, and he was currently sitting on deathrow.

    You were seated in an interrogation room, and a police officer sat across from you with a heavy scowl. "Captain Walter Robson, head of the case you just broke in on. Did you set the JuJu House on fire?"

    "What?"

    "The JuJu House, did you set it on fire?"

    "It's on fire?"

    "Don't play games with me," the officer growled. "You're telling me you just happened to find this the night the place that might be a crime scene is burned down?"

    [ ]Protest knowing nothing
    [ ]Claim you're being sabotaged
    [ ]Ask for a lawyer
    [ ]Write-in
     
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    • For some reason I kinda want him to ask what his connection to the Juju house cause its either

    1. They are a member
    2. They know someone that is a member
    3. They are a victim/ being blackmailed/ being coerced by a member
    4. They know one of the victims
     
    Good call on getting Jackson's advice.
    That however was predictable. I wonder who they arrested though.

    Our best bet is to provide a reasonable explanation to deflect suspicion. Clarify that we were not the the one who retrieved the box, but rather that it was given to us by a stranger.
    No we don't know what they looked like, they contacted us via a public phone, told us about it and directed us to where they hid the box.

    Yes it's a bit of a story to spin. But Oliver has the charisma to sell it. "Do I look like the sort of person who goes around burning down buildings?" Play off their biases.
     
    Yep.
    I don't recall a time in this quest when going to the authorities mid-plot wasn't a hassle. We always look suspicious or something. Still, saving a guy from death is worth it, in the short term. Hopefully more people in total won't die due to the delay.

    I'm leaning towards claiming sabotage. We find the lockbox and the culprits know it, so the actual culprits burn the house down to eliminate evidence as the police are likely to immediately raid it as a result of getting said lockbox.

    Getting a lawyer will almost certainly work, but it'll take the longest. In the end, the police have no evidence on us but they can drag things out and delay us.

    Protesting we know nothing sounds dumb, since we claimed to be doing an investigation. I'm expecting that it's a roll of the dice, and so it could turn out well or badly.

    [x]Claim you're being sabotaged
    -[x]Argue that finding the box must have been noticed, and the culprits are covering their tracks.
     
    [X]Claim you're being sabotaged
    -[X]Argue that finding the box must have been noticed, and the culprits are covering their tracks.
    -[X] Claim that you were directed to the box by an anonymous tip

    adding in JayTar's suggestion
     
    In retrospect turning the box in to the police was a bad idea too, because if the police succeed that means they find our new students. Though I guess Jackson didn't know that.

    Modifying it a little:
    [X] Plan: Talk Fast
    -[X] Claim that you were directed to the box by an anonymous tip
    -[X] Play off their biases and your charisma. You are a high class individual, do you look like the sort of person who would go around burning down buildings? Why would a suspicious person walk right into a police station?
    -[X] Appeal to their better natures. This is evidence for their case. You are obviously trying to help. There is no need to start throwing around accusations.
    -[X] Once the situation is resolved, try to figure out what the police's perspective/progress on various investigations related to the cult is.
     
    Vote closed
  • Voting
    • Scheduled vote count started by Blacksheep on Jul 31, 2024 at 9:28 PM, finished with 6 posts and 3 votes.
    • [x]Claim you're being sabotaged
      -[x]Argue that finding the box must have been noticed, and the culprits are covering their tracks.
      [x]Claim you're being sabotaged
      -[x]Argue that finding the box must have been noticed, and the culprits are covering their tracks.
      -[X] Claim that you were directed to the box by an anonymous tip
      [X] Plan: Talk Fast
      -[X] Claim that you were directed to the box by an anonymous tip
      -[X] Play off their biases and your charisma. You are a high class individual, do you look like the sort of person who would go around burning down buildings? Why would a suspicious person walk right into a police station?
      -[X] Appeal to their better natures. This is evidence for their case. You are obviously trying to help. There is no need to start throwing around accusations.
      -[X] Once the situation is resolved, try to figure out what the police's perspective/progress on various investigations related to the cult is.
    Click to expand...
     
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    • Lock Up
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    • Charisma Roll: DC: 15
    Roll: 5(+8) = 13

    "That can't be the case," you protested. "It was fine when I left! I'm-I'm being framed!"

    The police officer leaned back with a smug grin on his face. "Awful convenient for you, isn't it?"

    "I would say not, considering it has me here in the police station."

    "And I'm sure you're going to claim that you found this by fluke."

    "I told you, I was doing my own investigation around the JuJu House."

    "Yeah? For what?" the officer asked.

    "My friend almost got murdered!"

    "That's Jackson Elias, right? Writes about cults?" Captain Robson shook his head. "No, it's clear what happened. You got too invested in one of your friend's books, spooked and thought that a place for art was a cult spot. You burned it down in a panic, and came up with the thought of this 'evidence' to cover your tracks."

    "It's real evidence, you just need to look into it."

    "We'll see." The captain waved for you to be taken down to the cells. You were shocked as you were placed in one. You were sure that he was going to believe you. Instead he had seemed determined to ignore most of what you had to offer. He was more invested in keeping things clean than investigating what you were saying. It didn't help that you looked so suspicious. Your reputation could help, but here it had been turned on you and framed as if you had snapped from a frail sanity. It didn't help that you were in fact guilty, even if you knew they wouldn't be able to prove you were.

    You spent the night in the cell, uncomfortable and wondering if it was worthwhile to break yourself out. You could still bring in a lawyer for yourself, that would be helpful. Unexpectedly, when a guard came to get you the next day it wasn't for another interrogation by the police. Instead a lady reporter was brought in. She wore a professional suit, and had her hair neatly curled and pinned up. She looked you up and down briskly. "Reporter Rebecca Shosenburg, junior crime reporter for the New York Times. An arson like the one at JuJu House doesn't happen every day. I want to know what your motive is." She pulled out a pen and notepad.

    [ ]Try to convince her of your innocence
    [ ]Stay silent
    [ ]Tell her of the evidence you found and being framed
    [ ]Write-in
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Darn on the roll.

    Well, if we can convince her then she can force the police to follow up on the evidence. The idea that the evidence is fake is blatantly and easily disprovable. So that could be used to force our release. (The captain is honestly looking a little suspicious with how tortured his logic is. Might just be mundane motivated thinking though.)
    If we fail however then an unfavorable article could be quite damaging to our reputation.

    Plus there is the risk of publicity. Since we are trying to move against the cult, having our name be publicized in relation to an action against them puts us at risk. Though this is a risk if we speak or not.

    A lawyer should be able to get us out on bail at least. That can be a plan B.

    If she is any good at interviewing people she should be trying to do the exact same thing. Build rapport that is. So we can take advantage of the same process to try to favorably incline her to us. Then if she seems trustworthy we can present our case. That we are innocent, and the police chief is intentionally ignoring evidence to press the case against us. What scandal!

    If she seems especially trustworthy we could even tell her about the documentation we did which should quite conclusively prove our point. Imagine that in the morning paper. Though it might be better to do that through a lawyer instead (To reduce the risk to Jackson and make sure copies are made).

    [X] Try to take a measure of her as a person first. Talk and build rapport.
     
    [X] Try to take a measure of her as a person first. Talk and build rapport.
     
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