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Snake Eyes - A Casino Owner Quest in an Occult World
- Thread starter Abyssius
- Start date
- Original Mature Modern
- Location
- iTALY
Without spoilering too much, since it would reveal the clock:
- You have something in your basement that they are very, very interested in getting out of his room. If in doing so your Casino closes, that would be a bonus for them because it represents less competition.
You get exp when you kill Nathair for good: I added a new Long Term goal for this reason.
The previous owner of your Casino. At least, part of him. I have a vague idea of what happened to him, going to decide the details when it becomes relevant.
If for "Supernatural creature", you mean something like a Demon or a purely occult creature, the answer would be no.
The Eclipse is run by someone who was human. Now? Difficult to be sure.
Mostly connections: any money you had was included in your starting funds and their skillsets are represented in traits. If you have ideas or write-in about something I missed, I'll consider them.
Don't be afraid of taking risks would be my first advice: even if you roll a 6-, I would just give a complication, but also an opportunity.
For example, I didn't plan for the Jackals, the only reason you got them was that failed exploration roll. Without it, you wouldn't have got the loot, or the exp obtained in the fights. I don't do "You failed a roll, you miss / nothing happens": failures mean that something is against your objective: you find a complication, the enemy surprises you, and something dangerous looms on the horizon. But the story will go on.
Plus, consider that enemies don't exactly get rolls: when I roll for an NPC, I'm just rolling to see what they are doing. But after that, I don't do it anymore, even in combat. I'll give you problems only on 6- or on 7-9 if I think you could use some more pressure.
The second would be to get more Lores learnt, but you are working on this. Recruiting more followers to do more actions also would be good: if you need a specific skill set, specify it and with a good roll, you'll find it.
Lores remain my main advice: if you get them, you can start using magic in battles, and rituals outside of them and just knowing them with Level 1 helps you identify occult things.
ThatGuyWithIdeas
Treize died for our sins
- Location
- Romania
Rolling for the "Dig for Occult Info" action.
EDIT: 6 + 6 + 3 = 12 + 3 = 15.
EDIT: 6 + 6 + 3 = 12 + 3 = 15.
- Location
- iTALY
Good thing that I don't have critical successes. You will find ... very good info.
ThatGuyWithIdeas
Treize died for our sins
- Location
- Romania
Rolling for Mercy's Exploration attempt.
EDIT: 2 + 1 = 3
EDIT: 2 + 1 = 3
- Location
- iTALY
But I think that with a 7-9 and a 6- I can do an interesting scene.
- Location
- Somewhere nearby.
I'd say to make Chaos a priority, we do run a casino after all, on top of trying to make nice with the other casinos who aren't actively trying to harm us. Competition is good for business and and having people to watch our backs can't be more important than ever.
- Location
- iTALY
Small notification: as I said when starting this quest, update schedule may be erratic due to me working on my thesis.
My supervisor is pressing for the third chapter, which I have done. I need to re-read and fix some things, so I hope to get a bit of time. Time has been a bit scarce this weekend.
Just to give you hope, I have already written the reading action and the occult dive action, which are 1.8k words. The next two actions should be shorter
My supervisor is pressing for the third chapter, which I have done. I need to re-read and fix some things, so I hope to get a bit of time. Time has been a bit scarce this weekend.
Just to give you hope, I have already written the reading action and the occult dive action, which are 1.8k words. The next two actions should be shorter
November, Week 1: Resolution Phase I
- Location
- iTALY
Reality and Annihilation
Read "Fundamental Occult Forces" (Ernesto, Occult): 10+1=11. Full success.
This time, you decided to not go on with "El Estafador": the content of the book is clear to you and you aren't sure that in your current situation is what you need. Before doing these things, you need something about the basics. A book that talks about the fundamental occult forces sound like the right thing for it. You plan to dig for information on your problems and a better understanding of "what the fuck is this occult mumbo-jumbo" would surely be beneficial.
So you sit and start reading.
… Chapter III: Reality Lore.
According to all the scholars, Reality was the first thing to be: Annihilation has its meaning in the destruction of what is made by Reality. Change is defined as the passage from Reality to Annihilation since it needs both to be fully defined. Therefore, almost everyone agrees on this. Define Reality is at the same time very easy and extremely difficult to fully grasp: Reality is what it is. The obvious question would be: "So, everything around us is Reality itself?" and the answer would be "No". An example for the reader: currently, you are a reader because you are reading this book. This means that you are not a reader when you close the book and decide to do something else. You are still the same, but you aren't something. Reality and "isn't" cannot coexist: Reality is things that are and if things can cease to be, then they are not Reality. Therefore, since we have the potential to not be something, we aren't fully Reality.
That's why I wrote "Extremely difficult to grasp": a thing of full Reality is a thing that is and cannot be anything else. It is and cannot change. It has no Annihilation and no Change in it. It's something perfectly stuck in its position, shape, and identity. Everything is fixed, like a frozen moment.
[…]
This is what affects the three sons of Reality: even they cannot be pure Reality, because they need to act and pure Reality cannot do this because action implicates something transient. They are derived from it, but even they are influenced by the other two basic forces, Change and Annihilation.
[…]
While in history some madmen tried to reach pure Reality, it's a consensus that aligning with pure Reality is almost impossible for us. Paradoxically, for someone to become one with Reality would implicate the total destruction of the part of Change and Annihilation contained in that individual. It wouldn't be what it was. Could one become part of Reality through the Annihilation of itself?
[…]
Chapter IV: Annihilation Lore
Annihilation is called by some "the drain" of Reality. While I don't approve of the use of this imagery, it's useful for conveying the meaning to neophytes of the occult. Reality can be defined as the water that falls into the black hole that is Annihilation, with Change being responsible for the movement of water. In some archaic definitions, death was defined as Annihilation, but the most modern consensus is that Annihilation is more than simple death: Annihilation is when a thing is no more: not in the physical sense, not even in the metaphysical sense. It's when someone dies and it's forgotten, without any trace of its existence. It's the sound of the falling tree that no one has listened to and doesn't exist anywhere.
[…]
Pure Annihilation is achievable: one could say that in spontaneous conditions and given enough time, people are completely annihilated, with no trace of them that can be recognized as "them". Annihilation can be reached through Annihilation because it's the natural order of things. Scholars aligned with Annihilation say that "Annihilation is the spontaneous fate of all things", a force that needs to be artificially resisted. Like gravity: things fall, except when something holds them in place.
[…]
What has relegated Annihilation as the "Lore of Evil" or "Lore of the Dark" is the nature of its sons: Agony is the lore associated with the destruction of flesh and body, Lunar with the erosion of sanity and memories and Uproar with the devastation of hierarchies and social order. We, humans, are being that thrive in peace and that tends to create, so destruction and chaos are against what is "natural" for us.
[…]
Why people should align themselves with Annihilation or its sons? Because Annihilation is a part of us: we can kill, we can destroy memories and we can lead revolutions. Some people decide to embrace these parts of their nature, for egoistic goals or some "higher purpose". But there are no "heroes" who embrace Annihilation: Annihilation is first and foremost destruction and nothing can be built with only destruction.
[…]
Annihilation's sons, paradoxically enough, have in them a significant part of Reality: they are. While Annihilation "is" defined, that's a limitation of language: Annihilation, in Occult words, is never, never described. It cannot be. It's pure "non-existence". A non-existence so strong that we can define it because the empty space it leaves is large. But Agony, Lunar and Uproar are defined with "is" in Occult Tongue, which can only be explained by containing Reality and, if they contain Reality, they contain also Change.
Your head is starting to spin, so you decide to stop: the information seems contradictory in some aspects, but as the author has said "it's a limitation of explaining concepts with words that are not meant for them". You'll finish the book next week after you digest everything.
(Result: Several Lores discovered at level 0, Reality and Annihilation Lore discovered at level 1.)
Dig for Occult Info (Ernesto, Brain): 12+3=15. Full success.
You crack your finger, open a VPN and load your dark-web browser. Looking on the whole web would be a waste of time: if this thing is hidden, then no chance that there's any trace on any public indexer. Your best bet is to search in that pile of sludge that is the Dark Web, hoping to find the good stuff.
After a week spent doing this, you luckily find your answer.
In an anonymous message board, you get access to a file containing the images used in ritual circles, which appears to be legit for the simple fact that uses the same terminology found in Fundamental Occult Forces. You download it after checking twice that you won't get malware and you print it.
You check it and your instinct tells you that you found your jackpot. Surely, is the same thing as readying Cyrillic without knowing the language itself, but at least you can distinguish the different letters since different Lores use different symbols for their ritual circles.
Which can be used to get more information on the thing in your basement by analyzing the two ritual circles.
… the first large one in red paint contains the symbols for Agony, lore called "Covenant" and the third symbol looks more similar to those of Lunar than the second best option, which would be "Soul". The fact that the two symbols are drawn so badly to be so close in shape would make you think that whoever draw it, wasn't exactly an expert. Or maybe it was sabotage, you cannot tell.
Instead, the smaller circle drawn in blood contains the symbols for Solar, Soul and Covenant, drawn with a more expert hand. It's an easy consequence that they were drawn by two different people.
From what you know about the "Dark Lores" and "Light Lores", which is fairly small knowledge, you think that the circle on the door is what is keeping the thing inside, using a Light lore to contain what surely contains at least one Dark Lore. This, considering that small changes in symbols can lead to using different "Magic", makes it quite fragile protection, if someone knows how to subvert it.
Your hunch tells you that maybe the Pale Zenith is less interested in your lab or your books and maybe this is what they are pointing at. Meaning that they maybe know what you have in your basement. You'll inform Fulvia to keep a close, close guard to your basement: if this theory is correct, and the only way to confirm it is to send someone to collect info from the Pale Zenith, then the implications would be bothersome.
To be complete, you check the circles in the recipe found in Jackal's den. Agony lore. Looks like this type of lore is quite common in the City if even they could have got their dirty hands on it.
By focusing on your basement problem the only other problem that you have time to check is demons. You don't find something concrete until you find a message on another site that connects what you call Demons with another occult entity called "Presences". Using that keyword, you finally found some interesting info.
Presences are creatures that can be summoned even by a third-grade occultist: the ritual is extremely simple and the only requisite for it is a dead human body, not necessarily fresh or whole. No other occult stuff, nothing more particular. The ritual is extremely easy to summon a Lesser Presence.
What kills those third-grade occultists is that they think that a Presence can be controlled and discover that such beings don't like being controlled by lowly humans. Presences have their own agenda and your best hope when summoning one to control is to have common agendas, breaking their spirits or being stronger to them.
But if you manage to get them on your side, even a Lesser Presence is a great ally to have: by being aligned with only one Lore and not like humans, who have the potential for all the lore, even the lowliest of the Presences can surpass humans in their own mastery of the occult powers.
You send the info you got to Goldman to see if they help, which he says can help in skipping the basics in his research and maybe he has a chance to finish early. "My dearest thanks, Villalobos", he says to you, before ending the call.
(Results: More information on the thing in your basement and a weakness in your security. Goldman will roll at the end of this week to see if its clock has advanced by two. You can recognize symbols associated with lores.)
Recruit more muscles (Felix's Guards): 7. Minor success.
At the end of the week, Felix enters your office: he's definitely in better shape after this period of rest.
"Boss, I got in touch with some of my older contacts and some of them are interested. Do you remember Fred Lewis?"
You think for a minute: "The man who helped our old boss in finding fresh meat?"
Felix nods: "Apparently, he's still doing that: in public is a "security agency", but in practice, he provides a workforce for gangs by finding unfortunate souls for them."
"If I'm not wrong, he's practically a middleman: I recall that the last time I talk with one of his "recruits", they were basically green, with just the skills to not shoot themselves in the foot".
"Yes, but we pay well and even with the whole "occult" stuff, working with us is still better than selling drugs or becoming killers. Giving time, they would be extremely loyal."
"If they don't die first." You insist. "Anything else?"
"There was a gang war on the other side of the City and Bob Blackbeard is out of work because his old boss decided to take a long holiday far away."
"Bob Blackbeard is still alive? Working as a mercenary for crime lords makes a long list of enemies. Including our ex-boss. Why he should work with us?"
"Because we offer a stable job and dental insurance?"
You stare at Felix, who sighs: "Because we pay, but I know that Bob and his cadre follow the highest bidder."
You nod, waiting for him to keep going: "Then there are just the usual guys looking for employment, without particular skill. But the City is full of them."
It's clear that Felix is waiting for your input.
[GUARDS] [ ] Recruit Bob Blackbeard and his men. (You'll get another group of followers with Weapon-Trained and "Intimidating Reputation", which provides more chances to get inflict morale damage in combat. They come equipped with SMG and Brass Knuckles. 2 funds per turn).
[GUARDS] [ ] Recruit green recruits. (You'll get a group of followers with Loyal and "Green", which can lead to more chance to panic under fire. Removed after the first combat. They come equipped with 9 mm. 1 fund per turn.)
[GUARDS] [ ] Recruit randos with experience (You'll get a group of followers with Weapon-Trained. They come equipped with 9 mm and butterfly knives. 1 fund per turn).
(Result: Felix's Guards are at 4/6 HP and not heavily injured anymore. QM Note: pick more options if you want to hire more people).
Explore the City for temples (John, Mercy): 7, 3. One minor success and one complication.
The search was quite easy: just search for "churches" and go into the location. On paper, it was a straightforward business.
But after finding the fourth abandoned church, Mercy and John started having suspicions. At the tenth, it was practically a certainty.
All the churches, mosques or synagogues were without a priest, in varying states of disorder, several of them with squatters.
While they were going toward the last place, John stated the obvious: "It isn't normal that every single place of cult in this City is in the same condition."
Mercy nodded: "Someone pay particular attention to be sure that none remained."
"Do you think it's the "Snake Cult?".
"I think we are being followed" she whispered to John and by his reaction, she knew that John also got them.
They tried their best, but everyone makes a mistake in a week-long stakeout and John and Mercy knew what to look for.
Both of them entered the next church and quickly hid from the door. The five men entered with them and looked around. This place was quite clean compared to the others.
John and Mercy were ready to draw their weapons, but they start to feel … something. Like a strange pressure and the church was … hotter? Like it was under a summer sun?
The five thugs draw their weapons, tension on their faces. They started to look around and check carefully each hidden place. It was just a question of minutes before they would reach their hiding place.
[CHURCH] [ ] Remain hidden: this church has something strange. Wait to see what's happening.
[CHURCH] [ ] Gunfight: Seize the initiative before they find you, getting the advantage of surprise. (Combat action).
[CHURCH] [ ] Sneak away: if you act carefully, you may try to sneak outside the church from the door. You don't want to mess with what's here. (Shadow roll for both of them).
[CHURCH] [ ] Write-in.
QM Note: Sheets updated in a minute.
- Location
- Somewhere in the area
- Pronouns
- He/She/They
[CHURCH] [X] Remain hidden: this church has something strange. Wait to see what's happening.
[CHURCH] [X] Remain hidden: this church has something strange. Wait to see what's happening.
.... What?
We gotta read that book more. Maybe get the protective circle inlaid with metal... IF its safe to do after the circlle is already going....
I'm leaning on green guards due to the loyalty.
on the church, either wait and see or sneak out, because we shouldn't start shooting in others' home.
- Location
- iTALY
You got Solar, Mercy, Lunar and Uproar at 0 because they are named in the book and described, even if the book doesn't contain them.
You got Soul and Covenant at 0 from the occult digging.
You don't know an answer: it would require more digging and that would be Occult. If you want, I can put an action on the next turn.
- Location
- iTALY
Change still missing, I forgot to update the book to 2/3.
I can anticipate that Change doesn't have child lores.
"Abyssius, but does this means that Change is weaker because doesn't have unique lores?"
Supernatural forces are above things such as "Balanced". They just exist.
[X] plan war
[GUARDS] [X] Recruit green recruits. (You'll get a group of followers with Loyal and "Green", which can lead to more chance to panic under fire. Removed after the first combat. They come equipped with 9 mm. 1 fund per turn.)
[CHURCH] [X] Remain hidden: this church has something strange. Wait to see what's happening.
[GUARDS] [X] Recruit green recruits. (You'll get a group of followers with Loyal and "Green", which can lead to more chance to panic under fire. Removed after the first combat. They come equipped with 9 mm. 1 fund per turn.)
[CHURCH] [X] Remain hidden: this church has something strange. Wait to see what's happening.
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- Location
- iTALY
Sorry, can you please by plan? I forgot to specify.
Otherwise I don't know if I should take the most voted action per category or else.
@Count saruman @Phoenix853456! and @Doctor Elsewhere
Otherwise I don't know if I should take the most voted action per category or else.
@Count saruman @Phoenix853456! and @Doctor Elsewhere
[GUARDS] [X] Recruit randos with experience (You'll get a group of followers with Weapon-Trained. They come equipped with 9 mm and butterfly knives. 1 fund per turn).
[CHURCH] [X] Remain hidden: this church has something strange. Wait to see what's happening.
[CHURCH] [X] Remain hidden: this church has something strange. Wait to see what's happening.
[X] plan war
-[X] [GUARDS] Recruit green recruits. (You'll get a group of followers with Loyal and "Green", which can lead to more chance to panic under fire. Removed after the first combat. They come equipped with 9 mm. 1 fund per turn.)
-[X] [CHURCH] Remain hidden: this church has something strange. Wait to see what's happening.
-[X] [GUARDS] Recruit green recruits. (You'll get a group of followers with Loyal and "Green", which can lead to more chance to panic under fire. Removed after the first combat. They come equipped with 9 mm. 1 fund per turn.)
-[X] [CHURCH] Remain hidden: this church has something strange. Wait to see what's happening.
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[X] plan war
Loyalty is the most valuable, skills can be trained up and experienced gained but Loyalty is harder to obtain.
Loyalty is the most valuable, skills can be trained up and experienced gained but Loyalty is harder to obtain.