DiscoDude: ---BEGIN SESSION---
DiscoDude: Session logging commenced
Ryusui|GM: The nearest curry shop is within walking distance of the auction house. Jocelyn should either be there, or on her way back. The catch, from your perspective, is that the streets are definitely [Confusing to Non-Locals] - you're sure the auctioneer gave you directions three times and they were a little different each time. The [Wide, Open Roads] have [Plenty of People Around].
Zeta: "My head hurts...the directions don't match the lay of the land...at all!" Zeta said with a defeated tone, trying to picture the map against the actual way the streets were in the real world.
Ryusui|GM: (As your GM, I'm going to play around and invoke the FATE Fractal - Confusing to Non-Locals isn't just an aspect, it's an aspect with two one-shift stress boxes)
Ryusui|GM: (I suppose that makes your rolls to Overcome it actually "attacks," but its "defense" is a fixed +2)
Casper: "That's quitter talk. Lead the way."
Ryusui|GM: (Think of your "attacks" as your efforts to navigate. 😉 )
Zeta: "Q-Quitter...? I-I'm no quitter!" Ah, that get's Zeta's gears going, she tries to visualize the directions again, and find a way through the damn maze the world has put in front of her!
Casper: (So is that INVESTIGATE or... what?)
Zeta: (Drive, perhaps?)
Ryusui|GM: (You're on foot, so)
Ryusui|GM: (whatever you think might help you either make sense of this place, or make enough distance that sense doesn't matter as much XD)
Zeta: (Hm, I'll default to Investigate, then. Permission to roll?)
Ryusui|GM: (fire away!)
Zeta: !f 2
DiscoDude: <@Zeta> rolled 4dF+2 for 3 [4dF = [-][+][+][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (ding! that's a good start)
Ryusui|GM: ([1][X])
Zeta: (Woot!)
Zeta: "Hmmm....Oh, Combining them like this...makes more sense, yes, good..." And just like that, she began moving through a few streets in a seemingly unknowable, foreign pattern... to anyone without the context, that is. It doesn't take long before she comes to a stop, trying to figure out how to interpret the next set of instructions... "...Damnit."
Casper: "Seems like there's only so many ways this can be interpreted." Casper squats with his back to Zeta. "Hop on, I'll try all of them."
Ryusui|GM: (Piggyback ride! XD)
Casper: (Yeah, I'm going to be rolling ATHLETICS to pull this off in a timely fashion. Waiting on Zeta's reaction.)
Zeta: "Hmm...E-eh?!" She looks a bit...Surprised at the request to just piggyback off his back... "...I-I see..." She awkwardly jumps up, trying to make herself comfortable...
Casper: "Let's be off, then."
Casper: !f 2 (Athletics)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+2 for -1 [4dF = [-][ ][-][-]]
Casper: (Oof. Hm...)
Ryusui|GM: (ha ha. wanna do anything to boost that, or let it slide?)
Ryusui|GM: (you know what, how about success at a cost)
Casper: (I'm considering a reroll off of Wide, Open Roads, but what happens if I fail?)
Ryusui|GM: (well that's for the GM to know and you to find out but, hmm)
Ryusui|GM: (how about I give you a four-shift bonus, enough for the win, in exchange for a Mild Consequence of [Winded] with a free invoke I can use against you?)
Casper: (Fair enough! I was honestly more worried about simply not getting there in time for... whatever it is. :3)
Ryusui|GM: (all right XD you wanna flavor it, or should i just skip to you reaching your destination?)
Casper: "... Not here."
"Nope."
"That's a negative here."
Zeta might feel like she's about to fly off from the speed on display. However, even Casper has limits.
"It's... not *gasp here, either."
"*pant, pant... There... Mission... accomplished..." He's left a bit Winded, but he made it in the end.
Zeta: To be fair, she was almost thinking of trying to curl around him in some way, he was going that fast.
Ryusui|GM: You're actually a short ways from the curry shop, but you've found your target. You can't see her face on account of her carrying three plastic bags full of white styrofoam plates in an armload in front of her, but she's heading in the general direction of the auction house at an impressive clip for someone in high heels like hers. The fennec tail sticking out of her short skirt clinches it: this is Jocelyn Sands, the missing assistant.
Casper: "Miss (*hah) Miss Sands? My assistant would... would like a word."
Zeta: Zeta does not actually jump down from his back, she just waves at Jocelyn with a neutral expression that only someone who skipped on running a quarter marathon could have.
Ryusui|GM: Jocelyn pauses, and the entire load of food nearly goes flying out of her hands. Slowly, carefully, she adjusts her load so she can see you clearly. She's got short, wavy red hair, outsize glasses, and a slightly vacant expression. Whatever her job is at the auction house, one gets the impression it wasn't her academic qualifications that got her hired.
Ryusui|GM: "Ah...hello?" she says in a high-pitched lilt. "Nice day, isn't it? Do hurry; I have to be back with this delivery soon."
Casper: (Can Zeta sense anything?)
Casper: "We can... walk and talk, if you prefer."
Ryusui|GM: Zeta, you sense a tickle down your spine, but it's not coming from her.
Zeta: "We wanted to know why you were taking so long to arrive, But we can talk as we go, my boss here can keep up to you." She pats Casper's head, as if encouraging him, but she also whispers something. "I think she's clean."
Casper: "Right, carry is over." Casper drops her. "We're *huff not in a hurry anymore."
Ryusui|GM: The tickle is increasing in intensity. You don't even have to look hard to see two figures in black hoods approaching from down the street.
Casper: (Is that directed at Zeta?)
Ryusui|GM: Both of you can see the hooded guys approaching; Zeta can sense the eldritch influence.
Zeta: "...Those, however, are dirty." She points at them, it wouldn't make sense to conceal that she was pointing at them. "Miss, could you please take an alternate route?"
Casper: "Targets sighted. I'll keep them distracted."
Casper: Casper moves in to intercept.
Zeta: And Zeta moves to drag the Fennec away from trouble.
Ryusui|GM: (Casper, Zeta, you get the first two moves. Zeta, I'm going to assume you're going to be spending yours defending Jocelyn?)
Casper: (Does using FIGHT to create an advantage by positioning myself in a way that prevents the enemy from getting past make sense?)
Ryusui|GM: (i mean hell, i'll allow it)
Ryusui|GM: (it's your first of the fight so i'll give you it against +0)
Casper: !f 3 (FIGHT)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [+][-][-][+]]
Ryusui|GM: (woo, that's an SWS! name your aspect)
Zeta: (Ah yes, I'll be defending Jocelyn, don't remember if that needed an action though.)
Ryusui|GM: (i'll just say you're going full defense)
Ryusui|GM: (you get a +2 to defend rolls)
Casper: "Excuse me, sirs?" Casper walks up with a paper-thin casual veneer. He subtly positions himself as an Impenetrable Vanguard, though the layman wouldn't be able to tell.
Ryusui|GM: "Hhhhhhhhhh." You can't tell what species either of them are under their robes, but that throaty hiss one of them responds with doesn't seem normal. He whips a crooked ceremonial knife out from under his robes and lashes at you.
Ryusui|GM: !f 2 (Brute Force)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 0 [4dF = [ ][-][ ][-]]
Casper: (It has to be Physique, right?)
Casper: (Since I'm not budging, I'm just blocking.)
Ryusui|GM: (physique is tanking, athletics is dodging)
Ryusui|GM: (sure then)
Casper: !f 2 (PHYSIQUE)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+2 for 4 [4dF = [+][+][-][+]]
Ryusui|GM: (oh shit man)
Ryusui|GM: (take a boost)
Casper: (SWS. Again. :T)
Casper: The thug is *Sloppy*, it seems. He blocks the attack with ease.
Ryusui|GM: The thug's frantic flailing is indeed no match for your combat technique. The second one is a bit sharper, though, and aims the point of his dagger straight for your arm, aiming to cripple (Create Advantage)
Ryusui|GM: !f 2 (Brute Force)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 4 [4dF = [+][ ][ ][+]]
Casper: !f 2 (PHYSIQUE)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+2 for 3 [4dF = [+][+][-][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (going to invoke Winded against you)
Casper: (Gonna spend both invokes from Impenetrable Vanguard.)
Ryusui|GM: (phew! XD)
Ryusui|GM: (flavor your reaction, then it's your turn again)
Casper: (It's a flat failure, then?)
Ryusui|GM: (it's 7 to 5)
Ryusui|GM: (er, 7 against 6)
Ryusui|GM: (so yes it's a flat fail on my part)
Casper: (I'm asking if you're not doing the thing where he creates an aspect, but the invoke is in my favor.)
Casper: And he deflects the deft knife! He takes an opening to take a swing at the first thug, hoping to take advantage of its poorer combat skills to take it out of the fight.
Ryusui|GM: (i'm not)
Ryusui|GM: (hit it! literally XD)
Casper: (Rolling FIGHT.)
Casper: !f 3 (FIGHT)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+3 for 4 [4dF = [ ][+][+][-]]
Ryusui|GM: !f 2 (Brute Force)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 2 [4dF = [ ][+][ ][-]]
Casper: (Tell me, doctor... will he pull through?)
Ryusui|GM: (still alive but hurting)
Ryusui|GM: The first thug yowls like, well, an animal, trying to block your fist by grabbing it mid-swing.
Ryusui|GM: (i shoulda described his defense move before the roll)
Casper: (Will a boost end him is what I'm trying to ask.)
Ryusui|GM: (...yes.)
Casper: (Invoking *Sloppy*, then.)
Ryusui|GM: (flavor it XD)
Zeta: (Is it safe to assume that Jocelyne and Zeta are away and waiting for the second jojo enemy to rear it's head?)
Casper: The block attempt... doesn't go well. Holy shit, it does not go well! There was the squelching sound of ripping when the fist connected, continuing unhindered into the thing's face!
Ryusui|GM: (to be absolutely clear, Zeta, are you running with Jocelyn? Like, away from the hooded goons, which is to say back towards the curry place?)
Zeta: (Preferably taking a roundabout way, but returning also works.)
Ryusui|GM: Yeah, the goon only manages to break his arm trying to stop you, and whatever happens to his skull when your fist impacts it...well, the bottom line is he drops.
Casper: (By the way, do these things have a name and aspect, or are they mysterious things, unlike anything that's ever been seen?)
Ryusui|GM: (you'll see for yourself)
Casper: (Trying to make it back to Auction House, Zeta?)
Casper: (Guess it's "???" and ??? for now.)
Ryusui|GM: (yeah, to clarify: are you trying to get Jocelyn to the auction house, or just retreat away from the goons?)
Zeta: (Trying to go to the auction house, since the way is blocked and we are in the streets, I thought going through another avenue could work...)
Ryusui|GM: "This is rather a long way around we're going," Jocelyn pants, still trying to hold up her load of curry in front of her. "I'm afraid it'll all get cold by the time we get back!"
Casper: (<@!Zeta>? I think that was your cue to say and/or do something.)
Ryusui|GM: (indeed it is, <@!Zeta>)
Zeta: "It is better than having no curry, or head for that matter." Zeta replies...getting a whiff of the smell of the curry...that tastes delicious... "...Is that Curry?" She says with interest.
Zeta: (Sorry, forgot to hit enter on that)
Ryusui|GM: "Oh, would you like some?" Jocelyn chirps cheerfully. "I got enough for the staff, but there's a bit extra. I think they'll be upset if they find we've been eating before them, though...especially if it means they get their food late..."
Ryusui|GM: (in the meantime, while Zeta's responding)
Ryusui|GM: The second thug is a bit flashier with the daggers than his compatriot lying on the ground. He tries again to strike a potentially debilitating flesh wound somewhere on your person.
Ryusui|GM: !f 2 (Brute Force)
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 2 [4dF = [-][+][ ][ ]]
Casper: (Create Advantage again?)
Ryusui|GM: (yes)
Casper: !f 2 (PHYSIQUE)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+2 for 1 [4dF = [-][ ][-][+]]
Zeta: "...Hmmm." She salivates a little at the proposition... "...Let me...Try to find a quicker way, do you have a map?" She might as well try to make sense of this quasi eldritch labyrinth that is Scotland again. All for food, it seems.
Casper: (Going to be spending a FATE point on Impenetrable Vanguard to boost.)
Zeta: (by that, I mean trying to use investigate, or maybe Notice, to create an aspect to make even more distance between Casper and the attackers and Zeta and Jocelyne xD)
Ryusui|GM: (and i'm going to be spending one of my GM fate points on "Winded" >8D)
Ryusui|GM: (got a counter for that?)
Casper: (Yeah. My high concept gives me a lot of training, I'd think.)
Ryusui|GM: (spending another FATE Point, then?)
Casper: (Yeah.)
Zeta: (Should I roll Invest or Notice?)
Ryusui|GM: (either will work, Zeta)
Ryusui|GM: (as for you, Casper, flavor it, then take your turn)
Zeta: !f 2 (investigative then!)
DiscoDude: <@Zeta> rolled 4dF+2 for 2 [4dF = [-][+][ ][ ]]
Casper: This one is certainly putting up a fight. Casper is constantly on guard. He'll need to make his opponent disengage if he's to gain the upper hand... and losing the knives (or at least a knife) should do the trick.
(Attempting to Create an Advantage with FIGHT.)
Casper: !f 3 (FIGHT)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [-][+][ ][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (Zeta, you want a success at a cost?)
Zeta: (Zeta can work with that)
Ryusui|GM: !f 2
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 2 [4dF = [+][-][-][+]]
Ryusui|GM: (going to use my second GM FATE Point to DENIED that)
Casper: (Invoking which aspect?)
Ryusui|GM: (...ah. i realize the only one these guys have is "Obvious Thug." I'm GM though, so i'll call it a stretch XD)
Ryusui|GM: You knock the knife out of his hand, and...with speed and precision that can only be described as "monstrous," the goon grabs it out of the air. With his teeth. He snickers at you.
Casper: (That's zero Fate points left for you to use on either end of the scene. I count that as a win, OOC.)
Ryusui|GM: Zeta, you find a side street that takes you closer to the Auction House. The problem is, you've gotten turned around a bit, so you don't realize until it's too late that you've brought yourself within sight range of the second goon.
Ryusui|GM: He has his back turned to you, so at first you think you're safe.
Ryusui|GM: And then Casper, you see it sniff the air.
Casper: (They barely traveled at all! XD)
Casper: (Can I defend against it moving towards them?)
Ryusui|GM: The second goon whirls around and starts leaping the distance between you and him on all fours, Zeta!
Ryusui|GM: (you can but you'll have to sacrifice your next turn)
Casper: (Hm... HMM... Yeah, I'll try to defend. (Does BRUTE FORCE even apply here? XD))
Casper: Casper dives in to tackle him!
Casper: (As the one trying to Overcome, you should roll first, GM.)
Zeta: "...Hng...Miss Fox, the other way around, I'll...try to deal with this." She does a hand gesture to go the other way, however, it seems like she will have to fight...
Ryusui|GM: !f 2
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 2 [4dF = [+][-][ ][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (hit it)
Casper: !f 2 (ATHLETICS)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+2 for 2 [4dF = [-][ ][ ][+]]
Ryusui|GM: (wanna succeed at a cost? one shift, in exchange for stopping him in his tracks)
Casper: (Yeah, let me flavor it.)
Ryusui|GM: (also i realize i've broken turn order)
Ryusui|GM: (but screw it this is rollin')
Casper: And Casper successfully tackles it... into the street! When he lets go of the grapple, he sends the thing into oncoming traffic. His consequence for getting out in front himself is a little more immediate; with the squeal of tires, he's knocked onto the hood of a braking car!
Ryusui|GM: Zeta! (and then it'll be Casper's turn again XD)
Ryusui|GM: The hooded goon seems disoriented after Casper's intervention!
Casper: "Ngh... Go, Zeta! Don't leave her unattended!"
Zeta: (Wait, Did Casper deal with the second goon?)
Casper: (Not yet.)
Ryusui|GM: "Ah! A grown man shouldn't be playing in the street like that!" Jocelyn says.
Ryusui|GM: (Zeta, what exactly are you going to do?)
Ryusui|GM: (like Jocelyn's still close to you; the goon and Casper are a safe distance away)
Zeta: Zeta stops pushing Jocelyne a few seconds after she motioned her to back up as she falls to the ground, tripping on what seemed to be an almost non-existent bump in the ground...Or at least that's what everyone would think because she was feigning it, letting her opponent's guard down. She even squeals to make it seem she was that much of a weakling.
(Creating an Advantage with Deceive :V)
Casper: (Not an advantage she'll ever capitalize on if Casper makes sure it never reaches her.)
Ryusui|GM: (heh heh)
Zeta: (Hey, If you use it, it's not a waste ;)
Ryusui|GM: (roll 'em)
Ryusui|GM: (i'll give it to you at a passive +0)
Zeta: !f 3
DiscoDude: <@Zeta> rolled 4dF+3 for 3 [4dF = [+][-][ ][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (and that's an SWS)
Ryusui|GM: (name it)
Zeta: (That was one big 💦 emoji for me)
Ryusui|GM: The second goon hisses. He tilts his head in confusion, then snickers and stalks towards you, Zeta.
Ryusui|GM: (after you name your aspect, Casper's turn)
Zeta: (Hmm, How about [Such a Defenseless Little...][!!] for the aspect name?)
Ryusui|GM: (yes)
Casper: (Is it paying attention to where I am? If not, is that enough to activate my Grim Reaper stunt?)
Casper: (I mean, it doesn't sound very wary.)
Ryusui|GM: (Zeta's got his full attention on her.)
Ryusui|GM: (so yeah, take your +2)
Casper: Casper flicks the scalpel from earlier today into his palm and after hopping down off the car hood, does a quick and quiet sprint at the target to deliver (hopefully) a mortal wound!
Casper: !f 5 (FIGHT + Grim Reaper)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+5 for 2 [4dF = [-][ ][-][-]]
Casper: (FFFF)
Ryusui|GM: !f 2
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+2 for 2 [4dF = [ ][ ][+][-]]
Ryusui|GM: (you wanna spend something? like, maybe for a reroll?)
Casper: (Got no points left.)
Casper: (I'm thinking I get a boost?)
Ryusui|GM: (yep)
Zeta: ((how about the aspect I just created XD?))
Ryusui|GM: (...i'll allow it!)
Casper: (If the GM doesn't think that's too much of a stretch, and you're giving permission, then I'll just use two flat boosts for the guaranteed KO.)
Ryusui|GM: (flavor it XD)
Casper: Just as the... whatever it is rises back up to full height, looking almost smug (if that's an emotion it can even feel), it freezes up as Casper drives a scalpel diagonally upward through the back of its skull and into whatever it passes off as a brain.
Casper: He catches it as it starts to fall and starts dragging it out of the street.
Ryusui|GM: The goon hisses, and gurgles, and right before it dies, it reaches out a hand in the direction of Zeta and Jocelyn.
Casper: (Does it seriously get an action after being Taken Out?)
Ryusui|GM: "Mmmmm...isssss...tresssss," is both the first intelligible word you've heard it say, and the last thing you hear as it perishes.
Casper: (Okay, good. Thought we were about to experience some BS for a moment.)
Ryusui|GM: Zeta, you feel no more eldritch presences nearby.
Casper: Casper sets it down on a bench and moves to catch up with the pair.
Ryusui|GM: "Oh, stellar work, that," Jocelyn says, bouncing a little and threatening to spill curry everywhere. "Are you a professional?"
Casper: "That thing called you mistress," he ordered at neither lady in particular; "explain."
Ryusui|GM: "Oh, now! I resent that implication!" Jocelyn huffs. "I got my position at the auction house fair and square, not sleeping around like certain people who shall remain nameless!" She gives you an angry look, Casper, then turns her head.
Zeta: "..." Zeta doesn't flinch...much. she sighs with relief as she get's up.... and look at Jocelyn, then at Casper. "...Sleeping around...?"
Zeta: She is, visibly, confused.
Casper: "You don't seem phased at what I did to 'him.' Is watching a violent confrontation like a Tuesday to you?"
Ryusui|GM: "He said I was someone's mistress!" Jocelyn says, a hurt sound in her voice.
Ryusui|GM: "I've seen worse on the telly," Jocelyn says, matter-of-factly.
Casper: (Are we about to enter a Mental conflict, or are we legit barking up the wrong tree?)
Zeta: "...I...Someone's Mistress...as in..." She tries to grasp the question, clearly failing. "I...I don't..."
Casper: "That's not even remotely the same thing. And I don't think that's what it meant by 'mistress.'"
Ryusui|GM: (if you want to interrogate her, then yeah, that's a mental conflict)
Casper: (So will she respond to the question, or should I roll PROVOKE now?)
Ryusui|GM: (which question?)
Ryusui|GM: (if you mean the "you don't seem shocked at all" then she did respond)
Ryusui|GM: ("I've seen worse on the telly (television)!")
Casper: (Or rather, the implication I just made after that.)
Ryusui|GM: "I've never seen the bloody blokes before in my life," Jocelyn says, clearly more and more flustered just by talking to you. "'Course it might be because of the hoods."
Casper: (Casper is the instigator, but I'd like to have Zeta take much of the lead on this.)
Casper: (She'd be much more reliable at INVESTIGATING and using her knowledge of LORE to try and discover flaws in her facade.)
Zeta: "The auction house...How hard can it be to...be someone's assistant..." She slowly saw herself going of a tangent. "What does an assistant even do?!?" She finally lets out.
Ryusui|GM: "I make sure the items are what they're supposed to be and carry them from the safe room during the auction," she says. "Isn't that obvious?"
Casper: (I dunno about you, but I'm not sure that was the right question to ask. XD)
Casper: (Wanna try going Sherlock analysis on her? Or should I move things along and get to the point with the true accusation?)
Zeta: "...I...Not....Really? The name doesn't..." She quiets down a bit...until she remembers why she went off a tangent in the first place. "WAIT...Isn't Mistress...another way to refer to a leader cultist?" She gives a look at Jocelyne.
Ryusui|GM: Jocelyn stares back; the only thing keeping her from being confused by your statements is the fact that she seems to be perpetually slightly confused. "A leader cultist? I'm not even a regular cultist!"
Zeta: "The cultist was clearly referring to you...Unless...it was referring to me, but I know I'm not a cultist..." She points a finger at the Fennec...then to the curry "...The Food!" She grabs the hands of both Casper and Jocelyne and drags them towards the way of the Auction house. "We talk while we go!"
Casper: (So at what point does the Conflict actually begin and we start making... rolls?)
Casper: (Zeta, WTF? XD)
Casper: "Stop." Casper nearly yanks both girls' arms out of their sockets. "You're really just going to take her at her word?"
Casper: "'Are you the cultist responsible for everything?' 'No.' 'Oh, gee, okay.' Seriously..."
Zeta: "But I don't feel any weird vibes from her...and she even bought the Curry! We can't let the curry get cold!" She points at the curry again. "We need to be at the auction house too! We can poke her brains out there!!"
Casper: "No, we 'poke her brains' here where she doesn't have time to prepare answers for us." He turns to the assistant. "We know what happens during the incident at the auction tonight, and we aim to stop it. I suspect you are responsible. What is your defense?"
Casper: (At what point does the Conflict officially begin?)
Zeta: "B-But the food..."
Ryusui|GM: "I-incident?" Her look of vague confusion changes into a look of terror, as if she's finally realized she's dealing with a madperson.
Ryusui|GM: (to answer your question, Casper: now)
Casper: "Yes, incident. We received a tip stating that a cult worshipping a certain statue in the collection aims to steal it tonight. As security is competent enough to make an armed or stealth robbery unlikely, you - the one who takes items in and out of the safes - are our prime suspect. Do you have any way of refuting this?"
Ryusui|GM: (give me a roll)
Casper: !f 1 (PROVOKE)
DiscoDude: <@Casper> rolled 4dF+1 for 2 [4dF = [ ][+][-][+]]
Ryusui|GM: !f 0
DiscoDude: <@Ryusui|GM> rolled 4dF+0 for 0 [4dF = [ ][-][+][ ]]
Zeta: Zeta looks bummed...
Casper: (How much stress does she have?)
Ryusui|GM: "I don't. I don't, I don't," Jocelyn says. "I don't..."
Ryusui|GM: She drops to her knees, and...
Ryusui|GM: Zeta.
Ryusui|GM: She drops the curry, too.
Ryusui|GM: The plates tip over.
Ryusui|GM: It all spills everywhere, all over the ground.
Ryusui|GM: All the while, all she can do is answer your question over and over, Casper.
Ryusui|GM: "I don't... I don't... I don't..."
Casper: (So uh... Whoops? ^_^;)
Ryusui|GM: She's crying.
Casper: (I take it she didn't have all that many Stress boxes?)
Ryusui|GM: (she had exactly one)
Zeta: "..." Zeta looks at the Curry.
Zeta: Oh god, her face.
Zeta: She looks like her world crumbled, just like when the old one awoke.
Casper: "Calm down and use your words. I'm just being cautious since I've faced off against this cult before, and they have a history of planting sleeper agents. I'm talking very deep cover."
Zeta: "N-Nu...Nu..."
Casper: "Wait, what are you upset about?"
Zeta: "Th-the curry..."
She looks at Casper.
Zeta: "You."
Ryusui|GM: "I don't... I'm not a c-c-criminal, or a c-cu-cultist, I swear," Jocelyn says, barely comprehensible through the sobbing.
Zeta: "You will go get more."
Zeta: Ah, now she looks angry, as angry as a weasel can look.
Casper: He holds up a fan of pounds with a glint past his eye. "I'll buy you three plates after we're done."
Zeta: "No, not after we are done."
Ah, she frowns now.
"She went to buy Curry for her friends! And look at what you did!!"
And her tone got more stern.
Casper: He holds up a second fan of pound notes in his other hand. "Very well then."
Zeta: Oh god her face is all puffy too.
"I'll handle this here, You go fix your mistake!!"
Casper: He crouches down and clamps his hands on Jocelyn's shoulders.
"Sorry. You don't match their MO of getting violent at the first sign of real trouble. Sorry I doubted you, but it seems like you would have been compromised if we hadn't gotten to you before those men did. I can't stress enough how important it is that you stay vigilant; we both wish to see the auction go off without a hitch, so let's make that happen."
Without another word, he gets up and starts making a brisk jog to the curry place, new mission in hand.
Ryusui|GM: Jocelyn does not seem particularly consoled by all this. It doesn't help that her expensive-looking low-cut top and her skirt are rather thoroughly curry-stained by now.
Ryusui|GM: <@!Zeta>, what's your battle plan?
Zeta: (Fun Fact: Zeta has Empathy at Fair.)
Zeta...resists the temptation to taste the curry on her hair, she is not nasty either... She instead extends her hand to Jocelyne.
"You aren't looking nice...Sorry for his...brutal attitude." She doesn't wait though, and tries to get the Fennec on both her feet. "I needed someone....strong, but it seems words aren't his strongest suit...Ironically." She pats her head, the part that isn't dirtied with Curry, truly an aegis of self control.
Zeta: (May i roll empathy to try and fix Casper's mess?)
Ryusui|GM: (sure.)
Casper: (Hm... It does feel like we're just being punished for barking up this tree. I did win a Conflict, though, so something good should come out of all this in the end...)
Zeta: !f 2 (Zeta is looking at you, Casper.)
DiscoDude: <@Zeta> rolled 4dF+2 for 3 [4dF = [-][+][+][ ]]
Ryusui|GM: (that's good enough)
Casper: Meanwhile, back in the Hall of Justice Curry: "I'll take your curry."
"So that's one pla-"
"No, your curry. All of it."
Ryusui|GM: (XD XD XD)
Zeta: She puts the dorkiest, goofiest smile.
Ryusui|GM: Jocelyn rises unsteadily to her feet, calming down a bit. "Well, you certainly seem nice enough. And getting him to go after the curry will save me a lot of bother."
Ryusui|GM: Casper, the folks at the curry shop aren't certain precisely how to respond to your request, but they see the wad of bills in your hand and the look in your eye and, with some trepidation, start churning out plates. Both the cashier and the cook keep an eye on you as the plates stack up, as if waiting for the nod that says "that's enough."
Ryusui|GM: Zeta, are you going back to the auction house with Jocelyn, or waiting for Casper to return with the curry first?
Casper: He never does. He just... keeps staring. Almost like he's scrutinizing their souls.
Zeta: "I Doubt he will flub a task like bringing Curry to a house..." She gives a look to the Fennec's attire again. "Do you need help to clean yourself? I can give you my coat if needed..."
Zeta: Case in point, she will go to the auction house first, trust Casper not to fuck up.
Ryusui|GM: "The coat would be much appreciated, thanks."
Ryusui|GM: It's starting to get dark as you get to the auction house. The lights are on inside, but dimmed. Nobody's in the lobby.
Ryusui|GM: "Oh heavens," Jocelyn whimpers. "I think we might be late."
Zeta: "...Oh no..." she takes a more grimm expression. "...How late, exactly?"
Ryusui|GM: Jocelyn blinks, looks at her watch, wipes some curry sauce off of it, then looks again. "Odd. The auction's not supposed to start for another half-hour or so."
Ryusui|GM: You can proceed into the auction hall proper, if you like, Zeta.
Casper: "Okay, that's enough now." Casper leaves with a large camping bag's worth of food.
Ryusui|GM: They seem immensely grateful as they accept your money and hand you much, much more curry than Jocelyn spilled.
Ryusui|GM: It's still going to be a walk back to the auction house, especially with such a load.
Casper: Casper can do it, though! Just watch.
Ryusui|GM: (He can do it! He can do it nine times.)
Zeta: "...Let's- Let's hurry up." She goes in, and with haste...
Ryusui|GM: By all appearances, you've arrived just in time for the auction to start.
Ryusui|GM: There are four wealthy-looking bidders in the seats, Xia included. The auctioneer stands by the podium, flanked by the two guards from earlier.
Ryusui|GM: On a pedestal by him sits the statue.
Ryusui|GM: You can just barely make out Xia chanting "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry" over and over again.
Casper: (Do I make it?)
Ryusui|GM: (you will, but i want something to play out first)
Zeta: ...Ah, the ferret girl looks even more worried... "That....is not..." Of course being this close to the statue again stuns her for a few moments.
Ryusui|GM: Jocelyn is staring right at the auctioneer with a look of unrecognition. "That's not...I mean, that is, but it's...not..."
Ryusui|GM: Zeta, the statue's eldritch tingle is turning into that familiar crawling up your spine, but there's something different.
Zeta: "..." she says nothing, but looks at Jocelyn.
Ryusui|GM: Before now, the statue's presence suffused this entire auction house evenly.
Casper: (Is Casper there yet???)
Ryusui|GM: Now you're detecting several distinct presences. Powerful ones. Nearby.
Ryusui|GM: (in one moment 😉 )
Ryusui|GM: The auctioneer smiles at you, Zeta. "I see my loyal friend has delivered my greatest threat unto me just as promised. Naked and unprotected." His tone of voice is completely different from before. No senile confusion; this voice is ancient and imperious.
Ryusui|GM: (Casper i can promise you that you will arrive right after <@!Zeta> responds)
Zeta: "..." She still says nothing, but keeps looking at Jocelyn, as if waiting for an answer... But then.
She turns back to the old man, her eyes are open wide, biting down her lips with an expression that can be only resumed in as few words as-
No, She can't find any words.
She is speechless.
Ryusui|GM: <@!Casper> enters, with his massive bag of curry, and the auctioneer's attention turns to him.
Ryusui|GM: "Ah, Casper, my friend, my loyal, trusted friend," he says. "Thank you so much for sending the girl to me."
Casper: Casper throws the curry across the room without hesitation, and pulls his rifle out of his bag.
Ryusui|GM: (shit, you wanted a bonus from that conflict? i'ma give you a +2 free and clear on this first roll)
Casper: (Er, are we starting now? It's less than an hour until my bedtime.)
Ryusui|GM: (well, we can pause it right here if you all prefer XD)
Casper: (I was sort of planning on "the assistant" being one session.)
Ryusui|GM: (this is pretty much where i was planning to wrap up anyways)
Ryusui|GM: (<@&646786011103363104>?)
Zeta: Oh, some words escape the ferret's mouth.
"Jocelyn... please leave this room..."
"...You can keep the Coat."
Casper: (No last lines from me.)
Ryusui|GM: Jocelyn wastes no time fleeing, screaming into the twilight.
Ryusui|GM: (and with that, let us...)
Ryusui|GM: !end
