Session 22 – The Three Hour Score
Also known as Season 2 Episode 10.
I wasn’t sure what the Emporium Crew were going to do here. Were they going to go back to the Deathlands and try to recover the petrified bodies of their Deathlands Rovers, or were they going to disrupt the Dean’s plans? What was going to happen when Veretta next met up with Lord Scurlock with the items recovered from the Lost District? So I was prepared for a session in which a lot of ground would be covered but I had no idea if an actual score would occur.
This session is called The Three Hour Score because from start to finish, the score itself was over in only three hours of game time. A snap decision – and they were off.
‘3’ was something of a magic number in this session. Veretta kept rolling ‘3’s even when he changed dice.
Part 1 – Returning from the Lost District
- With the rain still pouring down outside, the Emporium Crew have just returned from their previous score and Hal is furious that they’ve had to leave their comrades behind. He continues to rage and rant at the others, pressing Veretta and Bas to ‘hit the books’ and find out a way to reverse the petrification effect. Bas suggests putting their comrades’ spirits (which are in spirit jars) into other bodies so that they don’t have to recover the statues – and neither Hal nor Leander is very impressed.
- With a Fortune Roll (a ‘6’), Leander finds that they still have tea and a handful of reasonably fresh cakes. The arrow wound that he sustained in the Lost District pains him – he isn’t willing to go back into the Lost District immediately and so he seeks to calm the situation down with tea and cakes. Hal is not impressed with the tea. He tries to find some brandy in the cupboard (A Fortune Roll is made – it is a ‘4’) – and he finds a bottle, but there is less of it than he would like. He adds it to his tea.
- Slowly, Hal calms down. Hal asks Veretta what he will do with the spirits of their comrades. Veretta assures him that he’ll look after them. Hal helps to arrange them on Veretta’s shelves so that he knows which ones are ‘theirs’. He lights candles and prays for them.
Part 2 – In the Wee Hours
- The group slowly breaks up. Bas heads to his room but can’t sleep. His mind is racing about hybridisation and his upcoming meeting with the mysterious ‘Shuluth’. (He has the Trauma ‘Obsessed’) He falls asleep at his desk.
- Veretta shuts himself in his study. He also finds it difficult to sleep and he starts looking through the books that he has, looking for clues about what sort of creature would have the ability to petrify someone. He makes a Study roll (and gets a ‘4’) – so he finds references to creatures that can do this, but the problem is that there is more than one creature with this ability. It will take him time and further study to narrow it down. Starting a new Clock ‘Restore the Deathlands Rovers’ – 1 of 6.
- Leander finishes his tea, cleans up the kitchen and quietly heads to bed. He makes a Fortune Roll (and gets a ‘6’). Nyryx is in his room, sitting quietly and reading a book called ‘Brief Lives’ by Gregor Halkiri. She is still in her Hull body, in which she doesn’t need to sleep or eat. She notes that he is injured and Leander says that he just needs some sleep. Nyryx puts down her book and helps him get to bed. She explains that she told Malista to get some rest for the night, and Nyryx came over to check on him. She found that the entire Crew was out, so she decided to wait. Leander thanks her. (Fortune Roll = ‘5’) Nyryx admits that she may have found a new host – someone who is willing to let her share a real body (not Malista). Leander smiles at this and pats her hand.
- With the others gone to bed, Hal and Nia talk about using the cover of the storm to go back to house in Foghollow across from Strangford’s manor. Hal is keen to go but Nia wants to take a break first.
- Nia goes to her room and spends a few hours getting clean and trying different outfits on (indulging her Vice). She takes so long that Hal falls asleep with his head on the dining table, but about three o’clock in the morning, Nia emerges and wakes Hal up. They gear up and head out into the night.
Part 3 – The House in Foghollow
- The rain is still pouring down in sheets. Nia and Hal make their way to the residence without incident. They make a Group Survey roll (and get a ‘3’) – there seems to be no other way into the second storey apartment apart from the front door. Also, there are lights on at the window. (The GM made a Fortune roll – and got a ‘1’ – hence the worst possible outcome for Nia and Hal. It seems that the residence in question is busy at 3am.)
- Hal uses Attune to peer into the Ghost Field and see whether there is only the Lamprey-minder in residence. The result is a ‘6’ and he sees that there are multiple people inside – at least four of them.
- Nia decides that she may be able to get up to one of the second storey windows and get a better look from there. Hal gives her a boost (using Prowl – and gets a ‘4’). Hence his assist is successful but this puts Nia in a Risky position. Nia then starts climbing up the drainpipe and she reaches the window of the target apartment (she gets a Critical – double ‘6’). Still in a Risky position, she peers through the window and sees The Dean, a huge lamprey-faced minder standing guard, a wizened fellow with narrow rimmed glasses who appears to be wearing a lab coat, and a figure in a purple robe (whom she has tailed before). They are having a conversation. The room is lit by candlelight. There is a map of Akoros and the surrounding sea on the table, and there are little models of ships and structures marked on the map.
- With her Critical result, she can see a lot of what is going on. There is a marker off-shore of Duskwall, and there is another marker in the sea just outside of Whitehollow. She catches a glimpse of the purple robed person’s face – and he has a squid-like head with tentacles sprouting from the lower part of his face. A mind flayer! A demon of the ancient world!
- Deciding that the opportunity is too good to pass up, Nia decides to gently pry up the window so that she can hear the conversation. She makes a Finesse roll and gets a ‘6’ – hence she’s successful.
- The Dean seems to be in charge and he is talking with Professor Weiss and Shuluth. They are operating under instructions from the demon Setarra and it seems that they are relying upon Bas’ calculations about resuscitating Leviathan Spawn to further their plans. (Professor Weiss has double and triple checked Bas’ calculations) There is mention of the Delvers’ Guild in Whitehollow doing work to prepare the site for their arrival. The ‘dead’ leviathan there is being prepared. Quantities of electroplasm are being moved into position. Many of the faithful and the hybrids are already being moved to Whitehollow to prepare for its rebirth.
- There is some concern from the three of them that Strangford may attempt a double-cross. They seem to be wary of him.
- The Dean seems to trust Bas implicitly and he speaks highly of him (the result of a Critical success many sessions ago). Veretta’s name is mentioned once – and despite Setarra’s faith in Veretta, none of the others seem to trust Veretta.
- When Nia decides that she has enough information, she carefully returns to the ground where Hal has been waiting and they slip away into the night. Hal can hardly believe his ears and Nia has to do some fast talking to prevent Hal from going back to kick the door down and kill them all. She thinks it is more important to discuss with the others.
- When they return, they find the others fast asleep and they decide to leave it until morning.
Part 4 – Nyryx Buys Lunch
- A Fortune roll is made for Nyryx and she gets a Critical (double ‘6’) on two dice. As such, Nyryx leaves Leander asleep and goes on patrol to see what the Maw of the Void are up to. To her astonishment, she finds the tunnels washed clean and the creatures are gone – at least for now. In the morning she goes to visit Malista to give her the good news. Malista is pleased but she also has some good news for Nyryx. The woman that they had been talking to about becoming a potential host for Nyryx has agreed.
- Hence Nyryx is in a very good mood. She buys lunch for the Emporium Crew – goat pies, cheese, two bottles of milk, two bowls of chicken feet for Erik and Bas, and some fresh fruit. She tells Leander about her good fortune.
- The food brightens the Crew’s mood, and they enjoy the lunch. However, they are unwilling to discuss what they have learnt in front of Nyryx or Erik and they wait until later in the afternoon before discussing further.
Part 5 – Plots and Plans
- Nia shares what she observed and heard from The Dean’s meeting in Foghollow. She also tells Bas that Shuluth is some sort of demon squid-faced creature. They talk through that if the Dean’s plans come to fruition, Whitehollow may be destroyed.
- Hal’s idea is simple – kill them all. He even suggests that if the Dean is killed, Bas could possibly become the new Dean. Veretta is cautious – given that these people work for Setarra, he doesn’t want to get involved. Bas would like to see whether their experiment to revive the leviathan will work or not. Leander sides with Hal and suggests that they just take out the Dean, and Shuluth and Weiss. Hal is surprised by Leander decision to side with him.
- The group decides quickly on an assault, using Bas’ planned meeting with Shuluth as the trigger. Bas will ask for when he can meet Shuluth and then they will time the assault to coincident when Shuluth and the Dean are together.
Part 6 – Hasty Preparations
- Bas meets with the Dean at Charterhall University. They have had many interactions before and the Dean trusts Bas. Bas makes a Consort roll (and gets a ‘6’) and asks to meet with Shuluth. The Dean is pleased and promises to set it up. However, the timing is only 2 hours away.
- Meanwhile, Hal has been trying to find the best way into and out of the Dean’s secret sub-basement. He looks for access points from the canals or the catacombs (both of which the Emporium Crew knows well) but he gets a ‘1’ on his Survey. As such, he can’t find a way in or out that hasn’t been blocked off.
- Similarly, Nia is trying to find a way to get the assault team onto the premises. She tries other above ground routes such as via the library and the Sparkwright tower, but she also draws a blank (Survey = ‘2’).
- Bas explores the sub-basement laboratories, looking for a way to get the Emporium Crew into the complex. Many of the guards, workers and equipment are not here – them seem to have been relocated to Whitehollow. Hence the place is quieter than it is normally. He attempts a Survey (and gets a ‘5’) – and as such, he finds an exit which is under repair and hence is not as strong as other guarded ways into the complex. However, this exit does have a guardpost with a single guard.
Part 7 – The Assault
- Hence only two hours after the meeting with Shuluth is first arranged, the Emporium Crew goes into action. Bas has a Light Load. Nia, Leander and Hal are carrying Heavy Load. Veretta is sitting this one out as he doesn’t want to draw attention from Setarra. (Setarra is his negative contact)
- The Engagement roll is a ‘5’, hence the crew starts in a Risky position
- Leander approaches the guardpost. He pretends to ask for directions and when the guard moves to direct him, Leander blows trance powder in the guard’s face. (Sway = ‘6’) The guard slumps.
- Nia leads the Group Prowl into the sub-basement complex. None of them have been here before but Bas has described the floor plans to them. The result is a ‘4’ hence they do it (with Greater Effect). However, a new Active Clock ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’ is now 1 of 4. This Clock represents when the Dean’s forces are alerted to their presence.
- Given that they achieved this with Greater Effect, their timing is perfect. They arrive shortly after Bas is introduced to Shuluth.
- A few minutes earlier, Bas met again with the Dean, and the Dean escorts Bas to introduce him to Shuluth. The Dean opens the door to Shuluth’s ‘study’ and the Mind Flayer’s voice can be heard in Bas’ mind that he should come in.
- At this point, Bas has to make a Resolve roll or the Mind Flayer will sense his intentions. Bas rolls a ‘5’ and takes 1 point of stress. Shuluth trusts Bas.
- With the Dean standing in the doorway, having just ushered Bas through, the rest of the Emporium Crew arrives on the scene. Leander draws a blade and stabs the Dean through the back. (Skirmish = ‘6’). The Dean collapses with a surprised look on his face.
- Shuluth steps in front of Bas to protect him. Hal and Nia leap over the body of the Dean to engage with Shuluth. Tentacles writhing, Shuluth the Mind Flayer lets out a powerful mental blast, even as Bas shows his true colour and stabs Shuluth in the back. The members of the Emporium Crew shrug off the mental assault and continue their assault. Nia has resisted with a Critical and she beheads Shuluth with a Skirmish roll of ‘6’. The body flops to the ground and black ichor starts to spill onto the floor.
- However, all is not over. The Dean suddenly stands back up again as if animated by some unholy force. With supernatural strength, the Dean leaps on Leander and stabs him with his own knife. (which is reduced down to Level 0 Harm by checking Armour and making a Resistance roll). Nevertheless, Leander is forced out of the way and the Dean bounds away.
- Cursing, Hal runs after the Dean. In his hand is the ‘knife from another world’ that will cut through anything. The Dean runs as if he is a puppet on strings. He moves unnaturally, springing and bouncing along the corridor. Nevertheless, Hal catches him (with a ‘5’) and cuts him in two, severing his spine. There is blood everywhere. The Active Clock ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’ is now 2 of 4.
- Far in the distance, the bells of Bellweather Crematorium begin to toll…
Part 8 – Escaping from the Sub-Basement
- Shuluth’s head is put in a bag and Bas convinces the others to rough him up to make him appear that he is also a victim.
- Bas then sets to work trying to cover up the crime. He knows where there are pipes carrying combustible fuel and he is carrying fire oil to start the blaze. Hal offers to help him. Bas accepts a Devil’s Bargain that no matter how this turns out, he will have a new obsession for ‘fire’.
- A Wreck roll is made and it is a ‘6’ with Greater Effect. As such, he successfully burns the bodies of the Dean and Shuluth and causes extensive damage to the underground complex as solvents, chemicals and other flammables quickly go up. In fact, it is so successful that it puts everyone in danger both from the flames and the toxic fumes.
- Leander leads a Group Prowl to get out of the building and they do it with a ‘4’. The Active Clock ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’ is now 3 of 4. The flames spread from the sub-basement to the upper levels. Thick smoke pours out of the complex.
- On the way out, Bas convinces Hal to wound him so that he may better appear a victim. As the others escape, Bas staggers towards the fire brigade and convinces them (with a Sway of ‘5’) that he has escaped a terrible accident. The Active Clock ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’ is now 4 of 4 – as such, a handful of shambling figures stagger out of the building, coughing and sputtering. A Fortune roll is made and it is a ‘6’ – Professor Weiss doesn’t make it out alive.
- Three hours after the initial call to action, the score is over.
Score Results
- Reputation: +2
- Heat: +2 (death and destruction but they have an alibi and have done some misdirection)
- Coin: 0 (I won’t bother rolling for the Side Businesses)
- Individual XP: Veretta (4xp), Leander (4xp), Bas (5xp), Hal (6xp), Nia (5xp)
- Crew XP: +3
- Faction Adjustments: None
– The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Friend - 5 of 8
– Bodies in the Canals (Gondoliers) – 1 of 8
– Avenge their Expulsion (Greycloaks) - 5 of 8