Play@YSDC

Posted: **Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:35 pm**

I’d like to keep Terror on the Orient-Express, the renowned classic era campaign.

I’ve got plenty of time for now, so I could play daily, and will expect players to post, say, at least three posts a week. But of course, even with a quick start and constant rhythm, the campaign is long, and we won’t finish it until months! So, if you don’t feel able to play as long, pray let the place to someone else.
Two players are already involved, and I’d like to get four or five more.

CoC experience isn't required, not even a knowledge of Lovecraft. But, more than the others famous Chaosium campaign, I think the success of TotOE relies on good role-play and the ability to recreate the mood and surroundings of the European entre-deux-guerre. Consequently, I'll expect the players to be able of a good role- immersion.

Is anybody interested?

A special thought for Isa

Please send-me your character proposal at prbatblind@veryspeedy.net . I would like most of the characters to be at least middle, indeed upper class: they’re going to travel in the most luxurious train ever constructed, and will need some manners! Besides, most of the characters should also already know each other: but we could of course discuss it later. If need be, I’ve got half a dozen pregens, and could also provide some of the many TotOE official ones, although my personal preference would be brand-new, “fresh” characters.

We’ll start as soon as I have enough candidates.

At last, of course, you mustn’t know the campaign. But conversely, the campaign being surely the best written, the most literary Chaosium product, lots of books & films references would be very opportune. Among them:

The Mystery of the Blue Train & Murder on the Orient Express, two Poirot novels by Agatha Christie
Murder on the Orient Express, directed by Sidney Lumet
The Lady Vanishes, directed by Alfred Hitchcock
From Russia with Love, directed by Terence Young (a Bond film which climax takes place aboard the legendary train)

“En voiture !”

Posted: **Mon Jan 30, 2006 6:52 pm**

This seems intriguing. I can easily keep up with the fast paced rythym you mentioned. I will forward a character concept once I have completed one.

Posted: **Mon Jan 30, 2006 11:37 pm**

You bet! Count me in. I will see about creating a new character too.

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 12:16 am**

Bien sur, mon ami. Count me in!

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 2:47 am**

How shuld you like the characters submidted? I've made a prospective travler.

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 6:13 am**

Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee's Horror Express is another possible source of inspiration.

Yes, I'm interested. I would like a look at the pregens first, though I do have a character drawn up and ready for use.

daniel.djadh@gmail.com

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:14 am**

i'm interested.
any special requirements we should take into account for our characters? any limitations (other than common sense)?

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 11:20 am**

Wu Ming wrote: How shuld you like the characters submidted? I've made a prospective travler.

I recognize here the wonderful dedication and meticulousness of Dr Giles' father! I'd indeed like the characters being submited this way (the same I used with Pr. Louchon, in fact.):

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name:
Age: (We’ll start the game January 1923)
Sex:
Occupation:
College, Degrees:
Birthplace:

Yearly Income & Propriety

Appearance & Personality
A picture could be added, off course. There are plenty of pretty good ones, CoC oriented, here.

Background
If there are any, a detailed inventory of the countries already visited, especially the European ones, of course, could be very useful.

Characteristics

STR
CON
SIZ
DEX
APP
INT , Idea
POW , Luck/SAN
EDU , Know

Sanity:
current Sanity:
phobias/mental disorders:

Hit Points:
current Hit Points:
Magic Points:
current Magic Points:
Damage Bonus:

Skills: (professional one in italics, .private preceded by a dot; non-base scores bolded)

Accounting (10%):
Anthropology (01%):
Archaeology (01%):
Art (05%):
Astronomy (01%):
Bargain (05%):
Biology (01%):
Chemistry (01%):
Climb (40%):
Conceal (15%):
Craft (05%):
Credit Rating (15%):
Cthulhu Mythos (00%):
Disguise (01%):
Dodge (DEX×2):
Electr. Repair (10%):
Fast Talk (05%):
First Aid (30%):
Geology (01%):
Hide (10%):
History (20%):
Jump (25%):
Law (05%):
Library Use (25%):
Listen (25%):
Locksmith 01%):
Martial Arts (01%):
Mech. Repair (20%):
Medicine (05%):
Natural History (10%):
Navigate (10%):
Occult (05%):
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%):
Other Language (01%):
Own Language (EDU×5%):
Persuade (15%):
Pharmacy (01%):
Photography (10%):
Physics (01%):
Pilot (01%):
Psychoanalysis (01%):
Psychology (05%):
Ride (05%):
Sneak (10%):
Spot Hidden (25%):
Swim (25%):
Throw (25%):
Track (10%):

Hand-to-Hand:
Fist/Punch (50%):
Head Butt (10%):
Kick (25%):
Grapple (25%):

Firearms
Handgun (20%):
Machine Gun (15%):
Rifle (25%):
Shotgun (30%):
SMG (15%):

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SuAside wrote: any special requirements we should take into account for our characters?

As a player, a great part of my pleasure consists in playing a character I like, which I fantasized plenty before starting the game. Consequently, the only thing I'll expect from you is to play what you're longing for. I could add or change a few petty things in the background, mostly to make NPCs or PCs contacts more plausible, but that's all, a priori.

SuAside wrote: any limitations (other than common sense)?

Indeed, I saw, even on this forum, lucky characters with all their characteristics ranging from 16 to 18 ! To forbid this, I'd like them to be "bought" with an amount from 100 to 110 points. Besides that point, I suppose we could discuss it as the case may be.

Thanks a lot for your interest.

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:03 pm**

any idea yet around what year this would be? post-war 1920's would differ quite a bit from pre-war late 30's in both atmosphere & setting.

also which orient express will we be taking? there were 3 different orient expresses at the time, the "normal" one, the "Simplon" (like on your posted picture) or the "Arlberg" one. (dont know if thats actually relevant though)

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:18 pm**

SuAside wrote: any idea yet around what year this would be? post-war 1920's would differ quite a bit from pre-war late 30's in both atmosphere & setting.

also which orient express will we be taking? there were 3 different orient expresses at the time, the "normal" one, the "Simplon" (like on your posted picture) or the "Arlberg" one. (dont know if thats actually relevant though)

I wrote it in the character template post, the year is 1923.
About which train, your character is not exactly supposed to know he's even going to travel – not more than he will expect seeing Nyarlathotep beginning The Masks ! But, you're perfectly right, there were different Orient-Expresses, and I assume it's no spoiler telling the campaign follows the tracks of the Simplon-Orient-Express...

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 5:19 pm**

PrBatblind wrote: Id like to keep Terror on the Orient-Express, the renowned classic era campaign.

PrBatBlind wrote: (Well start the game January 1923)

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 8:14 pm**

Wu Ming wrote: Id like to keep Terror on the Orient-Express, the renowned classic era campaign.

both pre-war late 1930 & post-war 1920 are classic, so i dont see why you'd quote that

Wu Ming wrote: (Well start the game January 1923)

true, my bad, didnt read the charsheet since it doesnt really matter before you know whatcha wanna play, right? nn to rub it in after he already kindly pointed out my mistake

Posted: **Tue Jan 31, 2006 9:35 pm**

SuAside wrote:
Wu Ming wrote:Id like to keep Terror on the Orient-Express, the renowned classic era campaign.

both pre-war late 1930 & post-war 1920 are classic, so i dont see why you'd quote that
Wu Ming wrote: (Well start the game January 1923)

true, my bad, didnt read the charsheet since it doesnt really matter before you know whatcha wanna play, right? nn to rub it in after he already kindly pointed out my mistake

I apologise I wasn't intending to be, nor seem snide. I think PrBatBlind and I were posting at the same time (there is a minute diffrence in the time stamp.)

On a side note I thought '30s was considered "Pulp" era by CoC classification...?

Posted: **Wed Feb 01, 2006 12:23 am**

Posted upon PrBatblind's suggestion.
(This is still preliminary, pending PrBatblind's final approval)

Giovanni Il martello di Siena Fucina wrote: Name: Giovanni Fucina
Age: 37 (b. 13, July 1886)
Sex: Male
Occupation: Retired Pugilist, Entrepreneur
College, Degrees: None
Birthplace: Monrupino, Italy

Yearly Income & Propriety
$1.501-$2.500 per annum from varied investments and enterprises.
Modest Estate & Workshop in Monrupino, Italy (Inherited from his family)
Small house in Siena, Italy
Giovanni has approximately $5.000 in savings held with intent of easing his Twilight Years

Appearance & Personality

Giovanni Age 37, 1922

Giovanni is fierce, passionate and boisterous he has a keen mind and much potential but has found the easy path through life is simply to barrel through any obstacles or difficulties, he is forward and direct and has little understanding nor use for subtlety. Hes a large and robust man who was once at the pinnacle of physical prowess, but who is now in obvious decline. He is neither as fast, fit or strong as he once was and is keenly aware of this; although his pride and habit of living fast and hard often lead him to engage in pursuits and actions he is no longer able to achieve as effortlessly as he once did and often finds himself barely succeeding in tasks which he once found inconsequential.

Giovannis face is marred by the terrible injury which ended his pugilist career five years earlier, when he lost his left eye to repetitive blows which also shattered the bones of his left cheek and cracked the upper bone of his eye socket. There is massive scar tissue on his left brow and around his now empty socket giving his upper left brow a lumpy angular texture. His left check on the other hand is loose and caved as the bone is no longer there, the loss of skeletal support and several teeth have left Giovanni with a slight whistling-lisp. Giovanni wears a large square black suede patch over his eye which covers the worst of the disfigurement. He is quite sensitive and self conscious about his injury, especially when around women and will often become belligerent and violent if he feels he is being mocked, pitied, or made a spectacle.

Background
Giovanni Fucina was born in Monrupino, Italy in 1886 the only son of Francesca and Antonio Fucina. Giovanni grew up in a rather large home for the small town of Monrupino which was home to both his family and that of his uncles as well as his grandfather. As his uncle had only two daughters, Giovanni was the only male of his generation and was raised from childhood with the expectation of his carrying on the family craft and business. His grandfather, father, and uncle were all gunsmiths and his family held several patents and were renown throughout Italy for their beautifully crafted and reliable firearms.

Giovanni possessed neither the aptitude nor inclination for the familys vocation and much to the despair and often ire of his father and uncle he would spend many of his days out about the streets with the local roustabouts getting into all manner of trouble and petty crime. Giovanni was disowned and turned out of his fathers house when he was fifteen after stealing a pistol and selling it (well below its value) to a local criminal.

Penniless and homeless at fifteen in a small town where his family was well known and respected there was little choice for Giovanni but to leave. A friend suggested he try his hand at prize fighting to earn enough money to leave Trieste province for more auspicious environs, and so Giovanni spent the next year travelling around the warehouse districts, and taverns of Trieste until he gained both the funds and prestige he needed to fight in the bigger cities and bouts of Italy, and eventually abroad.

Giovanni reached the height of his career from 1904-1911 when he fought in venues in all over Italy and the British Isles, as well as France, Germany and even the Americas. He was billed as Il martello di Siena (The Hammer of Siena) and fought in both official sanctioned bouts and exhibitions as well as bouts of classical pugilism popular among the seedier but no less paying members of society.

Giovanni Age 19, 1905

Giovannis career came to an end in the summer of 1918 when in a fight with a man nine years his junior savagely beat him in a bout lasting an astonishing sixteen rounds in which Giovanni stubbornly would not relent, despite the both his better judgment and the council of his promoter. It was the last fight he ever fought (professionally) and the vicious beating the Welshman gave him caused the loss of his left eye.

Giovanni spent the next year and a half in hospital and in convalescence, during which his mother died, his grandfather, father and uncle having passed in years previous. Giovanni inherited his familys home and business upon the event of his mothers death and shortly returned to Monrupino where he began to dismantle his familys business to generate capital for his varied financial ventures, the procurement of land and debt being chief among them. Giovanni sold two of his familys workshops and a majority of their patents to the Italian gunsmith Glisenti as well as a lucrative contract with the Italian military with the stipulation that Giovanni receive 2% of the income generated.

Emilia-Florenza; Mrs. Giovanni Age 22, 1922

Giovanni has recently married Emilia-Florenza Varisco the niece of one his old roguish friends, the union has been both financially and romantically satisfying as Emilia-Florenza has brought a hefty dowry with her, and comes from a well-to-do family, the couple plans to travel the Simplon Orient-Express in celebration of their matrimony.

Characteristics

STR 14
CON 11
SIZ 15
DEX 8
APP 6
INT 17 , Idea 85
POW 10 , Luck/SAN 50
EDU 15 , Know 75

Hit Points: 10
Magic Points: 10
Damage Bonus: +1d4

Skills: (professional one in italics, . private preceded by a dot; non-base scores bolded; handicapped skills in blue.)

.Accounting (10%): 40%
Anthropology (01%):
Archaeology (01%):
Art (05%):
Astronomy (01%):
Bargain (05%):
Biology (01%):
Chemistry (01%):
Climb (40%):
Conceal (15%):
.Craft: Gunsmith (05%): 25%
Credit Rating (15%):
Cthulhu Mythos (00%):
Disguise (01%):
Dodge (DEXx2): 77%
Electr. Repair (10%):
Fast Talk (05%):
First Aid (30%):
Geology (01%):
Hide (10%):
History (20%):
Jump (25%):
Law (05%):
Library Use (25%):
Listen (25%):
Locksmith 01%):
.Martial Arts (01%): 24%
Mech. Repair (20%):
Medicine (05%):
Natural History (10%):
Navigate (10%):
Occult (05%):
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%):
.Other Language English (01%): 55%
.Other Language French (01%): 40%
.Other Language German (01%): 35%
Own Language Italian (EDU×5%): 85%
Persuade (15%):
Pharmacy (01%):
Photography (10%):
Physics (01%):
Pilot (01%):
Psychoanalysis (01%):
Psychology (05%):
Ride (05%):
Sneak (10%):
Spot Hidden (25%): 15%
Swim (25%):
Throw (25%): 50%
Track (10%):

Firearms
Handgun (20%): 10%
Machine Gun (15%): 05%
Rifle (25%): 15%
Shotgun (30%): 20%
SMG (15%): 05%

Hand-to-Hand:
Fist/Punch (50%): 78%
Head Butt (10%): 83%
Kick (25%): 45%
Grapple (25%): 75%

Posted: **Wed Feb 01, 2006 6:34 am**

Another masterpiece from Wu Ming!

I thought it could be useful for everybody he posts that soon his wonderful character: it’s a model, formal as well as substantial, and it could already give other players ideas, even the wish to play Emilia-Florenza, or whatever relative or friend. It’s also a start from which we can begin to think how the characters were introduced to each others.

I see from your PMs that the brainstorming has begun, undoubtedly one of my favourite moments of the game. I wanted to add a precision here: I chose to name the campaign because I couldn’t take the risk to regiment a player on an anonymous game till he discovers he already knows it! I had thus to name the Orient-Express. But there’s no obligation at all any of the character already took or plans to travel aboard the train. It could be a plus if it’s the case, but don’t feel dictated to. Finally, we’ll probably start the game in London: it could also be a meeting place, or a start to think over a character.

If some of you are undecided about their character, nobody seems to have shown an interest towards a scholar/professor type yet.

At last, a petty complement to SuAside question:

any special requirements we should take into account for our characters? any limitations (other than common sense)?

I’d like – starting – skills (other than EDU-based Speak own language) not to reach above 89 %.

Posted: **Wed Feb 01, 2006 7:34 pm**

Countess Yekaterina Sergeievna Trapeznikova Burnell
aka- Lady Katrina Burnell
Aka - Katie

Age 33
Sex: Female
Occupation Dilettante/ Diplomat
College Degrees- Private Tutor, Masters Degree
Birthplace- St. Petersburg, Russia

Yearly Income $55,000 Upper Class

Appearance- Katrina is a small woman, still quite beautiful as she enters her mid 30s.

Background- Katrina Trapeznikov Burnell, born Katrina Trapeznikov, an aristocrat, in St. Petersburg, is currently living in townhouse in London off the inheritance from her husband and from the proceeds of her family fortune currently invested in London and Switzerland. She also maintains a second residence in the South of France, and apartments in Spain, Geneva and Italy.

Little is known of her early childhood, only that she was the daughter of the Russian diplomat Nicolas Trapeznikov and spent much of her early childhood abroad and with private tutors that were lavished upon her. Much of this training went to preparing her to be the wife of a Russian diplomat. As she grew older, she remained close to her family and worked with at the embassy and attended numerous diplomatic functions. These early experiences gave her an appreciation for foreign travel and foreign culture, and a hunger to spend much of her life abroad. She therefore grew up knowing little of Russia or Russian culture.

While working with the Russian Consulate in Hong Kong, she met her husband, Sir Mark Burnell, a rising diplomat within the English Diplomatic Corp. The two quickly fell in love and married within a year. At the onset of the war, the Burnells were sent to Russia to work at the embassy there in order for Russia and Britain to coordinate efforts. They were in Russia in 1917, the year of Revolution. During this period the Burnells turned their attention to helping members of the Russia aristocracy, and their fortunes, escape to the West.

Katrinas father was killed in Russia by Bolsheviks in 1917 the same year the Burnells were forced to leave Russia and returned to the Far East. Mark was murdered in 1918 in Hong Kong, and Katrina returned to England to settle matters concerning the Burnell estate as well as see to her own families fortune. The couple had no children.

Since the end of the War Katrina has been living off her family inheritance. Her Russian language skills and prior service for the British Foreign Service have often led to her performing services on behalf of Her Majestys government and her adopted country. Much of this concerns work with other members of the Russian émigré community throughout Europe and the diplomatic staffs of foreign countries.

This requires her to travel extensively and meet with members of foreign governments and local leaders. Formally she is often recognized as the Countess Katerina or sometimes simply as Lady Katerina. Her aristocratic titles allows her some level of influence which she often utilizes for humanitarian and political causes.

She likes to travel and knows that she is attractive. Althought she mourned the loss of her husband, she is still a young woman and would consider remarriage. She will assume the position as a rich dilettante enjoying her money on foreign, often romantic, adventure. Indeed, Katrina is often aware of her attractiveness and has enjoyed numerous romantic liaisons on such trips. That said, she is beginning to think about settling down and raising the family she missed with her deceased husband.

When not working or traveling, Katrina is often found on holiday in Spain, the South of France or in Italy. She maintains a house in the South of France and apartments in Geneva, Italy and Spain for these purposes.

Katerina acknowledges and appreciates the wealth she has inherited, but often makes little express mention of it. Although formally she is often introduced as either the Countess Katerina or Lady Katerina, she prefers to be called either Katerina or Kate. She maintains a modest household staff at her home in London and her summer residence in France, and no staff in Italy or Spain. When she travels it is rarely with accompanying staff or a bodyguard.

Characteristics-
STR 9
CON-13
POW- 17
DEX- 12
APP- 17 (Note +1 as diplomat)
SIZ 10
INT 15
EDU -20

Idea- 75%
Luck- 85%
Know-100%
Sanity- 75%

Hit point- 12
Damage Bonus- 0
Magic Points 17

Skills-
(professional skills in bold, personal have a + in front - sorry couldn't figure out the dots).

Accounting (10%):
Anthropology (01%):
Archaeology (01%):
Art (05%):
Astronomy (01%):
Bargain (05%):
Biology (01%):
Chemistry (01%):
Climb (40%):
Conceal (15%):
+ Craft Piano or Song 30 %
Credit Rating- (50%) (Note +30 as diplomat)
Cthulhu Mythos (00%):
Diplomacy 70% -
Disguise (01%):
+Dodge 40%
Electr. Repair (10%):
Fast Talk (50%)
First Aid (30%)
Geology (01%):
Hide-( 45%)
History (30%):
Jump (25%):
Law (05%):
Listen (50%)
+Library Use ( 45%)
Locksmith 01%):
Martial Arts (01%):
Mech. Repair (20%):
Medicine (05%):
Natural History (10%):
Navigate (10%):
Occult (05%):
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%):
Own Language- Russia 90%
+Other Language- English- 50%
Other Language French 40%
Other Language- Chinese - Cantonese- 30% spoken 15% written
Other Language- Italian 15 %
Persuade (55%)
Pharmacy (01%):
Photography (10%):
Physics (01%):
Pilot (01%):
Psychoanalysis (01%):
Psychology (50%)
Ride (05%):
Sneak (50%)
Spot Hidden (50%)
Swim (25%):
Throw (25%):
Track (10%):

* Note Diplomacy- involves both the substantive and practical skills of diplomats. Such knowledge would include diplomatic etiquette, the laws governing diplomats, foreign policy making and history, and the practice of negotiating and bargaining to resolve matters of difference (similar to bargain in a commercial transaction- likewise utilizing fast talk and persuade skills).

Hand-to-Hand:
Fist/Punch (50%):
Head Butt (10%):
Kick (25%):
Grapple (25%):

Firearms
+ Handgun- (60%- Walther Model 8)

http://www.gunsworld.com/walther/model8.html
Machine Gun (15%):
Rifle (25%):
Shotgun (30%):
SMG (15%):
+Knife- Switchblade- 65%

Both weapons are often kept close to her person, either hidden on her body or in her handbag and she rarely travels outside of England without either. As a diplomat she has received permission to carry these weapons as a matter of personal security, or at least, when she doesn't have that permission, she has learned to hide these weapons inside a hidden compartment within her bags. Other personal items include her purse, money, a hairbrush, mirror, a razor, perfume, tissues and a variety of other items often found within a woman's handbag.

Posted: **Thu Feb 02, 2006 1:39 am**

Nice character Wu-Ming. Are we also to expect a character for Emilia-Florenza?

Also I wonder if Katerina and Giovanni are acquainted.

Posted: **Thu Feb 02, 2006 5:41 pm**

Oh wow...this is gonna be alot more difficult than I thought. Jeeze...

Posted: **Sat Feb 04, 2006 2:42 am**

welsh wrote: Nice character Wu-Ming. Are we also to expect a character for Emilia-Florenza?

I am in the process of detailing Emilia-Florenza, Wu Ming and I are working it, and it should be posted in the next couple of days.

welsh wrote: Also I wonder if Katerina and Giovanni are acquainted.

Wu Ming should be replying in regards to this 'shortly' (or so he says.)

Posted: **Sat Feb 04, 2006 6:05 am**

Jhaal wrote:
welsh wrote:Nice character Wu-Ming. Are we also to expect a character for Emilia-Florenza?

I am in the process of detailing Emilia-Florenza, Wu Ming and I are working it, and it should be posted in the next couple of days.

welsh wrote: Also I wonder if Katerina and Giovanni are acquainted.

Wu Ming should be replying in regards to this 'shortly' (or so he says.)

Wonderful ! With two characters husband and wife, and the others diversely acquainted, we should have a realy cohesive group.

If need be, I created a new pregen, especially ... Express-oriented ! People interested by a haughty French young philosophy teacher can peek at Jean-Michel Ricard.

Posted: **Sat Feb 04, 2006 1:13 pm**

Regarding Katerina and Giovanni being familiar with one another, it is my thought that if either Sir Mark Burnell, or perhaps Katerina herself were a fan of the pugilistic arts then it is quite possible that they may have met before during his career, and perhaps engaged in correspondence or a 'light acquaintanceship' dinning together and attending the same functions in one another's company.

As a majority of Giovannis career was spent in Britannia it is likely that a majority of his notoriety is among the British and the Italians (those of Siena in specific.) Also a possible means of familiarity; in his younger days it was not uncommon for Giovanni to 'befriend' the aristocratic and wealthy ladies of the regions in which he worked, and at his height he enjoyed quite a few 'patronesses'.

Posted: **Sat Feb 04, 2006 2:49 pm**

Once again very nice ideas, Wu Ming. I suspect our high-tempered Katiouchka to indeed nourish some kind of mannish taste for pugilistic bouts or exhibitions...

She was raised mostly abroad, but however I’m not sure the Trieste province would have been a favourite travel choice for wealthy Russian aristocrats, even if we consider at the time Trieste was under Austro-Hungarian control. Besides, Katerina doesn’t speak Italian at all, even if approximately one third of the province was German-speaking… Maybe, considering she owns a holiday house – in an unknown location – in Italy, that could be in Toscana, near Giovanni’s place: knowing one another from his former pugilist life, they met again a few years after, discovering they were neighbours …

What does think our femme fatale?

Posted: **Sat Feb 04, 2006 5:01 pm**

What I think?

I think I am enjoying this cross-gendered roleplay a bit too much!

Sounds fine. If you want to give Katerina a bit of Italian, a 25% (and what the hell the language is a romantic language and the romance languages are easy to learn if you are already familiar with one).

Yes, I envision Katerina as a lady who enjoys a bit of bloodsport, so it's quite likely they were acquainted in some light way. Lovely idea.

Posted: **Sat Feb 04, 2006 11:13 pm**

welsh wrote: What I think?

I think I am enjoying this cross-gendered roleplay a bit too much!

Sounds fine. If you want to give Katerina a bit of Italian, a 25% (and what the hell the language is a romantic language and the romance languages are easy to learn if you are already familiar with one).

Yes, I envision Katerina as a lady who enjoys a bit of bloodsport, so it's quite likely they were acquainted in some light way. Lovely idea.

Italian isn't nessary, they both have French at 40% and both are conversant in english.

Posted: **Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:28 am**

Posted in the fashion of Wu Ming.
(Also awaiting PrBatblind's final approval)

Emilia-Florenza Varisco wrote: Name: Mrs. Giovanni Fucina, formerly Ms. Emilia-Florenza Varisco
Age: 22 (b. 9, August 1900)
Sex: Female
Occupation: Dilettante, Wife
College, Degrees: None
Birthplace: Monrupino, Italy

Yearly Income & Propriety
$12.500 per annum living stipend from family fortunes
Modest Estate & Workshop in Monrupino, Italy (Husbands Family Estate)
Small house in Siena, Italy (Husbands Property)
$20.000 in savings, held in trust to assure a comfortable maturity.

Appearance & Personality
Emilia-Florenza is a young lady of modest stature; she is soft spoken and mild in both voice and temperament. Though not spoken of as beautiful, she is far beyond plain in countenance, of which ones impression is enhanced when introduced to her charming ability to seriously discuss academics with the sweetness of naiveté. Seemingly introverted, at heart she harbours an adventurous spirit, romantic aspirations and an intense spiritual devotion approached with a propriety that often wavers between self-righteous reproach and burdensome duty.

Emilia-Florenza Varisco; Mrs. Giovanni Age 22, 1922

Background
Emilia-Florenza Varisco was born to a wealthy family, whose fortunes lay in agriculture and recently, under the patronage of her uncle, who has made recent forays into the world of politics. Orphaned at the tender age of nine, Emilia-Florenza was raised mostly by her uncle, Italo Benito Varisco, and lead a pampered existence on the familys large estate, home to both an expansive olive orchard and a small vineyard. Resigned to life as a bachelor, Italo Varisco spared no expense in the genteel education of the niece he so adored while he himself, often surreptitiously and suddenly, engaged in diversionary travels to escape from a lonely, aging life. Accompanying her uncle on these travels always filled Emilia with great joy as it allowed her the opportunity to sketch the unaware pedestrians of Rue de Courcelles or paint the idyllic vistas of the Alps. On one such leisurely voyage she became acquainted with an engaging man in her uncles hunting party. Though most would be repulsed by Giovanni Fucinas unsightly scar, Emilia almost sanctifies it by mentally equating it to a martyrs wound. She admires him for both his intellect and his reputation as a renegade, stories of which partly satiate her thirst for adventure. After an engagement of two years, Emilia-Florenza Varisco has recently become Mrs. Giovanni Fucina. The couple plans to travel the Simplon Orient-Express in celebration of their matrimony.

Characteristics
STR 9
CON 10
SIZ 9
DEX 12
APP 14
INT 16 , Idea 80
POW 18 , Luck/SAN 90
EDU 13 , Know 65

Hit Points: 10
Magic Points: 18
Damage Bonus: none

Skills: (professional one in italics, . private preceded by a dot; non-base scores bolded.
Accounting (10%):
Anthropology (01%):
Archaeology (01%):
Art: Drawing (05%): 40%
Art: Painting (05%): 47%
.Art: Poetry (05%): 45%
.Art: Singing (05%): 25%
Astronomy (01%):
Bargain (05%):
Biology (01%):
Chemistry (01%):
Climb (40%):
Conceal (15%):
Craft (05%):
Credit Rating (15%): 50%
Cthulhu Mythos (00%):
Disguise (01%):
Dodge (DEXx2): 24%
Electr. Repair (10%):
Fast Talk (05%):
First Aid (30%):
Geology (01%):
Hide (10%):
.History (20%): 35%
Jump (25%):
Law (05%):
Library Use (25%):
.Listen (25%): 30%
Locksmith 01%):
Martial Arts (01%):
Mech. Repair (20%):
Medicine (05%):
Natural History (10%):
Navigate (10%):
Occult (05%):
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%):
.Other Language English (01%): 65%
.Other Language French (01%): 65%
.Own Language Italian (EDU×5%): 85%
.Persuade (15%): 60%
Pharmacy (01%):
Photography (10%):
Physics (01%):
Pilot (01%):
Psychoanalysis (01%):
Psychology (05%):
.Ride (05%): 30%
Sneak (10%):
Spot Hidden (25%):
Swim (25%):
Throw (25%):
Track (10%):

Firearms
Handgun (20%):
Machine Gun (15%):
Rifle (25%):
Shotgun (30%):
SMG (15%):

Hand-to-Hand:
Fist/Punch (50%):
Head Butt (10%):
Kick (25%):
Grapple (25%):

Posted: **Sun Feb 05, 2006 3:41 am**

Oh Pah!

Weddings always bring a tear to my eye!

This must be a first at this forum- a married couple! And roleplayed by two different people!

Wonderful.

Out of curiousity- do you two know each other?

Looks wonderful.

Posted: **Sun Feb 05, 2006 5:05 am**

We're a married couple, roleplaying two diffrent people who happen also to be a married couple.

Posted: **Sun Feb 05, 2006 8:47 am**

I, PrBarblind, wicked keeper, solemnly declare Giovanni & Emilia-Florenza husband & wife, for better or for worst – I’m afraid mostly for worst…

Great job. I’m a happy keeper. Those two characters of yours are an example to show in RPG schools.
Very well. So, we have got Wu Ming & Jhall, welsh, SuAside sent me his proposal, I’m waiting for DrFriod’s work. What about The_Olden_Thing and my faithful Mongoose? Seven characters seem fairly enough, for the campaign implies, literally, limited places.

I call the dear moderator.

Posted: **Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:45 pm**

I will be a while with my character. Part of the reason for my delay has been the intimidation I have experienced reading both Wu Ming and welsh's characters, and my dissatisfaction with my attempts at a good character. I've been experimenting with different styles, but I do hope to have a finished character soon.

Posted: **Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:56 pm**

ditto.

Posted: **Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:55 pm**

Name: Christopher Romero
Age: 39 (born 1881)
Sex: Male
Occupation: Professional big-game hunter, deep jungle expeditionary guide, exotic collectables salesman
College, Degrees: None
Birthplace: Boston, MA

Yearly Income & Propriety
Annual income varies depending on host, expedition success, and the sales of items collected durring such excursions. Usually between $7,000-$12,000.
Currently has $10,500 in savings in several anonymous accounts.

Appearance & Personality

Christopher has a most interesting attitude, one that seems to mix a cocky playboy attitude with a hardened, gritty, almost depressed man. Usually the former is more apparent than the latter, but within the proper context the illusion can be broken to reveal the toll Romero's life has taken on him.

Background

Chistopher Romero was born to a relatively poor family of five in the streets of Boston, forced to scavenge for food with his siblings while his father and mother both worked at various jobs attempting to dredge up money. When he was but seven years of age, they gave Christopher up to their distant and very wealthy cousin, George Roland Hubbard who reared the boy himself at his mansion.

Photographic portrait of Hubbard, taken 1892

Hubbard operated a large shipping business, in particular to foreign parts such as Africa and India, and his noteriety earned him some honor from his various clients, including several members of various royal families in Europe. He had participated in several safaris, and thus had brought back to his home many an exotic and beautiful item.

The man was too caring a foster father to push Chistopher aside in favor of his work, but instead he taught the child himself, and took young Romero with him on various business trips abroad. It was a favorite pasttime of the pair to huddle together in a blanket while the man regailed the boy with stories of his adventures in the deep jungles of Darkest Africa, or his encounters with the strange Hindus, or his fabulous dinners at the table of the Kaiser of Germany. These stories ignited the imagination of the boy, and on his twelfth birthday Christopher went with Hubbard on a safari in India as his birthday present.

The careful tutoring of his foster father at home and on the road gave the boy the necessary tools and skills to recieve an extremely good education, and the young man eventually went to Harvard at fourteen years of age, graduating well into his twenties. He immediately began work in his foster father's business, and deciding that the young man was ready, Hubbard retired early, handing the reigns of his business to Christopher.

Romero took an even more hands on approach to operating and managing his work, and made sure to have friendly ties with every single royal family he came into contact with. His ventures were so incrdibly successful that he reaped a fortune enough to last him for some time. Thus, he retired and decided to pursue a dream he had had since the early days of childhood.

Training himself in physical arts, he built his body and physical skills up before jumping head first into the world of big game hunting. So far he has had a mixture of success and failure, and some of his darker times have left scars on the man. He has taken up selling the pelts and other collectable exoic items he picks up, and this has revived his patronage among his past royal clients. Currently he is taking a break from his work, and is seriously considering reentering his foster father's company, especially in light of the man's recent death at age 77.

Characteristics

STR 09
CON 10
SIZ 12
DEX 11
APP 11
INT 13 Idea 65%
POW 13 Luck/SAN 65%
EDU 25 Know 125%

Hit Points: 11
Magic Points: 13
Damage Bonus: None

Skills:

Accounting (10%):
.Anthropology (01%): 31%
Archaeology (01%):
Art (05%):
Astronomy (01%):
.Bargain (05%): 35%
Biology (01%):
Chemistry (01%):
.Climb (40%): 50%
.Conceal (15%): 40%
Craft (05%):
Credit Rating (15%): 25%
Cthulhu Mythos (00%):
Disguise (01%):
Electr. Repair (10%):
.Fast Talk (05%): 30%
First Aid (30%): 50%
Geology (01%): 11%
.Hide (10%): 55%
History (20%):
.Jump (25%): 55%
Law (05%):
Library Use (25%):
.Listen (25%): 55%
Locksmith 01%):
.Martial Arts (01%): 11%
Mech. Repair (20%):
.Medicine (05%): 60%
Natural History (10%):
.Navigate (10%): 45%
Occult (05%):
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%):
.Other Language (01%): Afrikaans, 26%
Own Language (EDU×5%):
.Persuade (15%): 62%
.Pharmacy (01%): 06%
Photography (10%):
Physics (01%):
Pilot (01%):
Psychoanalysis (01%):
Psychology (05%):
Ride (05%):
.Sneak (10%): 50%
.Spot Hidden (25%): 35%
.Swim (25%): 35%
.Throw (25%): 35%
.Track (10%): 45%

Hand-to-Hand:
Fist/Punch (50%): 65%
Head Butt (10%): 15%
Kick (25%): 40%
Grapple (25%): 35%

Firearms
.45 Revolver: 35%

Posted: **Thu May 11, 2006 7:00 pm**

Hi!

We've lost a good part of our initial crew of eight players, now apparently reduced to a core of three regular ones, welsh, Tars_Tarkas and SuAside.

I need two more players.

I've made a résumé of the first chapter, set in London - while, as the players can forebode, the plot will probably lead them till Constantinople -, as well as a thread with the principal player handouts, so that a late introduction could be very easy for the newbies.

The campaign, being a Classic Era, Lovecraftian-orthodox Chaosium product, will probably suit better the classic Lovecraft-like WASP bookworm, although you can of course chose whatever you like, knowing that:
- welsh plays Countess Ekaterina Trapeznikov-Burnell, a.k.a. Kate - I personally nickname her The Black Widow, but I'm unfair - our Russian polyglot, high credit rating smoothtalker and diplomat.
- Tars_Tarkas plays John Radcliffe, a mysterious Yankee with a knack for accounting and a dilettanteish passion for art.
- SuAside plays the Belgian and cynical Cédric Trouvaille, Kate's bodyguard, former soldier, former policeman, and ex-security chief of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits.

Is anyone interested?

Posted: **Thu May 11, 2006 11:56 pm**

I'm interested. Please let me know what I need to do.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2006 1:00 pm**

Oi crimsontree !

A Dutchman ?! How wonderful ! SuAside is Belgian and trilingual, and it will, I’m sure, remind welsh of a wild old flame of his!

What you need to do?
First thing, take into account that I’m French, so that my English could look weird sometime, and also, forgive me my sporadic fits of laziness; nevertheless, you should regularly write me how wonderful a keeper I am to encourage me in my efforts, on the Out of Game thread, mostly conceived to do such obsequious flattering , or by PM, if you want to keep some dignity.

That being said, we can speak of the petty details of the character creation. Please, if you chose to play with us, you should be able to post an average one post every other day, and at least forewarn, or apologize, for eventual absences.
So, the character: I’ll consider you’re already familiar with CoC and the Classic, Jazz Age, era. If you aren’t, nevermind, you’ll play even more genuinely, and we’ll be here to guide you.
My preferences as a player tend towards creating my own character, so I encourage you to do so using the latest version of the rules. I made a template so that everybody can expose their sheets following the same way, and to ease my job finding the characteristics during the dice throws. You can send your project right on this thread, or PM it to me, peculiarly if you want some elements of your background not to be known by the other players. Please don’t bother to use Byakkhee: just create the character you like, following the guidelines I exposed here.

That being said, there are some gorgeous characters that have been dropped, and depending of their authors’ allowance, you could probably pick up one of them. For instance, Wu Ming opened the ball with a superb creation, which he alas never played. But, like I said, it’s subject to their creators’ forsaking of their rights (we already had a few problems with those very specific kind of "intellectual properties").

Another alternative is the character I created specially for the game, that you can find here.

I you chose to create your own, a good thing would be that he already knows one of the PCs (probably, once again, Kate, for she is undoubtedly our charismatic leader, whilst Cédric and John are much more secretive, and less inclined to link with others.) Another way to introduce naturally your PC, would be his acquaintance, and subsequent worry, with Pr. Smith.

Of course, speaking of Smith, a necessary thing is that you familiarize yourself at least with the summary of the first chapter, and the personality of the very amiable and friendly Pr. Smith.

Still tempted?

Cheers!

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2006 2:25 pm**

I am definitely interested as well - however, seeing as though I have never done this online before, I may need a push in the right direction. Your posting requirement is definitely fair enough for a campaign of this size and everything else template wise seems well and good...

I'll see about creating a character and a backstory for the campaign and posting something on this board.

Posted: **Fri May 12, 2006 3:08 pm**

Hi RyanDG,

I'm not that used to PbP game neither. On that concern, we mostly create in a constant work in progress the best ways to render to everybody the game as vivid and fun as possible. The Out of Game threads and PM are here to ease the things if you feel a little lost.

I wait impatiently for both your characters!

Cheers!

Posted: **Sat May 13, 2006 9:30 am**

Is there any slot left?
I've never done this before but I would really like to try.

Please e-mail me on fabian@ahrberg.se if there's any opening for a newbie.

Posted: **Sat May 13, 2006 10:06 am**

Thanks for the information PrBatblind.

I'm definitely still tempted although I'm an Irishman living in the Netherlands. No clogs in my shoe closet.

I'll start creating a character after the weekend. Would an Architect fit in with the scenario?

Posted: **Sat May 13, 2006 12:19 pm**

Hi crimsontree

I'm definitely still tempted although I'm an Irishman living in the Netherlands. No clogs in my shoe closet.

Irish?! Well, that's good too, I take it nevertheless!

I'm always amazed by the wonderful melting pot allowed by this site!

I'll start creating a character after the weekend. Would an Architect fit in with the scenario?

Of course! The more I reread Lovecraft, the more I'm convinced his imagination was properly architecture-induced, that for him the true beauty could only have been non-living, mineral.

That said, if possible, try to link your background to the plot as I mentioned before.

To Fabian,

Hi, I sent you an e-mail. Of course you're welcome, too. This time, are you Danish, Swedish, Danish-Swedish, a Welsh exiled, what?!

Cheers

Posted: **Sat May 13, 2006 7:24 pm**

Great! I just replied to your email.

I'm from sweden and I live in denmark since a few years back. I've just recently found Lovecraft and the Cthulhu-mythos and I've read a couple of stories so far. I'm used to table-rpg and I've never tried either Cthulhu-rpg nor PbP but I hope it will be a scary scary ride and I want to tag along =)

Posted: **Sun May 14, 2006 9:20 am**

Oi Fabian,

So you're going to play Jean-Michel Ricard, the sharp-minded, contemptuous French philosopher!

I'm going to post to you a PM with his character sheet so that you could had one last paragraph: how he learnt about Pr. Smith's house probable arson.

Here is how I see thing: during a winter break from Cambridge, he was passing time at Neuilly, in the family house in the rich suburb of Paris, to afford some researches at the Bibliothèque Nationale. The blaze happened on the night of the third and fourth January, and was mentioned in an article of the Scoop on this very morning. Being abroad, maybe deliberately without telephone to keep his concentration, he heard of it only on January 6, when he decided to immediately come back to London to take news of the case, and maybe make his own enquiry.

The best way to introduce him, if you're impatient to start, would be his going directly to Kate's house, who he already knows for being as well a friend of his mentor, and who he knows as well, although in a fuzzy manner, for having many relations that could help understand what happened. For of course he went first thing to Scotland Yard, where Fleming told him the Countess was leading her own investigation.

I suppose the best thing for you should be to read all the Chapter 01: London thread, as well as the Player Handout one, and at last the background of the three other characters - although roleplaying an introduction, or on the contrary eventual commune souvenirs with Kate, could be interesting, too. Even if J.-M. didn't live all the events, Kate and the others would probably accept him easily in the crew, and share information. Besides, he is a very brilliant ma, and will certainly very quickly have a picture of the situation.

As soon as we agree, I'll thumb up for your posting your PC sheet on the appropriate thread, and your starting the game: the sooner the better!

What do ya think?

Posted: **Sun May 14, 2006 2:20 pm**

Sounds great! I have a meeting in a few hours but I'll catch up as much as I can before then and I should be able to return to you later tonight.
I have a few ideas of my own but I need to read up on the plot a bit more.
I think it's better if the involved characters have some kinda of prior at least knowledge of eachother. I kinda like roleplaying groups together but it often takes a lot of time. Better if I know at least one of the others and we've all heard of eachother somehow so I wont feel to much as an outsider (mostly fo r my own sake as the mythos and PbP is a bit new to me)

Ill get back to you later tonight. Feel free to add me on msn or icq PrB.

Posted: **Tue May 16, 2006 8:29 pm**

I've sent my character via email. Now I need to read chapter 1.

Posted: **Fri May 19, 2006 5:28 am**

This sounds like an exciting campaign. I would like to join if you have an opening. I have some ideas for my investigator... let me know if you can fit me in!

Posted: **Fri May 19, 2006 10:01 am**

Hi Zephyr,

It seems that Fabian has withdrawn, so ther is still place for a sixth player.

What's your concept? Pray, don't hesitate to ask me there or by PM every complement of information.

Best

Posted: **Fri May 19, 2006 12:28 pm**

To Zephyr,

Maybe it could be of some help, I updated the list of the crew, with, for each player, a sketch of his character.

Don't forget my summary of the first chapter, and Tars_Tarkas will probably send on board his own "unofficial" summary of the plot!

Posted: **Tue May 30, 2006 6:05 pm**

Hello people,

I'm about to join the fray with Jack Covington, forensic detective. The character description is up in the Passengers & Crew section.

This is my first time playing CoC online, although I've led a couple of small regular adventures. I'm Dutch (thought I'd make up for the Dutchman who turned out ot be Irish, heh) but currently living in Seattle. For a living, I dabble in interaction design. For fun, I play guitar.

Look forward to joining the investigation. Now, I just have to finish reading up on the story...

cheers
Damon

Posted: **Tue May 30, 2006 7:16 pm**

Welcome to the crew. If you are looking for added fun, try Lure of the Nile.

Play@YSDC

Terror on the Orient-Express

Terror on the Orient-Express

Character template

1923, Simplon-Orient-Express

Re: Terror on the Orient-Express

Re: Terror on the Orient-Express

Re: Terror on the Orient-Express

Giovanni Il martello di Siena Fucina

Welcome aboard, Giovanni !

Mr & Mrs

Katerina and Giovanni

Katerina/Giovanni

Emilia-Florenza Varisco

A wedding, and I hope not too many burrials...

I need a few players

Oi crimsontree!

Hi RyanDG

An architect

Jean-Michel Ricard

I'm interested

Zephyr

Our crew

introducing

Play@YSDC

Terror on the Orient-Express

Terror on the Orient-Express

Character template

1923, Simplon-Orient-Express

Re: Terror on the Orient-Express

Re: Terror on the Orient-Express

Re: Terror on the Orient-Express

Giovanni Il martello di Siena Fucina

Welcome aboard, Giovanni !

Mr & Mrs

Katerina and Giovanni

Katerina/Giovanni

Emilia-Florenza Varisco

A wedding, and I hope not too many burrials...

I need a few players

Oi crimsontree!

Hi RyanDG

An architect

Jean-Michel Ricard

I'm interested

Zephyr

Our crew

introducing

Giovanni Il martello di Siena Fucina