Play@YSDC

Back again

Please feel free to resolve any actions for your character in chapter one before (or at the same time as) posting in this chapter.

dunno what happened but for like 2 days i couldn't even view the site, but all is well now. I've reviewed everything and i'm posting this because i thought everyone might enjoy it.

I had a dream a few days back and suddenly out of the normal flow of the dream the lexington-starkweather conflict became an issue of conversation and it was said that they are competing before starkweather was the butler of the lexington residence LOL. When i woke up and thought back to it i was laughing.

Time permitting today, Jack would like to carry out as many of the research tasks as possible that I outlined in the Chapter One post. Basically, he wants to check with any of his police contacts about the Lexington affair and try to find out why the sudden change of heart from the daughter.

I'd suggest an IC (or OOC) brainstorming session again for now, don't forget to share information between characters, as long as your character trusts the others. 8)

I don't really want any of you to leave the Rose Room for now, and I definitely don't want you leaving the hotel as I've got a little more to post here still. I'm giving you all the chance to discuss recent events first though. I was going to make my next 'plot post' tomorrow as a 'Sunday plot push,' but I'll give it a couple more days due to the recent server problems. I'll probably make small posts for NPCs in the meantime, but the I'll allow you up to three days from now to discuss things IC/OOC.

If nobody seems to be posting then I'll move things on earlier.

Just so that you don't worry too much about getting the game off track - chapters two and three cover events between now and the new departure date (9th September), so between the two chapters they'll cover much less game time than chapter one did.

So if you don't do any investigating, then depending what other events the future holds these two chapters will rapidly by completed by three more days of "cargo checking."

If you do choose to investigate things then you have two real-life months the resolve your actions for these three days, without impacting my "schedule." 8)

Basically the game now has much more opportunity for more intensive role-playing. I intentionally skimmed through chapter-one as it would take months to play in more detail, and I was worried the whole campaign would bog down.

There's a lot to investigate:

1) Why the Arkham Sea Captain died for once. Visiting his brother would be a good idea.

2) The Lexington woman and the murder of her father. Perhaps we even could get hold of that supposedly missing book by Poe.

3) The mysterious letters addressed to Professor Graves. Who has sent them?

This is what I can think of presently. Is the Dyer Report summarised somewhere? It would be an interesting read.

Henrik wrote: The Lexington woman and the murder of her father

Surely you mean suicide.

Henrik wrote: Is the Dyer Report summarised somewhere? It would be an interesting read.

Graves and Jack each have a copy of the Dyer Summary Report from their trip to Arkham. If they share it with you I'll PM a copy to you, I've not posted it as if takes a full night for each character to digest. Decrepit or Charles Graves are welcome to post an IC summary themselves though, to save Olof reading it.

It's probably also available at the NY Public Library.

I forgot to say that as nobody except me and Charles_Graves seems bothered about the standard CoC “skill check” system for experience, I’m going to stick with it. As I said I “hate” it, but as long as most of you don’t then there’s no problem – and I think it’s probably best to avoid house rules wherever possible in pbp.

“Hate” is actually stronger than I really feel anyway, it’s quite a “realistic” system I think, particularly for it’s time, I just dislike the randomness of it a bit.

So I’ll be double checking the skill checks for the prologue, and updating the character sheets tonight. I’ve decided to lump together chapters 1-3 and the start of chapter 4 for “skill check” purposes, so your next improvements will occur when the Gabrielle eventually departs during chapter 4.

This is because, depending on your actions chapters 2 & 3 could be very short (indeed we may end up going straight from chapter 2 to chapter 4). Keeping the whole New York section as one “skill check period” seems more logical (and in tune with the chapter structure of traditional globe-trotting Chaosium campaigns eg MoN or SoYS).

I’ll break up the rest of the campaign into logical sections, for example the whole voyage south will probably count as one period.

Jack can stay put for now.

Looks like we have at least two reasons to meet up with the police.

If someone asks Jack for the Dyer report summary, he'd divulge it. He's seen no reason not to trust anyone in the group yet, and the report isn't exactly secret anyway.

Decrepit wrote: Jack can stay put for now.

Looks like we have at least two reasons to meet up with the police.

If someone asks Jack for the Dyer report summary, he'd divulge it. He's seen no reason not to trust anyone in the group yet, and the report isn't exactly secret anyway.

Well McRaven is feeling out of sorts now that he's been cheated out of his talk with the commander. Right now he needs to link up with Jack and figure out some way of getting to the captains room and do a search similar to the one they conducted in lawrences room. Maybe even check with reception and see if the capt had any phonecalls.

So he and jack can maybe mull over a course of action with Mcphearson, something to think about.

@Steerpike: McRaven has time to follow Isugtag out if he likes, he could grab Jack and Sean to accompany him if he likes, but there would be slightly more chance of loosing Isugtag that way. Nobody else particularly noticed Isugtag leaving.

Or he can just talk to Jack, as planned.

Nobody else has time to leave before the stranger walks in and takes a seat, you are all still talking. Everybody still present notices the stranger, no spot hidden rolls required.

I think the investigative checklist was compiled good lol.

I personally have a feeling Dyer will be going down soon.

Sean is currently just trying to fit in. He knows the group has already been through some dirt, and now that he's in on it too he just wants to fit in. He'll be trying to establish some social commonplace with a few of the characters as you've seen. You can almost guarantee if anyone asks for volunteers to accompany them...he'll be almost always up for it.

OrionUK wrote: Upon seeing Callum & Nils approaching the docks James hurries to greet them "I have had a chat to Moore & would like to let you know what I have learnt if you can spare a moment"

I think you've got a little mixed up, James spoke to Moore on the 5th, it's now the 6th.

Everyone except Isugtag and McRaven are still in the Rose Room of the hotel.

Please could you edit your post, and talk to Callum and Nils (or anyone else who's there) in the rose room.

I'll post later tonight, I've got a couple of things to do first.

EDIT: The above is mostly my fault I guess, I got excited when the fprums reappeared last week, and posted the start of Chapter 2 when some of you probably hadn't even had chance to read my last posts of chapter 1. Sorry about that.

OrionUK has updated James’ previous post now; to speed things up you can assume that all your characters now the details of James conversation with Moore, and of Moore’s worries about the 1930 expedition.

@Steerpike: McRaven sure gets to visit all the best parts of town.

One of the other Keepers (welsh) has suggested placing a “plot synopsis” thread in each game, I think that that’s a good idea, so I’m going to try and write one up. Hopefully this will make things much easier to remember in the months ahead, as well as helping new players and readers of the campaign.

Does anyone else have any suggestions?

And what do you all think so far? I'd appreciate any feedback, you're mostly still here so hopefully the game is enjoyable, but I'd like to know anything that could make it better.

It'll have been over two weeks by the time my computer at home will (probably) get fixed. Sorry for the sporadic posting.

More on-topic, do I remember how Jack feels about Hanson, or should i just make something up?

I sent you a PM about Hanson when he first appeared, it's still in my outbox so you must have missed it.

It describes what Jack knows about him, you can decide for yourself whether Jack likes him or not.

Sorry. I'd seen that PM but had forgotten about it after catching up on posts.

As Jack really doesn't know where Douglas is, he's probably just going to tell the detective what he knows, which isn't much (mainly that he was going to meet with Douglas for an interview) -- unless someone would like to play this differently. As I tried to suggest in my last IC post, Jack has a favorable impression of Hanson, with whom he's had something of a working relationship.

I've just been giving people a little time to notice that the boards are back up on the new server before continuing.

I'll post again tonight, I can't continue the story at the Westbury until Mister Juan, or Steerpike have posted though.

Just thought I'd mention to those of you in Britain that one of the specialist subjects on the quiz show Mastermind tonight is HP Lovecraft (8pm BBC2).

Oh well, according to the Radio Times magazine it was supposed to have been HP Lovecraft as one of the subjects today on Mastermind.

Only took 15 days to replace a video card.

Well, that and send me a replacement monitor that I didn't need.

Anyway, I should be back in business.

Jack will try to get the detective aside at some point before he (the detective) leaves, as Jack figures he might as well as Hanson as anyone.

Glad you're back Decrepit.

Ok, everyone's now free to leave the Rose Room, unless they want to approach or listen in to Jack and Det. Hansen.

I'm assuming that everyone who hasn't posted told him what they know about Douglas (ie nothing 8)), and that they were also in their room at midnight (the truth ).

You all learned from general conversation during breakfast that Moore is currently on the fifth floor with Starkweather, rather than in his own room.

BTW: If anyone is interested, and haven't read the thread yet, I'm going to run Masks of Nyarlathotep as well ('cus I'm mad), the recruitment thread is here.

Waiting on Isugtag to post so we can plan our approach....

Would love to sign up for masks, but I'll have to pass as I have ran it on 3 occasions

Steerpike: I PM'd Mr Juan, but he's not been in touch yet. Carry on what you're doing and I'll look after Isugtag till Mr Juan gets back.

BTW: If anyone is interested, and haven't read the thread yet, I'm going to run Masks of Nyarlathotep as well ('cus I'm mad), the recruitment thread is here.

You must be - hehe I dont know where you find the time!!

Yes James confirmed he was in his room. I have got a little lost with where we are up to for some reason? has James told anyone about his & Moores conversation? and is there still time for further investigations still?

Is Olof with Jack and Hanson? It kinda looks like that from the post. He could certainly wander in, and I have no problem with that, but I was kind of imaginging that Jack and the detective were talking semi-privately. Maybe "semi" is right.

I've assumed that Olof 'butted in'. I did say that other characters could if they wanted, because Hansen and Jack were just stood in a 'quiet corner' rather than another room.

Sorry for the brief delay, I was snowed under by PM's and stuff for my new Masks game. Normal service will now be resumed.

OrionUK wrote: I have got a little lost with where we are up to for some reason? has James told anyone about his & Moores conversation? and is there still time for further investigations still?

Sorry I forgot to reply to this earlier.

James is in the Rose Room, together with all the other player characters except Graves, Callum, McRaven and Isugtag.

Jack and Olof are stood in one corner of the Rose Room talking to Detective Hansen.

We said that James had told everyone about his conversation with Moore.

Totally minor, but, Raiko, you might want to edit "Otto" to "Olof" in the IC thread. There are enough people running around, maybe.

Decrepit wrote: Totally minor, but, Raiko, you might want to edit "Otto" to "Olof" in the IC thread. There are enough people running around, maybe.

Oops different game, nevermind

Thanks.

been missing for a bit there, sorry. Had some personal things to attend to coupled with a taxing work week. I'll be easing back in and catching up on the events...sorry for the disappearance ^_^

Hey guys! Sorry for the disapperance... had a lot of work to get done

BlackGoat wrote: been missing for a bit there, sorry. Had some personal things to attend to coupled with a taxing work week. I'll be easing back in and catching up on the events...sorry for the disappearance ^_^

No problem, everybody seems to have been busy this week.

Sorry for holding things up, I'll post for Hansen, and for those at the docks a little later today.

I need Charles Graves and either Steerpike or Mr Juan to post before I can continue their stories.

Should Callum have been at the interview?? If so I must have missed the post saying when I should be going with Professor Graves.

Sorry guys! It's been crazy busy at work. I'm back.

Great to have you back

Ghost_1971 wrote: Should Callum have been at the interview?? If so I must have missed the post saying when I should be going with Professor Graves.

No problem, I posted it in my flood of posts around the first server downtime. By the time I’d remembered myself Callum had already headed to the docks, and Graves was planning on heading to the Police HQ, or library. I just PM’d Graves to remind him.

The important thing was that one of you decided to either bring along Greene, or just stick with one expedition doctor, and that’s been done now.

As Graves decided to make a quick post rather than play out the interview IC (I didn’t mind either way) he’ll just need to hold fire until the others at the hotel catch up IC, or all leave the hotel. Personally I think the Prof. just wanted to avoid the rain.

Graves: If you don’t want to wait for the others at the hotel to reach the same IC time as you, then you could have a change of heart and either head to the docks, or the library, or wherever.

BTW: I encourage you all to try and join in with the search for clues regarding the string of events that have occurred. Douglas’ murder, Lexington, Lawrence and his diary, the threatening letter, the ill fated 1930 expedition, the string of missing or murdered survivors of that expedition, the “sabotage” of the cargo lists, etc.

Although some of you will have to keep going to the ship to check the lists, it needn’t be the same people every time, and if just a few of you investigate clues the others will just sit waiting and waiting for the departure date – the various server downtimes have delayed the story so we could still be a couple of “real life months” from the Gabrielle’s departure.

McRaven & Isugtag:

This roll was for the lock, the other rolls for McRaven & Isugtag will have to remain secret:
McRaven(Spot Hidden 75%): [61]

As the lock isn’t complex I’ll allow McRaven to attempt to pick it using his Mechanical Repair skill, if he desires. He can also keep trying until he’s successful, but each extra attempt will take longer than the previous one, due to frustration.

Since you are obviously suspicious of room 21’s previous occupant, I can tell you that McRaven noticed that he signed the register A. Sothcott; not that it’s necessarily a real name, McRaven and Isugtag are only the latest in a string of Smith's & Jones'to sign in.

Although he didn't want to go to Police HQ alone, Graves decides that he might as well use his time productively. He leans over to the cabbie and asks him to take him to there rather than the hotel.

If Hanson seems reluctant to tell what he knows from his meeting with Starkweather and Moore, Jack will attempt to Fask Talk him (I think that's the more appropriate skill here, as opposed to Persuade, but whichever). Jack will stress the need for a free exchange of information if they're really going to get to the bottom of all of this.

Sorry I've been quite busy over the last couple of days, I'll be catching up with all my games over the weekend.

So I'll try to post a few times, provided players posting.

Laraqua keeper of The Aartri Asylum and a player in my Masks campaign will be taking over playing Kitt as soon as I write a synopsis of the game so far.

Laraqua is a great player, so I'm sure Kitt will be in good hands. If Shadow ever gets chance to rejoin the game, he's welcome to select one of the NPC slated as "PC replacements."

And here I made my goofy reply about Kitt in the recruitment thread ...

Raiko, I'm starting to feel like Jack's on the longest ride to police HQ in the history of rides to police HQ.

Point taken, you'll arrive at the HQ today.

Sorry I was originally trying to pace what Jack and Olof learned from Hansen, with what McRaven and Isugtag learned at the hotel; and also have them encounter Graves at the HQ, but I've screwed up the pacing somewhere so everything is going too slowly now.

Well you learn from your mistakes, I'll attempt to get things back on track in my next post.

I'm going to split things off into separate "danger threads" in future as with my Masks game, this should make pacing separate groups easier.

As the majority of players won't be following my Masks game, what this means is that if some of the characters go into a situation of 'real or perceived' danger, they will post in a separate thread. So for current events I would have created a separate thread for McRaven and Isugtag when they left in the taxi.

If some horrific mythos entity had been lurking under Douglas' bed, then the last the others would have known is that they had left the Amherst together.

Then Jack would have found out that Isugtag knew where Douglas was staying from Hansen, and hopefully gone looking under the same bed

As with my Masks game, I'll sometimes use a separate thread because there is just a perception of danger (such as the hotel), other times I'll wait until the last possible moment (ie The two investigators climb down into the hold... switch to separate thread; or As he sat reading he noticed the door handle turning slowly... separate thread).

This is to keep everyone on their toes. 8)

The threads will not be locked in any way, for the benifit of anyone who wants to just read this campaign, so I ask you all to be honest and stay out of threads that your characters aren't aware of, to keep the story more exciting for you.

Once you get back together the 'separated characters' can just 'tell the others about events in the other thread,' to save their player from writing a huge post. Or the player can choose to lie...

Ok, hopefully that should get us back on track.

I think that I've covered everybody except Kitt, I'll get my synopsis sorted out now so that Laraqua can take over playing her (which should cheer Jack up).

Just yankin' your chain, Raiko.

The last thing Jack needs is a love interest. The last thing Kitt needs is Jack.

Regarding the Edgar Allan Poe novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, I’d say that it’s safe to assume that any of the characters who have been ‘well educated’ in the USA (say EDU 15+) will have read the book. For characters who received their schooling outside the USA (or those with lower EDU), I’ll leave it for you to decide, if you want to roll I’d suggest rolling against half your English language skill if you’re from outside the USA, or your full English skill if you’re from the USA.

Gunnar I have decided has not read it.

I’ve quoted Wikipedia’s synopsis below. Although it isn’t mentioned in the quote much of the story is set in the Antarctic region. It ends abruptly and so does indeed suggest that some additional chapters are missing.

If you really want to read the whole 25 chapters yourself for some reason , it’s public domain and available here.

wikipedia wrote: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket is Edgar Allan Poe's only complete novel, published in 1838.
The work relates the tale of the young Arthur Gordon Pym who stows away aboard a whaling ship called Grampus. Various adventures and mis-adventures befall Pym including shipwreck, mutiny and cannibalism. The story starts out as a fairly conventional adventure at sea, but it becomes increasingly strange and hard to classify in later chapters, involving religious symbolism and the Hollow Earth.

Where are McRaven and Isugtag planning on going next? Back to the hotel? To the docks?

Jack is toying with the idea of an ongoing information exchange between him and the police. He's troubled by that idea, as any self-respecting journalist would be, but he's also concerned about the fact that two people associated with the expedition have already died. (He'll probably be even a bit more worried when he hears about the latest problems at the ship.)

Jack will try a Psychology roll to assess O'Meara's reaction to the bait sort of being dangled.

Guess I forgot to do the Psychology roll. Not a problem, apparently, as Jack and O'Meara seem to have something of an understanding.

Raiko, any chance that all of us are going to get together again fairly soon? Feels like we've been off on different paths for a real long chunk of IRL time. Maybe that's just me, though.

Decrepit wrote: Guess I forgot to do the Psychology roll. Not a problem, apparently, as Jack and O'Meara seem to have something of an understanding.

O'Meara seems to be being straight with you, as far as Jack can tell.

Decrepit wrote: Raiko, any chance that all of us are going to get together again fairly soon? Feels like we've been off on different paths for a real long chunk of IRL time. Maybe that's just me, though.

If you head to the docks now, you'll be able to meet up with most of the other PC's. Just assume that you arrive shortly after McRaven & Isugtag

Callum, James and Nils' plans to live at the warehouse mean that I can't really get all of you togther as easily now.

And if all of you sleep there the stakeout won't be very inconspicuous.

Raiko wrote: And if all of you sleep there the stakeout won't be very inconspicuous.

No, I suppose not.

Raiko wrote: Regarding the Edgar Allan Poe novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, I’d say that it’s safe to assume that any of the characters who have been ‘well educated’ in the USA (say EDU 15+) will have read the book. For characters who received their schooling outside the USA (or those with lower EDU), I’ll leave it for you to decide, if you want to roll I’d suggest rolling against half your English language skill if you’re from outside the USA, or your full English skill if you’re from the USA.

Gunnar I have decided has not read it.

I’ve quoted Wikipedia’s synopsis below. Although it isn’t mentioned in the quote much of the story is set in the Antarctic region. It ends abruptly and so does indeed suggest that some additional chapters are missing.

If you really want to read the whole 25 chapters yourself for some reason , it’s public domain and available here.

wikipedia wrote: The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket is Edgar Allan Poe's only complete novel, published in 1838.
The work relates the tale of the young Arthur Gordon Pym who stows away aboard a whaling ship called Grampus. Various adventures and mis-adventures befall Pym including shipwreck, mutiny and cannibalism. The story starts out as a fairly conventional adventure at sea, but it becomes increasingly strange and hard to classify in later chapters, involving religious symbolism and the Hollow Earth.

After reading that little wikipedia deal it seems like a nice read, I may just check it out lol, too much reading to do and too little time...I'm currently reading "Alien Agenda - Jim Marrs" , "Rule By Secrecy - Jim Marrs" , "The Zombie Survival Handbook - Max Brooks"

Everybody who went to the docks are now together. So you can now discuss everything that you have found. If nobody chats, I’ll move the timeline forward as soon as Charles Graves has caught back up.

Charles Graves: You can either continue talking to Bolan, or you can move the Professor to either the Library or the Docks if you want to chat to the other PCs.

Just start talking to the others if you move, you’ll arrive at either place at lunchtime. So you’d either squeeze into the little security office with them, or arrive at the library at the time that for Gunnar and Sean found the article about the Hudson Riverboat fire.

Regarding Commissioner Bolan, I’ve never found a photo of him, but I did find this article:

Time Magazine – Monday, Apr. 24, 1933 wrote: Appointed. James Sylvester Bolan, 60, Deputy Chief Inspector of Manhattan's police; to be Police Commissioner, succeeding Edward Pierce Mulrooney who last week resigned to become chairman of New York's State Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. Like his predecessor. Commissioner Bolan answered the recruiting call of Police Commissioner Theodore Roosevelt in 1896, has come up steadily from the ranks. He got his first promotion (to sergeant) in 1901 when he jumped from a ferryboat into Hell Gate Channel, rescued two drowning men. During his ten-year supervision of Manhattan's theatre district, Broadway has called him its "toughest" inspector, "so straight he bends over backward."

Since all the characters bar Kitt are now in two locations, I’m going to leave you to chat together until Sunday evening (UK time). Then I’ll advance the timeline.

In the meantime I’m writing up the synopsis, so the Laraqua can take over playing Kitt. I’ll post the full synopsis on the forum, and PM a “Kitt specific” one to Laraqua.

I’ll also make any necessary rolls that your posts require.

By Sunday I need to know who is sleeping at the docks, and who is returning to the Amherst.

So far Callum, James and both Sorensen brothers will be at the warehouse tonight. Everyone else will be at the hotel.

Do you want another couple of days to chat? Or should I move onto the evening/the following morning?

I'll make a library use roll for Graves if I know what he's researching. Blackgoat I think he was waiting for a reply from Sean.

I'm not sure we're done, are we? I know some of the characters are remaining at the docks for the evening. Jack, I know, isn't, and it looks like he could make some phone calls, though I'm not sure what he's hoping to find. Maybe I need to go back and reread some old posts; I've kind of lost the thread, no pun intended.

Decrepit wrote: I'm not sure we're done, are we?

No I don't think so either, but I didn't want to hold things up if you don't want to chat.

I'll wait until you're all happy that there isn't anything to discuss before I move things on.

Ghost_1971 wrote: "Ok. I'll make some enquiries about the 'Purple Cup' then." comments Callum. "I'll be using your phone for a while if you dont mind?" says Callum, passing a crumpled $5 bill to the security guard "That should cover the cost of the calls."

Out of curiosity who are you planning on calling?

Please try to wrap thing up at the docks as quickly as you can now, I'd like your planning to be finished by Monday so that we can move the game along.

Here is a summary of what I think everyone is planning to do, I’m going to move things along in my next post tomorrow, Laraqua will be able to join in then.

At the New York Public Library

Sean – Returning to Hotel, after chatting to the librarian and researching something else(?)
Graves – Still has time to research something at library, Returning to Hotel
Gunnar – Sticking with Sean, then going to docks stakeout (though he doesn’t know about it yet)

At the Docks

Callum, McRaven – Checking out Purple Cup speakeasy, then Docks stakeout
Nils – Staying at Docks, asked James to bring sort his gear
James – Returning to Hotel(?), then Docks stakeout
Jack – Going to Newspaper Morgue to research Blackman, then back to Hotel
Olof – Going of Library to research Blackman, then back to Hotel
Isugtag – Staying at docks ????

At the Amherst Hotel

Kitt – To be reintroduced with Laraqua as player, she’ll meet up with any characters who are at the Hotel in the evening.

Woo, now I've read halfway through your old posts I'm finally again in a position to post in OOC.

Looks like I just can't stay away from playing very attractive pilots. 8)

Guess it does mean I'll have to actually read up on planes.

Don't worry, Decrepit, I've already got one character who's a bit of a hound (apparently) who's chasing one of your characters (or so she thinks, anyway ), so I'll try not to do the same to Kitt. However, with me playing her, she'll bound to be just that suave Jack won't be able to help himself... 8) Yeah, right!

I'll try to keep Kitt heading in the same direction she was before, at least for now. Hopefully I don't make a right balls of it!

Looking forward to playing with you all. Seems like a good team.

I was going to make a lunchtime post, but I forgot to scan a copy of the next handout last night, so I’ll have to post this evening instead.

thewhatchamacallit, who plays Timour Rukov in my Masks campaign will be joining us as well.

He will play the part of Maurice Cole, one of the Camp Worker NPCs who I don't think I've introduced at all yet.

This will bring the number of players back up to 10.

*shakes head*

Is it too late to quit while I'm ahead?

Kidding! Don't hit me.

*mumble, mumble* Glad to be coming aboard the campaign with thewhatchamacallit. *grouchy student sigh* It'll be soooo much fun.

Looking forward to meeting you, Cole, and everyone else.

Hi Laraqua, welcome to the 'madness'.

Gonna use your arrival as an excuse to get back to the hotel - Recently I've not been able to get that old DRAGON magazine joke out of my head.

Q. How many COC investigators does it take to change a light bulb ?

A. All of them. Never split the Party!!!

Although I never really understood the joke because as an investigator myself I'm not sure I always want to turn the light on

Heya Laraqua. Welcome on board.

Yup its far to late to quit now

**********************************************

I'd totally forgotten about the joke Charles. Very funny

Isugtag is simply going to go back to the hotel.

Jack is in research mode, as previously indicated.

Sorry, I wasn't feeling very well last night, I should be posting at lunchtime (in 3-4 hours)

Charles Graves wrote: Q. How many COC investigators does it take to change a light bulb ?

A. All of them. Never split the Party!!!

Although I never really understood the joke because as an investigator myself I'm not sure I always want to turn the light on

I can see this will be a great group.

Somehow I'm seeing the post count shoot up ...

Maksim and Caroline, Kitt and Jack, so many gender issues, so confused...

Trust thewhatchamacallit to sum it all up.

Besides ... I promise not to hit on all of Decrepit's characters.

*says with hands firmly hidden behind back*

How many characters does Decrepit run again?

See? That didn't take long.

Now I have to check *this* forum every couple of minutes too.

I just hope the rest of the players can cope; it’s been so peaceful in this forum since Commander Douglas was murdered.

What's that ya say, sonny?

Anyhoo, getting us back together again will, I think, help get us moving ahead again.

This is a tough adventure to play, or at least I'm coming to think so after Masks. In the latter, it seems, events have a way of pushing things along in a fairly obvious direction (although the adventure itself is nonlinear in a really important way). In Beyond--and this is no knock on anyone here at all--it's harder to see what the PCs are supposed to do. Investigate, sure, but are they supposed to stop the expedition (presumably not), stop Starkweather, prove a vast conspiracy before the ship even leaves dock? It's just a bit hard to get a sense of what's a red herring and what's absolutely critical to accomplish. I'm being a bit silly here, but it seems like maybe we could even just do nothing until the ship leaves. I'm sure that's not literally true, but there's a way in which the adventure as crafted puts the PCs in secondary places next to the NPCs, who are, after all, funding the expedition, chartering the boats, hiring us, etc. In Masks (which I'm not saying is better, btw), we so far have been pretty self-directed.

Anyway, just some thoughts I've been having that were kind of spurred on a bit by Raiko's crack.

Decrepit wrote: What's that ya say, sonny?

Anyhoo, getting us back together again will, I think, help get us moving ahead again.

This is a tough adventure to play, or at least I'm coming to think so after Masks. In the latter, it seems, events have a way of pushing things along in a fairly obvious direction (although the adventure itself is nonlinear in a really important way). In Beyond--and this is no knock on anyone here at all--it's harder to see what the PCs are supposed to do. Investigate, sure, but are they supposed to stop the expedition (presumably not), stop Starkweather, prove a vast conspiracy before the ship even leaves dock? It's just a bit hard to get a sense of what's a red herring and what's absolutely critical to accomplish. I'm being a bit silly here, but it seems like maybe we could even just do nothing until the ship leaves. I'm sure that's not literally true, but there's a way in which the adventure as crafted puts the PCs in secondary places next to the NPCs, who are, after all, funding the expedition, chartering the boats, hiring us, etc. In Masks (which I'm not saying is better, btw), we so far have been pretty self-directed.

Anyway, just some thoughts I've been having that were kind of spurred on a bit by Raiko's crack.

I hope I didn't offend anyone, I was just thinking how shocked some of the players will be when they go to bed for the night, only to return to twenty new posts from you Masks people.

You make some pretty perceptive points there, I don't want to spoil things, so I'll try to be careful with this reply:

This adventure is quite a lot different to other CoC campaigns. As you say the PCs are (to an extent) secondary to some of the NPCs, at least until later in the adventure. Also the mysteries surrounding the expedition may well remain 'enigmas.' Where the clues in Masks point to (mostly) obvious things, the clues here are intentionally mysterious.

I don't think it's not too much of a spoiler to say that the expedition will eventually depart for Antarctica, although it's important to realise that without Starkweather and Moore there isn't any expedition.

You're actually quite right that you could all just sit back, there is obviously danger ahead (after one murder, one suicide, and two threatening letters), but the detective work is entirely optional.

*************
It's actually pretty hard to run the early game (compared to Masks).

Starkweather is very handsome, charismatic 'man of action,' but not the greatest of planners, and 'a little short fused.' A dashing explorer and a war hero.

Moore is quite dour and reserved, a great planner, but to the point of being annoying, everything must be triple checked, then checked again.

Of the two people Starkweather should be the more likeable (at least for men).

Think back to the first 'lecture' (after the Lawrence incident), everybody was impressed by Starkweather's enthusiastic speach, but bored silly by Moore droning on.

But to anyone playing the game gung-ho Starkweather is obviously a loose-canon, while the studious Moore is the obvious person to turn to. This is exasperated by Starkweather's obsession with Acacia Lexington (which may or may not be paranoia).

Like I said, some friendly observations.

Without trying to suck up, I do appreciate that you're putting so much into this one. Nary a car chase, but there's still a lot going on.

Does Kitt have a concealed firearm permit?

Has Maurice been listed yet?

Maurice is at the Hotel, I've just not had chance to put his character sheet up on the website yet. You can start playing whenever you like.

If you want the others to see your character sheet before I put it up, just post it here for now.

Aw GDI that sounds like work...grumble...grumble...

Name: Maurice Cole
Age: 19 (Bd. January 10, 1914)
Sex: Male
Occupation: Labourer (Farmer/Woodsman Template)
College, Degrees: None
Birthplace: Edmunston, New Brunswick, Canada

Yearly Income & Propriety

Appearance & Personality



Tough and dedicated, Maurice is a well muscled lad that has an uncanny ability of leaping out of the way of bigger men intent on squashing him and staying unseen when not wanted.

He has a natural affinity to animals and machinery sometimes preferring their company to that of human beings, who can be so complicated and hard to understand. He is a heavy smoker and occasional drinker with a love of gambling with dice.

Because of the double-crown in his hairline Maurice's great grandmother predicted he'd be the one Cole to see the world, so far so good.

Maurice will not stand being called a Canuck as it is the most heinous of insults to his people.


Background

Once an aspiring hockey player the depression set Maurice's plans to be a professional athlete on hold. With two younger brothers, a mother and a father with a war time injury that had kept him from the work force Maurice was forced to become a man far earlier than he should have.

Supporting his family has become his life. When work at the local paper mill dried up the young Frenchman was forced to take drastic measures to help his kin. When an expedition for a far off and cold voyage was advertised in the local paper Maurice purchased a ticket on the first train to Hogtown (Toronto) and from there all the way down to New York City. After several failed attempts to find a position through the proper channels Maurice snuck into Starkweather's room and hid there until the gentleman returned later that night.

When he emerged from behind the change screen the British nobleman threatened to have him locked in chains and sunk into the east river for his audacity, but after a few minutes of talking with Maurice and learning of his life and aspirations Starkweather decided to take the boy along, give him a low end job and a promise that if he worked hard his family would be taken care of.

Maurice is now fiercely loyal to the explorer by way of gratitude.


Characteristics

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

Sanity: 80
current Sanity: 80
phobias/mental disorders:

Hit Points: 14
current Hit Points: 14
Magic Points: 16
current Magic Points: 16
Damage Bonus: +1d4

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

Accounting (10%):
Aircraft Maintenance (05%):
Anthropology (01%):
Archaeology (01%):
Art (05%):
Astronomy (01%):
Bargain (05%):
Biology (01%):
Block (DEX x2): 28%
Chemistry (01%):
Climb (40%):
Conceal (15%):
Craft (05%):
Credit Rating (15%):
Cthulhu Mythos (00%):
Disguise (01%):
.Dodge (DEX×2): 53%
Drive Auto (20%):
.Drive Dog Sled (20%): 35%
Electr. Repair (10%): 40%
Explosives (01%):
Fast Talk (05%):
First Aid (30%): 50%
Geology (01%):
.Hide (10%): 75%
History (20%):
Jump (25%):
Law (05%):
Library Use (25%):
Listen (25%):
Locksmith 01%):
Martial Arts (01%):
Mech. Repair (20%): 40%
Medicine (05%):
Meterology (05%):
Natural History (10%): 40%
Navigate (10%):
Occult (05%):
Opr. Hvy. Mch. (01%): 60%
.Other Language (01%): English 50%
Own Language (EDU×5%): French 65%
Persuade (15%):
Pharmacy (01%):
Photography (10%):
Physics (01%): 30%
Pilot (01%):
.Polar Survival (01%): 25%
Psychoanalysis (01%):
Psychology (05%):
Radio Operator (01%):
Ride (05%):
Sneak (10%):
Spot Hidden (25%):
Swim (25%):
Throw (25%):
Track (10%): 50%

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

Firearms:
Handgun (20%):
Machine Gun (15%):
Rifle (25%): 55%
Shotgun (30%):
SMG (15%):

Time to "tackle" Moore? Might not be a better chance ...

Hi, sorry for my very slow posting, things should start to get back to normal for me from tomorrow. It's just been one of them weeks.

To all the US players in my games, I hope you've been having a good Thanksgiving Day.

I hope no one objects to my confronting Moore. I know we've talked it about it some, but I thought the letter to Kitt would provide a good, legitimate reason to do it. And Jack has grown sort of fond of Kitt, and this sort of thing would probably rankle him.

Anyway, I hope I signaled what I was doing well enough in advance to "warn" everyone.

Feel free to chime in with questions for the good professor--not that he'll answer them, of course. Jack may be more ticked off than rational here, so he may "forget" to ask something pertinent.

Aww, Jack's fond of Kitt... A shame I'm playing Kitt now. I keep trying to do the gentle but firm thing Shadow did but I'm pretty sure she's coming off completely differently (such as meek, shy and submissive). Don't know if Jack'll like the sudden personality change.

Oh well, I never said I was good at taking over someone else's character. Blame Raiko, not me! It's not my fault! I swear.

Eh, I think you've got it about right, if the original version was the "right" one.

Hehe, well, there are two versions of Kitt. One in the character write-up, one in-game, but then, characters sometimes go in ways not originally intended so it's not surprising.

By the way, is there any name cooler than hers? Kitt Knight, isn't it? I like the name. Shadow, if ever you read this, thanks for a character with a great name!

On the basis that this week has to be a better week, I'll be catching up on the posts a little later today.

I'll post here tonight or tomorrow morning, normal service will then be resumed.

Sorry for the hold up everyone, real life just gets in the way sometimes (not very often though if I can help it 8))

You have all read Moore's chat with James haven't you? James passed the information on to the rest of you later.

Raiko wrote: You have all read Moore's chat with James haven't you? James passed the information on to the rest of you later.

Yeah, I guess I forgot about that, though I did read it at the time.

I'll see if I can come up with some, um, new questions ...

No problem, I did post a lot of info at the time, in two separate threads, and the server kept crashing / moving.

So I just thought I'd check whether you'd read it. I wasn't sure whether you still thought Moore was being evasive after that chat or not.

I’m not ignoring Callum & McRaven, just waiting for a post for them. At the moment all the patrons at the Purple Cup are still staring at them suspiciously.

Man, that must be starting to get uncomfortable.

Callum and McRaven are still waiting for the bar tender to answer McRavens question....

Ghost_1971 wrote: Callum and McRaven are still waiting for the bar tender to answer McRavens question....

Ahhh.

I really wish phpBB had a 'view new posts' button, instead of a 'view last post' - then that wouldn't happen.

Sorry I missed the last post on the previous IC page.

Raiko wrote:

Ghost_1971 wrote:Callum and McRaven are still waiting for the bar tender to answer McRavens question....

Ahhh.

I really wish phpBB had a 'view new posts' button, instead of a 'view last post' - then that wouldn't happen.

Sorry I missed the last post on the previous IC page.

And there was me thinking that the rain outside had washed away the sign of the purple cup to reveal a red herring instead. Was almost feeling out in the cold there.

Hearing Moore explain it away cradles Sean's own fears of a deeper plot from him.

Just keep thinkin' that.

I'm kidding, of course. That's a perfectly rational reaction. Except for the fact that it's totally wrong!

You don’t have a phone number, or address for Douglas’ brother at the moment; the scrap of paper that Isugtag found had only times on it, and the letter hadn’t been addressed.

I've finished the course at work, so I'll be able to post during the day again now.

I’m going to deal with the Purple Cup scene in my next post, and I assume that Jack hopes to get Phillip’s phone number and talk to him tonight.

Does anyone else have anything that they plan on doing tonight? I plan to advance the timeline to the morning of the 7th September on Sunday/Monday.

PS: Regarding what / Maurice, can everyone please check in future whether any other character is chatting to your character before posting, and acknowledge them if they are (I realise I’ve missed things as well ).

There are a lot of players and important NPCs in this game and I realise this sometimes this means that you end up in several conversations at the same time.

But I’ve had a few OOC/PM moans from players that they think they are being ignored, and now Maurice (rather than what) feels ‘cold shouldered.’

If you intend for your character to ignore someone, then please post that they are doing (so that there can’t be any misunderstandings). Likewise if nobody specifically says that they are ignoring your character, please can everyone assume that the other player has just made a mistake, rather than sulking, or having your character sulk.

Just RPing Maurice, Boss. No complaints here, if he does nothing in town he'll definately be in on things once they start the long sea voyage, I'll wait patiently until then.

Jack talked to Maurice, didn't he?

Anyway, Jack was kind of focused on the Moore thing and, now that that's resolved somewhat, will probably be willing to be a bit more chummy. However, it's fair to say that Jack's also developed a fairly healthy (I think) skepticism vis a vis Starkweather, so anyone who owes his or her primary loyalty to SW is probably going to be kept at some distance, at least early on.

I guess this is kind of a silly question, but were 1920s/1930s telephone operators able to "look up" numbers? I don't even know whether Douglas's brother is in NYC, so it may be moot, but could you just say, "Operator, get me so-and-so"? I guess I need to watch some old movies!

I know enough to click the switch on the phone repeatedly if I get disconnected and to yell for the operator, anyway.

I don't think anyone has meant anyone any offence. With so many players and so many characters it's hard to keep track of everyone.

Raiko wrote: please can everyone assume that the other player has just made a mistake, rather than sulking, or having your character sulk.

Seems like good RP just to let Maurice be, he feels apart from the english anyway. Later on they can all kiss and make up, for now let him sulk a bit.

Does anyone want to find out any more information tonight?

If not I’ll move things on in my next post.

BTW: OrionUK won’t be able to post until weekend, and has asked for James to resume cargo checking in the meantime.

If anyone wishes to avoid going to the docks today, they will risk angering Moore, and possibly being kicked out of the expedition.

Anyone who doesn't attend the fitting will automatically be missed.

Anyone sneaking away later will need to make a luck roll to avoid being missed, but be warned I've (randomly) determined the maximum number of people who can 'sneak away.' If this number is exceeded, only the best luck rolls will count.

Moore intends to get back on schedule, and he's got all your names on his famous clipboard.

Maurice is there and accounted for, he will not jeopardize his family's welfare.

I've mentioned Jack's wishes IC.

Raiko, just in case you wanted me to make a Fast Talk roll for Jack, here it is. (He succeeded, with an 18.)

Assuming that Kitt goes to the cops with Jack, that's two less of you that can be lucky.

I'll post here later today, at the moment I'm assuming that nobody is sneaking off.

I'm staying.

Geez, I'm trusting the cops here, not trusting them in Masks. It's hard to keep it all straight ...

McRaven will stay with Nils and help keep an eye out on the warehouse. The trip to the bar was a bust, and this will help McRaven avoid the worst of the final loading and list checking.

He will keep his revolver with him...better to have it and not need it etc etc

Unfortunately the fittings for the cold weather gear will take so long that Jack and Kitt will probably arrive back at the docks before they are finished.

So I'm just going to post stuff to deal with Jack and Kitt while they are at the NYPD HQ and Blackman's office, then I'll deal with the Docks once you are all there.

The rest of you can chat in the queue if like. Everybody is queued up on the Gabrielle except Nils, Callum & McRaven. Those three will be joining the back of the queue once James & Gunnar have had their fittings done (the fittings aren't optional).

I'm hoping to wrap up the full day by Sunday/Monday.

Not long until departure now

Sorry for the hold up, I'm busy with Christmas shopping and Christmas work deadlines.

This game will be my first priority tomorrow (Masks had to come first today, as they are in the middle of a combat).

I'm determined to reach the departure by Christmas at the latest.

Unfortunately a quick look through the police file in the taxi doesn’t reveal anything that you haven’t already been told. The autopsy report does however seem to corroborate the theory that Percival Lexington took his own life.

There were extensive powder burns to both his right hand and his chin, and there was no bruising to suggest that he was forced to take his own life.

Perhaps a longer read tonight will shed more light on the mystery.

The nasty receptionist doesn't look like she'll change her mind.

I shall post tonight with details of some of the days activities at the docks / ship

Sorry I've been really busy again, I should be able to post tonight, and thing will be a bit quieter at work next week.

We're hopefully still on track for a 'pre-Christmas' departure.

As I plan to move on quite quickly now, does anybody other than Jack and Kitt want to go to Commander Douglas' funeral?

Raiko wrote: As I plan to move on quite quickly now, does anybody other than Jack and Kitt want to go to Commander Douglas' funeral?

AKA the Gerald and Philip Ambush Hour

Is such a thing possible without angering professor Moore? In that case I gladly go. Something is probably bound to happen.

I think he actually wanted a few of us to go, didn't he?

Decrepit wrote: AKA the Gerald and Philip Ambush Hour

:lol::lol:



I apologise again for my slowness, I'm hoping that this week won't be as busy at home or at work, so I try to move things along again.

'Normal service' will definitely be restored after Christmas, even it this week goes pear-shaped.

I should be posting here during my lunch break. Thanks for your patience.

I’ll wait till late this evening now, to give a chance for people to start chatting to Jack and Kitt. If nobody posts I’ll continue onto the afternoon of the 7th when the loading of the aeroplanes and the fuel will begin. My next post should be in 11-12 hours, I’ll hold off if you start a discussion.

I plan to keep posting regularly and skimming over things unless an important event occurs. Unfortunately my busy weekend has probably put paid to a Christmas departure, but I’ll still try, and I aim for us to get away from New York before the end of the Christmas break in any case.

Cargo loading will continue around the clock now until departure, so the ‘warehouse crew’ are in for a sleepless night I’m afraid.

I’ve got an ‘almost complete’ full expedition cargo manifest somewhere that I’ll complete tonight and post with the ‘cargo lists.’

This new list will have everything that is being taken apart from your person items. Although the list may make for some dry reading, please have a look through, as anything that isn’t on the list or specifically in your personal gear will not be available.

BTW: Thank you everyone for being such great players for me, my experience of play-by-post on other forums meant that I was very pessimistic of this game making it to departure without recruiting a lot of fresh players; whereas now I’m very optimistic that we’ll see the whole campaign through. I love this campaign and it means a lot to me to be able to run it. The ‘slow part’ is almost over now.

McRaven will be busy with the arrival/loading of the expeditions aircraft. He will take his turn again with the warehouse watch, but will not attend the funeral. He assumes that at some point the gang will gather together and discuss all that they have discovered.

Jack will be performing the routine tasks asked of him until the day/time for the funeral or unless something comes up. He's more or less exhausted his leads until he can talk to (or try to talk to) Philip and Brackman. He'll read the police file when he can, copying down what he thinks might be useful later; he'll return the file to the police when the opportunity presents itself. He'll also report in to work and file the usual updates for the paper (of course leaving out any of his suspicions).

Unfortunately my wife isn't very well again, so I'm only really getting to post from work at the moment.

I'm expecting the site to be quite slow until after Christmas anyway so hopefully I won't slow things down too much.

I'll cover the afternoon in my next post, as give Jack a chance to talk to the new captain and Starkweather.

Blackgoat: Sean can join Jack if you like, I'm sure Starkweather will want a few photos.

Once Jack and Sean have had a chance to chat to the Captain and Starkweather, I'll move onto events for the night (or the next morning if the night passes without event).

At the moment I know that Jack, Kitt and Professor Graves all plan to attend the funeral, I'm also assuming the Olof is going, as Moore certainly won't mind. One or two NPCs will attend as well.

I'd just like to every one a very merry christmas. Seasons greetings and I hope you all have a great time

Ghost_1971 wrote: I'd just like to every one a very merry christmas. Seasons greetings and I hope you all have a great time

Merry Christmas everyone.

I'm not sure whether I'll get to post properly until the 27th, but I'll try to put something up in case anyone is here.

Hope everyone had a good Christmas & have a Happy New Year

Hi everyone, I'm back (slightly later than planned).

I hope you've all been having a good Christmas.

I'll be posting before I go to bed.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERY ONE!

Lets hope we can get this ship underway soon

Happy New Year everyone!

I thought that I’d have posted more than I did during the Christmas break, but never mind I’m back at work now and I’ll resume daily posting.

Ghost_1971 wrote: Lets hope we can get this ship underway soon

Let’s hope so.

I’m going to move onto a summary of the remainder of the 7th now, and move onto the funeral on the 8th

At the moment the following PCs are attending:

Jack, Kitt, Professor Graves, Olof.

Chapter 2 has taken rather a long time to play, but I’m pleased as I’ve managed to include events that other online Keepers have skipped. I like the intrigue, and the fact that the New York mysteries / investigations raise more questions than they are likely to answer.

The good news is that it’s doesn’t look like events from Chapter 3 will take place, so I should be starting “Chapter 4 – The Departure” as soon as the funeral is over with

I’ll probably renumber that chapter as Chapter 3, in order to save confusion.

Raiko wrote: The good news is that it’s doesn’t look like events from Chapter 3 will take place, so I should be starting “Chapter 4 – The Departure” as soon as the funeral is over with

I’ll probably renumber that chapter as Chapter 3, in order to save confusion.

Did we do something right? Ah this plot is to much for me. I'm losing sanity!

Henrik wrote:

Raiko wrote: The good news is that it’s doesn’t look like events from Chapter 3 will take place, so I should be starting “Chapter 4 – The Departure” as soon as the funeral is over with

I’ll probably renumber that chapter as Chapter 3, in order to save confusion.

Did we do something right? Ah this plot is to much for me. I'm losing sanity!

You've done lots of things right.

Hopefully by the end of the campaign only your characters' sanity will have suffered!

Sorry I didn't get chance to go online last night, I had most of the post done, but couldn't post until now.

For anyone who isn't either attending the funeral, or keeping an eye out for sabotage, this morning is probably the last chance to escape Moore's watchful eyes before tomorrow's departure.

well i'm back.

Hope you all had a great time over xmas and did not overindulge...too much

hope to get back posting asap

cheers

Unless anybody objects, I’ll give you a day or so to reply to each other and the npcs, then I’ll move straight onto the funeral (and other things).

Once the long voyage south finally starts I’d appreciate it everybody could post at least once per game day, or ‘block of days’ (it’s a long journey so sometimes I’ll summarise a few days at once).

This will let me know that everyone is still interested. So far I’ve checked up on quieter players via PM occasionally, so I know we haven’t lost anyone except GaryTheNerd and Shadow, but I’d like everyone to actively participate in the game once the voyage begins, even if you just say that your character is performing routine tasks.

If anyone feels ‘left out,’ or is struggling to find a way to join in, just post here or PM me. Unfortunately the shear number of players and npcs means that it’s not always easy for me to make sure that everyone has something to do.

Maurice will be quietly attending the funeral and will be far more active once the sea voyage begins.

((I've been reading along this whole time and feel he'd be best played as a constant once we're all on the ship together and have nothing to do for months on end but get to know each other))

thewhatchamacallit wrote: <snip> ...nothing to do for months on end but get to know each other

:lol::lol:

You hope.

Isugtag will also go to the funerals. He's planning on having a little chat with Starkweather.

As already mentioned Olof will attend the funeral.

Sorry. I've been a little remiss here.

Just to remind me: the only thing we really know about Brackman, besides the fact that he's a lawyer and has an evil receptionist, is that he was listed in the dead captain's notes, right?

Also: Do those of us who are at the funeral need to split up to corner both Brackman and Philip?

Good cop, bad cop?

Jack is just a little testy ...

FYI, I'm still reading along

Heh, heh. I think everyone is as frustrated as Jack by now. We all have our theories but no concrete evidence.

If you have finished at the funeral, I'll move things back to the hotel.

"Ya gotta ignore my partner. He's a little, how do you say it, crazy? He once killed a man for not answering his questions. True story. Me, on the other hand, I'm a nice guy."

This is kind of cool--we could actually be just about literally the last people to be prosecuted for a Volstead Act violation, considering the 21st Amendment is ratified in December. Maybe people will read about us someday.