Breathing a sigh of relief--more for the reassuring sound, rather than the physical act of taking in air--Clover sank down onto the couch next to Ruby. She had been rash back there, and she knew it. Offering to single-handedly walk up to a dangerous house? Alone? And with no defense? Actually getting abducted in the process? Being scared shitless, yet still cracking wise-ass--yet utterly insane--comments to her would-be-kidnapper the entire time?
Foolish.
Very foolish.
Hearing Ruby's concern for her, she felt her face flush red. Or at least she imagined it. Shame and embarrassment marred her features; her feeling terrible at making Ruby worry. But also a slight, shy comfort in the fact that Ruby cared so much.
If it could, it would warm her heart.
Koln walked off to explore the fridge, and she heard him rummage around and the clinking of glass. Liverman didn't seem like the type to stock blood. But hey: Everything about this night had been a surprise. Could she really doubt that something new would arise? After all, why else would he have suggested that three vampires help themselves to his fridge?
Shutting her eyes a moment, she heard Ruby speaking, and she couldn't help smiling at the sound of her voice. After the harsh way she had been treated like Klondike... well... the sound of Ruby's voice was like the sight of the lighthouse to a storm-tossed ship. Calming. Full of hope.
And reason.
She furred her brow, opening her eyes again, "I agree, Ruby. This Thaddeus sounds like a tough customer. I just wish we had an inkling as to what he was after. What's his goal? You know, when Lacey mentioned him, it seemed like Koln was remembering something. Normally his face looks pretty... blank. But didn't you see it? Some sort of lightbulb went off there. Maybe he knows something but it was buried by his... condition?"
Clover waited a moment, then shrugged at herself. Who knew? No one did. This was all still so strange. And such a puzzle. It hurt her head to think about it. But so long as she had Ruby at her side. And Koln watching over her. And Mindy read in waiting... well... she felt like she was on solid footing. Even if the world still toppled around her, she was still keeping her balance. So there was no use getting all riled up over what she couldn't change. Just try and figure out.
She shut her eyes again, just enjoying the dark inside of her lids for a brief moment, "As for staying here, Ruby, you and Koln can feel free. I'm going to head back to the school. Mindy's probably worried about us. And... um..." Her voice trailed off as she finished in her mind. Seeing Klondike had reminded her.
Mindy probably needed to feed.
She shut her eyes again, just enjoying the dark inside of her lids for a brief moment, "As for staying here, Ruby, you and Koln can feel free. I'm going to head back to the school. Mindy's probably worried about us. And... um..." Her voice trailed off as she finished in her mind. Seeing Klondike had reminded her.
Mindy probably needed to feed.
WOOT! Page 100! You guys can finish up any additional roleplaying you want to do before this event.
You all gain the Achievement: In A Ghoul's Grasp (worth 4xp).
It is about midnight now and Liverman has been looking over the notes for about an hour. Clover is about to (presumably) call a taxi when Liverman stands up from where he is sitting and yells "EUREKA!" He calls everyone over to the table to explain what he has found.
"Okay everyone, now I've been going over this stuff for about an hour now. It definitely helped that I was able to read much of Prestor's notes in the car. I already know what I wrote down but I had to compare the two together. When doing my own research I was given a number of different substances and I compared the reactions they had on human blood to the reactions they had on a substance given to me by Jacob Prestor that I only knew as 'alpha'. Now, this substance has been wracking my brain for about a week now, especially since I lost contact with Jacob and later found that his house had burned down with him inside. No matter what tests I performed, I could not figure out the biological makeup of substance 'alpha'. It was pure luck that you brought Jacob's notes to me because without them I would never have figured it out! By looking at this it appears that 'alpha' was actually Jacob Prestor's own blood! Can you believe that!? Simple blood should have been easy for me to figure out. Of course after looking back on everything and meeting you three, I can see that you are not human at all."
Liverman puts the papers down and continues "Now get this, it appears that Jacob Prestor made some kind of concotions or "serums" as he calls them in his notes. It looks like these serums contained his own blood mixed with the other substances that I was experimenting with, one of which being human blood. Unfortunately it appears that Jacob didn't have enough time to test the serums so there is no listing of what effects they have on living things. I'll give you a copy of my own conclusions section so you can see what I came up with by testing the substances. Anyway, it appears that you three were the first living subjects that the serums were used on. You spoke of a "transformation" of sorts after coming in contact with Jacob after all. So i imagine these serums have the power to turn humans into vampires. Amazing!"
Liverman bounces around excitedly as he is overcome with the joy of seeing the results of Prestor's (and his own) work. He calms down quickly and asks "Okay, now the only question left unanswered is are there any serums left after Jacob used them on you and if so, where are they now? Did Klondike mention anything about these serums when you were getting my notes from him? You said he was cooperative so you obviously spoke with him."
Liverman bounces around excitedly as he is overcome with the joy of seeing the results of Prestor's (and his own) work. He calms down quickly and asks "Okay, now the only question left unanswered is are there any serums left after Jacob used them on you and if so, where are they now? Did Klondike mention anything about these serums when you were getting my notes from him? You said he was cooperative so you obviously spoke with him."
Koln nods and shuts the fridge, "I need to make a mental note to do an exorcism on that thing later. Bunch of snarling and growling... and a voice, did it say "Zuul?! Whatever..."
He shrugs and joins everyone else at the table. He nods along with what Liverman says about the serums, "Why would he bother making such a thing? I mean thanks to the efforts of certain fiction-writers, people are flocking to the streets looking for that 'perfectly' pale vampire to 'lovingly' embrace them into vampirism; it seems like another mechanism to turn humans into vampires is simply not needed. Granted, I can see the commercial value in such a thing. It can be mass-produced and aimed at Twilight fans as "Edward's Vamp-Juice!," a citrus-tasting energy beverage guaranteed to make one 'sparkle' in the sun, play baseball in the rain, and have pointier teeth... It would be nice if the effects could be reversed. I don't recall Klondike mentioning anything about it."
Koln nods and shuts the fridge, "I need to make a mental note to do an exorcism on that thing later. Bunch of snarling and growling... and a voice, did it say "Zuul?! Whatever..."
He shrugs and joins everyone else at the table. He nods along with what Liverman says about the serums, "Why would he bother making such a thing? I mean thanks to the efforts of certain fiction-writers, people are flocking to the streets looking for that 'perfectly' pale vampire to 'lovingly' embrace them into vampirism; it seems like another mechanism to turn humans into vampires is simply not needed. Granted, I can see the commercial value in such a thing. It can be mass-produced and aimed at Twilight fans as "Edward's Vamp-Juice!," a citrus-tasting energy beverage guaranteed to make one 'sparkle' in the sun, play baseball in the rain, and have pointier teeth... It would be nice if the effects could be reversed. I don't recall Klondike mentioning anything about it."
Quote:
Liverman bounces around excitedly as he is overcome with the joy of seeing the results of Prestor's (and his own) work. He calms down quickly and asks "Okay, now the only question left unanswered is are there any serums left after Jacob used them on you and if so, where are they now? Did Klondike mention anything about these serums when you were getting my notes from him? You said he was cooperative so you obviously spoke with him."
"Why yes, we do have something that at least looks like they are the serums right here," Assuming we took the set of test tubes with us on our journey from the lock box.
Ruby hands him the set with the group's consent. "My guess was he was trying to find the cure through trial and error. From his journal, it seems he yearned to be closer to humanity..." Hoping i'm on the right track here XP
"Why yes, we do have something that at least looks like they are the serums right here," Assuming we took the set of test tubes with us on our journey from the lock box.
Ruby hands him the set with the group's consent. "My guess was he was trying to find the cure through trial and error. From his journal, it seems he yearned to be closer to humanity..." Hoping i'm on the right track here XP
I'll give you guys the benefit of the doubt and say that you were carrying it with you
Liverman takes the vials and looks at them. Yes, these are exactly like the samples he gave me. One of these chemicals had the composition of arsine which kills red blood cells. It wasn't able to destroy "alpha" but it certainly changed it. I'm not sure if this is where he was going with a cure. If he did find one I wouldn't want to be the first person to try it. If you let me keep these things I might be able to recreate this stuff based on the notes. It would certainly take some time to do though so you should probably just go on your way instead of waiting for me. I can get you a cab to bring you anywhere you need to go."
"Yes, you can keep them. And thank you for the offer of the cab. That would be helpful. Now... Let's go, guys. I think we've spent enough time on this chapter of the story." Clover grinned, suggesting the obvious.
"Yes, you can keep them. And thank you for the offer of the cab. That would be helpful. Now... Let's go, guys. I think we've spent enough time on this chapter of the story." Clover grinned, suggesting the obvious.
Liverman says "Oh thank you, thank you! You have no idea what a benefit to science this is! I think I might've just made the discovery of a lifetime! Now wait here, I'll call the cab and give you a copy of my notes." Liverman walks off chuckling to himself. Moments later he comes back and hands each of you a page of notes with the "conclusion" of his experiments written on it. "What you gave me are not the actual serums but the materials that go into making the serums. I don't know, maybe the only ones he made are the ones he used on you guys. But if you ever come across any these notes should help you a lot."
Liverman then walks over to Koln "I guess I'll take you up on that offer. $200 and the gun is yours, I don't care if you keep it, but you'll have to buy more ammunition for it. Four shells is all I got."
I'll put the note into your inventory on your character sheets. There will be a comment on it with what the note actually says. I'll also put what the note says into my blog when I record this post.
Liverman says "Oh thank you, thank you! You have no idea what a benefit to science this is! I think I might've just made the discovery of a lifetime! Now wait here, I'll call the cab and give you a copy of my notes." Liverman walks off chuckling to himself. Moments later he comes back and hands each of you a page of notes with the "conclusion" of his experiments written on it. "What you gave me are not the actual serums but the materials that go into making the serums. I don't know, maybe the only ones he made are the ones he used on you guys. But if you ever come across any these notes should help you a lot."
Liverman then walks over to Koln "I guess I'll take you up on that offer. $200 and the gun is yours, I don't care if you keep it, but you'll have to buy more ammunition for it. Four shells is all I got."
"Thanks... " Koln reaches into his pocket, fumbles for a bit, and hands him 200 bucks, leaving Koln with $48. $200 is more than generous for such a weapon, despite its age and use. While $100 would have been ridiculous if he accepted, $200 is still pretty cheap for a gun that retails for almost double that used... so it would seem that Liverman has his thoughts mainly elsewhere.
"Before we leave, if I may ask from what little I understand, what good does this research do us? Why don't we destroy it? People becoming vampires so easily... this helps in that, it must be stopped. Surely you agree that the potential of this research is obviously very dangerous... the implications are that innocents," As he speaks he quickly glances out of the corner of his eye at Clover "can be unwittingly turned into monsters. Now I confess, my dream is a world free of sin... when Heaven and Earth become one and there is not a devil in sight. Even if, God help you, you do not share such a dream, surely you agree that it would be unwise to tolerate such a thing that can change people who are not ready... er well as ready as one could be I suppose, for the burdens of vampirism. I know, you seem like a fine man, but what if Stephenie Meyer were to get her hands on this and be able to commercialize it to those hormone-crazed high school girls?! Edward would have all the 'Bella's his sinful mind could want!...And are you sure this was all you were able to conclude from your research?"
Koln might have already did this... but do it again before we leave
Sense motive on Liverman
2102:
Rolled for:
1d20(+7) = 25
DM TOOLS
http://dmtools.org/dice.php?act=retrieve&id=2102
Last edited by Strider_Koln; 6th November 2009 at 07:58 PM..
"Before we leave, if I may ask from what little I understand, what good does this research do us? Why don't we destroy it? People becoming vampires so easily... this helps in that, it must be stopped. Surely you agree that the potential of this research is obviously very dangerous... the implications are that innocents," As he speaks he quickly glances out of the corner of his eye at Clover "can be unwittingly turned into monsters. Now I confess, my dream is a world free of sin... when Heaven and Earth become one and there is not a devil in sight. Even if, God help you, you do not share such a dream, surely you agree that it would be unwise to tolerate such a thing that can change people who are not ready... er well as ready as one could be I suppose, for the burdens of vampirism. I know, you seem like a fine man, but what if Stephenie Meyer were to get her hands on this and be able to commercialize it to those hormone-crazed high school girls?! Edward would have all the 'Bella's his sinful mind could want!...And are you sure this was all you were able to conclude from your research?"
Koln might have already did this... but do it again before we leave
Sense motive on Liverman
Rolled for:
1d20(+7) = 25
http://dmtools.org/dice.php?act=retrieve&id=2102
Liverman smiles at Koln "Quite an imagination you have there son. Look, I would like to continue working on what Dr. Prestor was trying to achieve which was a cure for his condition. Heck, maybe it'll change the world and make me rich! But mainly I would like to see if it can actually be done, obviously this was something that Jacob cared a lot about. Maybe if I do manage to create something it will be a little...safer?"
Koln
Spoiler:
You think that Liverman is telling the truth. He seems to be very passionate about his work and science in general. You notice that he even has the periodic table hanging on his wall! although the names look different and there are pictures of glasses filled with what looks like drinks in the boxes instead of the chemicals themselves.
You get the Achievement: Dr. Liverman I Presume (worth 5xp) Clover reached Level 4!
Ruby reached Level 4!
Kokn reached Level 4!
Last edited by Tale_Weaver; 7th November 2009 at 12:52 AM..
Reason: messed up the sblock & XP
Soon after you leave Liverman's house a taxi pulls up. You get in and tell the driver to bring you back to the school. You no sooner pull away from Liverman's house when Clover's phone rings.
Clover
Spoiler:
When you pick up the phone it's Lacey. She sounds really panicked "Ang...no Clover! Is that your name? I'm pretty bad with names you know. Anyway, I'm calling you because Klondike has run away. He got really upset when I broke it to him that I wasn't going to turn him into a vampire. He took these vials with him before he ran off. Please come over quick, I'm afraid he's going to do something rash!"
Hearing this, Clover's grip tightened on her phone and she found herself leaning forward defeatedly, bumping her head into the seat in front of her. Her eyes closed and a twitching began at her temple. She sighed, clearly annoyed, "Ok. Fine. Didn't I say he should be kept on a shorter leash? Anyway, we're on our way."
Shutting her phone, she gave Ruby and Koln a look to silently signal that they didn't want to know.
Then, she leaned towards the driver and said, "I'm sorry. We've been called to a different appointment. Take us to ************** instead. We'll pay you for your time."
Hearing this, Clover's grip tightened on her phone and she found herself leaning forward defeatedly, bumping her head into the seat in front of her. Her eyes closed and a twitching began at her temple. She sighed, clearly annoyed, "Ok. Fine. Didn't I say he should be kept on a shorter leash? Anyway, we're on our way."
Shutting her phone, she gave Ruby and Koln a look to silently signal that they didn't want to know.
Then, she leaned towards the driver and said, "I'm sorry. We've been called to a different appointment. Take us to ************** instead. We'll pay you for your time."
(Can't remember Klondike's address...)
Koln is solemn in the car and eerily quiet. Dr. Liverman better be serious about making a cure for vampirism. The second a vampire-creating serum is unleashed upon the world... Liverman would simply have to die and die painfully, the Lord will see to it. Until then, may God guide the good doctor in curing humanity from the blight of Cain.
Koln's train of thought is interrupted by Clover, "Er, why are we going back there? Shorter leash? Who's on a leash? I'm confused..."
Upon Clover's response Koln nods and sighs, "I knew I should have slain him when I had the chance. I think it would be for the best if, from now on, I act on pure instinct more than 'reason', and let faith pick up the pieces of course. If guided by the Holy Spirit, I will never fall from grace!"
Hearing this, Clover's grip tightened on her phone and she found herself leaning forward defeatedly, bumping her head into the seat in front of her. Her eyes closed and a twitching began at her temple. She sighed, clearly annoyed, "Ok. Fine. Didn't I say he should be kept on a shorter leash? Anyway, we're on our way."
Shutting her phone, she gave Ruby and Koln a look to silently signal that they didn't want to know.
Then, she leaned towards the driver and said, "I'm sorry. We've been called to a different appointment. Take us to ************** instead. We'll pay you for your time."
(Can't remember Klondike's address...)
The driver turns around, it's the same taxi driver, almost like he cloned himself or something! He says in his Indian accent "You bastards never pay me! But I find myself driving you anyway."
When you get to the house you can see Lacey standing on the front porch. We'll assume you find a way to rip off the taxi driver and he drives away with no money...again.
When you get up to the house Lacey says "Oh thank you thank you! We have to go quickly, I'll explain everything on the way!" Lacey leads you over to the light blue pick up truck in the driveway. As soon as everyone is in she takes off. As you are driving she says "Klondike took these things with him saying that if I wouldn't turn him he would find his own salvation. I think I know what he meant and that is why I think I know where to find him. Otherwise we're going the wrong way for sure."
The driver turns around, it's the same taxi driver, almost like he cloned himself or something! He says in his Indian accent "You bastards never pay me! But I find myself driving you anyway."
When you get to the house you can see Lacey standing on the front porch. We'll assume you find a way to rip off the taxi driver and he drives away with no money...again.
When you get up to the house Lacey says "Oh thank you thank you! We have to go quickly, I'll explain everything on the way!" Lacey leads you over to the light blue pick up truck in the driveway. As soon as everyone is in she takes off. As you are driving she says "Klondike took these things with him saying that if I wouldn't turn him he would find his own salvation. I think I know what he meant and that is why I think I know where to find him. Otherwise we're going the wrong way for sure."
"Grrrawk!" Ruby squaked, clearly infuriated at the whole situation. "Looks like I can get my chance to teach him a lesson about treating ladies after-all!" she growled with a drawn smirk. She looked out the window after calming down a bit. "At any rate, those vials could be the missing link to Liverman's theories, we must get them away from him if they are what I think they could be..." she said grimly.
"Grrrawk!" Ruby squaked, clearly infuriated at the whole situation. "Looks like I can get my chance to teach him a lesson about treating ladies after-all!" she growled with a drawn smirk. She looked out the window after calming down a bit. "At any rate, those vials could be the missing link to Liverman's theories, we must get them away from him if they are what I think they could be..." she said grimly.
Lacey stares quietly at the road. "I don't know what we're going to find. Ghouls should not be able to turn themselves into vampires, it's just not natural I tell you!" she says. The road eventually comes to a dead and and there is a dirt path leading off into the woods. "He has some strange connection to this place, that is why I think we can find him here. That and the little voices in my head say so too." Lacey giggles as she puts the truck in park and turns it off. She gets out and grabs a double-barrel shotgun from the rear compartment. "You never know what we're going to find when we get up there. Ready when you are."
Lacey stares quietly at the road. "I don't know what we're going to find. Ghouls should not be able to turn themselves into vampires, it's just not natural I tell you!" she says. The road eventually comes to a dead and and there is a dirt path leading off into the woods. "He has some strange connection to this place, that is why I think we can find him here. That and the little voices in my head say so too." Lacey giggles as she puts the truck in park and turns it off. She gets out and grabs a double-barrel shotgun from the rear compartment. "You never know what we're going to find when we get up there. Ready when you are."
"...Vampires are not natural, nevermind ghouls becoming vampires..." Koln mutters under his breath, adjusting his hat with one hand and pumping his shotgun with the other. "So... what would you do to a Klondike bar? I know what I'm going to do..."
"...Vampires are not natural, nevermind ghouls becoming vampires..." Koln mutters under his breath, adjusting his hat with one hand and pumping his shotgun with the other. "So... what would you do to a Klondike bar? I know what I'm going to do..."
Lacey says "Let's give him a chance. Maybe he hasn't gone through with it yet. I mean we can go in with our boomsticks yes, but not blazing boomsticks! Maybe we can talk him down with a twist of the tongue rather than a shot to the head." Lacey looks at everyone to see if they are in agreement.
Lacey and Clover approach the clearing first because they have the best chance of talking down Klondike. Ruby and Koln stand back in the distance. When they get to the clearing Clover and Lacey see Klondike standing behind a stone alter with 2 syringes in front of him. When he sees Lacey he says "It's too late for apologies now vampire bitch, I'm going to provide my own salvation!"
When he picks up the viles Lacey says "Please, don't do anything rash. We can talk about this!"
Klondike says "It's too late for talk, you are no better than that trickster Thaddeus with your empty promises. Just leave me be!" He then plunges the two syringes into his neck at the same time and falls to the ground behind the alter. Koln runs around the alter while Klondike is writhing on the ground to get a cheap shot in but of course I would never allow that to happen.
Klondike ends up getting malformed into a rather hideous beast with buldging muscles and popping veins. His features are freakishly out of proportion. On the outside he looks like some beefed up nosferatu but he appears to be in a lot of pain.
Linear Mode
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