Fellowship of the Witching Hour - Part I

[Dlsharrock]

[SBLOCK=OOC Everyone]Actually my turn was the one with the OOC notes and the map of Arkham. However, I can see, given what I said about posting OOC willy nilly, that this is confusing. Next time I write a purely OOC contribution I'll be sure to add something to the effect of 'will the line please shuffle forward'.

Your take of player extras, Kook, is more succinct and accurate than I could ever put it. I should employ you as my interpreter of incoherent babble (i,e, my own incoherent babble). So for anyone still a bit confused by the term player NPCs (player non prominent characters) here's the bottom line as written by Kook:

A newly-introduced character is essentially the property of the creator. And the Keeper doesn't mind extra characters as 'garnish' as long as they don't get in the way of the action.

So if in doubt, refer to the above 'eleventh commandment'

I have one more reason why Sam might be devoted to the Witching Hour that actually stems from an aspect in my real life. If y'all are interested I will tell you. But I don't want to bore you or put too much of the player into the character to the game's detriment.

Please do tell. I'm intrigued [/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=OOC Dire Lemming]Thanks for the courtesan write up. I'll send you stats by email.[/SBLOCK]
[SBLOCK=OOC Kookalouris]Hehe Kook! Who was it said growing up is like playing a violin on the street corner- everyone can see what stage you're at? Using a new forum is quite similar methinks. I struggled with the sblocks too, though, so don't feel bad. Could you nip back to the original test message though (click on edit) and stick all that in an SBLOCK entitled 'OOC with some IC', just to keep the thread tidy.

First off, David, I sympathize with your pain. I have only had one wisdom tooth pulled and that was enough to convince me, thanks.

Thanks, Gerry. It's actually getting worse as the days roll on. I'll live though, and I'm getting infinite enjoyment from reading everyone's excellent contributions to the game.

I had considered the Whisperer in Darkness to be tuned to the BBC. Unfortunately, according to my research, Edward R. Murrow iconic "This is London" stopped the year before. For myself, should the Apocalypse ever happen, I will immediately tune to the BBC, I want the end of the world delivered to me with a polite, 'stiff-upper-lip' British accent.

Well, as already outlined in the Guidelines text, accuracy may take a back seat to artistic license in any eventuality, whether trivial or history changing. With something as mundane as a radio show, feel free to have Edward R Murrow continue his on-air ullulations indefinitely. There are no history police here.

Possible suggestion, could Sam have a copper on the 'take.' By that I mean, maybe an 'understanding' of Sam's interpretation of, say, liquor laws, or closing hours. All of this could be bought with the local constabulary's 'discount' on the good stuff and the Witching Hour's generous donations to the local 'police association.' This could make for another source of rumours from the station filtered through a colorful character. Or it could be a completely legit way of possibly having an off-duty cop at the bar. Sam can't easily afford a bouncer. Although I imagine the hard-bitten waitstaff is pretty formidable and Sam would secretly be happy enough to have enough business to warrant some muscle.

At this stage, no. There's plenty of scope, given that the 'Scoobies' are currently eyeing up some of the heavier rumours, that they'll all come very much into contact with the local constabulary anyway. Right now Sam has to deal with any minor skirmishes herself (she has a damage bonus to cover such eventualities don't forget) or hope regular patrons will help out and wade in if anything really big kicks off. As with the request for a dictaphone, this is a development you'll want to look at in-character, approaching the police herself, or just making tentative enquiries. As for shopping, maybe request Sam spend a day in the near future checking out the department stores for equipment you'd like to use in the bar, or on their outings. Luck rolls are there for finding bargains. Alternatively the Powder Mill flea market opens every Saturday and she might be able to find bargains there using her Bargain skill. The rest of the group might be open to tagging along for gearing themselves up. As yet nobody has any made any specific equipment requests, but I'll bet once you guys are out 'in the field' you'll wish you had - hint hint

Spoken text colour: yes, this is a fashion on Enworld. It makes the spoken word stand out in any given block and helps with skim reading I think, if players or GM are in a hurry to play catch up. It's common courtesy to choose a colour different to that of your fellow players. Leaving everything white is also fine.[/SBLOCK]
OOC: I'm reintroducing the newly named barmaid Cyndy as befits my original NPC. I've tried to shuffle her character toward Dire's initial protrayal so as to avoid any jarring disimilarities.

BIC
Cyndy totters up to the group, a tray balanced precariously on the flat of her palm, laden with more bottles and glasses than can possibly be safe. As usual her mouth is working industriously at a rubbery piece of gum. "Hey mack," she winks at the newly arrived Doctor LeGraid, "what's new? You wanna drink hon, or you gonna nurse that all night?" She grins mischieviously, "what about you Bogart," she chews her gum at Adam, "a refill?" Then she spots Arabella, "oh hey toots. What's new? You still workin' on them masterpieces?"

Niceties and orders out of the way, she leans on Sam's shoulder in an irreverant fashion, "so what're the Dick Tracies cookin' up tonight? You ain't goin' off on another jolly are ya?"

 

[Dlsharrock]

[SBLOCK=OOC Everyone]New message requiring all players' attention in the OOC thread: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?p=4257815#post4257815[/SBLOCK]

 

[kookalouris]

More OOC before post

[sblock=More OOC]
First off, I have amended my previous post. I no longer feel like Wilbur Whateley in ill-advised Bermuda shorts.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dunwich_Horror#Wilbur_Whateley

However, since I did accidentally reveal a possible post,

As regards extra characters, 'garnish' may be an appropriate term. Someone's got to feed the monsters.

"You probably don't remember me, do you? It's the sunglasses, right? I was on the show in '82. Episode 81. I was Crewman Number Six. I got killed by a lava monster before the first commercial.

Guy (Crewman Number Six), from Galaxy Quest."

For myself, I explicitly allow characters to use Auntie Keziah (unless David has a reason not to). I can't see as anyone would have a need or desire to use her in a post, just in case. Auntie Keziah is either a crazy old lady or a someone (some-thing) seeming as a crazy old lady.

DL,
Well done on Elisse. Sam hates her already. I like how adaptive you are as a player. I'm looking forward to see what happens next.

I like the map. Is Arkham coastal? For mood, I will assume Sam stands dreamily on the balcony listening to the call of the sea (or at least the river) now and then.

Having used blue for my last oops-ed post, which would be too close to DL's 'blue streak.' I will choose white for now to highlight Sam's albinism.

I am cool with the twice-a-day or every-two-days posting links but will there be casual times in the game where a strict schedule need not be followed so rigidly? Of course, a 'casual interlude' and 'Call of Cthulhu' may be mutually exclusive.



My next post to follow and then some more OOC.

Gerry
[/sblock]

 

[kookalouris]

DT and DTs

Sam chuckles, grateful to have Cyndy on staff. She was a breath of fresh air in stuffy old Arkham. Sam had no idea why the rolling rebel stayed here but enjoyed her company gratefully. She strained to respond in kind...

"Nah, Sister, It looks like the only spirits the 'DT' are catchin' will be in the bottles, Savvy?" Sam looked down to where her hand trembled slghtly from the more-than-a-few 'irish coffees' earlier. She discreetly steadied the flask with her other hand. "'The DT's chasing the DTs," she muttered to herself.

Gerry

[SBLOCK=OOC]
Ok, it occurs to my now-caffienatted mind that white spoken text won't really contrast with well with the normal white text.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[kookalouris]

Why Sam might be devoted to the Witching Hour

[SBLOCK=OOC]
Now that I have gotten the last game post done and not hindered game pace.

Let me tell you a little about why I see Samantha the way I do.

A few years ago, in an attempt to save my worthless, dead-end job, I had myself checked out for possible ADD. This started me on a varying series of supplements, diet and medications. As it turns out, I don't likely have ADD, more likely atypical OCD and depression. With every passing month, I become more aware of what works for me and what doesn't. If I were a betting man, I would say, I will have my symptoms fully under control within a year and will be living a life I couldn't have imagined a few years ago.

What does this have to do with Samantha?
Why I am telling you this?

I will try and answer both questions.

Up into a few years ago, I had what I thought were crippling characters flaws. I drifted, never applied myself, disappointed myself and others.

When my skeptical self tried a certain dietary supplement, it improved my mood. But what really mattered was that this particular supplement wouldn't do anything for the vast majority of people and usually worked for people with the same personality 'flaws' as myself.

This is a similar situation to Sam. She lost her crew and there is no rational reason for their (presumed) death or her survival. Barring the supernatural, the most likely explanation is that Sam 'cracked' and got her crew killed. Had she seen some kind of Mythos creature in-flight, her mind would have blocked out the transcendental horror of it. A rational woman, after being rescued, would have interpreted any traumatic flashbacks as hallucinations and her subsequent protective amnesia as repression of her guilt.

In short, given what she has witnessed, if there is no such thing as the supernatural, Sam must be crazy and the cause of her crash.
But if there is ever any proof whatsoever of the supernatural (and we players know that there will be sooner or later), then Samantha can finally...
...realize that her sanity might be damaged but she is not insane...
...realize that she was not the cause of people that she cared for and loved being lost...
...that maybe she has a chance for public redemption and revenge...

With so much at stake, as I see it, Sam has no greater mission now than to prove she is sane and rational. And the best way for her to do that is to search for any proof that truly supernatural (literally, 'beyond nature') phenomena exist. Whatever she finds may not be the particular phenomenon she survived over Bermuda but any proof would be one step on the long journey towards salvation.

This echoes true in my life.
Once I learned that all of my troubles might have a physical cause, either a lack or malabsorption of a certain nutrient, than all the flaws I blamed myself for (at times, hated myself for) for were not my fault.
Not only that, but these failings in my personality might be treatable conditions. I might not have to suffer from them for the rest of my life.

At that point, I was determined to learn more. I began to research, really research, to the point where I sometimes advise (and gently correct) my doctor. At one point, I bought a book called 'You Mean I'm Not Lazy, Stupid or Crazy?' after only reading the well-chosen title. As it turns out, I don't most likely don't have ADD, but such was the promise of that title I still bought the book. I spent my disposable income and beyond on various vitamins, doctors, medications and supplements. I can honestly say that this has been the driving passion of my life for the past two years or so.

All for the chance of better self-confidence and self-esteem.

When I started, two years ago, I had a dead-end job, and had to essentially help myself, being unable to afford real medical help.
Now, today, I have improved to the point that I have a job that can fund my continuing improvement and much of the work has already been done, (I know what does work for me, and just as necessary, what doesn't work for me.). Life is good and getting better.

Why am I telling you this?

I've no reason to be ashamed of what may be a treatable imbalance of not-yet-isolated nutrients (another grace from the past two years). But I normally don't overpower others with my personal struggles. In this case, it helped the game. But there is another reason...

Playing the odds, about one-in-a-hundred people have issues similar to my own, though for any number of causes. Most have no idea why they struggle so. Playing the odds further, with this many players in the game, most likely a player might recognize someone in their own life dealing with these issues. If, through y'all, this post helps anyone else (even if just to confirm that my problems aren't their troubles), this game will have already rewarded me beyond my expectations (and the game is pretty excellent so far).

With that in mind, I will reveal a little more about the very tiny part of these troubles I might have some insight in. I believe that all of my troubles stem from a not-uncommon difference in how serotonin is processed and transmitted in the brain. In my case, the nutritional supplement Inositol has worked the best. Inositol is known to help OCD symptoms in many. The working theory is that Inositol helps to de-sensitize numbed serotonin receptors on the part of the brain that makes confident decisions. When such an area is numbed, common side effects are indecision as well as an inablity to confirm actions and intentions as completed (thus, the nervous and never-relieved repetitions of OCD).

Like I said, if this helps anyone, I was happy to type it.

And, more than I have meant in any other post before, I will be happy to answer what questions I can about this post...

Gerry
[/SBLOCK]

 

[greenstar]

"My art is doing great. We were just talking about the rumours going around." Arabella turns to the rest of the group. "If everyone thinks there's nothing obviously weird about the student death and we don't want to get involved with the kidnapped boys yet I vote we check out the ghost cars since there is something obviously weird about that. Unless no one is curious about it.

 

[Dire Lemming]

Adam finishes his drink and replaces it on the table, moving it aside to make room for another; "Ah, just one more. Thank you Cindy." He turns to Arabella. "I think the cars would be interesting. It sounds a little bit like something from a pulp magazine, but they say reality is stranger than fiction. It definitely seems to me that something is going on, and the police apparently haven't investigated very thoroughly. If people have been disappearing someone should do something about it... Uh, did you say something, Sam?"


[sblock=OOC]Kook, that sounds allot like me actually, but I've been diagnosed with ADD.[/sblock]

 

[Lucean]

Phillip looked away from Arabella at her avoidance to answer, then raised the glass from the table, taking another sip from it.

"No, thank you, I'm content with this." Phillip rubbed his temple with his fre hand. "As for the cars, if that is the desire of the group, I have nothing against it. Although based on what I've heard, there might be an easier explanation for it than ghost vehicles." He placed back on to the table. "And I hope that everyone understands that I have no intention to become one of those gone missing in that stretch of the road, which does seem to be a possibility as well if we journey there."

----------------------

[sblock=OOC]As said in the OOC thread, I shall be gone for the rest of the day and will be unable to post. Feel free to skip me during the next turn, as everyone seemed to agree to the twice in a day rule.[/sblock]

 

[Dlsharrock]

[SBLOCK=OOC Everyone]Thanks for sharing that with us Gerry. I think your positive comments are indicators that you're going in the right direction. I think the most insightful thing anyone ever said to me went something like this: "we live in the world we anticipate". I always interpreted it to mean, think positively and embrace what works for you and you'll get where you want to be (provided you *know* where you want to be) and it sounds to me like you do right now. I too have had depression (as have most poeple, I think) and look back on it as a positive catalyst (as do most who emerge from the tunnel). Best of luck with your continuing treatment, anyway.

With regard to relating this to Sam. It's certainly a good reason for Sam to have an avid interest in the group. I would personally be wary of exploring difficult and potentially sensitive aspects of my own psychology in what is essentially a game. Then again, I think most players do this on a subconscious level anyway, so why not do it consciously? I leave it up to you

I've said much the same in the OOC thread, but will repeat here to save you all heading over there, votes were all yay on a speedier turn rate. But I'm not closed to criticism, so I think we'll try out Dire Lemming's suggestion of a free turn rate.

No maximum threshold on the number of turns you can post then, but the 48hr safety net remains. If you can't post within two days from your last IC post within the sequence (not OOC posts), use OOC:BRB or just let us know, as Lucean has, and we'll roll on. I'm keen on seeing contributions from all players within each turn sequence though. Past experience has taught me that this ensures everyone has an equal chance to influence the game and players are less likely to vanish because they feel their character is outside the limelight. Therefore, I'd actually prefer players posted within that 2 day limit and contribute to the sequence if they can, rather than tell the rest of us to play through. If it's only going to be every now and then, well that's obviously not such a big deal, but if a player starts skipping lots of turns because they feel the turn rate is too fast for them but they don't want to hold up the game, I'll reimpose the one turn a day restriction. I'm not singling out Lucean on this one, btw, it's something that applies to all players. Lucean just happens to be the one skipping his next turn if the game comes round too quickly.

As always, if I'm not making sense, please somebody slap me and I'll try to repeat in so many words that make better sense.

As regards extra characters, 'garnish' may be an appropriate term. Someone's got to feed the monsters.

Garnish, as in the superficial decorative bits on top. We all know who the meat of the course will be, bwahahaha

I like the map. Is Arkham coastal? For mood, I will assume Sam stands dreamily on the balcony listening to the call of the sea (or at least the river) now and then.

It's a couple of miles from the sealine, situated at the widening mouth of the Miskatonic. The sea can probably be seen from some of Arkham's loftier locations, such as the Rich District, or the tower of the university.[/SBLOCK]

"Nah, Sister, It looks like the only spirits the 'DT' are catchin' will be in the bottles, Savvy?"

Cyndy nods. "Well, don't worry none if you wanna go out like you did last week. Shouldn't oughta be sittin' round here on your evenin' off anyways." Someone calls her name, a barfly waving a dollar in the air, "sheez, what gives. Guy thinks I'm some kinda puppy dog come crawlin' for a dollar bill? Yeah yeah, sure thing blue eyes, I'm commin'" She teeters away.

It's at this point that a figure emerges from the cigarette smoke and gloom of the bar. A tall, slim, well dressed and handsome woman, quite the opposite of Cyndy. She wears a smart grey suit with a knee length skirt of the same tweedy material, and a beret tilted at a cosmopolitan angle. Deep red tresses tumble around her shoulders and matching colour lipstick adorns her lips. In one hand she holds a cigarette which she sucks on before speaking: "Hi," she smiles "heard tell there was a meeting here." A vague gesture indicates the bar, accompanied by a none too flattering expression. "So, you guys looked like the biggest crowd in the room, and I thought I'd play the odds. I'm Cara Welsh, psychic and medium. What I heard was, there's folks here who might share my common interests. Whaddya say? That you? Or am I barking up the wrong tree here?"

 

[Dire Lemming]

[sblock=OOC]I actually said that we should keep the sequence part, just leave out the daily limit. The sequence means that everyone gets a turn to respond. Of course an alternative is to make it an open sequence akin to rolling initiative at the beginning of each round. What that means is that people who are faster can post first and people who can't post as much can post later, then once everyone has posted once we wait for you to post and start over. Whatever you like, you're the Boss, and provider of entertainment. Well, since I'm online, I'll go ahead and start... if we use the system you just announced (assuming I'm right in thinking you misinterpreted what my other post) that won't be a problem, and if we use the system I just suggested that won't be a problem... and if we use the system that I originally suggested well, we can go back to it next time.[/sblock]

Adam looks quite surprised to see the woman. He hadn't expected any new members after this many meetings. The ads weren't exactly new anymore. Still, he was quick to greet her, and did his best to be a gentleman. "Yes yes! We are the Witching Hour Fellowship." Adam bolts up from his chair as he remembers the part about being gentlemanly where you introduce yourself. "I am Adam West, it is a great pleasure to meet you Miss West- Welsh. Er- hem..." He starts to hold out his hand then remembers he's greeting a woman and quickly drops it. "Uh, yes... well, please, take a seat." He pulls out one of the two unused seats between Sam and himself and offers it to her. "So you say you are a psychic? Might I ask what kind? What I mean is, are you for instance the type that can sense the thoughts of those around them?" He looks genuinely intrigued by the newcomer.