Tale Weaver's Vampire: The Masquerade Game Board

[ladyphoenix]

At the first sign of trouble on Clover's face, Koln is inside, and catches her as she falls back.

The entire time Clover was having her fit she moved as if she was floating, indeed that was the case as Koln was carrying her outside the store, after telling the clerk that he was her older brother, was trained in medicine, and was escorting her to give her medication. The clerk, feeling releaved that he didn't have to do anything extra just nodded, but eyed them suspiciously as he carefully escorted her out, especially when he aciddently bumped into a rack (no pun intended) "Er sorry, sir, I'll get that when he get back. Heh we'll also be back for our friend of course. Again I apologize for the inconvenience, just that she has a rare form of epilepsy, just need to give her her medication and she'll be fine. Right Ruby, we'll be right back in a bit. That one looks pretty good on you by the way... er, back in a bit!"

After a nightmarish bloody vision of violence... carnage.. and hunger... Clover's eyes open to Koln smiling down at her with an empty V8 bottle in his hand. "Don't worry Clover, we're in the lower level of the mall where they're doing construction..." Around them it is dark and secluded, all the workers having gone home for the evening, a bit dusty too, giving it a tomb-like atmosphere, how fitting.
He gently helps her to sit up. "And you don't have to worry, the only one that noticed us coming down here was the clerk, which I took care of, just said you needed some medication. Now, when you're ready, take my hand and I'll try helping you up... By the way, you have my admiration, you stuck to your ideals so tightly."

The clerk actually announced Ruby's size, which she wasn't sure was good or bad and tried showing her different options of many colors. She finally came to a decision to a red lacy dainty one and tried it on. Clover started to act dizzy along side them and Ruby felt bad about not noticing it before after being wrapped up in clothes. She was too late to say anything once clover excused herself and started bolting out of the store. Panic showed on her face and Ruby attempted to call after her, but to no avail. Clover knocked over one of the merchandise racks in a dizzied panic. 'It must be the lack of blood' Ruby thought with a chill running down her spine. Everyone here could be in danger.
She couldn't leave the store because she didn't have the money to pay for the bra she was wearing. She could get caught running out of the store still wearing the merchandise. She hoped Koln was still waiting close.
Suddenly, to her utter shock, Koln bursted inside the store like a bull in a china shop, knocking more racks over. o.0 "Eeep!" Ruby gasped just noticing that she herself has stepped outside the changing room with the red bra.

"Er sorry, sir, I'll get that when he get back. Heh we'll also be back for our friend of course. Again I apologize for the inconvenience, just that she has a rare form of epilepsy, just need to give her her medication and she'll be fine. Right Ruby, we'll be right back in a bit. That one looks pretty good on you by the way... er, back in a bit!" he called out as he quickly escorted Clover out.
Ruby's face was even paler than usual causing even the clerk to ask if she was feeling alright as well. She has never exposed herself in such a way even by accident. To an amish person such as herself, it brought sheer culture and emotional shock. After finally regaining her senses, she once again became genuinely worried about Clover. Ruby walked back into the room to quickly change and try to meet back with them once more.

 

[Tale_Weaver]

Cherry Hill Mall

After a nightmarish bloody vision of violence... carnage.. and hunger... Clover's eyes open to Koln smiling down at her with an empty V8 bottle in his hand. "Don't worry Clover, we're in the lower level of the mall where they're doing construction..." Around them it is dark and secluded, all the workers having gone home for the evening, a bit dusty too, giving it a tomb-like atmosphere, how fitting.
He gently helps her to sit up. "And you don't have to worry, the only one that noticed us coming down here was the clerk, which I took care of, just said you needed some medication. Now, when you're ready, take my hand and I'll try helping you up... By the way, you have my admiration, you stuck to your ideals so tightly."

I'm lost as to where everyone is. I'm gonna say that Ruby is still in the store on her way to find where Koln and Clover went. We'll say that Koln and Clover made it to the hallways inside the mall where all the stores put their garbage. You're near the Hot Topic (which is still being built hence the term "slated" in the desription and no people are inside) and there are no construction workers around at the moment because of the hour.

Koln and Clover

Clover wakes up in a dimly lit area with Koln smiling over her. She feels refreshed but still not completely satisfied. She figures she can hold out for awhile longer and traverse the mall without incident. You seem to be in a hallway of sorts as there isn't too much room. It's dusty and there are various construction tools lying around including hammers, a crowbar, and paint buckets.

Koln is down to 2 blood bottles.

Ruby

You leave the store and walk out into the hallway which is starting to empty out as the mall approaches its last hour. As you walk through the mall you feel lost, especially without Clover who seems to know the layout. You also feel a strange sense that someone is watching you but you figure that it must be because you are in such an unfamiliar place.

Make a Search check if you want to try to find Clover and Koln as you didn't see where they went.

 

[izillama]

After a nightmarish bloody vison of violence... carnage.. and hunger... Clover's eyes open to Koln smiling down at her with an empty V8 bottle in his hand. "Don't worry Clover, we're in the lower level of the mall where they're doing construction..." Around them it is dark and secluded, all the workers having gone home for the evening, a bit dusty too, giving it a tomb-like atmosphere, how fitting.
He gently helps her to sit up. "And you don't have to worry, the only one that noticed us coming down here was the clerk, which I took care of, just said you needed some medication. Now, when you're ready, take my hand and I'll try helping you up... By the way, you have my admiration, you stuck to your ideals so tightly."

Clover didn't want to open her eyes.
She didn't want to see.
She didn't want to face what she had become.
She tasted the iron in her mouth.
She accepted it.
But she did not delight in it.
She opened her eyes upon hearing Koln's kind words. But she couldn't look him straight in the face.
She had been a fool.
She had allowed herself to so stupidly believe that she could overcome her new condition. And now she had paid the price.
Humiliation.
Dependence.
Next to them, she saw the empty V8 bottle. She vaguely remembered Koln helping her to sit down against the wall, hastily pulling the bottle out and forcing the liquid down her throat.
She had fought him.
Resisted.
And at what cost?
She was thankful that Koln had been so kind as to plan for her. He had probably seen this coming.
But she was so ashamed.
Though not from an actual living being, though not warm, she had drank human blood.
'I am a monster.'
Shyly, she flicked her eyes up to Koln, saying quietly, "Thank you."
But she did not take his outstretched hand.
He smiled, "By the way, you have my admiration, you stuck to your ideals so tightly."
She shook her head, speaking her thoughts out loud, "No. Don't admire me. Don't praise me. I've sinned. I've taken another's blood. Koln? Admit it. I'm a monster. We all are." She drew her knees up and hugged them, lying her head down on her arms.
She spoke quietly, "Who have I become? What am I doing? Surviving on blood. Surviving on the life force of others. I have no right. It's wrong! I... I understand that this is how I need to live from now on. But I can't accept that. I can't accept that... this is a part of me now."
She frowned, glad that she wasn't looking at Koln anymore. Glad that he couldn't see the pain on her face.
Clover whispered, "I'm a monster. I wish... that I had never been born. Or reborn. Or whatever you vampire types call it. I want to disappear. To make all of this go away. I want to die."

 

[ladyphoenix]

I'm lost as to where everyone is. I'm gonna say that Ruby is still in the store on her way to find where Koln and Clover went. We'll say that Koln and Clover made it to the hallways inside the mall where all the stores put their garbage. You're near the Hot Topic (which is still being built hence the term "slated" in the desription and no people are inside) and there are no construction workers around at the moment because of the hour.

Koln and Clover

Clover wakes up in a dimly lit area with Koln smiling over her. She feels refreshed but still not completely satisfied. She figures she can hold out for awhile longer and traverse the mall without incident. You seem to be in a hallway of sorts as there isn't too much room. It's dusty and there are various construction tools lying around including hammers, a crowbar, and paint buckets.

Koln is down to 2 blood bottles.

Ruby

You leave the store and walk out into the hallway which is starting to empty out as the mall approaches its last hour. As you walk through the mall you feel lost, especially without Clover who seems to know the layout. You also feel a strange sense that someone is watching you but you figure that it must be because you are in such an unfamiliar place.

Make a Search check if you want to try to find Clover and Koln as you didn't see where they went.

Search to get the heck out of here.
1d20+5 → [15,5] = (20)
Wisdom search roll
Roll Lookup
<a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1833378/">Wisdom search roll (1d20 5=20)</a>
Ruby also uses "Navigate" skill mod.


Ruby felt alot smaller in the mall without Clover and Koln once she exited the store. She started walking around like she had her head in the clouds, looking here and there.
After ten minutes she was back where she started again. "Ugh, this place is a big circle!" she said to herself in exasperation. She then noticed the giant map blocks next to the Hot Topic and took a look. As she peeked at the color coded map, she couldn't help the feeling that someone was watching. Sure she had acted slightly strange while being lost, but she couldn't help feeling suspicious again. She clutched at her necklace's red jewel and tried to muster up the courage to turn behind her. She slowly peeked over her shoulder in a nonchalant way, her eyelashes slightly fluttering. "Yes?" she softly spoke to the figure over her shoulder.

 

[Strider_Koln]

Clover didn't want to open her eyes.
She didn't want to see.
She didn't want to face what she had become.
She tasted the iron in her mouth.
She accepted it.
But she did not delight in it.
She opened her eyes upon hearing Koln's kind words. But she couldn't look him straight in the face.
She had been a fool.
She had allowed herself to so stupidly believe that she could overcome her new condition. And now she had paid the price.
Humiliation.
Dependence.
Next to them, she saw the empty V8 bottle. She vaguely remembered Koln helping her to sit down against the wall, hastily pulling the bottle out and forcing the liquid down her throat.
She had fought him.
Resisted.
And at what cost?
She was thankful that Koln had been so kind as to plan for her. He had probably seen this coming.
But she was so ashamed.
Though not from an actual living being, though not warm, she had drank human blood.
'I am a monster.'
Shyly, she flicked her eyes up to Koln, saying quietly, "Thank you."
But she did not take his outstretched hand.
He smiled, "By the way, you have my admiration, you stuck to your ideals so tightly."
She shook her head, speaking her thoughts out loud, "No. Don't admire me. Don't praise me. I've sinned. I've taken another's blood. Koln? Admit it. I'm a monster. We all are." She drew her knees up and hugged them, lying her head down on her arms.
She spoke quietly, "Who have I become? What am I doing? Surviving on blood. Surviving on the life force of others. I have no right. It's wrong! I... I understand that this is how I need to live from now on. But I can't accept that. I can't accept that... this is a part of me now."
She frowned, glad that she wasn't looking at Koln anymore. Glad that he couldn't see the pain on her face.
Clover whispered, "I'm a monster. I wish... that I had never been born. Or reborn. Or whatever you vampire types call it. I want to disappear. To make all of this go away. I want to die."

"I know how you feel Clover, now you realize what you've become. You have done more than sinned, your very presense is scourge against God. If you really want to die, look me in the eyes and tell me that. I can arrange it so it will be quick and painless. I am not going to lie, if you die, although you're doomed to eternal torment, you will probably be saving hundreds of future victims.... That is one option... the other option is the one I have chosen. I am currently deluding myself into thinking that if I try to act as saintly as possible in using this demonic handicap in the service of Good, that I can somehow save people and regain God's Grace."
As Koln speaks he sits next to her and gently embraces her, knowing that right now she doesn't need a zealous priest or teacher, but rather a good friend....
"If you need someone to blame Clover, blame me, I've already told you that I've failed you. Think it over though and talk with Ruby. If you still want to die, just find me and I promise I'll have a stake and fire ready.... I'm sorry, I should be more comforting, especially since we have no home.... hunted, despised, living like animals! The jungle is our home! But I shall show the world that I can be its master! I will perfect my own race of people. A race of atomic supermen that will conquer the world!" As Koln says that he becomes much more exited and loud, throwing his fists up in the air and shaking them as he finishes his little plan... before coming back down to earth.
"Er...doesnt that make you feel better?""

 

[Tale_Weaver]

Cherry Hill Mall

Search to get the heck out of here.
1d20+5 → [15,5] = (20)
Wisdom search roll
Roll Lookup
<a href="http://invisiblecastle.com/roller/view/1833378/">Wisdom search roll (1d20 5=20)</a>
Ruby also uses "Navigate" skill mod.


Ruby felt alot smaller in the mall without Clover and Koln once she exited the store. She started walking around like she had her head in the clouds, looking here and there.
After ten minutes she was back where she started again. "Ugh, this place is a big circle!" she said to herself in exasperation. She then noticed the giant map blocks next to the Hot Topic and took a look. As she peeked at the color coded map, she couldn't help the feeling that someone was watching. Sure she had acted slightly strange while being lost, but she couldn't help feeling suspicious again. She clutched at her necklace's red jewel and tried to muster up the courage to turn behind her. She slowly peeked over her shoulder in a nonchalant way, her eyelashes slightly fluttering. "Yes?" she softly spoke to the figure over her shoulder.

"Search" is actually in the list of Skills. You roll a D20 and add the number on the left-most line. In your case it's a +2 to search.

You gaze at the map curiously. None of it seems to make any sense to you at all. 'Just how do these people figure out where the hell they are going!' you think to yourself. Just then you feel eyes on you like someone is standing right behind you. You think you see a man looking at you from the corner of your eye.

"Yes?" you say softly to the figure over your shoulder. There is no answer. You turn to face him but you realize that there is no one there. You shrug it off thinking that you must be getting paranoid wandering around in this mall all by yourself. You walk back to Victoria's Secret and wander in the general direction of where you saw Clover and Koln go off to. You notice that a doorway next to Hot Topic is open slightly.

 

[Tale_Weaver]

Cherry Hill Mall

"If you need someone to blame Clover, blame me, I've already told you that I've failed you. Think it over though and talk with Ruby. If you still want to die, just find me and I promise I'll have a stake and fire ready.... I'm sorry, I should be more comforting, especially since we have no home.... hunted, despised, living like animals! The jungle is our home! But I shall show the world that I can be its master! I will perfect my own race of people. A race of atomic supermen that will conquer the world!" As Koln says that he becomes much more exited and loud, throwing his fists up in the air and shaking them as he finishes his little plan... before coming back down to earth.
"Er...doesnt that make you feel better?""

As Koln rants Clover hears footsteps approaching. Koln gets to the end of his rant and says "Er....doesn't that make you feel better?" and Clover is thinking to herself 'No, not really' when Ruby steps out of the darkness.

Before you can say anything Clover's phone goes off.

Clover
[sblock]
When you pick up and you hear Vince on the other end. "Angelica, it's me Professor Jones. I just got back from the police station. They say that Suzy disappeared! They left her in the interrogation room for a few minutes and when they came back she was gone! I'm going to look around and see what I can find out, if you happen to see her can you call me right away?"
[/sblock]

 

[izillama]

Clover held her cell phone to her ear rigidly. The phone call from her professor seemed oddly out of place in the grand scheme of what had transpired in the past few minutes, but she managed to stammer weakly, "Yes, professor, I... we'll keep an eye out for her. Thank you for telling me." Then, she heard the phone go silent as he hung up.
Clover stared down at her cell phone for a moment, feeling strangely out of sorts.
She was still so upset.
'I did it. Again. I wanted to die. And when faced with the option...' She thought of Koln and how he had offered to end it for her. It would be quick. Maybe even painless. Maybe it was worth it to not have to endure an eternity of suffering. Make it end now.
'I'm such a coward.'
She suddenly noticed that Koln was looking at her. Ruby was there, too. They both seemed to be waiting for her to speak.
Averting their eyes, she managed to mumble, "It was Professor Jones. He said that he went to the police station. Suzie's gone missing. Disappeared from the interrogation room. He wants us to keep an eye out for her. Hm... why the hell would they leave her alone? Isn't it bad enough that she lost her mom? Honestly, treating her like a common criminal. The nerve." She frowned. "Damn police. Well, never trust public servants to have anything in the way of brains."

 

[ladyphoenix]

Clover held her cell phone to her ear rigidly. The phone call from her professor seemed oddly out of place in the grand scheme of what had transpired in the past few minutes, but she managed to stammer weakly, "Yes, professor, I... we'll keep an eye out for her. Thank you for telling me." Then, she heard the phone go silent as he hung up.
Clover stared down at her cell phone for a moment, feeling strangely out of sorts.
She was still so upset.
'I did it. Again. I wanted to die. And when faced with the option...' She thought of Koln and how he had offered to end it for her. It would be quick. Maybe even painless. Maybe it was worth it to not have to endure an eternity of suffering. Make it end now.
'I'm such a coward.'
She suddenly noticed that Koln was looking at her. Ruby was there, too. They both seemed to be waiting for her to speak.
Averting their eyes, she managed to mumble, "It was Professor Jones. He said that he went to the police station. Suzie's gone missing. Disappeared from the interrogation room. He wants us to keep an eye out for her. Hm... why the hell would they leave her alone? Isn't it bad enough that she lost her mom? Honestly, treating her like a common criminal. The nerve." She frowned. "Damn police. Well, never trust public servants to have anything in the way of brains."

Ruby finally managed to find Koln and Clover. Clover still lookingn grim, but at least not as dizzy as before and Koln holding her upright. "Phew, I finally found you two!" She said as she wiped her forehead. She then ran over to clover with concern. "Clover! Are you ok? You look better.. Did you drink anything... (or anyone?)?" She looked at Koln and slightly flushed, remembering earlier at the store. "Um.. thank you for helping her Koln.. Things could have been bad." She then hid her face for a second, trying t conceal the pale pink flush.
Clover mentioned the phonecall she just had about suzy and Ruby's temper slightly grew. "Who would dare hurt a poor child? She doesn't need to be dragged into all of what happened to us, if that is the case. There's no doubt about it that we should hunt those responsible and bring her home!" she said as her eyes flashed green. She then felt a little regret, remembering how she couldn't save her mother in time at the fire... Fruitlessly swatting away fallen debris.
She turned back to face them again with glowing eyes and a smirk. "I say, we're ready to for a hunt indeed for whoever is responsible."

 

[izillama]

Clover kept her face a blank mask to conceal how idiotic she thought Ruby's plan was. But she did manage to voice her thoughts, "That is if there is someone to blame, Ruby. Despite the little regard that I have for the police and their capabilities as law enforcers, I truly doubt that they are directly responsible for any harm which might have befallen Suzie. Additionally, I doubt that they would allow anyone that far into the building to abduct her. Honestly, I think it's highly probable that Suzie might have disappeared on her own. Think about it. She's afraid. And fat, overbearing men with handcuffs want to sit down and chat with her? She probably freaked out and ran out on them without looking. I doubt that she'd be able to make it out of the building, but I think it's possible that she might just be playing a game of hide-and-seek with them and they're just too pig-headed to find her, opting instead to venture the guess that she was abducted."
Seeing the fire in Ruby's eyes begin to die, Clover went in for the sucker punch, still remaining perfectly calm and outwardly devoid of all emotion, "Besides: Let's assume for a moment that she was, in fact, abducted. Where do we start, Ruby? We have no leads. Heck, I don't even know where the police station is! But let's face it: we have no leads on our own plight, never mind hers. And, really, there's no reason for her to have been dragged any further into this mess than she already was. There's no use in us running rampant all over the city in a hope of finding her. What do we ask people? Hi, I'm looking for a missing child? So are a quarter of the parents in this city. So I say, if Suzie wants to be found, let her be found. If she cannot be found, let us wait until we think this through and come up with some answers."
Inwardly, Clover was annoyed that Ruby had to let her animal side control her so adamantly. She was too impulsive and, Clover thought, such a vice would get her into trouble one day.