Ironeye's Dresden Files Game

Sandra's new aspect list:

Aspects:

• High Concept: Narcissistic Pyromancer Vigilante
• Trouble: A Warlock In The Family
• Phase One Aspect: Short Fuse to a Literal Explosion
  • Sandra was born in Peeksville, Ashland County, Wisconsin to Jim and Marie Coleman. They lived outside the town. Jim was verbally and physically abusive, and a sorcerer. He blackmailed Marie into marrying him. One night, when Sandra was 10 her parents got into a very heated argument which ended with her father killing her mother. When she saw what had happened, she got angry and started yelling at him. He turned to her to smack her, but she was so angry that her dormant magical abilities found expression, setting the house on fire. Both escaped. Sandra found her way to Peeksville, while Jim was nowhere to be found. She was taken in by some of the townsfolk. This arrangement only lasted a few years, as she would inadvertently set fires whenever her temper flared. The more superstitious residents called her a curse or a demon. After staunchly insisting that they wouldn't abandon Sandra, her house was invaded in the night by angry townsfolk. They restrained her parents and attempted to kill her. She ran away a bit and got some ground between them and started yelling at them. Fires sparked all around her, and none of her pursuers dared go near. This is about when she realised that she was making these fires happen. This is when she cast her first conscious spell, a fireball at the pursuing townsfolk. They began to scatter, afraid. The fireball exploded - nobody was killed, but some were injured. Spurned by this sight, some of the more brave pursuing townsfolk charged her. She prepared to sling another fireball when a woman with a sword appeared almost from nowhere and stopped them in their tracks with a word. This is when Sandra met Warden Josephine. She had been keeping an eye on Sandra ever since she investigated the mysterious fires of Peeksville and realised what was really going on. She was hoping on Sandra's adoptive parents helping her control her anger, but seeing how far the townsfolk would go, Josephine had to step in. After explaining a few things to Sandra's parents, she took her away from Peeksville.
• Phase Two Aspect: It's Not Murder If They're Not People
  • Sandra was at this point under Josephine's tutelage. The Warden set out to teach Sandra how to properly control magic, and herself - no better way to prevent a possible Lawbreaker than to teach them yourself. While Josephine tried to expand Sandra's repetoire into other elements and Thaumaturgy, Sandra was entirely focused on Fire Evocation. She saw fire as something that helps her and protects her, thus she would use nothing else. Josephine resigned to helping Sandra refine her control of Pyromancy, noting that the girl's conviction in the element would make her powerful, needing to be tempered by an equally strong discipline. This training went well. After a while, Josephine even started bringing Sandra on her missions to stop such things as necromancers and ogres. This is where Sandra got her affinity for taking down threats. On one mission in the city of Los Angeles, they were fighting against a mysterious sorcerer who had killed various people. It was too late when they realised that he had led them into a trap. His minions - various constructs - closed in on the duo while the sorcerer himself taunted them from the shadows and occasionally fired a spell. They got through the minions, but it was a tough fight. Both of them were nearly exhausted. Then the sorcerer rvealed himself - it was Sandra's father, Jim Coleman! Sandra screamed at him like a berserker and started slinging fireballs at him, which he redirected, setting the building they were in on fire. Jim took advantage of Sandra's state of mind and cast a lightning spell at her, intended to kill her. Josephine saw this and jumped in the way, saving her apprentice but dying in the process. Sandra was shocked at what just happened. She wanted to be more angry at him, now that he had just killed her mentor, but something clicked. She knew that she couldn't just rage at him, that would never work. She focused her anger into power for her magic, taking control over herself. After a fierce magical battle in the burning building, Sandra found herself in the position of power, having turned the tables on her father. However, the burning building was collapsing now, and she had to act quickly. She wanted to kill him, but not with magic. She ran back to find Josephine's sword, picked it up, and charged at her father, but debris fell right in her way. She wasn't quick enough. If she hadn't bothered with the sword and just immolated him, she would have killed him. But Josephine's teachings were too ingrained in her for her to do that. She couldn't break a law of magic, and for that, her father escaped from a burning building once again. It was after this that she began her career as a vigilante.
• Phase Three Aspect: My First Love Is Money
  • Old Flame: When various creatures from the Nevernever are unleashed to terrorize the city of Los Angeles, the vigilante pyromancer Sandra Meteora steps up to take them down. Can she stop the monsters before they overrun the city when she is confronted by an old enemy and the ghouls he has hired?
• Phase Four Aspect: Showing Up The Wizards
  • Sandra's appearance in Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Court: After his unsuccessful confrontation with the Winter Court, Pugnacius is attacked by seemingly unknown assailants. After fending them off, he hires the vigilante pyromancer Sandra Meteora to make sure that no further interruptions to his investigation like that happen. Except that, when attacked again, one of the assailants, a faerie, hits a sweet spot with an insult to Sandra, setting her on a rampage to burn him to dust - and burning down the building they were in, and any evidence with it.
• Phase Five Aspect: Like Carrying A Minigun In Each Hand
  • Sandra's appearance in Where There's Smoke: After all this trouble, Prataab desperately tries one more divination to find the arsonist. He focuses intently on finding the source of the fire... and finds the biggest source of fire in town: Sandra Meteora! After confronting her, falsely believing her to be the culprit, she begrudgingly agrees to help the kid, if only to get him off her case.

Thank you, Matrix.

Also, for everyone: I need to know which character you'll be playing first. Unless I hear otherwise I'm going to assume the following character list:

• Staghorn: Chris
• arks: Damien
• Matrix: Sandra
• Kara: Josie
• Hikari: Prataab
• Lance: Thaddius

Father Gregor Hackett: Roman Catholic Priest

High Concept: Midnight Champion of the Unsuspecting.

Trouble: Repentance Isn't Always Good Enough.

Stress:

• Mental
  • [][][][] +1 mild Consequence
• Physical
  • [][][]
• Social
  • [][][][]

Backstory:

• Childhood:
  • Raised by Irish parents He lived a somewhat sheltered lower middle class life. His parents were Casual, but observant Catholics.
    • Aspect: Blood of the Irish.

• Rising Conflict:
  • Becoming increasingly disaffected with the Catholic church Gregory began to drift away from it's teachings, becoming more and more involved in late night parties with increasingly unsavory, or at the very least sinful individuals. At a party he was watching his friend Chad Hit on this hot, but very pale chick, he promised to "Even be your bitch, if you're into that". That's when it all went wrong, a faint smile breaking upon the womans face as his friend cried out in pain as his body was warped and broken into that of a dog's, "yes, you will."

  • Fleeing the party he took refuge in the only place close enough he could go, a small, decrepit looking chapel. as he sat in the small room the priest has lent him for the night he stared at the wall, replaying the night in his head. It was then that he met Phanuel, The Fourth angel of presence, God's Face, and the angel of penance. Phanuel offered him strength, support, and the ability to prevent this from happening again if he repented his sins and followed the holy path, and after that night, Gregor accepted.
    • Aspect: Be All My Sins Remembered

• Shepard of the Long Night
  • Children have been disappearing lately. The Milk Carton has a new face every day it seems, and Father Hackett knows better than to believe in coincidences. He's seen increased signs of ghoul activity, which is odd. Being by their very nature cowards something must be pressing the ghouls into this increased activity. They Can't be eating all of them, It doesn't feel right at all. Someone needs them for something. Gregor won't let them evade him. He will know who, and why.
    • Aspect: Champion Repentant
• Gregor's Appearance Damien's in "faerie Gangs"(Phase 4):
  • Investigating the Gang of what appears to be changelings causing havoc, Father Gregor runs into an echo from his past. No one important, but one of those faces you remember. He'd seen this... man at several parties back before... well before. Out of a little pity, and mostly out of a hope of saving him from himself, Gregor assists him in routing the
    • Aspect: A Bag Full Of Second Chances.
• Gregor Phase 5: Life as a Twenty-something Lightmage
  • on a practice exercise things become dangerous far too quickly, and without the time to ready a circle to Aid his wardens Thaddius begins to panic as Gunfire rings out through the alleyway. to his surprise the young wizards are all unharmed, and huddled around the feet of a catholic looking priest with the absolute LARGEST pistols he had ever seen. The Man gave him a card saying only "When you need a prayer" with the address of a small chapel and the name "Father Gregor Hackett." As he turned to leave the glint off of the guns revealed the engravings "Amor" and "Clementia" Along the barrels of the guns.
    • Aspect: Wielder of Love and Mercy.

Skills:

• Guns 5
• Conviction 5
• Empathy 4
• Presence 4
• Rapport 3
• Discipline 3
• Alertness 2
• Athletics 2
• Lore 1
• Endurance 1

Powers:

• Bless This House (-1): Strengthens threshold. +2 threshold bonus if conviction > Base Threshold rating.
• Guide My Hand (-1):
  • Faith manages. If godly, use conviction instead of any other skill. No Harmful rolls.
  • Spiritual Guidance: I Know where god needs me. If the need is true I can appear without spending a fate point. Can bring people to me if they need me most.
• Righteousness (-2):
  • Potent Prayer: Prayers Guide Actions Righteously. Spend A Fate point to invoke high concept and invoke a Purpose, Get +1 on anything involving Purpose. Must fight all derails, accept all compels that keep me true.
  • Desperate Hour: Roll Conviction as an attack against all supernatural vs discipline. Holy Physical.
• Holy Touch (-1): Attacking with Pure Heart and selfless Purpose hurts bad people. So long as I keep my faith overcomes DR X/Holy. Creatures against my faith take 1 stress damage from a touch. May give up to prevent one from attacking. This Uses a fate point.

Stunts:

• Gun Kata (-1):
  • Use Guns to defend against Ranged attacks.

Refresh: 2

Items:

• Amor - "Love" Heavy Pistol. Weapon 3.

• Clementia - "Mercy" Heavy Pistol. Weapon 3.

Description:

On the outside Father Hackett is an unassuming clergymen, decked head to toe in his clerical vestments at all times, as he says "A servant of God is never 'Off Duty.'" He's Average height, at 5'10" and has a light, agile frame.

edited 27th Sep '10 8:56:36 PM by Lanceleoghauni

Thaddius Moretti: Wizard.

"You know how some people and animals lose control of their bladders when they're surprised? It's like that, but for lightning."





Stress:

• Mental
  • [][][]
• Physical
  • [][][][]
• Social
  • [][]

• Aspida. (Greek for "Shield") Creates a Blocking Shield (strength 3). 3 Shifts.
• Chtypó. (Greek for "Smite") Fires a Ray of light (Weapon 4) Uses his Ouroboros Ring. 4 Shifts.
• Ptísis. (Greek for "Flight") Blast of force launches me in a manner consistent with an Athletics roll of 3. 3 shifts.
• Fimbulvetr. (Norse for "Great Winter") Applies "Frozen In Place" aspect by flash freezing an enemy. Can be broken out of as a supplemental action, Levying a penalty to the next action equal to the remaining power. It will eventually melt, losing one point of strength per exchange. 2 shifts.
• Víma skiá. (Greek for "Shadow Step") Grants a 3 point block against being seen. 3 shifts.

• Thaumaturgy:
  • Focusing Lens Ring. +1 Photomantic Control
  • Shield necklace. +1 Ward Control
• Evocation:
  • Human Bone Ouroboros. +1 Spirit Power
  • Enchanted Denim Jacket (Armor 2) (4 uses)

Description: Thaddius is rather youthful in the face still, being only 23. He is seldom seen without his heavy denim jacket, and is usually wearing jeans. His hair is shaggy, but not quite long, naturally points, and is reddish brown in hue. His eyes are a deep green.

Backstory:

High Concept: Learned Thaumaturge.

Trouble: Evocational Incontinence.

• Phase One: Childhood.
  • Thaddius grew up in a very Italian family of minor practitioners of the art who raised him with the expectation of him developing magical talent. When He finally began manifesting after school he'd be taken by a warden to learn from one of the more powerful wizards the Workings of magic.
    • Aspect: Family Practitioner.
• Phase 2: Rising Conflict.
  • As his training progressed he showed a marked talent with the subtler elements of Air, Water, and Spirit, to the detriment of the more forceful elements. One day, While studying the Red Court attacked out of nowhere Killing several wizards before they had a chance to retaliate. He knew he didn't have time to draw a circle, but he'd never gotten much practice with battlemagic. As he blasted vampires away from the more powerful wardens his migraine got worse and worse. Clouded by Pain and desperation his casting grew sloppier and sloppier, before finally a loud shattering sound filled his ears and it felt as if a molten spear had been thrust into his brain. When He woke up every vampire left had large holes blown out of their chests, and obvious signs of frostburn.
    • Aspect: Papa Bear.
• Phase 3: "Life as a 20-something Lightmage"
  • The Council is at war, LA is light in red council activity, making it a great position for a training young wardens. But the red Court's not the only thing these kids are going to have to worry about. it's been increasingly cool in a land known for it's balmy weather, and clouds linger far longer than they should. the winds are changing, and Thaddius must discover what is at the bottom of this, to help protect the fledgling wardens, and hopefully prevent an even worse catastrophe.
    • Aspect: Warden In Training
• Thaddius' Appearance in Rosario's New Exhibits (Phase 4):
  • Keeping up with the latest discoveries, lest there be any new artifacts or fragments of lore that arise without him knowing. There he overhears the janitor talking to another person about strange happenings caused by some of the newer exhibits. After a short investigation he agrees something is very strange, and offers to look into the situation more, the janitor just needs to get him in when he can have the items to himself for a few hours.
    • Aspect: I just need 5 more minutes.
• Thaddius Phase 5: Blow Blow, thou winter court.
  • Two evokers, on a diplomatic mission To Alderaan to investigate the disappearances of celebrities. Someone clearly wasn't thinking. Thaddius joins the group of wizards in order to add some much needed subtlety and insight to the investigation and ease them out of hot water.
    • Aspect: Brains over brawn

Skills:

• Discipline 5
• Lore 5
• Endurance 4
• Scholarship 4
• Alertness 3
• Resource 3
• Perform 2
• Conviction 2
• Athletics 1
• Weapons 1

Powers:

• Evocation (-3): Water, Air, Spirit. Specializes in Spirit, +1 conviction.
• Thaumaturgy (-3):
  • +1 Complexity Bonus Photomancy.
• The Sight (-1):
  • Arcane Senses: Allows uses Lore as Arcane Investigation. +1 on lore used this way.
  • Wizards Touch: Roll Lore to Find Magical Spark.
  • Open Third Eye: Exactly What It Says on the Tin.
• Soul Gaze (0): Exactly What It Says on the Tin.
• Wizards Constitution (0): Total Recovery. Recover from any physical harm (except extreme consequence). Long Life.

Refresh: 1

edited 27th Sep '10 9:01:13 PM by Lanceleoghauni

For the group's convenience, I've typed up an outline for Supernatural Los Angeles using the official City sheets. You are all welcome to download them:

Page 1

Page 2

Page 3

Page 4

For convenience, I need to know which characters would be attending the festival of St. Vibiana at the cathedral. Note that whether or not this character is your main is irrelevant—it just means that you might end up playing out the first scene as one of your other characters before your main character gets in on the action. I'm guessing Gregor would be around, but I don't know if there are any others.

Father Gregor would be there.

Um...what? That's a thing? And anyone goes to it?

Strictly speaking, it's just a memorial feast, but I was hoping you guys wouldn't mind the embellishment.

Gordon would be more likely to attend than Josie. He Could Play A Catholic on TV, after all, whereas she has essentially ditched the Church.

Sandra: What's that? Free dinner? Score!

Julian: Saint Who? Oh, nevermind, I'm reading Lord Of The Rings again.

Uhhhhhh...

Yeah, Chris doesn't like the church, and Lucy doesn't really care. This could be interesting...

No, wait, I got it. Chris is going because Mallory's dragging him along with her. That should work.

Let me put it this way: you shouldn't be trying to get one of your characters involved. It's a short scene where your character will likely do nothing of any importance—it's rather simply a matter of who will be present to witness the events in the scene. In other words, my list is still only Gregor.

Probably not, especially if it's taking place in the church. Damien is weak to holy, and Pugnacius is a wizard and doesn't care about that kind of stuff. The person most likely to show is Rosario, but so far he knows no one there. I suppose Damien could show up if Gregor or Curry were able to convince him it's important, but a.) He'd need to be invited into the place, probably and b.) holy symbols.

Okay, can you guys give a quick recap about what's different from SOTC? I remember recovery and consequences being different, and stat changes, but that's about it.

Weapons and Armor now affect how much stress you can take. There are four stress tracks instead of two (though one is only for supernatural beings with the Hunger). Might and the Falling component of Athletics both got nerfed to better fit the new tone. You can't Science you way to broken Aspects any more. There are also a bunch of rules dealing with magic and the Nevernever, but you don't have to worry about those so much. When you concede or are taken out, you get one FP for every consequence you took in that conflict. The entire city has Aspects. "Tag" now only refers to using an Aspect for free shortly after putting on something.

For your character in particular:

• At any point you may make the Choice to become a Pure Mortal or a Troll NPC.
• At any point, you can manifest one of your troll powers, at the expense of looking more troll-like and having your refresh rate lowered. You also have to pay the cost of the power in fate points to compensate for the lowered refresh total. (If for some reason you don't have enough FP for that you are allowed to go into debt to the GM, but that also means you are no longer able to refuse Compels.)
• You have all of the weaknesses of the fae: vulnerability to cold iron, supernaturally binding gift-exchanges and other pacts, the opposing court's magic if you choose a side, etc.

Edit: Explosives are now more effective and less risky to use. There are grapple rules. There are no longer special rules for chase scenes.

edited 1st Oct '10 3:45:41 PM by Ironeye

Edit: Just go take a look at my page instead.

edited 1st Oct '10 9:36:17 PM by Ironeye

can't breathe

help

somebody get this wall of text

off me

please

We will continue on Saturday next week.

I can't make it on Saturday, so we have a few options for postponement:

• Monday at the normal time. Staghorn is known not to be free at this point, but he had planned on his character running away (since as far as he knows, he's just a Pure Mortal, and not even a combat one at that).
• Tuesday: Same as Monday
• Next weekend: we effectively skip this week.

What say you?

Tuesday, I guess.

Hey, I considered having him run away. Ultimately, I've decided against that.

And I'd still like to sit in, no matter what my character is doing. I'd take Monday or Tuesday if you moved the time up.

Since some of us (including the GM) are busy until at least 5 (forum time) during the week, that'd be a "no".

Alright.

Wait, if we had a game on Monday/Tuesday, would we still have a game on Friday/Saturday?

Actually, now that I think of it, we can't meet next weekend anyway, since I'll be going to Ventura for my cousin's birthday party—I'll only have Friday to run a game. The Shadow of Greed has priority unless you guys are willing to convince Jinxed, arim, and each other to pass on SotC that weekend.

edited 5th Oct '10 1:11:03 PM by Ironeye