San Brujera Confidential - Old Hex Blues #2

The second session is where I really started to use the Masterbook system but also implementing other materials, like the rules on clues from Noirlandia, which let you figure out a location using a suit of card blindly taken from deck of poker cards and a type of clue, sepending on the card value.

- 2 - 

[Ms. Denu Intimidation roll: Confidence 10 + 2d10 (4+2 = 6 (-5 modifier) + intimidation with Magic Performance (+2) + higher social status +2 = 9 vs. Nash Willpower roll (active defense): Confidence 9 + 2d10 (5+6 = 11) (+1 modifier) = 10. Nash wins]

I took the cigarette from the pack and lit it with the globe of fire the dame was holding.

[Indulge Complication C2: Quirk (Dependency) - Cigaretes. It won't be a Noir without a chainsmoking character]

‘Anybody ever tell you that you’re a cute little trick when trying to be intimidating?’ I puffed the question in her face.

‘Anybody ever tell you that you’re a funny guy?’

‘Twice a month’

‘But did they ever tell you that you may laugh yourself all the way into the grave?’

‘No. I never stay for breakfast’

‘Good. That make me first. Now, if you don’t want me to make good on that promise you better start talking.’

[Nash Trick roll: Intelligence 10 + 2d10 (10+6 = 16) (+5 modifier) = 15 vs Ms. Denu Willpower roll (active defense) 12 + 2d10 (6+3 = 9) (+0 modifier) = 12. Nash wins. 3 successes – Ms. Denu is stymied]

‘I didn’t hear the question’

‘Where is it?’

‘Where’s what?’

[Oracle question Chaos Factor 5: Is the item that Ms. Denu after had something to do with Nash past as a ‘Watch’? Somewhat likely chance on d100 = 36 - Yes]

[Oracle question Chaos Factor 5: Is this ‘memento’ is in Nash’s possession? 50/50 chance on d100 = 57 - No]

‘You know what’

I gave one and good long look at my boiling kettle for a visitor. Both heels and legs I’ve already seen, so I went further. All the way up to the wide brim sunhat under which a mane of silver hair was hiding. I tried not to gaze too much at the virtues that were covered by the dress. Lord knows it was hard.

Still couldn’t recognize her. But I had an idea what she represents.

There was something odd about this stick-up. The broad acted like she was in the right and had a blessing of all the gods to mug a poor gumshoe.

‘Maybe you could jog my memory a bit?’

[Resolving a Random Event – What is an object that Ms. Denu desperately wants that is from Nash’s past? d100 / d100: 95 / 30 = ‘Punished Possessions’ = Not enough information]

[Using Noirlandia rulebook – taking a card from the deck of Locations and Leads: 8 of Clubs – Skid Row Location and Cop or Deputy lead]

‘Sure. Prinston Bay. Ring any bells? Oh, by that look on your face it does?’

“Prinston Bay” A name I didn’t hear for a long time. And I wished it stayed that way.

[Nash’s Deduction roll 12 + 2d10 (6+3 = 9 / +0 modifier) = 12 vs DN d100: 56% = DN 8. Success]

Slowly it was starting to make sense.

I took one long whiff Long enough to make a dame to blow her fuse of.

‘Well?!’

‘It ain’t here’

‘What?’

‘I don’t have it.’

‘And you think I’ll believe that?’

‘We are in a free country Ms. Denu, you may believe whatever you want. Doesn’t mean you find it here.’

‘Where then?’

‘Not here, like I said.’

‘But you know where to look.’

[Nash’s Con roll 10 + 2d10 (7+1) = 8 (-1 modifier) = 9 vs. Ms. Denu Willpower 12 [active defense] + 2d10 (4+1) = 5 (-6 modifier) Nash wins. 3 Successes. Beatrix is stymied]

‘I may’

‘Then, talk!’

‘So that you could burn me to the crisp when I have nothing else to spill? I don’t think so.’

‘I can always visit your friends’

‘But you decided to visit my friends first. Do you even know where to look them?’

She just stared at me. The dancing flame colored her eyes silver.

‘Uh-huh, thought so. You come to me, thinking you can push your weight around, throw a few cheap parlor tricks and I’ll spill the beans? Sorry. That doesn’t work this way. Otherwise I wouldn’t stay long in this line of work.’

‘Or rich, to think of it…’

She gave my office another glance.

‘How much do you charge?’

‘I thought you’re not interested in hiring a detective’

‘Humor me’

‘Twenty bucks a day plus expanses’

‘I can give you much more than that if you… why are you laughing?’

‘First threats and now you try to buy me. Honestly darling, you need to work on your bargaining spiel. But sure! I’ll listen. If nothing else, I’m gonna’ have a laugh at your expanse. And turn off the heater will you? You’re just embarrassing yourself at this point.’

The flame disappeared as fast as it appeared in her hand.

‘There’s a hundred in it for you if you tell me where you hid it.’

‘Well at least you know how to pique my interest’

‘Two hundred if you bring it to me’

I set behind the table, if nothing else to give myself an image of business-like.

‘Well, alright. Maybe you know how to conduct business. Let me check something real quick…’

I bent over the table to open a drawer and take out a gun

[Nash’s Intimidation roll 10 + 2d10 (5+5 = 10) (+0 modifier) / re-roll: 1 life point spent (9+5 = 14) (+3 modifier) vs Denu’s (active defense) Willpower roll 12 + 2d10 (4+1 = 5 (-6 modifier) = 6. Nash wins. 3 Successes. Ms Denu untrained.]

‘It’s true that I don’t use magic and I’d lie if I said that I know anything about it.’

I point the thirty-eight at my guest.

‘But this fella’ here is loaded with silver bullets. I wouldn’t how a witch of your caliber would react to silver, but I bet it wouldn’t matter when 9 grams of hot soft metal will find its way into your stomach’

‘You make a big mistake’

She snarls but her eyes are locked on the “snubby”

‘Mistake was made when you tried to treat my office as your personal Sabbath. You wish to know where it is? Try hell. And if you don’t start moving in the next three seconds I send you there myself. Courtesy of snub thirty-eight caliber express.’

‘You are an ugly piece of work, Nash’

‘One’

‘Don’t think you got rid of me just yet’

‘Two’

‘Fine! You made your point. Live with the consequences of your choices. If you manage to live that long anyway’

‘Leave the broom. You didn’t have your work-out today. Take the stairs it will work miracles for your cardio. Three!’

I was half the way cocking the revolver when she slammed the door behind her. Almost shattering the windows too.

I took another look at the drawer to snatch a few things. A glass, a bottle of hooch and a box of slugs. I poured myself a glass and loaded the gun.

I may not be a Lancelot but it’s still too early today for me to put a fear of God into a dame with a loaded gun. Not too early to drink though… And I needed one.

I was hoping to have a slow and uneventful day today. Guess I could throw those hopes out the window now.

So now I also had to make a few calls…