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…
