[AP] Depth of Life

Hey all!

Just gearing up to start my third Apocalypse World campaign.  The game has been a real blast and has really energized my local groups. 

The first campaign lasted thirteen sessions and had a single PC survivor (not counting a "Retire to safety" PC earlier in the game) while the second lasted six sessions and had two survivors... Despite such apparently grim outcomes, all players involved were extremely satisfied with the arcs of their stories and all have been clamouring to play again.

My first two games (and single session demos I've run) have all been completely freeform, so I wanted to try something different this time.  I talked to the six other players participating this time and asked them for concepts/interests they'd like to see in the next campaign and I attempted to weave as many of them as I could into an "intro story" that would give a framework to the coming game.  Additionally, I wanted to look at how allowing/limiting certain playbooks would influence play, but I didn't want to make any decisions before I got the other players' input.

Here's what I got: tunnels, "snowpocalypse", zombies, mobile holdings, spiders, tall buildings.  Now, not all those elements are going to necessarily make it into the game, but I think I've been able to put some nice combos together.

So, on 9/11/11, we'll be starting a brand new game... and I'm hoping I can maintain some actual play reports and other notes and things.

Here's the intro story, please feel free to comment!

They called it the Golden Age…

…and everything was bright and warm and open... the wild blue above ‘em and the growin’ green beneath their feet and all about.  They had no walls around ‘em, they built up instead of down, taller than the deepest stack and wider than any hive, and more people than any number you ever heard of.  They had wondrous machines that did their bidding and carried ‘em, fed ‘em, and they didn’t have to use tunnels!  If they wanted to go somewhere, they went; their machines would take ‘em or they could just walk!  And they were never scared or in the dark, less they chose to be.  They built up and out, bigger and wider, making things so tall they scraped the edge of the sky… that’s like the dome at the top of a stack, but not made of anything like rock or steel, made of something like a window, I guess… and that’s how the Big Cold happened.

Somehow, they broke their sky and all their warmth and bright started to leak out.  First they thought it was nothing and would fix itself… don’t laugh Five, they was savvy to many things, and who says their dome couldn’t fix itself?  Well, turns out it was worse than they thought and the Big Cold started coming down harder and covering their works.  They tried to fight it, with fire and light and thinking, but it got worse and worse… and still some of ‘em wouldn’t help, and they started to fight amongst themselves, like a couple of wendi over a piece of meat and that made things even worse!  But some of them of, the savviest of ‘em, realized that while there was no light in the depths, there was warmth and they told their machines to build down, but it was almost too late.

Their machines did their best and made the hives and stacks and the tunnels and causeways, but some broke down or made mistakes, and the savvyfolk brought down what light they could and what growin’ green and makin’ machines they could carry and tried to make a new start, but some of those left Above still tried to fight ‘em so not everything was made proper and finished.  But in the end, they closed the gates and went deep and lived while the Big Cold covered everything they’d left behind.  And even warm in the depths, different groups had different ways of thinking, and they still worried about who was biggest boss or the savviest and the people of the many hives and stacks kept to their own ‘cept on the most important business… and sometimes they fought even though they weren’t many left, and, worse, some stacks went dark… and some… well… some went bad…

And then there’s the Hum… some hear it more than others, some say it ain’t even a thing, some say it’s the Last Machine, gone real deep, doing the last thing it was told, maybe to fix the sky, I don’t know what it is, but if you listen close, sometimes, well…

But Above, the Big Cold has covered almost everything, but you can still see what’s left of them sky-scraping cities, though some of them is knocked down, some even say there’s tunnels may lead to them.  Most folks say there’s nothing left, but some know that cold don’t just kill, it preserves and maybe there’s something still up there worth finding…

I believe there’s still something, cuz my daddy did too and told me before the grey lung took ‘im, and his daddy, well, he was holding a warm hand and looking out when they closed the gate, and he did too…

And the playbook mix (so far):

Playbooks removed: Chopper, Driver

Playbooks added: Feral Kid, Maestro D', Quarantine

Tentative addition: Hoarder

First session starts tomorrow, so I'm sending this out to the players today:


Dear Everyone, hey, what’s this?!, a Love Letter before the game even begins?  Someone Up There must really, really like you… or really, really have it in for you.  Anyway, here’s a couple of things that will be in play from the very start… “house rules” as it were… if anyone knew what a house was…

When someone resets their Hx with you, choose 1:
•   tell them a secret about yourself
•   tell them about some habit you have, annoying, endearing, or  otherwise.
•   tell them how you are vulnerable
•   tell them what you really think about something they care about

Also, people are pretty sparse Down Here, so there’s a limit on how many you can start with.

When you pick starting options in your playbook, if you’ve got a cult, gang, or any other group of people that are “yours”, etc, you may NOT select an option that allows for an immediate increase in size.  I’ll smile if you select an option that decreases the size of such groups, but it’s totally not necessary.  As well, this is just for initial options, if you can increase the size of your groups in play, more power to ya!

Lastly, a subtle change, that might not even come into play, but we’ll put it out there just in case.

When you pick an ungiven future advance, after you’ve “picked three basic moves and advanced them”, read the other advanced move as “Advance two more basic moves”… that way, you’ll never be able to advance all of them with a single character.  Just curious how that’ll work out.

Let me know if you’ve got any questions!

Love & Kisses, your MC

Welcome to Bella Vista, yeah, this stack has seen better days, especially after all the trouble with Westside’s goons, but the market is still open for business and a lot of the tracks and tunnels converge here so it’s a hub for info and jingle, and there’s still a bunch of growing green to keep the air breathable..  (holding: small, deep-and-mighty, bustling market, in debt to Westside)

Here are some names and faces you’ll want to be on the look out for:

First off, there’s Merciful (Hardholder).  She used to be Compton’s right-hand woman, but he got himself killed in the recent troubles with Westside and she’s been left to fit all the broken pieces back together.  She’s not much for showy dress, keeps it practical; she’s older, but still pretty spry… tall and thin with greying hair, but still someone to be reckoned with.  Them guys with the white letters on their backs… it says “Security”.. those are her enforcers and guards (gang: small, well-disciplined).  That big guy at her back, that’s Pumpkin (NPC), her bodyguard, he don’t talk, ‘cept with weaponry if you disrespect Merciful.  She’s only been in charge for a few weeks, but some say she’s already got some black-baggers called the “Sisters of Mercy” keepin’ an eye on things from the shadows… so maybe she does have a handle on things.

That guy in the bloodied greens?  That’s Arc (Angel)… well, I guess it’s A.R.C… says each letter stands for a long name of his, family or some shit, like they used to do Up There… nobody much pays attention to that and just calls him “Arc”.  He’s younger than he looks, and his face may look kind but those hard eyes of his have seen a lot.  He’s handy for patching you up if you get into a scrap and he really helped out during the troubles.  Him and Merciful go back a ways, even if he’s a fairly new arrival.

Digger (Operator), that guy in the leather jacket covered in patches, is another regular around here.  He’s a tunnel rat, squirming that tall, rangy body of his into dark nooks and crannies, finding stuff that’s been lost or hidden… he’s good at it too.  He ain’t got no crew, does it all himself, and he’s kinda tough to be around as he’s wired up real tight, but you get him some coffee and you’ve made a friend for life.  There’s rumours he stole something from Merciful, but since he’s still around, maybe it’s a lie or nothing important…

Speaking of coffee, hot damn, the Loco has pulled up into the Switchyard, and there’s honest to green coffee to be had there!  And real food too!  Cookie (Maestro D’) runs the place and, if you’ve got the plastic, you can get practically all you can eat!  The music is pretty good too.  She picks up local talent as she travels the tracks and byways, bringing them to various stacks and hives… it’s never the same sound, smell, or taste twice!  Course, she and her (ATOMIC POWERED!) train don’t stay in one place for long, but, damn, you picked a good time to show up here!  Don’t let her dark skin freak you out or that tattoo on her face… they say it’s “the sun”… she’s seen a lot, but is quite happy to provide for all who come into her establishment… but don’t cause any trouble, or that badass, with the smirk, near the door… Boyd (NPC)… will show you out pronto.

Speaking of newcomers, that teener woman in the orange and white stripes, that’s Weaver (Hocus), yep, that Weaver, with her plastic vestments (fast food restaurant uniform!) and her Parasites… I mean, “Angels of Paradise”.  They says we should all pool our resources and spread ‘em out equal-like, but I notice she seems to be better fed than the rest of her lot… though her inner circle seems to do pretty well, tinkering with stuff, but the rest of ‘em… well, they’re just fuckin’ weirdos.  She also says the Hum ain’t just noise… but a voice or something, but I ain’t asking her what is says.  And her followers ain’t all sunshine and peace either… they’ll take anything not nailed down… even messed up Digger a while back.  Word is they made the long walk from Haven… after something happened a few days ago that made the hive go dark…

A few days ago… huh… that’s kinda funny… it was a few days ago that that tough looking guy in the white and grey… uniform? showed up… Digger says he found him “frozen” in some kinda off-the-tracks mini-hive… has a weird name too… “Specialist John W. Reese” (Quarantine)… quite a mouthful, heard him mainly called “Reese” though… they say he’s from before the Big Cold!  But that’s more fucked up than I care to think of… their ain’t no coming back from getting iced… at least not coming back right… though, if you look at his eyes, maybe he ain’t back right… heard whispers that there was another frozen one that came out with him, but no one knows where she is… just that when he followed Digger to Bella Vista, she went the other way… to Haven…

Recap of end of session 4 By Hank Raab

Last game we had our Hardholder Merciful going to the “popcile” infirmary/base to get cured...where she meets Specialist Tammy Jackson (unkown to Mercy that she is Bio-engineer of the Grey-lung bug). They have a chat and Mercy discovers that Tammy’s mission is kill all the “Vermin” (that’s us) in the facility...so, being the Hard-Holder and leader of Bella-Vista and all, she went for her gun...Luckily Solomon the Faceless (who has a crush on Mercy) happened to be lurking nearby and came to her aid. A short but bloody gun-battle ensues…Jackson and her thugs go down, and Pumpkin makes sure she is d-e-a-d with a super-sledge to the head. Unfortunatly Mercy caught some fire from Jackson’s assault rifle and falls to the ground heavily wounded and out of action. Pumpkin scoops her up and takes her into the Popcile Facilty to get help. Last thing we see is Solomon collecting some shinny new weapons from Jackson’s mangled body.

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Recap of Session 5

Ok, so we stared 3 days from where we left off
Mercy is getting treated by Reese & Digger
Bella-Vista is getting restless... no  one knows whats happened to Mercy, the Market is barren and lots of folks are looking to get help from our Angel; Ark
Cookie, our M-D is back in town will much needed Air filter and medical supplies
In his wanderings around town, Solomon catches Grey-lung (he doesnt know yet), he also sends word to West-Town that there is a dangerous/deadly virus, but its getting under control...don’t come to Bella Vista.
Our Hocus Weaver is approached by one of her inner circle who suggests she take over! She gets him to back off, and comes up with a plan to convert or kill! A list is made of those that have spoken out vs. her cult. Weavers cult grows from outside stacks, but the same number leave her. She spreads the rumor that she will be alone meditating to lure those who would wish her into a trap. One of the local enforcers also pays her a visit and she helps him “See the light”
Solomon the Faceless goes to Rudy (Mercy’s head of security) to tell them what happened. He offers help if needed and get get the feeling that Rudy and many of the other guards are working for Mercy now.. but they would easily take a job for westside should the situation come about
Ark makes some good rolls and is feeling much better, his Grey-lung gets much better... He gets a bit of info about the origins of the Grey-lung virus out of an other popcile that he has restrained...Then Ark kills him to further his research on the virus
Cookie bring medical gear to Ark, then meets Solomon on the way to deliver the Filter. She sees his soul during a chat and Solomon discovers that he accidentally killed the son of Digger our Operator. Digger doesnt know he has a son, and doesnt know that Solomon killed him... Solomon wants to tell him directly when they meet up next. Cookie also talks about what he saw in Stack 4...(Westside taking over)
Cookie delivers the air filters but no Tech to put it in right now.
Solomon is in Cookies restaurant “The Loco” in a private room and talks to his mask. It tells him to not tell Digger about the past
Ark finds out that Weaver is alone and wants to Hire Solomon for a “job” He goes to visit Cookies place to meet up. Solomon and Ark chat...Ark wants Weaver dead, and Solomon says that he’ll visit her but does’nt commit to the contract.
Ark and Cookie chat a bit longer afterwards and get some Nookie ; )- first hetro sex so far for this Hack!
Weaver is set up in an empty area of the holding with a group of her followers.
Solomon beats up a guard to get to her and sneaks into her chamber...
Solomon tells  Weaver that he’s been sent to kill her and give him some reasons why he shouldnt...Some very tense roleplaying (awesome job Lauren btw), lots of good rolls for reading...They talk about her place in the settlement, what her goals are (finding peace and paradise), they talk about the Treat from West-town. Solomon talks about how the people of the holding are very worried about the growth and influence of her cult.
He gives he an ultimatum...no more citizens of Bella Vista into the fold after tonight or ELSE. Weaver agrees to this and will try going to West-town to recruit, and Solomon will act her body guard outside of Bella-Vista
Solomon fades into the shadows of the room, and Weaver wants have some more visitors to have a chat. Cat-Tail Mercy’s best pal comes for a visit.
Solomon watches from the shadows. We discover during their chat…that Cat-tail may be a Cow-Boy! Weaver deflects Cat Tails many threats and makes an awesome roll to open her brain (convert her?) well.... MC Kevin’s been dropping hints about a certain suppin-suppin that Cat Tail has (it went over our heads though). Weavers influence cant get through the Deep Brain plugs that Cat tail has! Weaver gets 2 bullets to the neck, and goes down in a bloody spray. Solomon grabs Cat-Tail to prevent a Coup De Grace…she backs down and leaves. Weaver is F*cked up bleeding and her followers can’t really help out... they have some stock but no Doc.
Ark is needed much to Weavers dismay
Weaver and Solomon and cult go to the Loco and get Ark who is very pleased to see her close to death. Solomon tells him what happened and tells Ark to do what he wants but warns him that we may need Weaver as Westown may move against Bella-Vista.
Solomon goes to get Cat-Tail as Ark wants to speak to her about what happened...
Weaver tried to force Ark to help but he runs into the lab and locks it down…They have a very interesting chat through the door. Another awesome round of Role-playing. Lots of reads...Weaver learns that Ark has killed people under his care, but after much discussion she agrees that she’ll go in alone and get treated. She gets some healing and during their discussion/healing they open the Maelstrom and Ark feels something almost divine…
At the end of session, Ark chooses Healing-Hands for his advancement, very fitting.

End of Session 5.

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Recap of Session #6  

Bella-Vista is in trouble!…what else is new?  
Our Angel Arc has been a busy boy. Emergency surgery to our Hocus Weaver’s neck, trying to cure the Grey-Lung infection, & doing murders in the name of science for the greater-good ; )
Our Quarantine, Specialist John W. Reece has been laid out recovering from injuries for sometime but wakes up and uses his lover-letter custom move to do some healing on some NPC’s and our Hardholder Merciful in the “Popsicle” bunker/lab
Our Hard-Holder Merciful and her build-like-a-brick-shit-house body guard Pumpkin are healed up and make their way back to Bella Vista… They find that things are not going so well in her absence. There is little trade going on, lots of people are sick with Grey-lung, Weaver the Hocus hasn’t been around… (Recovering from surgery from the 2 gunshot wounds to the neck from last game?), and her camp is getting pretty sparce.
Arc has been “helping” out the towns-folk, and is very keen to look after Weavers followers… He is NOT a fan of Weaver, and has some “research” planned for some of her Inner circle if he gets the opportunity….Arc rolls his gig “Doing Murders”, and….Blows the roll. While Arc is removing one of Weavers cultist’s lungs he is caught Bloody-handed! 5 Cult members confront him and being without backup he uses the shock value of the horrific scene to   escape! Arc runs and makes his way back to the Holding.
“Dusk” is a handsome Skinner (specializes in training animals) who’s been away from the holder for some time. Dusk wears a stylist Cowboy hat and long dark duster… Antique Colt Navy revolver on a hip holster with his Faithful “Dog” Coyote. He looks like a Cowboy…not a “Depth of Life” tunnel lawman “Cowboy”, but a Golden-age cowboy - although many may not know the diff. Dusk saunters into town… a lot has changed since he was last here… an encampment by the old Fast-food ruin, a run down almost empty market, and a lot less folks since he was last here. He meets up with his sister Woven (married to Jacko) and he little boy Parvo. Sis is a bit different… she’s gotten rid of a lot of her stuff; she’s lost her hard edge that she always had and is talking a lot about seeing the light. Looks like she’s part of some religious cult… Dusk holds his thoughts and tongue about that for time being. Dusk discovers that the Hard-holder Compton has been replaced by his old friend Merciful (perhaps through Westsides order? She doesn’t elaborate) and that Mercy hasn’t been looking after the people of the holding. Dusk catches up for awhile then goes out to see Mercy.
Our Maestro’D’ Cookie has taken the “Loco” out for a Rail-Trip with Solomon the Faceless. They go to Haven to do a bit of recon (and perhaps trade). They arrive to find it Locked-down. There are some visible signs that the gate has been opened in the last week. Solomon gets some advice from his Mask…”put of some Meat for the Wendi’s and follow them back in” Cookie and his body guard get a good spot to watch Solomon’s back and they wait to see if someone (thing) will open the gate.
Arc hoofs it back to Bella-Vista and finds Mercy who has also just arrived. The chat and after some reads Mercy finds out that Arc has been doing a bit of J. Mengala style medicine…”its for the greater good though!”. Arc aids her Reads as he feels guilty (also doesn’t help that he’s been caught “lung-handed”)  he wants Mercy to back him up on his mission to Cure at any cost…Mercy is having trouble with all of this, then the Chosen show up accusing Arc of being a Murderer. Mercy is in a very charged Sitch…. She calms them all down and threatens the Weavers with a security crack down if they don’t back down.
Dusk the Skinner is doing a tour of the town with his “Dog” coyote, when Specialist Reese see’s him walking by. Being a re-heated relic of the golden-age, he knows what a “Dog” is….and that aint no dog! What’s that guy doing with the Wedigo!? His instincts take over and he brings his Assault rifle to bear as he approaches! Dusk see this strange man stalking towards him with a big gun out pointed at Coyote and draws his own pistol…a stand off ensues!…”That’s not a dog!”, “Yes it is, its my dog!”…repeat...Reese snaps back to reality and can’t remember what just happened. While Reese and Dusk are figuring out who is going to lower their weapon first, Coyote leaps at Reese and begins to gnaw on his face! Dusk tries to get Coyote to back down, but Reese is just too tasty to let go... Reese musters his strength and beats Coyote back with the butt of his rifle…Coyote runs off and disappears into the duct/pipe work. Reese is pretty badly beat-up from previous wounds + his chew toy session with Coyote. Dusk and Reese chat about what the hell just happened, and Reese shows Dusk what a “real dog” looks like (old picture from his wallet of a golden-age dog)…
Arc and Mercy get to her office to find her head of security Rudy sitting in HER CHAIR! He stammers an apology and quickly vacates the seat. Mercy starts to speak to him, and quickly realizes that they are not alone. Westsides enforcer Kurtz is having a meeting with Rudy! Westside is not happy with the current state of Bella-Vista and wants an answer to why no tribute has been coming in. Oh, and no funny business… if Kurtz isn’t back in 2 hours to his men, they waiting nearby to raise hell. Mercy gives a passionate speech about the troubles they’ve been faced with… the Grey-Lung plague has caused the problems, and Westside must give them more time. Arc backs up Mercy and helps out convincing Kurtz to back down. He wants to stay for a short time to watch the holding. No probs, Mercy will set him up w/ a room. Arc aggress to go with him back to his men (Arc takes some of Mercy’s men for back up just in case).
Mercy turns to Rudy and starts questioning him about is actions… she’s none to pleased with him trying to take the place over in her absence. Caught between a rock and hard place, Rudy follows his instincts and lets his shot-gun do the talking. Pumpkin gets a blast to the face and topples to the ground in a bloody mess. Rudy racks his shotgun and turns it towards Mercy……..
Back at the gates of Haven, Solomon the Faceless, Cookie, and her guard Boyd have been waiting for a few hours and nothing has happened....Solomon asks his Mask what he should do. “Blood is needed to get into Haven…. Human blood”. He looks up to Cookie who has always been kind to him….He can’t go after her can he?… Solomon tries to cut himself but he can’t overcome the influence of his Mask. Dagger in hand he stalks towards Cookie & Boyd. Solomon grabs Boyd and drags him out onto the track. He fights off Cookie (who is lightly wounded in the process) and cuts Boyd’s arm squeezing blood onto the ground. Cookie reasons with Solomon and he releases his man. Boyd isn’t too happy with Cookie for letting Solomon get away with his and pulls his Zip-gun out and demands that Solomon show his face. Solomon laughs it off and tries to knock the weapon aside and blows his Agro roll… he stumbles back in awe that a lackey could stare him down, and also realizes that they are NOT ALONE. Remember aliens when the motion tracker is going haywire with activity and humans peak up into the ceiling….? They look up to see a massive horde of Wendigo staring down at them with hungry feral eyes!
Solomon breaks for the Train, fighting through the horde of creatures dropping down all around. Cookie notices that the Wendigo are wearing Haven-wear! Cookie & Boyd get back to the Locco and she uses her previous hold on Solomon to lock up and leave him in their dust!. Solomon is in deep trouble, but he won’t put Cookie in further danger…he runs blindly into the tunnels drawing the horde with him.
Ark is heading out with Kurtz when he see’s Dusk and Reese talking. Reese’s face looks like bloody Swiss cheese so he gives him attention. Arc tells Kurtz to leave the holding if he knows what’s good for him and Westside. Not being a fan of the plague, Kurtz takes the good Doctors advice and heads out. They go to Arc’s infirmary and find a bunch of Weavers followers there… they are not happy and want justice!
Weaver’s followers see Arc and move it, but before things get bloody, Specialist Reece steps in and calms the situation down (being a bad-ass with an assault rifle helps). Weavers 2nd in command; Specials goes with Arc and Reese to discuss a solution with Mercy...
Cookie is back in town with the Locco and she goes to visit Mercy.
Dusk also goes to visit his old pal Mercy. He’s going to her office from the elevator and “was that a gunshot?” Hmmm… He takes his hat off cowboy style salute to the 2 guards and they are frozen by his arresting face. He strolls past and opens the door to the office to see….A wild-eyed Rudy with a shotgun gun pointed at Merciful and Pumpkin downing in his own blood on the floor. Mercy keeps her cool as she see’s her old friend quietly open the door behind Rudy. Dusk distracts Rudy, aiding Mercy’s Agro roll….She’s successful and he bugs out!. Rudy runs tail-tween legs out of the office, pushing past the 2 guards. Reese, Arc, and Specials are arriving and Reese and Dusk capture Rudy, roughing him up a bit in the process.
Merciful runs to the aid of her “smashed-Pumpkin” begging Arc to save him.
Arc has no equipment and Pumpkin is near-death… he digs deep and opens his brain to the “Hum” and lays on hands. Those in the room watch as his touch begins to fix Pumpkins ruined face and neck, knitting flesh, bone, and blood back together.
Mercy aids the lay-on hands and they feel the effects of the P-maelstrom - She is hit with Psy-harm and loses her voice! Arc is hit with Psi-harm and is stunned by the hummmmm. Reese also decided to open up his mind (why not!)…same thing…He drops like a sack of sh*t also stunned.
Cookie arrives at Mercy’s office and wants to speak to Mercy in private. Specials joins their meeting since most people in the other room are stunned or injured and don’t stop him walking in on them...
Specials rips into poor Mercy (she’s had a tough day(s) so far)…”Your Dr. can do that (healing) why is he murdering us?” Specials explains the discovery of the murder scene…and that Mercy has to decide. Will she dish out Justice? Or does she want a War with Weaver and her followers? Cookie backs up Mercy, she readies her blade just in case things get out of hand. After some back and forth reads and dialog Specials backs down on a promise that things will be dealt with soon.
Specials leaves and Cookie reports more good news; Haven is probably done for... The people there have somehow become Wedigo. In case you didn’t know; Solomon is a crazy bastard! Not sure if Solomon is still alive… last time she saw him, he was being chased through the tunnels by the Wendi Haven-Horde. Cookie tells Mercy about Hive 4... Westsides men have taken it over and have killed some of the security. Cookie also mentioned that Mercy owes her some click for the air -filter (still not installed) and medical supplies she brought back previously. One good that has come out of this is that Bella-Vista no longer holds any interest to Westside…Mercy has successfully (through improvement and role-playing) removed the obligation/debt!
Solomon the Faceless successfully evaded the Wendigo horde, but now he’s totally lost. Suddenly a battle erupts, and he’s right in the middle! Another group of Wendi’s are attacking a gang of armed humans… Solomon makes his cool under fire roll to join the Human battle line and proceeds to kick some Wendi-Butt. When the gun smoke clears a ragged bang of humans steps forward… “Welcome to Stack 17”... the leader Chuckles and his gang all have filed sharp teeth…
Solomon impressed them during the battle so they don’t try and eat him...in fact they’ve heard of him….”Black-eyed Solomon?…THE Solomon?”. Solomon agrees to help bring back the Wendi and human bodies to Stack 17 in return he gets a Wendigo body (to bring back to Bella-Vista as it’s clearly wearing Haven attire (perhaps Ark can test it?). Solomon asks why they want the bodies. - “No sense wasting good meat” Chuckles says. Solomon asks about rumors… Chuckles have NEVER seen this many Wendi’s.. “All the noise in the tunnels as of late has caused them to stir”. “Something from the past from has caused this”. Solomon chats a bit more and gets the feeling that Chuckles may want to hire him to Spy on Bella-Vista, but no deals on made on it.
Solomon goes back to Stack 17 with Chuckles and his gang. They have a grand feast where Solomon is a “guest of honor”. He meets Rolfball - Cookie’s unhappy cousin... “Cookie has my train, I want you to help me get it back”….    

End of session 6.

Thanks for posting that Hank... aka Solomon!

Wish we'd kept records of the first three sessions... *laugh*

(first time doing a session recap, I hope I do it alright.)

Our session began with our Hardholder Merciful rolling superbly well on her wealth roll ensuring the hold was not in any want (other than the want for a cure for grey lung that is). Since Mercy lost her voice in the previous session her old friend Dusk who recently returned to town was helping her out, acting as her voice when she needed one. Everyone's gigs went well with the exception of Digger who had the unfortunate luck of losing his trusty wind-up flashlight. :(

Cookie (Maestro'D), Digger (Operator) and ARC (Angel) hanging out at the Loco, Cookie's establishment on wheels. They discussed some current events and local buzz. Meanwhile, Weaver (Hocus) learned of ARC's murdering of one of her people and the various body parts discovered in his infirmary by her followers. She then proceeded to Marciful's office where she met Dusk for the first time and was somewhat distracted by his rather 'sensual appeal' (Dusk had chosen her to be in love with him based on History). Weaver and Merciful had a heated talk about what to do about ARC, neither seemed willing to give in to the other but eventually they came to a temporary agreement to have ARC punished publically soon. Weaver had the idea to offer her abilities to Merciful and potentially cure her of her voice loss. Mercy reluctantly agreed was rewarded with her mind being opened to the Great Hum that is our psychic maelstrom. She was unsettled to say the least and told Weaver to 'get out'. Dusk followed after to give Merciful some time alone and he wanted to learn more about the Angels of Mercy since his sister was a recent convert and he had some concerns. While taking the elevator, Weaver began telling the guards with them about ARC's recent indiscretions and Dusk fearing she might create more problems with this decided to act on his 'read a person' and kissed Weaver to shut her up. Weaver decided this would be a good opportunity to share with Dusk her vision of the Great Spirit through their now tactile connection. This did not go well, both of them became enraptured with one another. Weaver lost control of her senses for a few moments and when the elevator door opened she commanded all those present to get her ARC, Dusk was also faced with the truth of his selfish ways and clearly understood the message Weaver had been proclaiming. They both, no longer concerned with worldly things retired to Weaver’s tent and did what any two consensual adults do when alone in a tent together. The experience was a bit strange for both of them but nonetheless it did seem to link them somewhat for a short time (skinner and hocus special, awesome combo for teamwork it seems).

Back at the Loco Cooke, Digger and ARC were surprised to see a small mob of Angels and security approach the Loco with violent intent. They demanded ARC be handed over to them and when Digger tried to convince them he had already left they chose to disbelieve him and stormed the train. Cookie tried to hold off the mob with her blade while Chop Chop (her cook) snuck ARC out the back but they overran Cookie and knocked Chop Chop out. They took hold of ARC and dragged him back to the Angel’s camp. Digger and Cookie followed after them as a discreet distance.

Merciful, with her voice finally returned, ordered what security forces remained outside her office to fetch follow her as she went looking for ARC. None of her team knew what happened to the other guards on duty.
Weaver’s cult thrust ARC into Weaver’s tent just as she and Dusk were finishing their fun and delivered ARC to Weaver as commanded. She and Dusk had no recollection of her doing any such thing as were both confused. Specials (Weaver’s right hand man) offered to kill ARC right there and then for the crimes he had committed. Weaver, who was now wearing very little except Dusk’s cowboy hat lead the crowd outside while Dusk threw a blanket around himself and grabbed his six shooter. Outside the tent, people of Bella Vista, security and the whole group of pc’s gathered to see what was happening. Weaver confronted ARC on his crimes and ARC was careful to elude answering any of her accusations with clear answers. The crowd got more and more agitated as Weaver Spoke The Truth to them. To Weaver and her cult’s dismay, the townspeople went mad with anger that found it’s catalyst in their frustration with the Angels of Paradise. The people of Bella Vista attacked them with any weapons they could find.
During the riot, Cookie snuck up behind Weaver and putting a knife to her throat threatened to girl to leave town or be cut open but Cookie was quickly disarmed and beaten by one of the Angels, suffering a nasty wound to her left rib cage. Weaver herself was dangerously wounded by the outbreak taking 3 harm and putting her at 10:00. Dusk attempted to sneak away so as not to be associated with the Angels right now but was caught up by the crowd and as they beat upon him he was knocked out cold. Thanks for his Impossible Reflexes only taking 1 harm.
Merciful and part of her gang arrived just before things got out of control and sent her boys in to try and break up the riot but it was hard going for them. ARC, taking advantage of the chaos snuck away from the crowd and took sanctuary behind merciful’s men. Digger, who ‘helped’ the crowd by shouting demands for justice against ARC while standing among them quickly got out of Dodge when the fighting started and found a nice vantage point to watch from. Weaver was barely able to make it out of the crowd alive and surrendered herself to Merciful for protection for her people.

The riot eventually dissipated, with the Angels camp decimated and stamped underfoot. Weaver and her people were either dead or severely injured. Merciful agreed to take the wounded angels into Bella Vista where those who were still alive could recuperate. Merciful noticed Weaver’s wounds and ask ARC to heal her and ARC answered coldly with a simple “NO”. Merciful threatened him and he still refused so security beat ARC down and gave him a present he wouldn’t soon forget. ARC, furious at Merciful’s perceived betrayal changed his mind and insisted on helping Weaver but Merciful wasn’t no fool and sensed ARC’s malign motives. Suddenly, out of nowhere ARC head blew out from within as the echoes of a .50 caliber sniper rifle announced ARC’s final moment on this earth.

Merciful judged where the shot had come from and sent security to investigate the area but all they found was a shell casing. Weaver and her people retreated to their newly appointed place of rest, escorted by one of Mercy’s reluctant but obedient boys. The first security guy Mercy ordered to escort them refused to help them and invited Mercy to give the order to kill the rest of them off while they could. He eventually grew so agitated he walked away and threw off his security vest.

Cookie returned to the Loco to lick her wounds and found a man there who offered her a business deal to borrow her train for a while in return for clink. He indicated he worked for a man named Roach and that she would be wise to invest in their organization. Digger went looking for the sniper who did in ARC and eventually found a beautiful and scarred woman in the air ducts but was surprised by her spotter who disarmed Digger. They had a cordial conversation and Digger left with more questions than answers but they hinted they were part of a benevolent organization and that ARC had to die for his crimes. They then released Digger after he assured them that he never found anyone. ;)

Merciful and Weaver both spent some time throwing their money around to put the word out that they needed some specialists. Weaver needed a medic for her and her people and Mercy needed a technician to install the new air filters for Bella Vista.

Dusk eventually woke up and after finding his clothes and dressing discovered Bella Vistans looting the Angel’s camp. He convinced to only take things they had stolen from them personally or anything practically valuable but to leave oddments and personal effects alone. He had to stay and oversee them for a bit but then, after realizing he was missing his hat and it was probably still on Weaver’s head he went looking for her. Dusk found her and her people (which includes his now injured sister and young nephew) and Weaver seemed please to see he had returned to them. Dusk waved it off as just wanting his hat back but also revealed to Weaver that Woven was his sister and he had some to see her as well. (which was not on purpose, I actually forgot about her, I’m a bad brother) He and Weaver discussed her beliefs in brief and Dusk tried to convince her that her people needed to be better armed to protect themselves but instead was convinced by Weaver that He should help them by talking to some people about his experience with them and try to raise their reputation a little with the locals. Dusk promised to do so and after spending some time with his Sister and Nephew left.

I hope I didn’t miss too much. I admit there were scenes where I was distracted by picking my next move and may not have picked up all the details of scenes I was not involved in. Enjoy!

(first time doing a session recap, I hope I do it alright.)

Thanks for posting this, pheylorn!  I was too busy MCing to take notes!  *laugh*  Helluva session!

Suddenly, out of nowhere ARC head blew out from within as the echoes of a .50 caliber sniper rifle announced ARC’s final moment on this earth.

This was a stunning development, the player was looking at his own character through crosshairs and decided having him die, instead of taking a debility, was better for the story!  I was amazed!  I'm going to comment on this in its own thread soon.

Thanks again... and see you next week!  Any other DoL players want to comment?

Wow!  : 0

That's awesome!

Thanks for the recap Pheylorn, good work!

Solomon is still over at Stack 17... oh Weaver?...did you need some new cultists?... they do like fast food! *laugh* ; )-

See you next session!
Hankle

Session 8 recap

We have Weaver (Hocus), Dusk (skinner), Cookie (Maestro’D), Specialist Reese (Quarentine), Merciful (Hardholder), & Solomon (faceless) in attendance. Our other Pc’s Arc (Angel) is now dead, killed by a mysterious sniper. Digger (operator) is off doing what he does best somewhere out in the tunnels.

Everyone gets a love letter from our M.C. Chroma.

No Failed rolls on any of our opening moves!!
Solomon (faceless) tells his “secret” to Cookie from previous Hx roll-over…he is a “Deep-One” He is from the deepest darkest, perhaps scariest area of the tunnels.

It’s been a few days since the Riot in Bella-Vista. The dust has settled, and the blood splats and pools have dried up…but the pain lingers on (mostly because we have no Angel).

During the short downtime after the riot, A BIG-BLACK ATOMIC TRAIN pulled into Bella-Vista. No one exits or communicates. Mercy’s Guards are watching it for signs of life…

Solomon (Faceless) is in Stack 17th with Chuckles (a cannibal) and his Gang “The Rippers”. He does a barter move to get some Grenades with strings attached (not literally!). The 4 grenades are different shapes and colors…I wonder what some of them will do?. Solomon exchanges some info on Bella-Vista to Chuckles (nothing that would jeopardize security as Solomon likes Mercy). Chuckles sends a small gang led by his man Echo back to B-Vista with Solomon to check it out. Although Echo appears to be a wiry runt, the Rippers are terrified of him and follow him without question. I don’t want to know how he earned that!

Reese (Quarantine) has been in his medical bay getting healed and patched up over the past week or so. He comes out of his “Bunker” to find a group of “Followers” waiting for him. They seems to be citizens of Bella-Vista, they’ve been camping here waiting for him… their Savoir “who will help them to reclaim the surface world”! Reese speaks with telling them that they are not “his” followers, but he is there to help them! He successfully manipulates them to believe this and offers a piece of the golden age to them as an assurance, Reese gives them a slightly altered Military Oath of allegiance. He notices in distance that Solomon (Faceless) and a gang of “Rippers” has been watching the whole time….

Back in Bella-Vista, Cookie(Maestro’D) and Mercy(Hardholder) go to check out the BIG BLACK ATOMIC TRAIN. Cookie notices that the idle hum of the train is in sink with the hummm of the P-maelstrom! Very interesting indeed! Cookie and Mercy press an intercom button and wait. After a short wait, a voice asks them to fill the Trains reactor with water please.

It’s been a tough go for the Angels of Paradise as of late. Only 10 are left and many are wounded. Weaver (Hocus) is recovering in a tent with her followers. They need help, so Weaver uses Augury to reach out to the P-Maelstrom. Weaver blows the roll and half of her followers go wild, savagely attacking the others!

Dusk (Skinner) has helped calm things down a lot in the last few days for the Angels thanks to his “soft-skills”. Dusk goes to find Weaver so he can make sure his Sister & nephew are safe. As he leaves to find them he notices a new face in town…A tall thin man stands in the market place scanning the area with obvious interest. Dusk speaks with him… “Coombs” is a “Doctor of the Flesh,” He has come to Bella-Vista because Weaver needs his help. Coombs tells Dusk that he’s heard about Grey-lung plague also. They start walking towards Weavers location.

Solomon (Faceless) and the Rippers from Stack 17 watched Reese come out of his Bunker and pledge to his “followers.” Reese notices the menacing band of warriors watching him and approaches. Solomon dumps a rotting Wendigo body at his feet! Seems like Reese’s people are behind both the Grey-Lung plague and have also caused the folks at Haven to become Wenidgo’s. Reese doesn’t deny this he tells Solomon that his leader Tammy Jackson was insane and that he is there to Help anyone who needs it, especially Bella-Vista. They chat some more and decide to get back to B-v as quick as possible to speak with Mercy and Arc (they don’t know he’s dead).

Dusk & Coombs walk into Weavers tent right after the Augury-fail. Half of the Angels have gone nuts and are savagely attacking their fellow cultists. Dusk wants to get to his sister who is at the back of the tent…the only way is through the battle. “Ker-blam”!… Dusk blows away one of the ferals and gets to his sister. Koombs calmly moves through the embattled tent to Weaver and starts talking like it’s a Wine & Cheese party. Coombs asks if she needs a body guard and Doctor? Yes and yes please! Coombs flips open a leather case filled with syringes and starts jabbing the feral cultists knocking them out. He turns to Weaver…”I can thrive in a place of hatred”. Dusk is trying to get his sis and nephew out but Weaver wants them to stay. The have a heater debate and Dusk has to threaten her to get away with his family.

Merciful and Cookie are waiting near at the BIG BLACK ATOMIC TRAIN (B.B.A.T.). The door on Engine opens with a hiss and out steps a  human figure dressed in a full body black suit (very similar to what Solomon wears!). He has a long cord from the back of his helmet that connects him to the inside of the BBAT. He is “Stilts” the Captain of this vessel. He knows that there is plague here, but he is safe within the Black Engine. He knows Solomon, and seems excited when he hears his name…. “Stilts” hasn’t heard anything about Wendigo’s, the BBAT moves around in the tunnels for Trade. Merciful Barters the Water to replace/fix the much needed Air Filters.

Dusk gets his sister & nephew back to her apartment, and Koombs examines the feral Angels of paradise (who are now restrained). They have Wendigo Fever! Overwhelmed by the recent problems, Weaver seeks answers and help and opens her mind to the Hummmmm.

Another suited person emerges from the B.B.A.T….perhaps a woman?. She goes off with Mercy’s best Tech people to replace the air filters.

Reese and Solomon arrive back in Bella-Vista and make a b-line for Merciful. Solomon Reese & Solomon chat about the Haven problem….Solomon describes what happened in Haven, and that what he found out in Stack 17 from Chuckles and the Rippers. Echo (leader of the small Rippers gang) chats with Mercy, telling her that Haven went Dark and that there’s been a lot more Wendi activity in the Tunnels since. Reese & Solomon learn that Arc was killed by a mysterious sniper. Reese gives his oath of allegiance to Merciful and Bella-Vista. Solomon asks where Pumpkin is…since he’s out of action he appoints himself Merciful’s temporary body guard.

Mercy, Reese, Solomon and Echo go to the “Loco” with Cookie for some grub and a meeting. Echo and Mercy talk about a Bella-Vista /Stack 17 alliance… Echo says that’s for Chuckles to decide, but he’ll inquire. Echo tells us that the Wendigo mutation spreads through a bite, or eating the flesh (that’s not prepared correctly). His boss chuckles has a saying…”If you’re bit, you’re shit!”  they kill anyone who gets bitten before they turn into Wendi. Mercy want to get the Rippers help… she is willing to trade some of the Dead for this. Reese is turned off a bit by that and asks if they perform murder to get their food…they do. Reese isn’t pleased and threatens them with force if they murder to eat he will kill them all. Echo shrugs it off…he wants to fight but back down.
Reese talks about the possible Grey-Lung cure in the bunker and that his blood may cure through a transfusion.

Koombs finishes working on the Angels of Paradise and Weaver…he goes to leave with Dusk to help his sister Woven. He leaves Parvo in the tent.
The B.B.A.T. female tech comes back with Mercy’s men... job well done she knew exactly what to do! The Door to the engine opens and the captain emerges with a Mini-gun…points it at Solomon and prepares to fire! “Solomon is no longer part of the Protocol! Solomon is corrupted”  Stilts wants to bring Solomon back to the Deeps with them… Solomon tells them that he used to obey the equation, but he broke his programming and now writes his own commands! Solomon will not leave with them….Merciful stops the water transfer and tells them to back down and leave, and they’ll get the water they need. Merciful figures out that if they leave without Solomon they will never come back. Stilts says that “Solomon will bring discord”. Sensing trouble, Cookie has some quick words with the Techie Deep-one…She’s looking to trade “So-Topes”.  Stilts mentions that “the Dark-Harvester he’s there” 

Weaver has just opened her mind to discover that the BBAT are linked to the hummm itself! She takes off, hobbling towards the Train… Dusk gives chase. Weaver gets a message… “Bring this place back to Harmony and you will be brought back to the symphony!”. The BBAT is leaving and Weaver is trying to get them to stop for her… Scalding hot steam blast from the train as it pulls away…Dusk shields her from the 2 harm, and Weaver watches in dismay as the train pulls away.

Everyone is a bit stunned by what just went down… Then suddenly...Bzzzzzaaat! Many of the tracks coming into Bella-Vista melt in a sudden blinding explosion! Cookie remembers the Deep-one telling her “you will be rewarded” as she notices that the tracks uncder the Loco are untouched.

Um… where’s little Parvo?

End of Session 8!

Thanks for writing and posting that Hank!

Was a heck of a time for a "bottle" session... well played all... and so many new things coming out of the deep, dark tunnels...

Session Recap by Dave (Cookie)

 Start of session rolls all went fairly well. Bella Vista still had “idle” as fewer people could get into the marketplace with the tracks damaged. Scott's new character “Scurry”, a Freak, decided with Hx that Cookie was sickened by the sight of him. He has been eating the Loco's garbage and Cookie has been shoo-ing him away at the point of her knife. Scurry is from the Deeps and looks like an animate boulder.

   We started with Merciful sending a couple of Security flunkies to investigate Cookie's complaints about some sort of vermin near the Loco. Cookie asks them to get word to former Security man Donner to come and see her. They weren't much help looking for vermin, so Cookie tried to set a trap for the creature and went looking for a place to hide to surprise it. And fell down a hidden shaft into darkness.

   Coombs came to Weaver and asked for her permission to put the Angels turning into Wendi's out of their misery. Some reads later and Weaver was pretty creeped out by Coombs. He was looking to torture them to death to test their pain threshold. Since these were friends, Weaver tried something else. She gets some of her followers (many returned from trips to the outside) and uses their shared prayers (augury) to calm the Wendi's for a moment. And Coombs just needs a moment to slit all the Wendi's throats with a hi-tech scalpel glove. This guy just keeps getting scarier. They have a funeral and dispose of the bodies.

   Dusk spent big on a 3-Barter move to put the word out he was looking for little, lost Parveau. Blew the roll and has some massive strings attached to him. He heads to the Loco to ask for Cookie's help.

   Merciful decides it's time to go see Rudy, her former Head of Security. He's still in a cell after shooting Pumpkin, and looks the worse for wear. He tries to bargain his way out of dying by telling Merciful he's not the only Bella Vistan working for Westside. He'll name names for his freedom. Plumber, maybe bucking for the Head of Security job, advises Merciful not to listen to Rudy.

   At the Loco, Scurry comes out of hiding (where he watched Cookie fall) to eat the garbage. And is confronted by Chop-Chop, Cookie's teen sidekick, toting a shotgun! Scurry sprays the kid in the face with grit, doing s-harm and Chop-Chop unloads with the shotgun sending Scurry off to find a more hospitable restaurant. Dusk is close to the Loco and checks it out, hearing Chop-Chop’s tales of rock monsters. They hear Cookie calling out from below and improvise a rescue with a length of chain to pull her up.

   Merciful goes back into Rudy's cell and finds Pumpkin has crushed Rudy's skull with his hammer. Nice to see Pumpkin back on the job! Then Margie appears with the news of gunfire by the Loco and Merciful goes to investigate.

   After Scurry fled the hurt-stick, he went down. Through windy tunnels, he finds his way to a place with food and starts gorging himself. Weaver walks in on him and instead of turning him away, shows him the true meaning of the Angels of Paradise and offers to share the food with him. They get to talking and Weaver hears that Scurry is from Down Below and she's his new best friend.

   Cookie hosts a meeting at the Loco with herself, Mercy (with Pumpkin) and Dusk. They discuss going to Haven and taking sections of their tracks to replace the destroyed ones at Bella Vista. During the meeting, Merciful overlooks Plumber and gives more authority to Margie. Plumber doesn't look happy. Cookie is brusque with Merciful having just been dragged out of a hole, so Pumpkin keeps giving her the hairy eyeball. As the meeting is breaking up, Cookie asks to speak to Pumpkin alone and tells him to come by if he gets time off and they can get to know each other a little better <coughcough>. Pumpkin is completely confused by this and gets out of the Loco as fast as his legs can carry him. Merciful tells Pumpkin that he can do whatever he wants with his off time, but to be careful of Cookie because she often has ulterior motives... (What? hahaha)

   Dusk goes to see Weaver. He meets Scurry, who is soon overwhelmed by the number of people around and bails. Dusk and Weaver have a heart to heart conversation, using the advanced version of Read a Person and Weaver finds out that Cookie is Dusk's ex and that Dusk will only truly love her if she gives up her religion! She asks Dusk to Leave (that is a capitol L).

   Merciful gets back to her office and there is some dude sitting in her chair. Again. He says his name is Stens and he's a friend of Cat-Tail. He is refreshingly blunt and says he is in Bella Vista to kill Weaver and he wants Merciful's help doing it. Merciful explains that she doesn't want to lose people because there are so few left, but Stens describes Weaver as a disease that needs to be cut out of Bella Vista. Merciful ends up telling Stens she isn't going to stop him, but she isn't going to help him either and she orders him out of her office. (And it turns out the Cowboys have Parveau. They took him to get him away from his brain-washed parents...)

   Cookie meets with Donner who has gone a bit to pieces being unemployed. Cookie hires him to be the temporary bouncer for the Loco as Boyd isn't available. Donner agrees if he can have clear lines of delineation of who's on what side. Cookie agrees. Then, they watch as Scurry comes to take revenge on Cookie by throwing all her garbage down a deep hole, actually disposing of it for her... Welcome aboard Donner. Good thing people's first day is always slow.

   Back in Paradise, Weaver gathers her cult together and laments the loss of Dusk. As she explains to them that everything in her life is Cookie's fault, they start to Frenzy! Finally Weaver shouts “Bring Cookie to me for judgement!” And the whole cult gets up and storms out.

   Dusk goes to see Merciful and the two of them sit there seething with anger but not at each other. Merciful wants Dusk to be clear about his intentions and to pick a side.

   The mob approaches the Loco and Donner fires into them with a shotgun, but to no avail. The mob surges over him and into the Loco and carries Cookie back out to be delivered.

   Merciful is interrupted yet again and is told about the mob of Parasites storming through town. She tells Security to get everyone together. Dusk decides to accompany Merciful and help as he thinks some of this might be his fault...

   Scurry goes back to see Weaver to tell her about his triumphant victory over Cookie. Coombs comes in and looks at Scurry like a hungry man looks at fried chicken. Then, Stens just walks in points at Coombs and asks Weaver “Is that your bodyguard?” “Yes” she says. BLAM! Down goes Coombs. Scurry rushes to protect his new friend and sprays rocks and grit into Stens' face as he and Weaver make a run for it into the ducts. Scurry takes some more bullets.

   Merciful is getting her troops together when the gang from Stack 17 asks to be allowed to join in the fight. All they want in return are the inevitable bodies... Merciful agrees.

   The mob arrives back in Paradise with Cookie in tow. Their leader is gone, her bodyguard is dead on the floor and a guy with a smoking gun is standing right there. They swallow Stens, and Cookie uses the confusion to knife someone in the eye and bail. Cookie runs into Merciful bringing in the cavalry and tells Merciful flat out that if Merciful doesn't kill all the Parasites, the Loco will leave and never come back.

   Merciful leads in the troops and beats the bejesus out of the Parasites. Dusk is searching through the bodies to see if Weaver is there and Specials shoots him in the face with Cookie's shotgun. Security and the Stack 17 Reapers are going to execute the wounded but Merciful lives up to her name and makes them show mercy to their fallen foes, saving several.

   In the ducts, Scurry and Weaver have gotten separated. Each tries to open their brain to find some help. Scurry finds out there is a man nearby who will heal any who ask. His name is Reese. Weaver, in extremis, goes past the hum (advanced Open Your Brain) and gets a response. “This is Protocol. What is your situation?” “They're killing us, I need help to bring them to harmony.” “This is Protocol. Help is on the way.” Yikes.

   Cookie staggers back to the Loco. There she finds the bodies of Donner and Chop-Chop, torn apart by the Parasites. After finding a new knife, she opens her brain and tries to listen for Weaver. She hears, metaphorically, Weaver approaching, so she sits there, sharpening her knife waiting for Weaver to come to her.

   Merciful stops the Reapers from taking bodies until Bella Vistans have the chance to claim them if they are family members. Surrounded by bodies and wailing family members, Merciful is pelted with cries of “Why couldn't you stop this?”


Hope you enjoyed reading this, because we enjoyed the hell out of playing it!

Hope you enjoyed reading this, because we enjoyed the hell out of playing it!

INDEED!

Thanks for writing that Dave and thanks for posting it Hankle!

Gotta say, it's always great to "play to find out"... we were jokingly calling this installment "Friends and Lovers" through most of the first part of the session as it was almost all takey and relationship stuff... and then, those relationships caused all hell to break loose!  So unexpected, surprising and cool!

Thanks for all being such entertaining and creative players!

Session 10 of Depth of Life.

Our protagonists this session were Cookie, Merciful, Scurry, Weaver/Tapestry, and Dusk (Me)

Our opening rolls and love letters went fairly well. Merciful made some friends among the people at Stack 17 by sending them unwanted corpses for eating and some staff and security to escort them and the hold of Bella Vista was in relatively good condition with the exception of a want in play known as Anxiety. Cookie had the unfortunate luck of attracting the attentions of Toyota and her people who believe that they should be partners of the Loco. Dusk began to believe past rumours that he was cursed and it began to shape the way he saw the world. And Scurry, our rock-skinned little friend, managed to find some nice tradeable items in the ductwork and secret places around Bella Vista.

Cookie, who has been deep in her bottle this past week was visited by Toyota and her entourage who offered Cookie her help in getting her restaurant back up and running but at the cost of making her a partner in the Loco. Cookie’s price: “Bring me Weaver”. Meanwhile Scurry took advantage of the distraction to break into the Loco to steal some food, however he was not as quiet as he might have liked. Cookie went into the Loco to deal with the intruder and found Scurry gorging himself on her goods so she snuck up on him and with a knife to his back ordered him to drop the food or die. Scurry proceeded to run away like a frightened turtle but managed to grab some extra food on his way out.

Dusk, hoping for an opportunity to advance himself approached Toyota and her crew and planted a kiss on her but was promptly shut down as she 'had more important things to take care of'. So Dusk settled for the company of Gams, one of Toyota's girls. He learned from her that Cookie and Toyota were apparently friends and that if He could get them Weaver then that would make Toyota a fan of Dusk.

Merciful, while out in the stacks is approached by Toyota who wants her help in getting Cookie to comply to her offer. Toyota learns of the Angels of Paradise’s current incarceration and offers to “extract information” from them to learn of Weaver’s whereabouts. They pause their conversation to resume it in the privacy of Merciful’s office.

Cookie, frustrated and more than a little drunk decides to start experimenting with ingested poisons and makes some meals up to serve the Angels in prison. The guards on duty however are too greedy for their own good and instead eat the poisoned food themselves which results in their untimely demise.

Scurry in the meantime searches for Weaver in the ductwork and upon finding her offers her some pilfered food and he agrees to take Weaver somewhere where she can heal. On the way they get seperated and Weaver comes across a black sealed crate that glows a little and upon opening it finds the ‘help’ she was promised by The Protocol. Weapons and armour appropriate for a warrior of the Protocol. *Ding* Weaver changes playbooks from Hocus to Touchstone and now has a vision of the future to unify the world into one force, where everyone knows their place and is happy with it. Oh and she heals up completely and changes her name to Tapestry. (awesome sauce)

Back at Merciful’s office, Her and Toyota wheel and deal each other, and Toyota even puts the moves onto Merciful but their agreement if put on hold when one of Merciful’s security team bursts in to inform her that the guards protecting the Angels have been killed and they prisoners have escaped, and worse yet they are now armed with the guards’ weapons. Merciful leaves Toyota to go deal with this latest crisis.

Dusk takes some time in the middle of town to whisper Parvo’s name into the psychic maelstrom using his Lost move but his new belief that he is jinxed continues to hamper him and he is unsuccessful. He is then approached by Cookie to tries to convince him that it’s in Bella Vista’s best interest is he helps her get rid of Weaver. Dusk decides to take a stand on the matter and tells Cookie that she should be the one to leave giving Cookie her answer and new insight into Duck’s allegiances. Dusk goes back to his room to find Weav...I mean Tapestry and Scurry waiting for him. Tapestry reveals her vision to Dusk and asks him to pick a side, he chooses Tapestry. They all hear a ruckus outside as Security and a community militia have assembled to find the escaped prisoners.

Tapestry decides that this is her moment to reveal herself to Bella Vista and so helmeted and escorted by Dusk she enters the crowd and proclaims her vision to them all and demands they bring her Cookie, one of the greatest forces working against that paradise, at least in her eyes. The crowd goes nuts and goes after Cookie. Merciful refuses to let this stand and orders her gang to capture Tapestry. Pumpkin, Merciful’s silent but brutishly deadly bodyguard leads the charge but sadly for him Tapestry saw him die in a vision at the dawn of the battle and as he hammers Tapestry and Dusk about he is put down by one of Tapestry’s bullets to his brainpan. Pumpkins final act is to fall onto Tapestry, pinning her down. Scurry meanwhile attacks Cookie with his stun attack as she tries to help Merciful and her gang in their attack.

The frenzied crowd seizes Cookie and delivered her forward as she slips into brief unconsciousness. A moment of calm falls over the crowd as Merciful approaches the dying Pumpkin and breaks into tears at the sight of his last breath. Tapestry, taking advantage of everyone’s attention on Merciful slips away and standing over Cookie she pulls the trigger of her magnum only to find her ammo spent. The distinct click on the hammer on her gun awakens Cookie who immediately reaches for Tapestry’s knife at her belt but she is attacked by Scurry’s stun effect and Dusk using his pistol. Security notices and immediately opens fire on Scurry and Tapestry (Dusk was fortunate enough to be out of the line of fire for once) who are further wounded by the attack. Merciful pulls herself together gives the order for Tapestry to stand down or her people will finish her off. Tapestry surrenders and is taken down below by Merciful and some of her gang.

Scurry and Dusk are blessedly left alone and Scurry runs away to find the medical station where he may be able to find something to help his injuries. Dusk, looking about and seeing more of his fellow Bella Vistans injured or killed succumbs to sorrow and is faced with the reality that his choices continue to hurt those he cares about and his self-absorbed nature finally shatters and something deep inside of himself begins to pulse with a force he’s never known. He staggers over to Cookie and places his hands upon her and heals her wounds closed and stops her bleeding. (Skinner changes playbooks to Angel baby!!!) Dusk carries Cookie back to ARC’s old infirmary and finds Scurry there. Dusk tells him that there’s no more fighting to be done and now it’s time to heal. He touches Scurry and heals him of some of his harm. Dusk then tends to his own wounds...

Merciful, along with security, escorts Tapestry to the jail where they all see the poisoned guards in their bloated state. Tensions run high as one of Security accuses Tapestry of this violence. Tapestry denies her involvement and tries to convince them that her people had nothing to do with it. Her cries fall on deaf ears however and she is locked up within. Tapestry and Merciful spend a long time talking about the future and what it could become. Merciful is clearly running out of patience with Tapestry but tells her that if she can indeed light up the dark stacks then there may be a place for her vision within Merciful’s mind, but she’s not easily convinced such a thing is possible. (Sorry, this conversation was actually quite awesome I just don’t remember the little bits as I was distracted with my new class and updating it. I’m a bad player *cries*)