Sacramento Noir

**Yumyumcrow** · May 16th, 2014 07:22 AM

28th Street, past B Street and the railway tracks, is a desolate place. At night it gets worse: a lightless place devoid of life - a barren near the heart of the Communal Hunting Grounds. To the right, Sutter Landing Regional park is nothing but a barren place of windswept dirt and tough grasses. To the right, it equally windswept: fenced off as Sutter Landing Dog Park and beyond that, broken concrete and the overturned earth of new construction. The only thing of interest is the power exchange: all twisting pipe, looming towers and high concrete walls. By night, ill lit from the few street lamps, it becomes an eerie place - a gothic fortress in imagination if not not in fact.

Why come out here in the dead of night? Its barren, windswept, lonely. Nothing to intrude upon you and even less to intrude on your business. For all that you in the heart of the city (some 200 meters to the east is the Freeway; back across the tracks houses spring like weeds) you may as well be in the middle of the wilderness.

Here, quiet deals are done. Here, betrayals are made in the dead of night where none can see and even less care. Turn off the lights, pull off the road, and you are in a whole new primordial world.

Why are you here?

But hark! Scuffling noises and yelps of pain echo from near the power exchange...

This little tale is for players not currently caught up in the relentless grind of politics and plot

Phoenix Drayk Cross Walker Cayce

**Phoenix** · May 16th, 2014 07:51 AM

Maximilian was not acknowledged yet, or he had been but didn't dare wander in the communal hunting grounds before getting a good grasp on the current kindred population. As such, he was wandering the barren part of the city, in search of a meager sustenance. He was alone, and the lack of a supporting kindred or loyal ghoul was making him edgy.

He wandered the streets, more than a bit scared, and was on the lookout for what he hoped would be a good prey. That's when he heard the noise of someone possibly in pain. Maybe someone got mugged or assaulted, and was left in a weakened state, perfect for a feeding spree.

Maximilian approached the source of the noise, his beast growling with hunger ...

Clarification

May 16th, 2014 08:44 AM

There was a time when Ollie worked for Elsa, that back alley dealings meant dinner in a mansion, beautiful women, and all the blood you could drink. As he walked down this darkened stretch of wasteland Ollie couldn't help but let his mind drift to those days, and then he spit as if on her grave.

May the devil never show mercy on her dark soul, Ollie thought of his sire. She had given him eternal youth and he could be grateful for it, but she was also a damned witch if a person, and that made for a demon of a Kindred.

Tonight Ollie was meeting someone who needed a forgery done for a gun permit. They clearly had money to burn for what Ollie asks, but new enough to choose the middle of nowhere instead of a nice restaurant. No matter, forgery and custom gun work paid the bills, and time in his workshop and supplies were costly.

Tonight Ollie was dressed in a more casual attire. A dark Sacramento Rivercats tee, comfortable lightweight dark jeans, and simple running shoes. Ollie had been learning that the heat in Sacramento at rise quickly dropped into more comfortable weather for mortals at night, and a cool breeze meant pants at night were fine.

Ollie's focus on looking for his employer was interrupted by the sound of pain. Great now his client had gotten themselves mugged trying to be a gangster, Ollie slid his phone out of his pocket to feign calling the authorities if need be, and tried to get a look at the sound while maintaining distance.

May 16th, 2014 10:01 AM

A car drove down the dark road like a shark through the sea, nothing but it's great size giving any indication to it's value and the luxuries within.

Harold reclined in the soft leather of his seat, absentmindedly conducting the sweet tones of Edith Piaf's Milord that were flowing from the concealed speakers. His other hand bore a little black book that he flicked through, mumbling apsentmindedly as he made the selections for the courses, occasionally interupted with a brief phonecall to his tame morticians, while jotting down the prices they requested down on a piece of notepaper. Of couse there would be the requirement of fresh produce as well. Which is why they were currently on the road. Working girls were the kindred version of fast food, cheap, convinient, and you didn't even need to get out of the car. Alas to find the ones who wouldn't be missed you had to go a little out of your way.

Jean's nervous voice suddenly supplanted the music, as his ghoul chimed on the intercom between the partitioned limousine as he felt the car slow to a crawl. "M-master, there's someone...screaming."
"How considerate of you, Jean" Harold replied cheerfully to the ghoul, "After all this is thirsty work."

Harold extricated himself from the car with some assistance from his walking stick, and telling Jean that he'd call when he'd finished, walked towards the source of the noise, humming softly in a counter-melody to the screams. He wasn't worried about any potential muggers in the dark, one look in the eyes and they would be his, there was little doubt about that.

May 16th, 2014 10:22 AM

Sir Baldwin, Knight of the Most Honourable Order of the Thorned Wreath, explored the dark places on Sacramento's map because at his core, he knew this world. This was the primordial ooze from which he had come, the urban war that bred so many urban soldiers. Some went into gangs. Others became thugs and guns for hire. Still others became 'officers', gang leaders and recruiters, dispensing the dark side's law without mercy.

Peter Baldwin became a Knight of the First Estate.

It didn't mean he had forgotten how to belong in a place like this. That was the vibe he was giving off, a rugged confidence of a Haunt that was comfortable here and was not afraid.

He was dressed well, but generally like one who belonged. Jeans. A plain black t-shirt, with a thin layer of Kevlar concealed beneath to protect vital organs. A leather jacket, beneath which hid tools of the trade. A brutal Bowie knife, well loved and well used, sheathed for an easy draw. A couple of hand stakes in little straps sewn into the inside of his coat. A watch with an alarm set for an hour before sunrise (he always looked sunrise up when he went on these excursions). A small Maglite in a holster on his belt. A safety lighter. A couple of bobby pins on an inside pocket. A pack of cigarettes.

Trident Sugarless Gum, in case he decided to smoke a cigarette to blend in.

Peter Baldwin did not like his mouth tasting like an ashtray.

The Haunt's head cocked to the side when he heard the scream. That was interesting. Who was responsible? He trundled off to find out, a quiet whistling of a jaunty tune on his lips as he went. The music was as dissonant in this place as the Menacing he constantly exuded.

I don't know if it's necessary given Peter's reasonably good Streetwise rating, but if a roll is required to do this, Peter is looking to give off a general vibe of 'I belong here, I am not prey' custom tailored to these streets so he is less likely to be harassed by the denizens of this area.

**Yumyumcrow** · May 16th, 2014 08:15 PM

The power exchange looms over the flat landscape, rendered dark and dreamy by the thick shadows and wash of yellowed light. The sounds of struggle appear to be coming from behind the exchange; that is to say, the little lane (no more than a bitumen track) that runs behind and around the collection of concrete wall, huts, pipes and towering stacks). This lane is shielded from the street by the bulk of the exchange. Without lighting, the meet (for surely it was a meet) would have been fairly private - until fists were thrown, that is. The air is clear this spring night and it carries far more easily than the denizens who work their gruesome trade had anticipated.

I need to know who is being stealthy and who is not, before you all converge on the scene. For reference, the denizens of the night are wrapped up in their business and won't notice anyone unless they do something too drastic. At least, not at first.

May 16th, 2014 08:51 PM

OOC: Ollie isn't being stealthy unfortunately, could blend in with the ruffians if you would allow a Streetwise roll, but he isn't trying to be stealthy.

**Phoenix** · May 16th, 2014 10:14 PM

Maximilian closes the distance as discreetly as he could without being conspicuous. After all, it would be better not to confront however made the possible assault on the shouting person, especially a potential unknown kindred. But he kept advancing towards what was happening, unaware the he was far from the only one to do that ....

May 16th, 2014 10:18 PM

Sir Baldwin watched from the shadows as he approached, scanning those involved to see if any were members of his mortal Orchestra. He was not about to permit his allies to be harmed.

2 sux to be sneaky, 1 sux perception

**Josephine Sterling** · May 17th, 2014 03:12 AM

Josephine was hunting tonight. Not kine. Not blood. No, she was she was stalking her brother. It wasn't because she didn't trust him, or because she wished to learn a way to hurt him. No, rather it was because she was curious. Even though they'd lived for decades in the same city, there was always distance between them. She trusted Maximilian, they were in the same coterie after all, but she didn't feel she understood him and she did not suffer enigmas long to live. The infernal shadow of a wolf lived inside her breast and the wolf demanded she hunt for answers. So hunt she did.

It did not prove to be a boring night. Drawn to the sound of suffering like a moth to flame she crept through the shadows, a black, hooded coat helping to hide her luminescent skin.

1 success to sneak

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-05-16 10:01:30		Peter Baldwin rolls 5 to Presence+Streetwise - Giving off a serious "I belong here" vibe. (10 Again)		5, 4, 9, 3, 6		1 success

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-05-16 20:11:32		Goons to notice the closing net... rolls 3 to Wits + Composure - 2 (10 Again)		5, 7, 3		failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2014-05-16 22:18:01	Peter Baldwin rolls 6 to Perception - who's in there? (10 Again)	5, 3, 5, 1, 9, 7	1 success
2014-05-16 22:17:52	Peter Baldwin rolls 4 to Dex+Stealth (10 Again)	7, 4, 7, 10, 8	2 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2014-05-17 03:12:11		Josephine rolls 5 to Dex and stealth (10 Again)		10, 5, 4, 6, 7, 1		1 success

Sacramento Noir

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