A Hound's Test

Outside of town, in a field well away from main roads and people.

That was where Lina Moretti had summoned John Davis to meet for a demonstration of his capabilities. The moon was high, lighting the field. It was simply a clearing, about fifty yards across, surrounded by trees.

One on side of the open space, the Regent of Florin stood. A disposable t-shirt covered the bulletproof vest that Davis had purchased her. Cheap jeans over running shoes. In her hand, a nasty Bowie knife was casually gripped.

It was time to see what John Davis was capable of.

Davis had walked to the location Lina had asked him to meet her. Unlike the modern Kindred, he did not yet know how to drive. Not wanting to break traditions, he opted to have an Uber deliver him nearby. He was wearing his usual tailored suit and heavy windbreaker duster. Armed as usual with dual pistols and a concealed derringer. A bowie knife was sheathed in his boot. Each weapon concealed, some through the power of obfuscation.

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-11-01 21:19:47		John Davis rolls 6 to TOS Bowie Knife (Wits 2 + Larceny 3 + Obfuscate 1) (10 Again)		9, 4, 3, 1, 7, 4		1 success
2018-11-01 21:19:15		John Davis rolls 6 to TOS Derenger (Wits + Larceny + Obfuscate) (10 Again)		3, 2, 7, 7, 2, 7		failure
2018-11-01 21:18:51		John Davis rolls 6 to TOS Colt Revolver no 2 (Wits + Larceny + Obfuscate) (10 Again)		3, 1, 6, 6, 9, 4		1 success
2018-11-01 21:18:26		John Davis rolls 6 to TOS Colt Revolver no 1 (Wits 2 + Larceny 3 + Obfuscate 1) (10 Again)		1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 1, 5		2 successes

Noticing the newly minted Sheriff, Davis greeted with a tip of his hat. "Evening Sheriff, I hope your intentions with that blade is to carve the turkey for Thanksgiving." Pausing Davis realizes how that phrase could be turned to indicate him. "By that, I mean a gobbler and not a gambler."

Moretti chuckled.

"Hello, Colonel. It depends."

She pointed at him with the knife.

"You say you can fight. Show me how you'll defend my Regency. You can yield at any time."

The knife whirled once in her hand.

"Any questions?"

Feel free to throw Initiative if you want.

9 + 7 = 16

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-11-01 21:35:31		John Davis rolls 1 die for initiative		9

John Davis 16 - Lina Moretti 14
JonReeves - John Davis is UP!

Lina's balance shifted --

  Initiative 14

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-11-01 21:36:41		Lina Moretti rolls 1 die for initiative		7

Davis takes a step back and in one smooth blur unassisted by any supernatural speed fires two shots. One aimed between Lina's eyes, the second anywhere on her body. In an aggravating display of bad luck, both shots miss their mark.

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-11-01 21:55:37		John Davis rolls 8 to Shoot Moretti anywhere (Dex + Fir + Spec + Pistol - 2) (10 Again)		3, 6, 7, 1, 4, 3, 2, 5		failure
2018-11-01 21:53:56		John Davis rolls 8 to Shoot Moretti between the eyes (Dex + Firearm + Spec + Pistol - 5 + WP) (10 Again, WillPower)		3, 4, 2, 6, 5, 5, 6, 2		failure

In an attempt to save face Davis responds. "Was that fast?"

Lead flew through the air, whipping past her head as the Regent closed the distance, head-faking right before snapping a devastating left roundhouse kick that was more aggressive than she might have been had she been fighting a shooter hand to hand.

4 sux before defense deducted from right

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-11-01 22:04:13		Lina Moretti rolls 9 to Roundhouse Kick (Strength + Vigor + Brawl + All Out Attack) (10 Again)		6, 6, 8, 5, 5, 10, 1, 7, 10, 10, 1, 6		4 successes

All Out Attack used in Round 1. Defense rises again for Round 2. JonReeves - Davis is UP!

Davis aimed to hit his target this time. Having taken a blow from Lina, he now had a taste for blood. With a quick tuck, his dominant pistol fires at Moretti.

6 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-11-01 22:16:09		John Davis rolls 12 to Shoot Moretti (Dex + Firearm + Spec + Pistol + Blood) (10 Again)		2, 10, 8, 4, 7, 5, 9, 9, 4, 7, 7, 10, 2, 9		6 successes

At the same time, his other pistol fires.

5 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2018-11-01 22:20:52		John Davis rolls 15 to Shoot Moretti anywhere (Dex + Fir + Spec + Pistol + Blood - 3 +WP) (10 Again, WillPower)		8, 5, 5, 9, 2, 10, 5, 3, 8, 7, 8, 7, 2, 1, 7, 6		5 successes

That was more like it. Good efforts, bringing his weapons into line, firing --

But he hadn't moved away. Not that he probably could outrun her - few could - but it was a strategic point she could capitalize on in defense. Vitae burned like thought and the Daeva blurred, her hand snapping out defensively to knock him off-line as she whipped at lightning speed around the other way, staying nice and close to him.

In those precious milliseconds of incredible speed, the Regent of Florin had dodged both bullets.

"Good!"

A hand came up, indicating a stop. They were incredible shots. Deadly as hell, which is what she had wanted to see.

"I'm impressed!"

Mechanical Notes

Per Yumyumcrow , Physical Augmentation applies to one attack only (the first). The pool for the second shot should be 10, after -2 for offhand shot, -1 for the Gunslinger second shot, and +3 for Willpower leaves you with your base attack pool. Five dice will be deducted from the right to correct. Please mind your math going forward.

We are within hand to hand range, and thus Defense applies. Moretti uses Dodge to double her Defense and activates Celerity, reducing the first attack by 11 dice (6 Dodge, 3 Celerity and 2 for Firearms Armor from the Vest) and the second attack by 10 (5 Dodge, 3 Celerity, 2 Firearms Armor). The first shot has one die remaining, and the second is a chance die. Both shots miss, but Lina's Round 2 action is expended as a Dodge Action.

Davis stopped. The rabbit was fast. He was slow. Was the position of Hound right for him? He never was one for frontal assaults. He fought his battles with guile and deception. Perhaps he should spend less time at the table and more time at the guild.

Holstering his firearms. Davis waited in silence.