Dice [OOC] The Best Laid Plans of Gods and Men

[jaydude]

I have been very busy, and while most of my character is done, I still have a few things to finish up. Sorry for the delay. I'll knuckle down and get it done.

It's cool. I'm really just inquiring about your thoughts on the current scene.

 

[Sherwood]

To be honest, I haven't kept up on the IC thread since I wasn't done with my sheet. I'll have to do some reading.

 

[Esbilon]

So in that case, I say we either try and isolate Bright Pearl and his escort, or try and persuade him to spill his secrets in the bar.

Anyone else have any thoughts?
Esbilon @Rykon Sherwood

Do we have someone who can do either the job of sweet-talking him into oversharing at the bar or interrogating him in an alternate location (do we have such a one ready?). Breath's most relevant skill here (assuming it doesn't come to fighting) is distracting the crowd (including his guards) if they go to a place where public poetry readings are appreciated.

 

[jaydude]

Do we have someone who can do either the job of sweet-talking him into oversharing at the bar or interrogating him in an alternate location (do we have such a one ready?). Breath's most relevant skill here (assuming it doesn't come to fighting) is distracting the crowd (including his guards) if they go to a place where public poetry readings are appreciated.

Tien's got Charisma 3 and Presence 3. Shi-Vash has Manipulation 5 and Socialize 2, but no Presence. Garnet (Sherwood's new character) as Charisma, Manipulation, Presence and Socialize all at 3. That's not taking into account Charms and Specialities though.

 

[Sherwood]

Well, other than my Intimacies and Background, Garnet is mechanically done. I have to go to work soon, but I'll have some more time tomorrow morning to do some more.

 

[Random Word]

Sherwood I think you've made a Chosen of Serenity on a deep cover infiltration of the Golden Barque.

Perhaps Garnet is already at the drinking establishment Bright Pearl frequents, having just been hired as a performer.

 

[Random Word]

Okay, so it doesn't look like there's much progress on a plan, but there's some vague consensus around 'get him drunk and see what he spills'. Sherwood I presume you're ready to go, and perfectly happy to either have fate conspire to ruin your attempts to shirk your duty by having the drinking establishment you're working at turn out to be instrumental, or otherwise have been directed there in advance and the reinforcements are now here in the form of the other players?

If so, I'll set up the next scene and add some impetus to act.

 

[jaydude]

Maybe not necessarily "get him drunk". I say it depends on how forthcoming he is.

 

[Sherwood]

Yes, I'm all set to proceed.

 

[Random Word]

I'm still travelling in Spain, so it's a bit tricky to find time to update. I hope to find a free moment to get things moving in the next few days.

 

[jaydude]

I'm still travelling in Spain, so it's a bit tricky to find time to update. I hope to find a free moment to get things moving in the next few days.

You're in Spain too? Nice!

 

[Random Word]

Yes, I'm in Sevilla at the moment and it's beautiful. I really like this city. Unfortunately that leaves little time for writing

 

[Esbilon]

you'll need to give up any weapons you can't conceal unless you find another way in.

Surely they wouldn't deprive a young woman of her walking stick?

 

[Random Word]

If it doesn't look like a weapon, they won't take it. If it does look like a weapon, but you're in the RD of a Dragonblood, they won't take it but you'll make a splash.

 

[Random Word]

I'll go ahead and spend 2m on my Performance Excellency to lower my target number to 5.
10 successes

That is definitely a lot of hits, but towards what? Are you attempting some social influence? Garnet doesn't need to roll just for fun, or to dance well - it's assumed she's a phenomenal dancer. We only need to check how phenomenal when something is at stake. You can retroactively declare any influence compatible with dance, and you'll almost certainly succeed.

 

[Random Word]

Alright, I'm back in California, so I'll be able to post regularly again. I am coming down with a cold, but unless it renders me bedridden that shouldn't slow things down.

We'll say Garnet is instilling a Tie of Fascination in the crowd, and succeeds spectacularly.

Next up Tien will get his prior warning of impending assassination from the aptly named Prior Warning, and Zhizhu will enlighten Shi Vash about local infernal conspiracies.

 

[jaydude]

Random Word
Can we use the Socialize ability here? Or is this too informal a setting?

 

[Random Word]

The core rulebook's definition for Socialize is a little bit too constrained, and unnecessarily so in my opinion. You don't have to be at court to use Socialize, you just have to be, well, socializing. Subtly influencing a patron by indirectly planting an idea in their head at tea, persuading your fellow bureaucrats to back your initiative in a meeting with a mastery of the spoken and unspoken rules etiquette of the organization, starting a rumour campaign to persuade a reluctant friend to act, etc. It's the subtle art of manipulating a social fabric to achieve your ends.

If you run into the room and scream, "Bright Pearl must die, now!" That's Presence. If you instead start a rumour he's an Anathema to incite a mob to kill him, that's Socialize. Does that make sense?

 

[jaydude]

The core rulebook's definition for Socialize is a little bit too constrained, and unnecessarily so in my opinion. You don't have to be at court to use Socialize, you just have to be, well, socializing. Subtly influencing a patron by indirectly planting an idea in their head at tea, persuading your fellow bureaucrats to back your initiative in a meeting with a mastery of the spoken and unspoken rules etiquette of the organization, starting a rumour campaign to persuade a reluctant friend to act, etc. It's the subtle art of manipulating a social fabric to achieve your ends.

If you run into the room and scream, "Bright Pearl must die, now!" That's Presence. If you instead start a rumour he's an Anathema to incite a mob to kill him, that's Socialize. Does that make sense?

I think so.

 

[Random Word]

In terms of mechanics, what's it going to take to get Bright Pearl to explain how he was able to get in and out of the zone alive?

All you need to do is persuade him it's worth his time to give you his pitch. You want to appear to be a scavenger lord willing to join the expedition, a potential financial backer, an authority in Lantana or the Realm who needs to be brought on board to get anywhere, an expert on ancient ruins, or some other person who BP has an interest in talking to. That will get you the story he's telling, but there's no guarantee that's the truth. Getting the truth out of him (as best he knows it) would take serious persuasion or leverage.

 

[jaydude]

Okay, thanks. Heading off to bed soon; might have another look at Charms and stats before I post again.

 

[Random Word]

OOC did I see which person tossed the signet ring up on the stage? Was it the hooded figure, or someone else?

Yes, you'd have no trouble seeing who tossed the ring, and it was indeed the hooded figure.

 

[Sherwood]

Then Garnet will slowly work her way through the audience to that person.

 

[jaydude]

Getting the truth out of him (as best he knows it) would take serious persuasion or leverage.

Are we talking Serious or Life-Changing Task here?

 

[Random Word]

Depends on what he's revealing, to whom, and why. A lot of what determines the severity of a task is context. Persuading him to reveal everything he knows, even the stuff that doesn't necessarily paint him in a good light, to a total stranger, in a public setting, definitely sounds like a life changing task.