Dresden Files Las Vegas- Everything Zen

It has been quite some time since I wrote anything and there is a reason for that. Right now the game is, for all intents and purposes, cancelled. It might be continuing after the summer craziness dies down but don't bet on it (had to get the Vegas slant in there :)...).

Not to worry though my legion of loyal fans (okay, I don't have legions of fans but let me have my delusions. They keep me happy) the game will have an ending. I refuse to have another game just die out without a proper finish. That being said, I will let my imagination run amok and supply one. So, no matter what, there will be at least one more post.

Dresden Files Las Vegas- In Games Without Frontiers

I have been waiting for awhile to use the song in the title and the time is finally here! The gaming session on Sunday marked the end of a few things and one hell of a big beginning. We are truly heading into new Vegas games with unknown frontiers. I don't want to spoil it too much, so I will just start the recap.

After his rather physical conversation with Davy (it ended with Neil sucker punching the Knight and laying him out flat), Neil headed over to the Luxor to visit with Skavis. He had a rather important piece of information he had to share. Once inside the hotel room, Neil tossed a piece of paper to Skavis and told him it was the location of the people who destroyed his nightclub. Skavis was pleased to get the information. Neil then told him that he would send him a bill for services rendered. Skavis was not pleased to hear that (poor Frederick, he really is the butt monkey of everyone in Vegas). Neil's next visit was to Uri's. Fortunately, he was able to get in the house. Unfortunately, Christine was there and pressed Neil for a date later in the week. Neil agreed and made his way to Uri's bedroom. Uri wasn't looking much better but he perked up a bit at Neil's news. Neil told him about his agreement with Davy and, as an added bonus, he showed Uri a photo of the unconscious Knight.

Finished talking with Angelica, Shade made her way to the Liberace Museum. There she left a note for Mason letting him know how the conversation went. Afterwards, knowing that Uri was in no condition to talk to him, Shade decided to visit Skavis herself. He seemed surprised to see her but invited her in. After the usual Skavis pleasantries, Shade let him know that she was there to talk to Arthur. When Arthur came into the room, Shade introduced herself and told him they needed to talk. She flat out asked him just what he had done to get the New Orleans group so pissed off at him. It took a bit of back and forth but he eventually spilled and told her about the attack on Sharee in Michelle's shop. He stressed that it had been an accident. He was looking to stay in Vegas and Skavis said that he really wanted that. Shade told them that they would have to see what the Board said. However it turned out, something would have to be decided- and soon.

That conversation done, Shade left and called Neil. When he answered, she asked if he would like to meet for lunch and a proposal. Neil said he would and they agreed to meet at Shade's tattoo parlor. They met up outside and, just as they started talking, Wyatt pulled up on his Harley. He seemed very rattled. Shade invited him in for a talk and a few shots of whiskey. Inside, Wyatt let Neil and Shade know that he had been having some disturbing dreams- even while he was wearing the hat that Brandon had fashioned for him. It seemed the Coyote was trying to get his attention. However, he couldn't make heads or tails what the images meant. He wanted Shade's help to figure it out. Shade asked if he had tried to talk to Coyote. Wyatt said that he didn't want to. To get some idea of the symbols, Shade told Wyatt to draw them out for her.

While he was doing that, Shade was able to talk with Neil. With summer over, it was about time for the new and upcoming poker players to get back into town. Shade asked if Neil would be interested in setting up a game with the two of them and a few others (with Neil's skill and contacts and all he taught Shade, they should have no problem winning the game). She explained that she needed quite a bit of money for her and Max's wedding and reception (and she very proudly showed off her ring). Of course the winnings would be split 50/50. Neil really liked that idea and said he was in (that made Shade very relieved).

Wyatt had finished his drawings. Luckily, Shade had a book of local Indian symbolic pictures. She got it and the three of them looked it over. One of the symbols drawn by Wyatt was of the Coyote god. Another was Ikto, the Spider god and the nemesis of Coyote. There was also a pyramid. After running a few theories between themselves, Shade once again told Wyatt to just talk to Coyote next time he invaded his dreams. Once again, Wyatt refused. Shade then told him that there was a way for her to talk to Coyote. She would have to spend the night with him and join him in his dreams. Wyatt wasn't sure about the idea but was willing to give it a shot. Business concluded, Neil left to start setting up the poker game. Wyatt went with him

Up until the evening, Brandon had been having a normal day. He went to work, tortured his minion (aka Skip) a little, and did the usual Brandon things. Once his work day was over, he went home, showered, changed, and headed out for a night of fun and games. He was looking to win some money and found what he wanted in a dive bar (actually, if it was disinfected it would qualify as a dive bar. It was really a shit-hole) just off the Strip. The bar was filled with dangerous and desperate looking people. Brandon paid his stake and settled down for some serious play. His innate ability to read people helped some but not enough. He couldn't read any of the players. However, they couldn't read him either. The game was tense and became even tenser. There was one player that Brandon could not take out. Having had enough, Brandon cast a spell and bored straight into the guy's mind (that was definitely a holy shit moment. Brandon had just broken the Third Law of Magic and if it was found out, he would lose his head. Really- no defense, no plea bargain, no mercy, no time out- his head would be a trophy for some Warden). The card shark started to shake and sweat. A few seconds later, his mind totally shattered and he ran from the table screaming. Brandon calmly pulled in his winnings. Just then, he felt a hand on his shoulder. Glancing back, Brandon saw that it was Wyatt (bet you thought it was going to be someone bad). They chatted as Brandon got ready to leave. Wyatt told him about his dreams and the visit with Neil and Shade. Brandon told him that he might be able to help as well. Just as he was getting up, Brandon felt another hand on his opposite shoulder. He looked up and saw an older oriental gentleman (you didn't think he would get away with it, did you). In a soft tone, the oriental suggested that a private conversation about that last hand was in order.

Heading into the back, Brandon assessed the man. He seemed to be magically inclined but Brandon couldn't tell just in what way. They got to the office and, after sitting down himself, the man told Brandon to get comfortable. Once seated, he introduced himself to Brandon as Shiro Kurosawa. He was the owner of the bar and had a proposition for Brandon. If Brandon agreed to work for him, he wouldn't tell the White Council about Brandon's breaking of the Third Law. Brandon tried to play it off but wasn't successful. Shiro was a sorcerer and knew what Brandon had done. Brandon asked just what sort of work he would be doing. Shiro told him that he would be a ringer for the bar. he would lose or win, as directed, at cards. It wouldn't be dangerous or too time consuming. Giving it a bit of thought, Brandon agreed. Shiro seemed pleased (I know that Jay and I have once or twice surprised Lana and the rest of the group but Jason is the only one to do it consistently. He will just be playing along all nice and good and then, from out of nowhere, he will do something so damn crazy we all go what the fuck. He somehow manages to pull it off though). Business concluded, they bid each other good night and Brandon went to collect Wyatt.

Unaware of Brandon's exciting evening, Neil was out and about doing Neil things. He made some headway on the game. All in all, his night went smoothly.

Shade's night wasn't as smooth. A call came from Uri. A Board meeting had been set for that night. After a quick call to Max letting him know that their dinner would have to be after the meeting, Shade went to the Luxor. Still looking pretty rough, Uri called the meeting to order. There were two issues to discuss. The first was the Skavis situation. A few ideas were thrown out and a trial by combat was agreed as the way to go. Uri said that he would speak to both factions and let each know that either they would agree to that or they all would have to leave. The second issue was a proposal that Vegas becomes a faction unto itself. Instead of being a part of outside groups, all would be working for Vegas. The debate raged with those who had large 'families' on the outside being unconvinced. Those who were only in Vegas (like the Fey) or not attached to any group on the outside were firmly on the yes side. Eventually, a consensus was reached. Vegas would be a freehold. A formal agreement would be drawn up at a later date and envoys would be sent out. The meeting over, Shade joined Max for dinner. They had a good time (and yes, she did tell him what was going on with the Board) and ended up back at her place.

After leaving his new job site, Brandon and Wyatt went to his shop. Once there, Brandon summoned the little coyote spirit. Brandon asked him why the Coyote was sending the dreams to Wyatt. The coyote answered that Wyatt was the Avatar and he needed the visions for his spirit quest. Something bad was coming and Wyatt needed to be ready. Brandon asked the coyote just what was coming but didn't get anything more (Brandon did call Shade about the symbols but she and Max were...busy. Yep, they finally consummated their relationship and there was no way in hell Shade was going to let that get interrupted).

The next day started off pretty quietly for the three. Neil sent Skavis his bill. It was for 30,000$. Skavis paid up but included an insult in the memo portion of the check. Shade spent her day researching the symbols that Wyatt had drawn. Not getting anymore from the book, she decided to talk to someone who might be able to help. Brandon and Wyatt had a trip to take. They wanted to map just how far Wyatt could go (being the Avatar, Wyatt was tied to Vegas. He could only go so far before he would be stopped). Brandon called Neil and borrowed a couple of dirt bikes. It took some time but they were able to get a good idea of Wyatt's range. Shade placed a call to Neil and asked if he would join her on an errand (when it comes to anything having to do with Wyatt, Shade wants either Neil or Brandon there. Right now she is the most visible of the three and she wants that buffer, so to speak, between her and Wyatt. No one would think it odd that she would be with Brandon and Neil).

While Brandon and Wyatt were mapping, Shade and Neil went to see Jeremy Running Mouth. He was at his usual place in the Luxor. After exchanging hello's and getting Jeremy to shut up for a few seconds, Shade asked him about his uncle. She wanted to know where to find him. Jeremy tried to talk her and Neil out of a visit. He flat out said his uncle was crazy. Finally realizing that they were serious, Jeremy told them where to go into the desert. After saying goodbye, Neil called Brandon and told him and Wyatt to meet them at Brandon's place. Before getting there, Neil and Shade stopped to pick up some bribes (a carton of cigarettes and a bottle of whiskey). Everyone met up at Brandon's place. Brandon wasn't too happy about having to visit crazy uncle Charlie again but agreed to go. the four of them set out. It wasn't too long before Wyatt couldn't go on. Seeing a fire in the near distance, Neil, Shade, and Brandon continued on. A few minute's walk led them to a fire and Charlie Proudwolf. He invited the three to sit down. They did and offered their gifts to him. He wasn't able to tell them much more then they already knew but they did get a few snippets of new information. Ikto and Coyote were both tricksters but, while Coyote usually had a lesson to teach, Ikto was more malicious. There was a rivalry between the two and Vegas was caught up in that. Whether it was fight between the two or something else he couldn't say but it had to do with Vegas and the warped ley lines. Not getting anything more, Brandon (with evident relief!), Neil, and Shade headed back to Wyatt and Vegas and then to their homes.

The next few weeks were busy for all three. Brandon did his usual routine of work and training Skip. He also had to meet with Kurosawa about his new job.

Neil spent his time getting the poker game set up. He was able to cherry pick the players and get what else he needed. As for his free time, he managed to win a shit load of money (actually, Jay took the windfall stunt). With his winnings, he was able to buy a rental car company and a few nondescript buildings. He then spent some time talking to some of the Baron's old crew. He had the idea to set up a secret society of sorts that would be on hand when trouble hit.

Shade had the gruesome task of being a witness to the duel between Michelle and Arthur Skavis. It took place in Were territory. The fight was long and brutal. Skavis was winning ( he did have the vampire advantage after all). However, at the crucial moment, he hesitated for some reason. Michelle cut him down. That being finished, the New Orleans group left Vegas. Along with working on the wedding and reception, Shade was able to complete the garden for the Pixies. They loved it and gave her a charm to summon them. A couple of weeks after, Philip showed up pissed as hell. He was not pleased that the Pixies had basically seceded from the Fey and set up their own realm and that Shade had helped them.   

See what I mean! Vegas has just gone rogue and declared itself a freehold. It will be it's own faction and the Board members will no longer be representatives of their individual groups, both inside and outside of Vegas, but will represent Vegas as a separate entity. Just what that means is anybody's guess but big changes are coming. I can imagine that this news isn't going to be liked by too many people outside of Vegas. That doesn't even begin to cover what is going to happen within the city. For a group of people dead set on keeping the status quo, they sure have just implemented a massive change. Of course, it could just be the Board's way to try and keep change from happening but, with old alliances gone and new alliances needing to be formed, change will happen. Then there is the Wyatt thing. It seems that the Avatar might be needed soon and just how do we keep him a secret from everyone in Vegas? Will we be able to protect him from the powers that be?

Changes and new beginnings are not only happening at the top but for our lowly characters as well. Brandon has his new alliance thanks to his law breaking. Just how that plays out is anybody's guess. Is Jason going to take Brandon down the evil sorcerer route? Only time will tell with that but I can see Jason having Brandon take up the fight of abolishing the seven laws in favor of a more lenient attitude. Then there is Neil. I don't know much (because Lana wouldn't tell me!) but I do know that Jay has plans for tweaking Neil and they just might include a supernatural change. I don't want to spoil anything but I have to say that I really hope Jay goes with the Red Court idea. Also, Jay came up with the idea for all of us to take a new aspect- The New Guard. I absolutely love that idea. It is a way for us to work together, since we all seem to be heading towards the same goal/idea of stability not stagnation for Vegas. As for Shade, she has a decision to make concerning the Fey. Will she stay or quit? Then there is the wedding and reception. So far there has not been a gathering where something bad hasn't happened (she just wants to get it over with without a major problem happening, especially the wedding. Just get the I do's over with and any problems that happen at the reception will be handled). Just what will that bring, who knows.

Of course there are other possible situations. Just how will each faction react to the change? Will any of the groups try to make a play during the changeover? Will Locke show back up and just how will he react? What trouble will come from groups we haven't spent much time with? There are also bit players that could come into play. What would happen if the resident shock reporter Mitch Mitchell gets a whiff of all that's going on?

Dresden Files Las Vegas- Don't Come Around Here No More

It was a short night but very exciting. We managed to fit in quite a bit of action. There was chaos with pixies, a fight, and a quick trip to a hell realm. All that and we are only on the second day of the adventure. At this rate, by the end of the week, we are going to have Vegas in flames.

Before I begin, I have a change to make. Just like with Calvin! in the Mage game, I have decided to give a special option to Brandon and Neil for when they are together. I swear they are just like those old "buddy" movies- Martin and Lewis, Abbott and Costello, et al. The things they do and say have definitely earned them a special moniker. With that being said, when they are together, they will be referred to by their last names. That way they can go down in history as one of the great straight man/comedian duos.

The game started with Fine and Wall in Uri's bathroom. Not sure what to do, they started with the basics. First, they cleaned out the wounds and Wall then tried to bandage up Uri. His result was less then spectacular (frankly, with his roll, Uri looked like a deformed mummy). Fine, knowing that they needed help, placed a call to Patience at the Historical Museum. He left a message for her and waited. Not long after, she returned his call. After hearing what happened, she suggested that Fine and Wall get him to the Nevernever. Fine told Wall what she said as he left the bathroom.

Getting to a locked door that he assumed was Uri's home office, Fine attempted to break the door down with a coat rack. When that didn't work, he shot the lock out (even the straight man of the duo can have comedic moments). On the desk he found what he was looking for- a rolodex. He sat down and started calling the most promising numbers. Most of the calls resulted in insults. However, Fine eventually found some help. In answer to his carefully phrased inquiry (he basically said that Uri had been attacked and required assistance of his ilk), the man told Fine to look for a potion or elixir. He was sure that Uri would have something around for just such an emergency. Hanging up, Fine started tearing the room apart.

Back in the bathroom, Wall decided to take matters into his own hands. Casting a spell, he opened a rift into the Nevernever. Having been there before, it was fairly easy for him to pinpoint Uri's realm. It was just as Wall remembered- hot, scorched black earth, and on fire. He pulled Uri through the rift and closed it. It was a good thing he had his sword. With Uri unconscious, Wall was not being protected from the heat. The Sword of Air Conditioning helped (that's how Jason described it). He looked to see if being there was helping at all. The spread of the infection seemed to have stopped. While looking Uri over, Wall noticed some gray jelly-like gunk in his eye. Wall reached down to wipe it away and learned, to his surprise, it was actually Uri's eye. He wisely refrained from doing anything else (like poking at it).

With Uri settled, Wall called out for help to anyone or anything that might be listening. Not long after, he noticed that shadows seemed to be converging where the two of them were. He knew that something was there and listening to him. Sure enough, a voice spoke to him, telling him to give Uri to the shadows. Wall refused (he tried to use intimidate but wasn't really successful). The shadows became insistent and attacked Wall. Their touch was cold- spiritually cold. A brief fight ensued. Deciding that retreat was a viable option, Wall opened a rift back to Uri's bathroom.

Back in the apartment, Fine was busy redecorating Uri's office. He had managed to find a wall safe but didn't have the combination. A quick call to Christine hadn't helped (she was on her way over though). In an attempt to get what he needed, Fine dumped the desk drawers and pulled the books off the shelves. Deciding to wait for Christine, Fine headed back to the bathroom. He got there just in time to see Wall charging through the rift- sword in one hand and dragging Uri with the other (between the horrible bandaging job, the dumping into the Nevernever, and the dragging back to the bathroom, I am surprised Uri is still alive).

Meanwhile, Shade and Max had just exited the Fey realm. They talked for awhile about what had happened. Shade let him know that she wasn't thrilled by the sacrifice but it was needed for what the Fey were. She told Max to not think of the Fey as human; they weren't. It was best to think of them as physical manifestations of their seasons (frankly, Shade's description of them as adults with the emotional capacity of three year old children is about the best). They were about to head out for dinner when Max's phone rang. He stepped away to answer it. Shade didn't pay too much attention until Max's tone changed. Apparently something bad had gone down and his men needed him wherever they were. They really couldn't tell him just exactly what it was. With a quick kiss for Shade and a promise of dinner tomorrow night, Max departed.

Deciding that it was a good time to put her plan for the pixies into play, Shade went on a hunt for treats. She got pizza, chicken wings, Krispy Kreme donuts, and other foodstuffs. With everything in her work shop, Shade performed the ritual to call Janx. He eventually showed up. Once he spotted the food, it was on. He called a bunch of other pixies and her basement turned into a free for all (yes, putting no limitations on them was part of the plan. She knew it would get crazy but she wanted to see just what they could do as a group and with free reign. She was fairly impressed with the results). Once the pixies discovered Periwinkle upstairs, most headed up there to play with the kitten (just think about that- numerous hyperactive pixies and a six month old kitten. It's the definition of chaos). Satisfied, Shade called Janx and asked him to reign everyone in. He refused. She then cast a ritual trapping him in a bubble. It took the threat of permanent confinement but Janx finally told the others to leave. With things now quiet, they settled down for a talk. Shade put forth her proposal. She wanted them to work for her. She would pay them with food. Janx said that he would agree to the deal if she built them a fairy park, just for the pixies. If she did that, he would be king of the pixies. She agreed.

Christine finally arrived and joined Fine and Wall in the office. When asked if she knew of anything to help Uri, she answered  the blood of an innocent and wanted to know if they knew of any children. Passing on that option, Wall cast a spell to pry open the safe. Fine wisely headed for cover. With the safe door open, the three of them gathered around to inspect the contents. Among the items were a few potions. Taste testing each, Wall found one that simply felt unholy. They poured it down Uri's throat and waited. After a minute or two, Uri woke up. After being helped to bed, he told them what had happened. A Knight of the Cross was in town and had attacked him. He had barely escaped with his life. After some more small talk, Wall and Fine left. Fine went home. Wall stopped by Mason's place and left a note about what happened.

Back at his house, Brandon (going back to first names since Brandon and Neil aren't together anymore) was getting ready for bed when there was a knock on his door. It was Mason. Brandon invited him in. Once settled, Mason asked Brandon for a full report of the night's activities. He was not happy to hear about Davy. He told Brandon to keep an eye on the strangers. He also said that he had a person in mind to talk with Angelica about the Knight. Business concluded, mason left and Brandon went to bed.

It took some time but Shade finally got her place cleaned up (Periwinkle looked exhausted but very, very happy. He liked his new playmates). That done, she went to bed. In the early morning hours, she was woken up by a knock on her window. Not really awake, she opened the curtain and saw Mason hanging in mid-air outside. Being polite, she invited him in. Coming inside, Mason told about the Knight being town and asked her if she would go talk to Angelica. Shade agreed. Mason left and Shade, deciding to just stay up, made some coffee.

Neil's morning started with a visit to Wyatt. He asked him to locate this Knight of the Cross person. Wyatt told him that Davy was holed up in a church. Neil headed over. Just as he pulled up (in his Mercedes- not his Chevelle like I was hoping), he spotted Shade walking up from the other direction. They met and chatted as they walked into St. Michael's. Inside they saw Angelica talking with a priest. Shade walked up to Angelica and asked if they could speak privately. She said okay and invited Shade out to the garden. Neil talked to the priest and asked about his 'friend' who was staying there. Father John said that he would be happy take Neil to his friend Davy.

In the garden, Shade and Angelica settle down to talk but keep getting distracted by a man doing yard work- shirtless...with amazing abs...and blond hair...and amazing abs...and bulging muscles...and amazing abs (Davy has the stunt Animal Magnetism. Angelica had to keep reminding herself that he was a man of God and Shade had to keep reminding herself that she was engaged). Eventually, they were able to talk. Shade asked about Davy and told Angelica that it would be best if he left Vegas. A Knight of the Cross wouldn't be great for the city. Angelica answered that he was doing God's work and she didn't see a problem with it. Seeing that Angelica would not understand the problems with Davy, Shade chatted with her for a few more minutes and then left. Neil and Davy were having a discussion of their own. Although, their conversation wasn't nearly so polite. Neil told Davy to leave. Davy refused. The insults started flying and it ended in a fight. After all was said and done, a compromise was reached. Davy agreed to stay at the Church and only harm the person (Arthur Skavis) the group was there to get. He also told Neil to contact Jack or Michelle if he wanted more information.

Outside, Shade called Christine and asked her for a meeting with Uri. Christine wasn't sure at first until Shade told her it was about the Knight. Christine told her to come over and that she would clear it with security (yep, Uri is not taking any chances). Getting to Uri's house, Shade chatted with Kirk while he patted her down. Inside, Christine led her to Uri's bedroom (I thought that amusing. I always figured Shade would get into his bedroom for another reason. However, Max happened and I guess Uri will just have to wait a few more years). Uri still looked like hell. Shade was very concerned and offered to help him by using her tattooing skills. Uri agreed to think about it. They talked over the situation and possible solutions but nothing concrete was decided.

That ended the evening. See what I meant by being action packed. Some many things going down and so many ways this could play out. All I know is that I can't wait for Sunday to see what happens next. And it's not only the whole New Orleans situation. It's a whole bunch of other things. Just what changes are coming to Vegas and how will the three of them get on? Check back next week for some of the answers! Hopefully there will be some more of the Fine and Wall shenanigans as well.
 

Dresden Files Las Vegas- Things Fall Apart, It's Scientific

Oh dear, things are getting very interesting. In Vegas that is not a good thing. Last night's gaming session was filled with magic, violence, and more then a couple "oh fuck" moments. I wouldn't want it any other way. Also of note, this is the first time that I have carried a song over for two different sessions but it fit so well, I just had to. So much mayhem and chaos and even a cliffhanger. On to the recap and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed playing it!

Neil's day was winding down. He was eating dinner at a local diner when Mason walked in. Spotting Neil, he walked over, sat down, and got right to the point. He wanted to know if Neil had learned anything new about the Skavis attack. Neil answered in the negative. Mason told Neil that Fredrick and his hunted guest were currently at the Luxor. He wanted Neil to head over there and keep an eye on Arthur. Neil agreed to do so.

Brandon was closing his shop up when he felt...something. Turning around, Brandon saw Mason right standing right behind him. Brandon asked him not to sneak up on him. Mason said he had to since the door was locked. Pleasantries over, Mason asked just what Brandon knew about Skavis' guest. Brandon replied nothing. Mason then asked if he had seen any notable strangers (one nice thing about Mason, he always gets right to the point). Brandon told him about the visits from Michelle, Jack, and Sharee. He even had it on his security tape. After watching the footage, Mason asked if he could have it. After Brandon answered in the affirmative, Mason told him to head to the Luxor and get in touch with Neil.

Further up and just off the Strip, Shade was finishing up her day when she got a visitor. One of the Changelings, Laurel, burst through the front door and started babbling. Shade told her to calm down and tell her what was wrong. Laurel said that Harold was missing. They had a date planned for that night and she couldn't get ahold of him in any of the usual ways. She was sure something had happened to him. Shade asked Laurel to take her to Harold's place. Laurel agreed and they headed out. At his apartment, Shade proceeded to break in. There didn't seem to be any sign of a struggle. Getting some hair from his brush, Shade exited. However, their visit hadn't gone unnoticed. As the two women walked away, they noticed a neighbor's door closing (hopefully there won't be a police visit in Shade's future, especially considering the rest of her night). Back at her place, Shade cast a location spell. Harold was not in Vegas.

After his talk with Mason, Brandon stopped by his house and geared up. Done there, he made it to the Luxor and started looking for Running Mouth (if anyone would know where Neil was, it would be him). Luck was with him though. As he walked in, Brandon spotted Neil right away, talking to a very big guy. Coming up to the two of them, Brandon figured out that the big guy was actually a Ghoul. After a bit of douche baggery commentary to the Ghoul (of course Brandon couldn't help himself and if baggery isn't a word, it is now), Brandon and Neil decided on a course of action.

Failing to locate Harold with the spell, Shade went to call Helena to ask her if she knew whether Harold was in the Nevernever or not. Before she could, the phone rang. It was another Changeling by the name of Steve. When he had come home, he had noticed that his neighbor's door was ajar. When he peeked in, it looked like there had been some sort of struggle. He asked if she would come over. With a sinking feeling, she agreed (remember, it really hasn't been all long since the Winter Court showed up. Plus, the whole area was sort of a no man's land between the Fey and Skavis territory). With two situations needing her attention, Shade told Laurel to call all the Changelings and tell them to keep their eyes open for trouble. If anything bad started going down, they were to head over to Legends. Shade then cast the spell to take her to the Nevernever.

Still talking, Brandon was able to recall a few bits of information about Arthur. He had been in control of a city down South but had been forced out of power. That meant he was a major player. Needing to find out the room number where Arthur and Fredrick were holed up, Neil went up to the front desk and proceeded to charm the frazzled desk clerk. With his charm (and a 2000$ bribe), he was able to get the number. The two of them headed up to the seventh floor and staked out a position across the hotel where they could keep a watch over everything. In order to make their stay more pleasant, they ordered room service and charged it to Fredrick's room.

With the spell, Shade was able to get to the Nevernever with no problem. The Courtyard teemed with Fey and there seemed to be a buzz in the air. Not wanting to disturb anyone, Shade looked for one of the Knights. A quick word to the Knight who came to greet her answered the question of where Harold was. That being settled, Shade passed back through to Vegas. Laurel was not so happy when Shade told her that Harold was in the Nevernever. She basically flipped out- Harold hated that place, never went there, and she wanted Shade to go and get him. The strength of her anger caused Laurel to change into her Fey form, a Dryad (the Changelings usually choose whether to follow their human or Fey nature but the change can be forced. Remember that, it will come up later). She went off to find her tree. That left Shade free to head to Steve's. Meeting Steve at the apartment door, he introduced himself and showed her the broken chain. In the hallway (had to do it out there since trying it in the apartment would not be good. There wasn't much of a threshold but any amount would lesson her power). Shade set up and used her power to cast a scrying spell. With that she was able to see what happened. Steve's neighbor had been attacked and abducted by Helena.

Back at the Luxor, Brandon and Neil ate and talked. Brandon also spent his time leering at the cleavage passing below on the main floor. The only activity on their floor was when two guys went into the room they were watching. While watching the main floor, Neil saw a guy that could be described as a redneck. Breaking Brandon away from his pastime, Neil pointed the guy out and Brandon was pretty sure that was him. It seemed that the guy was heading for the stairwell.

With the feeling that bad things were happening, Shade once again prepared the spell to take her to the Nevernever. Once again, the phone rang (if she didn't have her own business, she would seriously consider getting rid of the line. Really, nothing good ever comes from it). It was Max. Happy to hear from him, Shade asked what was going on. Max, sounding more puzzled then anything, asked if she knew of any strangers in town. Uri had accused him of bringing some in that were causing trouble. He knew nothing about it. Shade answered that she hadn't heard anything either. Shade then let Max know that she would be heading to the Nevernever to take care of some Fey stuff. He told her to wait there for him; he was coming with her. She told him there was no need. It was Fey business. After a bit of back and forth, she agreed to wait (she seriously considered just leaving without him but Lana played the fate chip compel. So she waited and, secretly, Shade kind of liked that Max would want to come and protect her. Not that she needs it. Really).

Wanting to intercept the guy, Brandon pulled his sword out and waited in the stairwell. After about fifteen minutes (which was more then enough time for Jack to appear), Brandon walked back over to Neil. When asked, Neil said he hadn't seen anything. Neil then asked Brandon how he would get in if he didn't want to be seen. Brandon replied that he would use a veil spell. It would be the easiest. Not really wanting to, Brandon opened the Sight, trying to focus solely on the room door they were watching. The first thing he saw was a huge shaft of light. It was the power of the Ley line the Luxor sat upon. The next thing was that it was the Luxor but...wasn't. In the Sight, the hotel appeared as a true pyramid, complete with hieroglyphics. One interesting thing of note to Brandon was that each of the doors had the names of the guests using the room inscribed on them. Not seeing their target, Brandon shut the Sight down.

Just then, Neil's phone rang. It was Chumley the Ghoul. He had seen one of the people (Jack) they were looking for just leave the building. Neil told the Ghoul to stay where he was. He figured that the Jack seen leaving the hotel was a decoy of some sort. Deciding that three could play that game, Brandon and Neil made for the stairwell, as if they were leaving to follow. Inside, they moved a few steps up to the next landing and waited. Soon they heard the sounds of footsteps coming closer. Brandon warned the unseen person to turn back. Neil was a bit more direct. He simply dropped over the railing onto the unseen figure below. Surprisingly, the person cried out in a decidedly feminine voice. While Neil and the unknown person grappled, Brandon sauntered down and blocked the door. After a few seconds, the veil dropped, revealing a very disheveled Sharee. She got to her feet and demanded that Brandon move. Brandon replied that it would be best if she would just leave. There would be no violence in the Luxor (that would be very, very, very bad. Very bad). They argued about the matter for a few minutes until Sharee swore on her power that she was just there to talk to Arthur and would not do any sort of violence (of course the whole conversation was peppered with her usual cracker and white boy references). Brandon stepped away from the door and Sharee went through it. Brandon followed right behind. They both walked to Arthur's room and Sharee knocked. When the door opened, she asked to see Mr. Skavis. Fredrick appeared and was his usual charming self (in other words, he managed to insult and sexually harass Sharee in about two sentences). Sharee told him that she was there to see the other Mr. Skavis. Fredrick invited her in and closed the door.

In the Nevernever for the second time, at least for Shade, they walked into the house proper. This time she had come prepared. She had brought candy for the pixies. There was some intense negotiations with them, especially from one named Janx (Shade is going to remember that. She has a few ideas that involve Janx. Hey, Dresden has his pixie sidekick, why not Shade). Once the negotiations were finished, the pixies led them into the Maze. Getting to the clearing, Shade and Max saw about ten Fey there. That included members of the Spring Court. Philip was on the dais with the slumbering Kings. Harold was standing next to him, looking beat to hell. On another stone bier was a body. Shade assumed it was the kidnapped neighbor. His heart had been cut out. It seemed that the Fey were in the middle of making the sacrifice in the name of Autumn. 

Across the clearing, Laurel emerged from the trees, heading towards Harold. Knowing that interrupting Philip would not be a good thing (interrupting the ritual would likely lead to fallout or backlash and considering the power currently being channeled on the dais, that would not be good), Shade moved to intercept her. Using some of the power invested in the sickle, she managed to get to Laurel and grab her. Laurel managed to knock Shade to the ground just as Max came up. In a contemptuous tone of voice, he told Shade to let her go, that she was just wood and thus worthless, useful for only chopping down. Laurel turned to attack Max at that (Max has a stunt that basically allows him to infuriate anybody. Shade's and Max's fights are going to be interesting, to say the least). It took three hits with the apple but Shade was finally able to knock Laurel unconscious (she didn't want to kill her. She just wanted her out). Turning to applause, Shade and Max saw that the ritual had been completed. Shade's heart went out to Harold. He had changed into his Fey form and just looked confused. There were a few words between Shade and Philip having to do with Laurel and Shade needing to talk to him. Philip told her that he would be back in Vegas the next day. Max and Shade then left the clearing (Max was very upset at what he saw and so was Shade. Hopefully, this will not be a problem between them. At least, Shade hopes that Max will talk with her about it and not just condemn her for it or decide to leave her. She really does love him).   

The talk between Arthur and Sharee didn't take long and it wasn't too much later that the door opened and she walked away. As Brandon and Neil watched her go, Neil's phone rang. He answered it but he only heard harsh breathing. A quick look showed Neil that it was Uri's personal number. With a feeling of dread, Neil and Brandon headed over to Uri's house. Finding the front door locked, Brandon used a spell to open it. Once inside, they both started searching. In the rear of the house, they found a blood trail leading from the backdoor to the bathroom. Pushing the door open, Brandon and Neil saw Uri sprawled out on the floor, luckily still breathing. When they turned him over, they saw that he had been sliced to hell and the wounds looked to be putrefying. Brandon guessed that something holy had to have done that (looks like Davy came to Vegas as well. And here is where things could really get bad. Think back. Uri believes that Max brought the New Orleans group there. Once he wakes up, he is going to point his finger at Max and probably send Brandon and Neil to "take care" of things. Shade knows that Max had nothing to do about any strangers. So each has half the puzzle but not the whole picture).

Thus ended the gaming session. Once again, Lana lived up to her promise of things going to hell and I get the feeling we are only about half way through this arc (if that!). I cannot wait until next Sunday to see what happens next!   

Dresden Files Las Vegas- Like Sittin' On Pins And Needles

After a month, we finally returned to Dresden and Las Vegas. Lana gave us an early warning that this arc would be titled Things Go to Hell. I won't give any spoilers this early but the theme is totally appropriate- at least from the set up. This was a great start and it will only get better as situations progress. I foresee many OOC comments in this post.

September had come and tourist trade was winding down. Cooler temperatures and even cooler temperaments had prevailed over the summer heat. The mood in Vegas was more or less content. A break between disasters was very much needed.

In the downtime, Neil had been very busy. With his windfall, he had managed to buy the Baron's estate- house, land, and furnishings. Then came the daunting task of exploration and inventory. Even though he didn't move in, he spent many hours going through the entire house. There was an abundance of clothes, he found (the Baron did have good taste...and the money to indulge). He also figured out that the house was riddled with secret passages. He did find a few disturbing implements, mainly dealing with the draining of blood (the Baron didn't bite anyone but he did need to eat). The vibe of the house took a definite creepy turn when Neil went into the basement. It was filled with old furniture and more clothes. These clothes, however, seemed to come in many different sizes and for both genders. The sub-basement was ever creepier. It was set up as a torture chamber, complete with blood stained walls. In a small room off of it, Neil found the vampire's resting place. A search of the coffins turned up personal belongings- jewelry, journals, other keepsakes. As for Neil's dating life, since Uri's promotion, Christine had become even busier. Their weekly dates had turned into monthly booty calls. Neil didn't seem particularly devastated by that occurrence.

Brandon kept busy as well. He had a sword he needed to get to know. With time and proximity, he became attuned to the weapon. That earned Brandon the Marked by Power aspect. With use, he learned that carrying the sword gave him Winter Strength and using the sword conferred Winter Speed to him. Business was good. The summer tourist crowd had given way to the in town trade of local magicians. Besides playing with his sword (snicker) and running his business, Brandon spent time with Skip. He soon found out that Skip sucked at evocation but excelled at thaumaturgy (Skip's training in the hard sciences really enforced this). Of course, a fair amount of time was spent teaching Skip to learn from his mistakes. One incident involved the need for Black Court Vampire blood. Brandon told Skip to head over to Mason's and get some. Not long afterwards, Skip returned. Or rather, Mason hauled Skip back to the shop by his ear.

With the city quiet, Brandon and Neil didn't have much to do for their second jobs as Spades. They mainly had to keep the tourists safe from muggings and such. The only other thing on the Spade radar was the sudden expansion of the Fey into new territory and the influx of money that meant. It wasn't a problem yet but could lead to instability, something much frowned upon.

Shade didn't spend her time relaxing either. She continued to speak with the Changelings one on one (she is determined to get at least a couple to choose their Fey heritage). Business at her shop had picked up as well. Even with her work, Shade managed to spend time with Neil, Brandon, Skip, and Wyatt. One issue with Skip did come up. Once he learned that Shade's talent was in thaumaturgy, Skip showed up at her place asking questions. Once again poor Skip was dragged back to Brandon by his ear (Shade was not going to step on Brandon's toes when it came to his apprentice). However, Brandon gave his permission for Skip to learn from her. As for Shade and Max, they spent as much time together as they could, at least once a week. Work took much of their time but they managed (Could there be something brewing here? Possibly, they seem really into each other). As for the monthly Board meetings, they passed fairly uneventfully. There were a few snide remarks made about the Fey expansion but Shade ignored them (she saw an opportunity, took it, and made it a success. Perhaps she is a bit more capable then they thought).

The work day started off normally for Brandon. He and Skip were at his shop when the bell over his door rang. Brandon looked up and noticed two customers coming in. At first glance, the man and woman seemed like normal patrons. However, a quick check showed Brandon that the man had an aura of power and that it was very dark. Deciding that aggressive customer service was in order, Brandon walked over to them. The two focused on Brandon as he walked up. The man introduced himself as Jack, the woman as Michelle (For loyal followers, yes, they are the two from the New Orleans game and...they aren't. They are the same characters to a point but, since Lana is playing them, some of their actions will not be true to how we each created them). They were looking to talk to a Brandon Wall. Brandon told them they had found him and asked what they wanted. Jack suggested they retire to a private place for their chat. Back in Brandon's office, the three sat down and Jack started speaking. They were looking for a particular person- Arthur Skavis. They had information that he might be in the city. Brandon told them that he knew a Fredrick Skavis but didn't know an Arthur. He suggested that the two should head over to Luxor to check in and maybe get some better information. Asked why, Brandon tried to explain to them how things were in Vegas with the Board and how things were run. Jack seemed amused by it all. Michelle just looked impatient. She tried to push the Skavis issue but was silenced by Jack. Jack them brought up the other reason they were in Vegas. Jack was a member of the White Council and it had been brought to the Council's attention that the Warden was no longer there. Brandon said that the Warden was just on a vacation and would be back. Jack then asked Brandon if he would care to join the Council. Brandon politely declined. Business concluded, the two left.

While Brandon was getting the dubious honor of meeting Jack and Michelle, Shade was working. Her day was pretty normal. She and Max had a date planned for that night. Closing up, Shade went upstairs and got ready. Since it was a chance for them to spend more then a half an hour together, she dressed up a bit. He picked her up and they headed out. He took her to a Damian Demos magic show. They were sitting in the front row, enjoying the show when the final trick of the evening started. Damian came into the audience and singled out Shade as his "victim". It involved the usual pick a card and write your name down bit (by that time I knew exactly where this was going). She did so and, surprise, he pulled her card out of her pocket. However, what had been written on the card was "will you marry me". Shade looked down and saw Max kneeling in front of her with an engagement ring (the diamond was actually purple tinged and was ringed with amethysts- Tyrian purple is her favorite color). He spoke of his esteem and love for her and she formally accepted. As they hugged, she whispered that they needed to get the fuck out of there for a serious conversation. Max agreed and they left.

As they sat down to eat, Shade launched into her list of concerns. First, she wasn't Catholic, had no intention of converting, and refused to go through the mandatory counseling. Second, she absolutely would not move to Chicago. Third, there would be no children. Fourth, there was the very good possibility of their jobs causing conflict. She made it clear that she would not tolerate the Mob messing with the Fey territory. Max answered each point- she wouldn't have to convert, they would lie about her being Catholic, and the counseling would be a non-issue (in other words, there would be a nice donation to make that go away). However, a church wedding was non-negotiable. Chicago was not a problem as he was moving permanently to Vegas. Once they got all that hammered out, Shade brought up two more requests- she wanted to tattoo him and they would have to finally have sex-before the wedding. Surprisingly, he agreed to both (there is one other thing she feels a strong need to do but she is saving that for later. She figured that he had been hit hard enough, especially with the "have to have sex" request). After all that, they talked for awhile longer with Max being quite eloquent about his feelings for her (Shade does feel the same way but hasn't said so yet. Don't worry, she will). When they parted, Shade hightailed it to Legends and pulled Tess aside to show her the ring. Tess had a few reservations about the whole thing. She point blank asked Shade if she loved Max and Shade answered that she didn't know (that was a little white lie. She does love him but she won't say it until the still unknown and unnamed event takes place). They decided to go out and celebrate, which they did.

Blissfully unaware of the momentous events shaping up, Neil was at a casino doing Neil things (I am willing to bet that included handing out business cards. I figure by January everyone in Vegas will have one and then he will have to think of something else to hand out). His phone rang and he answered it only to hear Skavis shouting that someone had burned his fucking bar down. Neil told Skavis to calm down and explain what was going on. Skavis repeated the whole "burned my fucking bar down" and asked if Neil would meet with him. Neil said he would and hung up. Getting to the Crucible, Neil saw that the entire bar was in flames. Paramedics, firefighters, and police were on scene. Seeing Neil, Skavis walked over. He looked rough. Someone had beat the hell out of him. Finally calmed down a bit, Skavis told Neil what happened. Two people, a man and woman, he didn't know had come into his bar (one guess just who they were). They asked some questions about an uncle of his and, when he wouldn't give Arthur up, things went to hell. The woman started shooting and the man started to toss fire around. The end result was three bodyguards dead and the bonfire that used to be his bar. Always practical, Neil asked if Skavis had insurance. After calming down a little bit more, Skavis told Neil that he wanted to buy his services. He wanted to know just who those people were and where to find them. They agreed on the price of 25,000$ and two Ghouls as helpers. Skavis then said he would be moving Arthur to the Luxor. With that decided, Skavis left and Neil got to work. He first talked to the firefighters about the blaze but didn't get much more then it seemed odd. Before calling it a night, Neil called Drusilla Malvora and told her what happened. He wasn't sure if the attack was only aimed at Skavis or at all the Vampire Courts and thought it best to cover all the bases.

The next day, Neil headed out early to talk with the businesses surrounding the Crucible. He wanted the footage from all their security cameras. He was able to get what he needed and was able to put the footage together. He saw the man and woman arrive and go into the bar. After a bit, Neil was able to discern flashes of light behind the windowpanes. Then he saw the couple leave and Skavis come out a bit after them (is anyone really surprised it went down like that? Jack and Michelle are reasonable to a point and then after that, things tend to get...messy. Especially with Michelle. Skavis would piss her off just by breathing. One smart ass, sexual innuendo from him and she would not hesitate to shoot him). Unfortunately, he wasn't able to get the license number of the car. Figuring he had gotten everything he could from the footage, Neil started to leave to go visit Wyatt. However, before he could head out, he was joined by two guys- the Ghouls Skavis had promised him. Not wanting to take them on his visit, Neil sent them off on their own errands. The smarter of the two he sent to the police station to ask about the case so far. The second he sent off to guard the second most profitable of Skavis' holdings.

That taken care of, Neil went in search of Wyatt. Finding him at his job, Neil showed Wyatt a still shot of the couple and asked if he could get a location on them. Wyatt tried but came up blank. He told Neil that he would continue to try. Business concluded, Neil asked Wyatt how he was doing. Wyatt said he was doing great, even had a date with a showgirl. Neil gave him some money and told Wyatt to take her someplace nice. Neil's next stop was the Luxor where he looked up Running Mouth. After finding him, Neil asked him he had seen the couple. In the verbal torrent that followed, Neil was able to find out that no, they had not been seen by Jeremy. Asked why he was looking for them, Neil told him what had happened. Running Mouth almost was speechless at learning all that happened. Neil told him to keep the information quiet (not going to happen Neil. Think of who you just told the information to. That was a good move, by the way. Michelle and Jack will have everyone looking for them once Jeremy tells the story a few times).

After their night of debauchery and tequila, Shade and Tess weren't quite ready to face the day. Most of their morning was spent trying to recover and piece the previous night together. They were pretty sure there had been some table dancing involved. It took awhile but Shade finally was able to open her shop. It didn't take long for the events befalling Skavis to reach her ears. She called Skavis to see how he was doing. Skavis at first seemed to think she was calling to gloat a bit and he point blank asked her if the Fey had been involved in what happened. Shade told him that the Fey had nothing to do with the fire. Then he congratulated her on her big event and followed up with some very lewd comments (they were funny as well). After hanging up, Shade sent a message to Philip about what happened. She also included the news of her engagement in the note.

At Sleight of Hand, it was business as usual. Customers kept Brandon busy and a Homecoming visit from his parents kept Skip in panic mode (that poor boy is going to stroke out if he doesn't relax). Finally, the bell on his door ringing gave Brandon the chance to escape Skip's issues. Looking up, Brandon saw a young, black women come in. She walked up to the two men and asked for Brandon Wall. Brandon introduced himself and asked what she needed. She needed a few of his special supplies for a locating spell and possibly his help with the ritual as well. Brandon showed her downstairs to his workshop. She seemed very impressed with his selection of books and set-up. When asked if she had something personal of the person, Sharee produced a handkerchief. At first she wasn't impressed with how Brandon was putting the spell together. She basically told him to cut the crap and give her something that would work. Brandon assured her that if this spell didn't work he would cast something stronger. Mollified a bit, Sharee told him to continue. Brandon cast the spell and hit what seemed to be stone wall. However, he was able to recognize the ward. it was the Luxor. He told Sharee that.

That ended a gaming session full of fun and surprises. This arc is going to be awesome! Of course, the potential problems are growing. Will Jack, Michelle, and Sharee get Arthur? Will they be able to do it without burning half of Vegas down? Is Jack the only White Council member in town or are they there in force? How will the Board and Spades react to it all? Will Locke be called back? What about the impending wedding (and I really hope the wedding/reception does happen and we get to role play it through. Shade is my first character that is fairly normal and isn't borderline crazy. With Shade's focus and organizational skills, I am sure she would have the entire event planned in week...lol)? There hasn't been a celebration where something hasn't gone wrong or had a surprise involved. So many possibilities! And Lana said something about finding a picture that represents how Max looks. Can't wait for that either. I am 1 for 2 on being correct. I got it right with Locke but totally was wrong with how I imagined Uri.

Dresden Files Las Vegas- Still Cannot Fix This Broken Machine

It has taken me awhile to get this posted. I actually had most of it written within a day or two of the game. I was just trying to come up with a song that worked for the session. I'm still not a 100% sure about the one I chose but it fits most of the events of the evening. It could also be a foreshadow to some future events, depending on how everything plays out (I just realized that this is the third song by Nine Inch Nails that I have used).

What a night! Political wrangling, back alley deals, and upheavals at the top were all in play. What took place could lead to so many opportunities, surprises, conflicts, and problems. What will the future hold?

The day dawned bright and hot (it is Las Vegas, bright and hot is always a good bet). Brandon was at work having a normal day when a letter came for him. The message was simple and to the point. Mason requested his presence at his house that night.

Neil started his day in the usual manner. Up early, exercise, coffee, and then out to hit the streets. Through his contacts, he found the streets abuzz with gossip. There was talk of power changes higher up. The feeling on the street was one of tension and apprehension. No one knew for sure what was going on and everyone seemed to be waiting to see how everything played out. After talking to his contacts, Neil started on his next project- researching real estate. He had his eye on the Baron's house. A few calls later, he had the information he needed to get the ball rolling on that (will Neil be getting a house?).

Shade's day started off normal but soon took a nosedive (to be fair, Shade doesn't know about two of the incidents concerning her but, all in all, the day takes a nosedive). She was tattooing a customer (okay, he was a junkie but, since he wasn't high just then, she agreed to do the ink). Deciding to give her idea one last shot, she asked the guy a few questions about who was supplying him and such. It took a bit of work but she did get a name- Jimmy the Hand. Even though he was a drug dealer, he fit at least two of her criteria. He was a human who worked closely with the Supernatural and he would probably have connections. Hopefully, he would be able to steer her towards a suitable candidate for the Board. With nothing to lose, she went in search for him. After searching awhile, she did find Jimmy. They engaged in social combat with Shade eventually winning. However, she wasn't able to get anything from him. Deciding enough was enough, Shade went back to work.

With night falling, Brandon headed out for his meeting with Mason. He figured that he would be dealing with more Spade business. He had not figured on the first person he saw at the house. It was Lucinda Wraith. After a polite (snicker) hello, he took a seat on the far side of the room. Eventually Mason entered the room. Not indulging in small talk, he got right to the point. He told Brandon that his main concern was corruption at the highest levels, meaning the Board members. He didn't trust any of them. He felt that most, if not all, had forgotten the reason for the Board being formed. Add to that the fact that someone was taking the Spades out and he was sure that Brandon could understand his concern. Brandon could. Then Brandon voiced a concern of his own. He wanted Mason's assurances that this was a straight deal. If a problem came up; it would be dealt with. No bullshit. Mason assured him that was the case. Brandon was satisfied. Then Mason told him why Lucinda was there. Every person who joined the Spades underwent a Soulgaze with another member. It would be Brandon's job (as a wizard) to do that but, he couldn't Soulgaze himself. Brandon wasn't happy with the whole idea but agreed to it (a soulgaze is just that. The people involved literally see the other's soul, see what kind of person they are. It also allows the other to see if a person is under a spell or is corrupted). Once that was done, Lucinda excused herself. Brandon and Mason talked for a bit longer. Asked about whether Neil would accept the job, Brandon said that he didn't know. Mason hoped that he would. A human could go places that the Supernatural couldn't. Then Mason asked about Shade again, if she could be trusted. He wanted to know if Brandon had noticed any changes in her lately. Brandon said he hadn't. Mason asked if Brandon would spend some time with her and get to know her better (would it kill the guys if they stood up for Shade? They may not be besties but she does stick up for them and she is keeping Wyatt a secret). Brandon said he would and they parted soon after.

Real estate deals being finished, Neil made a call to Max. He had a business proposal for him. Max agreed to a meeting. At the diner, Neil launched into his proposal. With the recent change up in the power structure, there were certain advantages coming available. One of which being the open seat on the Board. What about Max trying for that seat? Playing it cool, Max asked how that would be handled. Neil said that he knew of a possibility and wanted to know if Max would be willing to meet with said individual. Max said yes. Not wasting any time, Neil placed a call to Skavis (yes, that sound you heard was Shade yelling...definitely something very, very impolite). Neil explained the situation to him and Skavis told them to come right over to the Crucible. They did so.

Walking into the bar, they were greeted with some heckling. They really didn't fit in with the regular clientele. In the back they found Skavis. After sitting down, Neil told him about his proposal. Skavis seemed interested and told Neil to go on. Of course, Skavis being Skavis couldn't seem to eager and had to throw a few insults Max's way. With effort, Max held onto his temper. He also wisely kept his mouth shut and let Neil continue to do the talking. Neil pointed out the fact that it wouldn't hurt to have a friend, so to speak, on the Board. After a bit of contemplation, Skavis said okay but that Max would have to agree to do as he said for a year- work with him, vote as he voted, and so on. Neil then stressed the point that this alliance couldn't be flaunted openly. It wouldn't help either one if it was known that Max was beholden to him. There was some more back and forth but terms were agreed upon. Skavis would suggest Max as a candidate for the seat and Max would work with him. Max said that would be okay unless it conflicted with his interests. Business concluded, Neil and Max left. 

After leaving Mason's, Brandon figured he was due a nice relaxing evening. Heading to the MGM, he had a few drinks and bought a ticket for the boxing match slated for that evening. He even placed a bet. Unfortunately, he picked the wrong guy. Still, he enjoyed himself.

After work, Shade caught up on her second job. She called Marissa, the changeling who was in charge of the Freemont Experience expansion. Things were going splendidly. More people were moving in and the area was well on it's way to being the hip place to live and work. In August, an art fair/block party was being planned. Satisfied, Shade hung up and left for the Board meeting.

At the Luxor, the Board members were mingling about before starting. Shade went to talk with Puck and Heather. Soon after, Skavis showed up and came over to join their group. He was his usual charming self (in other words, he came over and promptly tried/said something blatantly sexual). Shade and Skavis talked about the upcoming meeting. He asked her what she thought would happen. Shade told him that she figured people would throw out a few names. Then Locke would name his candidate and then everyone would vote that person in. Skavis then wanted to know if Shade would vote for herself or is she would just be a Locke ass kisser. Shade laughed at that and said that being on Locke's good side really wasn't a problem. Locke loathed her. Shade asked if he had anyone in mind. Skavis said that he did. He planned on nominating Max Torelli.

Finally, everyone headed in and after Locke showed up, the meeting started. The first order of business was what to do with the humans addicted to the Red Court saliva and the dead Baron's territory. After some discussion, the care of the humans and the territory was given to the Wraiths. They had the means to control the addicts. It was also agreed to revisit that decision in a years time.

Next on the agenda was what to do with the empty Board seat. That started a lively discussion. Angelica brought up Shade's idea about giving it to a human. Shade spoke up and admitted that she hadn't been able to find a good candidate. Skavis stood up then and nominated a drug dealer he knew. No one took him seriously. Locke asked again if there was anyone. And again, Skavis stood up. Sounding impatient, Locke asked if he had someone in mind. Skavis then nominated Torelli. Shade seconded it. The debate started. Skavis said that new blood was needed and that Max would bring business opportunities to Vegas. Uri said that they had spent too long getting the Mob out of Vegas to let them back in. Shade countered that the Mob was still in Vegas and that it made more sense to have the Mob representative on the board where they could keep an eye on him and control him if necessary. Unfortunately, the vote did not go in Max's favor.

Then Locke proposed that a seat on the Board be eliminated by combining two into one. He suggested that either Uri or Angelica lose their seat. That did not go over well. Uri was pissed as hell. It was brought up that it set a bad precedent. What would stop other seats from being eliminated? After all, the Vampires could be consolidated, as could the two Fey courts. Emotions were running high. Everything from indifference to worry to anger was swirling about. Since no one really liked that idea, Locke said he would be fine with taking a long vacation (he kept muttering something about Tahiti and Tawney in a bikini) and letting someone else be the Chairman. Uri nominated himself. Shade seconded it. Angelica about ruptured a blood vessel disagreeing. She said that Uri's very nature made that a mistake. Shade pointed out that Uri's nature as half demon fit in perfectly with Vegas. After all, wasn't Vegas the breeding ground for the seven deadly sins? Why not have their earthly representative head the Board? A vote was taken and Uri was named as the new Chairman- with the decision to be revisited in a year.

Right after the meeting, Shade left, bought some candy, and went to the Nevernever. Even though she hated to disturb him, she needed to tell Philip what happened at the meeting. Getting there, she gave the candy to the pixies, who were very happy to eat it. They took her to see Philip. She told him what happened. They also talked about Freemont and Philip seemed pleased that it was going so well. Before leaving, Shade did bring up what had happened to her and that she hoped that Philip wouldn't start experimenting with it. However, if he did, she really didn't want to know. The term she used was plausible deniability.

That pretty much ended the gaming session. There will be two month time span between the end of this arc and the beginning of the next. In that time, Neil was able to get a hold of a shit load of money and buy the Baron's house...and all the furnishings (told you Neil was getting the house). He also bought a fleet of motorcycles and accepted Mason's job offer. Brandon spent his time getting to know his Fey sword better and getting a scabbard made for it. He also started taking fencing lessons. The art/street fair went off without a hitch, which made Shade happy. She also started to spend some time individually with the Changelings. She just talked with them about choosing to be human or Fey and how they feel about it. By doing so, she hoped to get a few to become full Fey and to impress Philip even more (at least she's good at doing Fey stuff).

See what I mean about the possibilities? I cannot wait for the next session to see just what will happen with all the changes taking place. Will the White Council make an appearance? Will Angelica be proved right or wrong? Just who is killing the Spades and just what action will Mason take with what happened to the Board? Will Locke get jailed in Tahiti for sexual harassment? Okay, that last was just for fun.

Dresden Files Las Vegas- Some of Them Want To Use You

Finally sitting down and getting this written. I have been busy with real life stuff (that being my speak for playing computer games) but I promised to get this updated before the next session and I will! The night was very, very fun and interesting. Not much action but lots of deals. To put it in proper Vegas terminology: The hand has been dealt. Now to see who raises, calls, folds, or bluffs.


It's summer in Sin City and it's not only the temperature that's heating up. Political turmoil is in full swing and it's getting harder to tell friend from foe. Under the table deals are being made and trust has, indeed, become a rare commodity.

The next evening came. Neil was still hiding out in Brandon's basement. Brandon and Skip were enjoying their stay at the Luxor. Shade had another Board meeting to attend. After all the members showed, Locke told everyone that he had spoken to the White Council and knew some of the details about what happened. The White Council had won the war. A certain wizard by the name of Dresden had enacted a blood curse on the Red Court and wiped it out completely. Everyone was pretty well stunned. That amount of power was almost unheard of. Locke then brought up the empty Board seat. A couple of suggestions were thrown out. Shade put out the idea of a pure human, someone with no supernatural power at all who would represent the mortal element of Vegas. A couple of Board members seemed receptive to the idea. Alas, Locke wasn't one of them. He basically shot her down and announced that he had his own candidate in mind (At that point, Shade kept quiet. Once he said that, she knew the seat would go to whomever Locke wanted and she didn't see the point of fighting a battle she didn't have a chance in hell of winning. At least right at that moment). Next on the agenda was what to do about Dresden. There was talk of killing him. Paranoia reigned supreme. Shade had to point out that the attack hadn't been against the Baron personally and she didn't think Dresden would be showing up to get them all. She said that if Dresden showed up in Vegas, he should be dealt with. Barring that, let the White Council deal with the problem. The Board voted to ban Dresden from Vegas. Business being finished, the meeting ended.

As Shade headed out, Locke asked her to give a message to Brandon- The danger was over and they needed to get out. He didn't want any freeloaders around. Shade went to Brandon and Skip's room and delivered the message, which really pissed Brandon off. Really, really pissed him off. She also left a message for Neil telling him that the danger was over and he could go home. Done with that, Shade went to have a drink at Legends and then headed home for some much needed sleep. After Neil listened to Shade's voicemail, he headed home. Opening his door, he noticed a card that had been slipped under it. It was the ace of spades and it had an address and a time on it. Thinking it was a threat, Neil left for a very public place. Brandon (still pissed as hell) found a similar card slipped under his door. He reacted quite differently. He threw the card out onto his lawn.

The next day started early for Neil. He called Wyatt and asked if it was possible for him to see who had sent the card. Wyatt wasn't sure if he could do that and told Neil to meet him on his lunch break. At noon, Neil brought the card and a sandwich for Wyatt. Wyatt was unable to tell who had handled it. However, he was able to tell where the rest of deck was located. It was the address on the back. Neil thanked Wyatt and left to check it out.

Getting there, Neil saw that it appeared to be an empty lot. Driving past it a couple of times, he lobbed his cigarette into the lot and watched as it seemed to disappear. He parked his car and got out to look things over. Reaching the point where his cigarette had disappeared, he tossed a rock. It too vanished. He knew something was off and tried a few more experiments. They involved a hollow tube, using his phone to try and get a picture of what was on the other side, and sticking his finger through. The whole time Neil was being watched by some of the neighborhood's retirees. He was probably the most amusing thing they had seen in months. Deciding what the hell, he stepped through. Inside the veil, it was dark. There was also an old, rundown house. Neil first checked the front and back doors. They were locked and he was not able to jimmy them open. Next, he checked the windows. No luck there. They too were locked. After trying kick the door in and failing (I swear, we have the worst luck with doors in any game we play. I can think of five different times we have tried to kick one in and we have never succeeded), he simply broke a window and entered the house. It was dusty and the furnishings looked old. He opened the fridge and saw it was filled with blood. It also contained some fruit, of which he took an apple. Searching the rest of the first floor, he found a drawer full of cards, many different decks. Satisfied, Neil left his version of a calling card. He placed a poker hand neatly on the table and put his apple core and a business card with it. He did sweep up the broken glass before leaving (say what you want about Neil, at least he is polite when he does something illegal). His last act before driving away was to phone in an anonymous tip about a drug deal and murder taking place at the address of the lot.

Shade's day started early as well. Max called her and asked if he could see her that night to talk- business, not personal. She said that was fine. Her morning was spent tattooing a few people, one of which was a "special" design. With nothing to lose, she asked the gentleman if he knew anyone in the mortal community who was in the know about the Supernatural element. Someone who stood out a bit. It took some doing but she got an answer. The guy gave her Neil's card. Not what she wanted (of course she could have hired Neil to find who she needed but she really wants to do this on her own). After a bit of thinking, a name came to her- Sal Fredricks. She went to the restaurant where he did business and asked to see him. The meeting did not go well. After telling Sal who she was and what she needed, he asked how much it would be worth to her. Not having the funds to pay him off, Shade told him so and bid him goodbye (Frankly, if he was too stupid to see the advantages to having a Board member owe him a favor, Shade didn't want to deal with him). Back at her shop, Shade worked until Max showed up. What he wanted to talk about was interesting, to say the least. He first brought up the possibility of an alliance between the Autumn Court and himself. Shade agreed that could be possible but she would have to talk it over with Philip. Then he asked her if she would vote for his taking the open seat on the Board. That surprised Shade. Max was an outsider and part of the Mob. Both of which were not really welcome in Vegas. She told him that she was working on getting a human in that seat. However, if a candidate she felt was better suited didn't get put out there, she would support his bid. Satisfied, Max left.

Brandon's day was normal. He was still angry as hell over what Locke said. He vowed, that after everything he had done for Vegas, everyone could go and fuck themselves if they needed help. His day finally ended and he headed home. Once again, he found an ace of spades slipped under his door. Once again, he flipped it onto his lawn. Deciding that a bit of magic was in order, he called Skip. The two of then spent the rest of the evening fashioning a ward. Brandon wanted to keep everyone but himself and Skip out of his house (they set the ward to keep everyone but those wearing a special amulet out). It took awhile but they got the spell set. Skip amused himself by taking his amulet off and on and trying to get through the door.

After breaking and entering, Neil went on a shopping spree. He knew that whomever had sent the card was a vampire and he wanted to load up on vampire killing tools. His first stop was to a store to get a couple of stakes. Then he stopped by the church to get them blessed. Then it was off to the gun shop. He wanted something with a bit of firepower. He also wanted some wooden bullets. The clerk seemed a bit taken aback by that. He told Neil that he should go with a shotgun. They spent a bit of time discussing the possibilities. Neil left the shop after putting the order for the gun and with a promise by the clerk to look into the wooden pellets. One last stop was on his list. Before he could get to the store, he noticed that he was being followed by a patrol car. He stopped and asked the officer what the problem was. The cop asked Neil if he had been in such a such neighborhood earlier that day. They had received a tip about a possible murder. They had also received a few calls about a car matching his that was seen in the vicinity. Neil played it cool and denied that he had ever been there. After searching his car, the cops let him go (old, bored retirees will get you every time). Neil went back to his search for a high intensity UV lamp that was portable (he definitely wants every base covered). With his shopping finished, Neil drove back to his place. As he was unlocking his door, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and saw that it was Mason.

After speaking with Max, Shade left for Legends, hoping Harold was there. He was. She told him that she needed to get to Philip in the Nevernever and asked if he knew an easier way then having to do a ritual. He didn't but he told her to get a hold of Helena. if anyone would know, it was her. Shade called her and asked her about it. Helena said that she could do it but not until the morning. She was catering a huge event. Shade thanked her and said that she would try on her own. Back in her basement, Shade cast the ritual and opened a rift to the Nevernever. Luckily, her point of entry turned out to be in Autumn's land. At the manor, she ran into some pixies. After making them some caramel, they agreed to take her to where Philip was (they also got her to promise to bring candy with her whenever she came to there).

They set off with the pixies leading the way. Entering a maze, Shade was led to the center. She saw Philip kneeling on a dais in the center. He seemed to be communing with something or someone. In front of him were two biers. The mummified remains of Fey were on them. Shade tried to get the pixies to inform Philip that she was there. They refused. Not knowing what else to do, she stepped onto the platform. With the first step, she could feel the power surrounding her. It only took a moment to realize her mistake. With her second step, she could feel the human part of herself being drained away and it being replaced by Fey. It took everything in her to move back to safer ground. She had managed to get Philip's attention however. He looked at her in amazement. No human had ever stepped onto the platform. In the few seconds she had been on the circle, her hair had grown longer, she seemed taller and thinner, and her ears had formed into slight points (Philip kept touching them until Shade told him to cut it out). Philip asked why she had come there. She told him about the Red Court and what Locke had found out. Then she brought up Max's proposal of an alliance. Philip asked if she trusted him. Shade said that she did. Philip nodded and told her to do what she thought was best. Business concluded, Philip opened a portal back to Vegas and Shade went home (one last thing about the whole experience. Shade is going to keep an eye out for any "new" Autumn Fey showing up. Hopefully Philip won't experiment with the whole human into Fey thing but Shade isn't taking any chances. She knows Philip way too well. That will definitely have to be stopped).

Neil turned to face Mason. With a smile, Mason told Neil that he hadn't had an invitation refused in awhile. Realizing the miscommunication, Neil explained that he had taken the card to be a threat and not an invitation. Mason asked Neil if he and Brandon would come to his place for a talk. He then left. Neil called Brandon to find out if he wanted to check out an invisible house. Perplexed but game, Brandon agreed.

They all met up at the empty lot. Looking at it with the Sight, Brandon saw that it seemed to be formed by the despair of ghosts. The three of them walked through the veil. Skip was very impressed. After knocking on the door and being invited in, Mason, Brandon, and Neil went into the sitting room. Skip was sent to the kitchen. Mason started the conversation by telling the two about the Spades and their role in Vegas. He went on to say that in the past few years seven of the Spades had been killed. Not by accidents, by murder. He feared that someone had learned who they were and were wiping them out. Being the Ace, he believed he was being saved for last. He spoke of his distrust and contempt for the Board (he did say that he would have included Shade in the deal but, because of her involvement with the Board, he wasn't sure if she could be trusted. What was worse was that Neil and Brandon didn't stick up for her. Shade would be very hurt if she knew that). They had turned from acting for good of Vegas to being part of the problem. The end shot was that he wanted Brandon and Neil to join the Spades. At first, Brandon flat out refused. Why should he do anything for Vegas when he had been treated like shit (Locke REALLY pissed him off)? Mason assured him that would not be the case if he accepted the job. It took a bit of convincing but Brandon accepted. Neil said that he would have to think about it.

That ended the session and it can only get better. Tomorrow night we will find out what happens next and we cannot wait!