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/qst/ - Quests


Some resources: https://mega.nz/#F!rFIDxRRK!IEzkLlroRoPwmDqtxKRMsw

Discord: https://discord.gg/GQMr35k

Character Sheet: https://pastebin.com/3RDN1ra0

Dice system: rolls are all d10's. 8, 9, and 10 are successes. Unless stated otherwise on the sheet, 10's and only 10's explode into additional dice.

Chapter 10: >>1356398

Your name is Mary Freedman, and you're 13 years old. You live with your Uncle Terry in a nice neighborhood in Portland! You didn't used to live here, though. You used to live... on a farm, you think. But then you fell down a well, and a bunch of bad things you don't like to think about or talk about, EVER, happened, and now you're here! You're something called a Darkling, apparently: a magical fairy of the night! You have long hair and skin that's mostly pale but also this kind of funny purple-green color, like your eyes and hair. You have eyes carved into your skin and teeth. But that's not how you look to everyone else who isn't a fairy like you. To them, you just look like a short, slight teenage girl.

It's July 5, 1977, which makes it an important day for you, because you're going back to school! Even though it's summer, which doesn't strike you as very fair. But who cares! It's 8:30 AM right now, and you're in the back of Uncle Terry's pickup in front of the school.

"Aight, here we are, Spooky. First day of school. Ya got the sandwich I made?"

"Yes, Uncle Terry."

"Good. Now... stay out of trouble and sh-stuff, you hear? I gotta work tonight, so take the bus back: I left the money in the box with your sandwich."

"Thanks, Terry." You lean forward and hug him a bit: you don't like touching people that much, but Uncle Terry feels warm and safe with all his fur.

"Just be good, alright?" Terry claps one of his big hands on your back. You get your backpack full of school supplies out of the back seat and climb down onto the sidewalk. You head towards the large double doors and into Sunrise High.

The homeroom you're supposed to be in for the first day is almost empty, except for two brown-haired kids around your age. One of them's a boy wearing a flannel shirt and a baseball cap that says "HAVE FUN AT BORING" on it. He's got a notebook out and is looking around the room, writing things own. The other one's got long, messy hair and is wearing a pink blouse and dress decorated with seashell patterns. She's asleep face-down on her notebook, snoring like a freight train.

>Say hi to the boy.

>Say hi to the girl.

>Sit down and start reading.

>Walk around the school for a bit.

>Write-In
>>
>>1371192
>Say hi to the boy
We don't want to disturb the girls sleep
>>
>>1371192
>>Walk around the school for a bit.
Let's explore first
>>
>>1371192
>>Walk around the school for a bit.
>>
>>1371192
>>Sit down and start reading.
>>
>>1371277
>>1371283
You don't feel like sitting down yet, so you take a look around the school. Its really big compared to what you remember of elementary school, (which was really just an old chapel that got turned into a school by the government men): there's a few long halls, a field, a special building for gym, and fancy classrooms with pipes and things. It even has nice indoor toilets! You've seen a couple signs for teachers offices, but most of them look empty. There's a door with a bunch of boxes full of paper outside that says "Counselor". You remember Dad talking about this with you: counselors are special people who help you solve your problems.

>Take a peek inside the boxes

>Go back to the classroom

>Write-In
>>
>>1371325
>>Go back to the classroom
Don't want to leave a bad impression on our first day by being caught snooping.
>>
>Go back to the classroom
>>
>>1371325
>>Go back to the classroom
>>
>>1371335
>>1371403
>>1371404
You go back to the classroom. There's a couple more students in it now, but not a lot. Then again, there ARE still 20 more minutes before classes start.

The boy in flannel's laid out a set of pencils and pens, perfectly spaced, on his desk, and is sitting in an attentive pose, eyes locked onto the blackboard. There's something weird with his hands, but you can't quite make it out.

The girl has apparently woken up, and is now busy doodling in her notebook, her tongue stuck out in concentration. She has weird metal bits stuck to her teeth: it makes her look like a robot. She looks weirdly like the boy next to her.

Another girl is seated in the back corner of the room, reading a book with a muscular man wearing a loincloth and not much else on the cover. She's chewing on an oversized eraser shaped like a star on the end of her pencil.

There's a pale boy with neatly-parted hair and a sweatervest/ascot combo seated at the front of the class. Scars seem to cover his hands and parts of his face, but don't seem to really detract from his good looks. He notices you looking, and smiles a bit at you.

Finally, there's a black-haired kid seated in the corner across from pencil-chewer, wearing a plain white T-shirt. He has a strangely hunted look in his blue, sunken and bagged eyes. He's currently hunched over his desk, looking at nothing in particular. Unlike the rest of the kids (who look your age), he looks like he's a couple years older.


>Say hi to flannel boy

>Say hi to metal-teeth girl

>Say hi to pencil-chewer

>Say hi to scar boy.

>Say hi to the old boy.

>(Shy) Sit down in the back of class.

>Write-In
>>
>Say hi to scar boy
>>
>>1371459
>>Say hi to scar boy.
>>
>>1371495
>>1371522
"...Hi."

"Hello! Are you a freshman too? My name's Alfred Winchester, but you can call me Al, or Alfie, but my mom calls me that, so, y'know, might be awkward. What's yours?"
The boy sticks out one hand. You notice that it looks weird and knobbly in places, like a tree branch. You cautiously shake it.

"...Mary."

"Well it sure is nice to meet you, Mary! Well, it's nice to meet anyone new, but especially someone who's willing to shake my hand! Or talk to me. Or acknowledge I exist for more than a minute..."

He trails off for a second, and then snaps back. "Anyways, you can sit next to me if you want, buuutttt you probably shouldn't."

>Oh, ok. (talk to another kid)

>Why not?

>(Shy)Okay, if you don't want me to... (sit by yourself in the back of the class)

>(Kind) I... I don't think it's fair that people just ignore you.

>Write-In
>>
>>1371565
>>Why not?
>Why do people ignore you?
>>
>>1371565
>Why not?
>>
>>1371565
>Why not?
>(Kind) I... I don't think it's fair that people just ignore you.
>>
>>1371569
>>1371599
>>1371603
"Why shouldn't I sit next to you?"

Al smiles a little bit. "Well... I'm just really unlucky. Everyone at my old school knew that, so they just stayed away from me, because they didn't want to get caught up in it. I just don't want you to get hurt or something. It was nice talking with you!"

He pulls an astronomy book out of his backpack and starts reading it.

"Hey, new kid! Come sit by us! C'mon!" It's the girl in the seashell dress. She's waving manically at you, her hand pumping back and forth like a flag in a guster. She starts jerking the boy next to her's hand up.
"Ow... CUT IT OUT, sis! I'm trying to read!"
"But there's a new kid!"

"...We're new kids too, you realize that, right?"

>Talk to the girl and her brother.

>Sit down by Al.

>(Shy) Sit by yourself in the back of the class.

>Write-In
>>
>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.
>>
>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.
>>
>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.
>>
>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.
>>
>>1371626
>Talk to the girl and her brother.
>>
>>1371628
>>1371630
>>1371717
>>1371815
>>1371864
You head over to them. "Um, I'm not sure if I should-"

"HiI'mRowanandthisisOrionwe'retwinsnicetomeetcha!"

Your hand is trapped in a python-like embrace and worked like a water pump by Rowan. Orion looks over and smiles apologetically. "Sorry about her. We're kind of from the boonies, never been to the city before. The folks sprung to send us here because-"

"ORION'S A SUPER GENIUS WHO'S GOING TO SEND US TO THE MOON!"

"CALM DOWN, Rowan. And that's just not true. I'm kind of sharp, but, you know, I'm not all that," Orion says in a distinctive bragging-while-trying-to-look-like-your-not-bragging tone. "Besides, you're a pretty good artist or whatever."

"I'm going to be a FASHION designer!"

"Pfft. Same thing. So, did you go to the schools around here?"

>(Subterfuge): Totally. You should stick with me if you want to learn the ropes.

>(Subterfuge): No... I'm a transfer...

>So, where did you go then?

>(Shy) *Say nothing*

>(Shy) Walk away.

>Write-In
>>
>>1372218
>(Subterfuge): No... I'm a transfer...
If you'll look at the sheet, we're a pretty good liar as it turns out.
>>
>>1372218
>(Subterfuge): No... I'm a transfer...
>>
>>1372237
>>1372290
Roll Presence + Subterfuge. Since you're a Darkling, YOU GET TO EXPLODE ON THIS ROLL!
>>
Rolled 4, 2, 4, 5, 4 = 19 (5d10)

>>1372334
>>
Rolled 7, 6, 8, 2, 6 = 29 (5d10)

>>1372334
>>
Rolled 1, 2, 8, 9, 9 = 29 (5d10)

>>1372334
Finishing out rolls.
>>
Rolled 8, 1, 7 = 16 (3d10)

>>1372467
"Um, no... I'm a transfer..."

Rowan purses her lips and gives you a weird look...
>>
Rolled 7, 9, 2, 6, 4 = 28 (5d10)

>>1372334
>5d10
>>
>>1372493
Then smiles. "Oh, okay! So we're in the same boat! So, come on, you gonna sit with us?"

>Um, sure...

>I'd kind of like to talk to someone else, but maybe...

>(Shy): Uh, um, no. Sorry... (Sit by self)

>Write-In
>>
>>1372512
>Um, sure...

You mind if I try to invite the other kid over too?
>>
>>1372512
>I'd kind of like to talk to someone else, but maybe...
>>
>>1372578
This
>>
>>1372578
this senpai
>>
>>1372578
>>1372631
>>1372578
"Um, sure. Do you mind if I try to invite the other kid over too?"

"Sure! The more the merrier! Why? Is he your boyfriend~? Because if you aren't, he's totally going to be mine."

"Row, you don't even know him."

"And? He's cute. And all those scars? So dangerous~"

Orion just sighs.

You look over at Al and wave at him. "Hey, do... do you mind if you sit with me -me and these two?"

"What? You want me to sit with the both of you? Are you sure?"

"Yeah, totally! So what's your name?"

"Alfred."

"AW, MAN! I thought it'd be something cool and mysterious, like Damien or Ramses or Jasamacaron!"

"That's not an actual name, sis."

"And why not?!! It's a GREAT name!"

"I must say, it's nice to sit around such enthusiastic people! Are you sure you want me to sit with you? This isn't a joke or anything?"

"Aw, c'mon, why'd we joke about something like that with you, future hus-I mean Alfie, hehehe!"

You take a seat between the twins and pull your notebook out. Orion gives you an eye-rolling look.

It's 10 minutes before first bell, and the rest of the class is starting to drain in.


>Talk with Orion (about what?)

>Talk with Al (about what?)

>Talk with Rowan (about what?)

>Introduce yourself to the older kid.

>Introduce yourself to the eraser-chewer.

>Sit quietly.

>Write-In
>>
>>1372957
>Talk with Orion (about what?)
Ask him jokingly if his sister is always like this
>>
>>1372987

This
>>
>>1371192
Woo mary quest!
>>
>>1372987
>>1373053
"Is your sister always?.."

"So high-strung? Yeah, pretty much. My dad says I got all the brains and she got all the spunk. This is actually calm for her. Give her sugar and she's bouncing off the walls."

>Oh...

>How do you live with that?

>She seems nice.

>Where are you guys from?

>Write-In
>>
>>1373142
>She seems nice.
>>
>>1373142
>Oh...
>Where are you guys from?
>>
>>1373142
>Oh...
>She seems nice.
>Where are you guys from?
>>
>>1373255
This.
>>
>>1373170
>>1373181
>>1373255
>>1373361
"Oh... She seems nice."

Orion smiles a bit. "I guess. It's just exhausting when you can't get away. Mom and Dad aren't letting us have separate rooms until September, because I guess they don't have room or whatever. So until then, it's the ol' bunk bed for us. I mean, it's lame, but, pffft, what can you do, right?"

He leans back in his desk chair, puts his feet up, and almost tips his chair over. He catches himself at the last second, and grins sheepishly at you. "Can you just pretend that didn't happen?"

"Okay... Where are you from?"

"Oh, my sis and I used to live in Boring. Lived in Middle Apartments, went to Boring Elementary and Boring Middle..."

"I guess you could say we were BORING kids! Ah, ah?..."

Orion shoots a glare at his sister's interjection. "That wasn't funny the FIRST time you made that joke, sis."

"Aw, what'dya know about comedy? You've got your nose in your books all the time!"

Orion lifts his nose and tries to deliver a dignified sniff. Due to his button nose and a blocked nostril, it comes out with a sound like a very tiny teakettle.

"I'll have you know I've read Swift, which is real comedy for sophisticated people."

"Ooh, I read that book too! But... how's it fancy? There's a lot of poop and butt jokes."

"I...well... shut up!"

"I mean, she has a point."

"You too, Albert!"

"It's Alfred, but thanks for getting close, at least!"

It's now 5 minutes to class. If you want to talk to anyone else before first bell, now's the time.


>Talk with Orion (about what?)

>Talk with Al (about what?)

>Talk with Rowan (about what?)

>Introduce yourself to the older kid.

>Introduce yourself to the eraser-chewer.

>Sit quietly.

>Write-In
>>
>>1373460
>Introduce yourself to the older kid.
>>
>>1373460
>Talk with Rowan (about what?)

Does she have any of her drawings/designs on her?
>>
>>1373550
>>1373550
Seconding this
>>
>>1373550
>>1374181
You take advantage of Alfred and Orion talking to get a word in with Rowan.
"Uh, do you have any of your fashion drawings with you?"

"Oh, not that many, only ALL OF THEM!" Rowan pulls a thick sketchbook out of her backpack and opens it. A significant amount of glitter dust and an errant bead fall onto her desk. Her designs are... busy. The fact that the illustrations are in eye-searingly bright shades and are "enhanced" with craft glitter, beads, gemstones, and other arts-and-crafts supplies doesn't help.

"What's this one?" you say, jabbing at a random sketch.

"Oh, you mean the TRIANGLE DRESS. It's a dress made out of triangles. Like, phph, SO many triangles. There's wires here, here, here, and HERE to support it. And it comes with a matching hat and glasses."

"I don't get it."

"ppbbt, That's okay, I get that a lot! But trust me, in the future, EVERYONE'S going to wear triangle dresses. Probably while attending dances on the MOON! You'd look SO cute in one! You should come back with Orion and me after school, I can make a dress for you! I have a LOT of fabric! Well, not on hand, but I can definitely get it fast! We could have a sleepover and EVERYTHING!"

>(Shy) Um, I-I-I c-ouldn't. (Go silent).

>I don't think my Uncle Terry would let me. B-but it sounds fun!

>...Sure.

>Write-In
>>
>>1374267
>(Shy) Um, I-I-I c-ouldn't. (Go silent).
>>
>>1374267
>(Shy) Um, I-I-I c-ouldn't. (Go silent).
>>
>>1374267
>I don't think my Uncle Terry would let me. B-but it sounds fun!
>>
>>1374950
>>1375074
You feel yourself start to flush. Going to their house? What if their parents don't like you? What if you do something embarrassing and they hate you and leave you alone and then you never have any friends forever?
"Um, uh, I-I-I c-ouldn't, s-sorry."

"Aw, why not? C'mon!"

You just hunch over, your hair falling over your face.

You hear a bell ring, and the teacher walks in. He's short, portly, and balding, with a face that glistens like a candied ham despite the air-conditioned room.

"Good day, students, I'm Mr. Lambert, and welcome to your first day of summer school." He puts down a stack of books and turns to look at the class.
"All of you are here for a reason. For some of you, it's because your parents want you to be as ready as possible for high school, and congratulations for that. Some of you are here for extra credit, or because you are pursuing an accelerated course of study. And some of you-" his gaze flickers along the back row- " are here because, for whatever reason, you require remedial lessons. But regardless of the reason you are here, I expect all of you to apply yourself fully. Yes, this is summer, but that is no excuse to slack off. What happens here DOES go on your permanent record, after all. Now, I'll be calling roll and then you will be handed your schedules. Angstrom Abernathy!"

The roll call marches on, encompassing yourself, the eraser-chewer ("...Moonbeam Lemongrass."), the older boy ("Joseph Stevenson!"), and the twins ("Orion and Rowan Stone!"). as Mr. Lambert checks off the final name and starts to put the paper away, Alfred's hand shoots up. "Um, pardon me, Mr. Lambert? I hate to be a bother, but you didn't call my name."

"Oh. Knew I forgot something. What's your name, son?"

"Alfred Winchester."

"Alright, Alfred... Winchester... Okay, anyone else? No? Good. Now, if I could get a volunteer- ah, thank you, Smith- you'll receive your schedules and go off to your first class periods."

It turns out all students in the same year get the same schedule, so you, the twins, Alfred, and Moonbeam Lemongrass are all in the same classes. Your first three periods are History, Science, and English.

Roll Intelligence + Study (3 dice) to see how well you grasp these subjects.
>>
Rolled 9, 2, 9 = 20 (3d10)

>>1375141
>>
Rolled 8, 5, 1 = 14 (3d10)

>>1375141
>>
Rolled 6, 10, 7 = 23 (3d10)

>>1375141
>>
Rolled 4, 5, 5 = 14 (3d10)

>>1375141
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1375240
>>
Rolled 3, 5, 5 = 13 (3d10)

>>1375141

Well note to self, talk with Moonbeam Lemongrass, she seems like she had cool parents
>>
>>1375187
You've been reading some of the books on history and novels that Terry has lying around, so you feel okay about History and English. Science, however... you kind of feel lost there. You don't have a lot of time to talk with Orion, Rowan, or Al (although you are hit in the face with lead several times with snapped lead from five of Al's pencils).

Lunchtime eventually rolls around, and you go to the cafeteria to eat. You can see that Al and the twins have taken a seat at a table and are waving to you. Most of the other students have grouped up into their own little clubs, except for Joseph Stevenson and Moonbeam Lemongrass, who each are sitting on their own.

>(Shy) Sit by yourself.

> Sit with the rest of your group.

>Sit with Moonbeam

>Sit with Joseph

>(Kind) Invite Moonbeam to sit with you guys.

>(Kind) Invite Joseph to sit with you guys.

>(Kind) Invite both of them to sit with you guys.

>Write-In
>>
>>1375603
>(Kind) Invite both of them to sit with you guys.

Don't want to see them get left out, plus it means there will be new people to interrogate which means we wont have to answer questions about ourself

Did we ever figure out what our Mask looks like?
>>
>>1375603
>(Kind) Invite both of them to sit with you guys.
>>
>>1375603
>(Kind) Invite both of them to sit with you guys.
>>
>>1375613
>>1375633
>>1375775
You go over to Moonbeam's table.

"U-uh... you can sit with us over there if you want."

The girl looks up and smiles, showing some crooked teeth. "Ohhh, really? That'd just be radical!" She reaches into her backpack and slaps something on the front of your shirt. You look down to see a bright yellow star sticker. "Thanks, sister!"

"Oh...kay..." You head over to Joseph's table. "Hey, do you want to sit with us?..."

Joseph looks up and over to your group. "Yeah, sure." He gets up, then suddenly pauses and tilts his head to one side. "Actually, nevermind."

>Why not?

>Oh... okay...

>Write-In
>>
>>1376029
>Oh... okay...

Well... if you change your mind... feel free to say hi
>>
>>1376029
this >>1376034
>>
>>1376029
>Oh... okay...
>>
>>1376034
>>1376041
>>1376074
"Oh... okay... Well, if you change your mind, you can come over."

"Sure."

You head over to the table.

"Hey everyone, I'm Moonbeam! Your radical little black-haired friend over there invited me over!"

"Hey! I'm Rowan, this is Orion, and that's Alfie."

"Nice to meet you, Moonbeam."

"Oh, I remember you! You're that kid everyone says is cursed. What's the story with that?"

"Oh, it's really nothing, just some bad luck..."

"There's no such thing as bad luck, you know! It's all about karma, man. Listen, my dad's a guru- he could do an energy cleansing session with you, get all the bad vibes out."

"I... appreciate the offer, but I must decline. I don't believe in curses."

"Maybe not, man, but curses believe in you."

>Talk to Al (about what?)

>Talk to Orion (about what?)

>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)

>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence

>Write-In
>>
>>1376158
>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence
>>
>>1376158
>>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence
>>
>>1376158
>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence
>>
>>1376158
>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence
Listen to everyone talk about them selves, try to learn thing about the developing group dynamic.
>>
>>1376158
>(Shy) Eat your lunch in silence
>>
>>1376162
>>1376180
>>1376189
>>1376279
You eat your lunch in silence, listening to the group:

"...It's absurd, 'Moonbeam', that's why! Curses simply don't exist! It's against all laws of logic and nature!"

"That's what YOU think, man."

"One of my ancestors drove themselves to their death obsessing over the idea that they might be 'cursed', and I won't go the same way. It's not statistically impossible for some people to be unlucky, or even highly unlucky!"

"So why are you seated at the other end of the table from us, man?"

"Well... maybe I'm just intoverted!"

"Intro-huh?"

"It means he prefers to be on his own, sis. Wish I had that luxury."

"Hey, hey. What's all your guys's signs?"

"Astrology isn't real, either! The idea that the stars control our lives is ridiculous."

"Yeah, what Alfie said!"

"Now don't be too hasty. I've had some weird coincidences happen to me that my horoscope predicted..."

"Oh, COME ON! Orion, you're a pretty smart guy- at least, from what I can tell from our couple of hours in the same class- you can't seriously think that horoscopes are real?"

"If you came from where I'm from, you'd believe, man. You'd believe."

"God, Orion, you're so CRAZY!"

"Am NOT! Mary, back me up here, I'm not crazy, right?"

"Yeah, sister. You believe in higher worlds and stuff, right?"

Moonbeam and Orion look at you from one side, and Rowan (and Alfred in the distance) look at you from the other.

>...Yeah, I believe.

>(Subterfuge) N-no. W-who'd think fairies and stuff are real, heheh....

>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...

>(Shy) I, I, uh I-I have to go! (Get up and leave)

>Write-In
>>
>>1376475
>>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...
>>
>>1376475
>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...
>>
>>1376475
>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...
>>
>>1376475
>(Subterfuge) N-no. W-who'd think fairies and stuff are real, heheh....
>>
>>1376475
>(Subterfuge) N-no. W-who'd think fairies and stuff are real, heheh....
>>
>>1376475
>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, m-maybe n-not?...
>I-i think maybe there are things beyond science, but they are p-probably way different that what we think of as magic. I-it's kinda w-weird to think we have the full picture either way considering how big the world is...r-right?
>>
>>1376555

This
>>
>>1376475
>>Maybe they're real, but, on the other hand, maybe not?...
Don't stutter, we're Mary of the Autumn Court, not some mentally challenged kid talking to its crush. Mary is getting good with our help, whether she wants it or not.
>>
>>1376489
>>1376492
>>1376497
>>1376555
>>1376576
"I mean, on the one hand, m-maybe it's real, but on the other hand, it might... not... be?"

"AAGH!" Orion throws up his hands. "What sort of answer is that?!"

"Come on, Mary, you can't seriously be considering those sorts of fairy tales real! You're 13! We're smarter than that!"

"I-I just think maybe there are things beyond science, but they are p-probably way different that what we think of as magic. I-it's kinda w-weird to think we have the full picture either way considering how big the world is...r-right?"

"Well- actually, you know what? I guess that's a fair point."

"Yeah, you're totally, like, a philosopher or something, girl."

"So anyways- who wants to hang out after school~!?"

"Shouldn't we think about other things, Rowan? Like schoolwork?"

"Schoolwork, schmoolwork! It's SUMMER, let's have some fun!"

"Oh, sure! My family's new in Portland, so we should look for power spots around the school, or in downtown! It'd even help our grades, so, you know, that'd be good!"

"'Power spots'? Okay, I'm willing to believe in the paranormal, but that's ridiculous! If we're going to to something, let's go ghost hunting. I've got some experimental equipment I put together based on Jung's theoretical principles and some Kirlian film, and between the five of us, we're bound to get some evidence if we pick the right place!"

"That's horrible, man! Couldn't we do a seance to free that poor lost soul instead?"

"...Well, afterwards, I guess..."

"Bro. Bro. CHILL with the ghost stuff. We should just hang out at home with these guys! There's the creek, and the woods, and I can make you all some awesome duds!"

"Well, I suppose if we're fielding options for extracurricular activities, there's an amusement arcade that's opened up recently. All sorts of electronic games, it's all really interesting! I carry a lot of spare change with me, just in case, so I can treat you guys as thanks."

"I dunno... what do you think, Sunshine? That's what I'm calling you now. Because, you know, the sticker I put on your shirt?"


>I think just walking around and seeing these 'power spots' might be nice...

>(smile) I like ghosts.... ghost hunting, I mean.

>...I think just spending time at your house would be nice, R-Rowan.

>I can't. Uncle Terry would worry about me.

>(Shy) (remain silent).

>Write-In
>>
>>1376615
>(smile) I like ghosts.... ghost hunting, I mean.
Let's play to our strengths.
>>
>>1376615
FUCK.

>I've never played an electronic game before...

Should be on the above list.
>>
>>1376615
>(smile) I like ghosts.... ghost hunting, I mean.
>>
>>1376615
>I've never played an electronic game before...
"L-lets get to know each other before we g-go hunting, okay?"
>>
>>1376615
>>1376662
This'n
>>
>>1376615
>>I've never played an electronic game before...
but not for long because
>Uncle Terry would worry about me.
>>
>>1376615
>>1376662
>>1376708
These please
We just formed the group we need to build trust before we go off an do dangerous stuff like ghost hunting. Start small you know.
Do you think the school has a phone we can call Terry with before we go.
>>
>>1376662
>>1376708
>>1376726
"I've never played an electronic game before... but I can't stay for long, though. Uncle Terry would worry about me."

"So you live with your uncle? What's about that?"

"ROWAN! You can't just ask someone you barely know that!"

"What? We lived with our uncle."

"That was for like, two months."

"So... what do you think of our teachers?"

"Thanks for the save, Alfie!"

"Grrghn..."

"Anyways, I think Mrs. Dobowsky's nice enough."

"I bet she's a Virgo."

"Mr. Belfast seemed... intense."

"Lots of English teachers can be like that. You've just got to take it in stride-"

You hear a crackle come over the intercom, and then a voice blares out:

"Mary Freedman! Mary Freedman! Please come to the front office!"

You quickly get up and scurry up to the front desk, where a secretary is holding a telephone.

"...yes."

"Oh! Sorry, didn't see you there! Your uncle's on the phone."

She hands it down to you.

"Hey, Uncle Terry!"

"Hey, Spooky. How's the first day of school going?"

"Alright. I'm making some new friends already. They seem nice!"

"Yeah, well let me tell you, first impressions ain't always the truth. Still, glad you're out meeting new people and all that. Anyways: I think I might be out all night, there's some lost hikers that need rescuing. There's a TV dinner in the freezer, just use the instructions. Oh, almost forgot: you should probably drop in and see the counselor after school. It's his first gig teaching there, apparently, and I'm certain you'd like someone you could talk to there, yeah?"

>Okay, Uncle Terry.

>Can I go to the arcade with my friends after school?

>Can I ask you something? (whisper into the line) What if people here start asking me about fairies? What if I accidentally use my powers in front of everyone?

>Write-In
>>
>>1376898
>Can I go to the arcade with my friends after school?
>>
>>1376898
>Can I go to hang out with my friends after school?
Its the 70s so im not sure if this is before, after, or while arcades became shady hotspots.
Lets just say we are going hang out with friends and do homework and shit.
>>
>>1376907
>>1376936
"Hey, can I go hang out with my friends after school?"

"Only if you get any schoolwork you have done tonight. You gotta promise me that, got it?"

You don't have much assigned from your first three periods (just some reading), and as far as you know, gym doesn't HAVE homework.
"Okay!"

"Good. Now, what'd you say you and your friends were doing again?"

>Just going to the arcade.

>(Subterfuge): We're just hanging out at one of their houses.

>Write-In

>>1376936
Before. Space Invaders, and by extension the Golden Age of Videogames, is less than a year on the horizon. Right now, arcades are kind of novelty businesses.
>>
>>1377127
>Just going to the arcade.
There's no reason to lie here, is there?
>>
>>1377127
>Just going to the arcade.

Going to play an electronic game (is Joust out in this time period?)
>>
>>1377135
>>1377136
"Just going to the arcade."

You hear Uncle Terry's deep, throaty chuckle on the other end of the line. "Heh, should have guessed. You kids and your pinball games. Have fun! You'd better not dip into my spare money tin for nickels, though. I need those for parking fees!"

"Yes, Uncle Terry." You know he actually uses them to buy chewing gum (and, occasionally, cheap liquor), but you don't want to get in an argument with him.

"Good girl. Now, I gotta go hike out and find that jackass who got himself lost, probably drunk off his a- Yes, boss, I'm getting the keys to the off-roader, keep your damn pants on! Gotta go, sweetie. Bye!"

You hand the line back to the girl at the front desk and head back to your group.

"So, what was it?"

"Did you get in trouble?!"

"Use your head, sis. She was gone for like five minutes, she isn't in trouble."

"My uncle. He said I could go hang out with you when I asked."

"Excellent! We should go a bit after our last class: which one is that, again?"

"Art. We've got Math, then Gym, then Art."

"Sorry. My schedule got damp. I put my bag outside the restrooms, and when I came out, the water fountain had leaked all over it."

"See? You're cursed, man. I'm telling you, you should at least buy some purifying crystals, my mom makes these awesome necklaces-"

The bell starts ringing in the hall.

"Well, never mind. Come on, guys, let's get to Math."

Most of the coursework here is remedial work: roll Intelligence + Study (3 dice) to see how much of it you grasp.
>>
Rolled 4, 7, 4 = 15 (3d10)

>>1377179
2+2=5!
>>
Rolled 5, 4, 2 = 11 (3d10)

>>1377179
>3 dice
>>
>>1377179
Education, HOOOOOOOOO
>>
Rolled 5, 10, 7 = 22 (3d10)

>>1377210
>>
>>1377179
>>1377210
Are you going to roll, anon?
>>
>>1377212
>>1377213
Disregard that comment.
>>
>>1377216
No problem, man
>>
>>1377212
Explosion, anon?
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>1377212
Guess I'll roll it...
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1377212
>>1377229
Kablam
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>1377212
I'll blow him up
>>
>>1377212
Well, you have a fair grasp of addition, subtraction, and multiplication, and you can easily do whole division, but once it gets to remainders, you start to lock up. Dang it.
While working, you look over and notice Moonbeam working on her exercises. Her forehead is covered in wrinkles and she has her tongue stuck out of the corner of her mouth. You're just close enough to hear her whispers:

"Seven by six is twenty-four- no! thirty-six, definitely! I think... oh, come ON, Moonbeam, you know the eight types of herbs that cure rheumatism, you should know this!..."

Orion and Al churn through their exercises in no time (despite Al's pencil snapping in half), while Rowan seems to proceed at the same pace as you.

Gym's up next. According to Coach Carter (a man who's bushy eyebrows and beard, large, hairy arms, and sharp, barking voice put you in mind of a terrier that did a lot of push-ups), the first day will consist of a "basic fitness test."

Roll Stamina + Athletics (4 dice).
>>
Rolled 6, 1, 10, 9 = 26 (4d10)

>>1377267
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1377269
Bap
>>
Rolled 10, 9, 7, 3 = 29 (4d10)

>>1377267
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1377276
>>
Rolled 5, 3, 2, 2 = 12 (4d10)

>>1377267
Finishing the rolls.
>>
>>1377276
>>1377301
You pass through the exam with a clean bill of health: Coach Carter even remarks that he didn't expect "a pale, bookish-lookin'" girl like you to perform as well as you did. Moonbeam and Orion seem to do similarly to you, while Rowan struggles with the work-outs. Alfred was doing okay as well, up until his climbing rope snapped in half and he fell on another student who was walking across the fall pad ("IN CLEAR DAMN VIOLATION OF MY SAFETY BRIEFING!", you heard Coach yell at Mr. Lambert as the two were taken to the nurse's office). Hopefully, he's alright enough to not miss out on your trip: he's the one who proposed it, after all.

The final period is the one you've been dreading: art. You know nothing about it. What's worse, you're supposed to make a drawing for the first day of class to "represent yourself." Oh God, what should you draw?

Roll a chance die (1d10, 10 is a success, 2-9 are failures, 1 is a dramatic failure). Can spend 1 point of willpower to turn the roll into an ordinary 3-dice roll.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1377339
Even if we fuck this up, this will be entertaining. Let's roll baby!
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1377339

Alright, let's gamble with this one, depending on how bad it goes we might be going to talk to the councilor either way
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1377339
>>
>>1377356
You settle on a simplistic drawing of your Mask (similar to your Mien, save the absence of your gleaming teeth, burning-bright eyes, eye-scars, and the green-purple color throughout, and with hair that, while long, doesn't stretch to your waist on all sides and writhe slowly: so not at all like it, really) standing alongside Uncle Terry's Mask outside of your house. The teacher calls it "a good first attempt", which makes you feel okay. Rowan produces a dazzle of bright pinks and violets surrounding a weird, wavy model of herself: it looks really blurry, which according to the teacher means it's Impressionist. You notice a lot more attention seems to have been given to the clothes Rowan is wearing in the portrait than her. Orion initially refuses to paint, stating that "the blank canvas expresses my emotional state that this whole painting-your-feelings crap is a bunch of garbage"; after being threatened with being reported to the principal, he draws a red square, which he claims symbolizes "anger at having to do this assignment". Alfred returns from the nurse's office halfway through class with a slight limp and a note excusing his tardiness. With so little time provided to him, he opts to crudely draw a large, four-story house, with several vague figures staring out of windows. The teacher praises it as "technically unskilled, but full of symbolism".


The last bell rings for the day, and your class starts filing out of the halls. The route you five are swept along by the herd motion of the students takes you towards the Counselor's office: you can see that all the boxes you saw earlier are gone, and the lights in the office are on. The sign on the outside says:

SCHOOL COUNSELOR

DR. DUSKMONT

>Visit the counselor

>Go straight to the arcade

>Write-In
>>
>>1377385
>Visit the counselor

We promised we would
>>
>>1377385
Visit councelor
On a side note, I'm getting sick of Orion already, he reminds me of Sam too much
>>
>>1377385
Guess we should drop by.
>Visit the counselor
>>
>>1377385
>Visit the counselor
>>
>>1377390
>>1377530
>>1377609
>>1377700

"Hey, guys... can you wait for me outside? I have... something I need to do."

You make a sharp turn out of the great Post-School Migration of the American Teenager and duck into the counselor's office.

The office is plain-looking: besides a filing cabinet in a corner and a pair of plush armchairs on either side of a desk, the only decoration is a strange, brown painting hanging beneath a window. It seems to show a vaguely-human-like figure with its hands in it's mouth. It doesn't have eyes, and its hands seem to have far too many fingers.
Your eyes are quickly drawn, however, to the figure in the chair. He's tall and thin, with violet eyes and paper-white skin, no hair, a small, hooked nose, and thin lips wrapped around a mouth full of needle-like teeth. His hands end in long, pointed nails. He seems to smell strongly of leaf mold, something sugary, and pumpkins. Despite all of this, he seems more... interesting than scary. He looks up from a piece of paper and sees you.

"Oh! What a pleasant surprise! I wasn't aware that any of our people went to this school. My name is Oswald Duskmont, and, while I think I've seen you before, the name is eluding me... Do you mind reminding me?"

>...I'm Mary.

>Uncle Terry didn't say you were a changeling...

>(Shy) (Say nothing)

>Write-In
>>
>>1377530
Which character are you referring to again?
Might have forgotten them.
>>
>>1377832
>...I'm Mary
>>
>>1377832
>Uncle Terry didn't say you were a changeling...
>>
>>1377832
>>...I'm Mary.
>>
>>1377844
>>1377874
"...I'm Mary."

"Ah, let's see... Mary, Mary- ah, you must be Mary Freedman, yes?"

"Yeah."

"Alright! Well, Mary, if you're having problems, need advice, or you just want someone to talk to, my door is always open. How are you liking your first day of school?"

"It's fine... can I go?"

"If you want to, but... are you sure there isn't something you want to talk to me about?"

>Are curses real?

>Is it possible for changelings to be friends with humans?

>No (go to meet your friends)

>Write-In
>>
>>1377881
>>Are curses real?
>>
>>1377881
>Are curses real?
>Is it possible for changelings to be friends with humans?

Because I think I made some
>>
>>1377890
>>1377916
"...Are curses real?"

Oswald gives you a look. "Why do you ask? Are you concerned about accidentally cursing someone?"

"I have a friend who's really unlucky..."

"...And you're concerned that he's cursed. Well- yes, curses are real, but they're rare. Not all bad luck can be attributed to the Evil Eye or something like that. Besides, curses are almost always leveled as a punishment for wrongs inflicted, and I doubt your friend could have done something at his age to earn a curse."

"But what if he is?!"

"If he is, I'll soon know about it. Now, is there anything else?"

"Uh, yeah. Can... can a changeling and a human be friends? Because I have some friends, and they're human..."

Oswald gives you a pitying look. "That is a... hard question, Mary. Yes, you can be friends with humans, but... it will be hard. Friendship, you see, often involves a certain level of intimacy- by that I mean honesty, you understand?- and it can be hard for people like us to do that without letting them know what we are. If you want to be real friends with them, you have to let them know you: the real you. And that can be dangerous. But if you don't, can you really call them friends, true friends?..." Oswald stares off into the distance for a few seconds, before suddenly snapping back. "Sorry. Like I said, this isn't an easy question to answer. Ultimately, you need to make the decision that you believe is right."

"...Okay..."

You get up and head for the door.

"Remember, Mary: whenever you need advice, and don't feel like talking to Terry or Jerry about it, you can come and see me!"

You head down the now-empty halls and out into the warm July air. Alfred and the rest are waiting by the city bus stop at the bottom of the hill Sunrise High rests atop.
"Hey, Sunshine! What was that about?..."

"Nothing..."

"Aw, come on! We're friends, right?"

>I wanted to talk to the counselor.

>(Subterfuge) I was going to the toilet, Moonbeam. Nothing exciting.

>(Intimidate) I said nothing, okay! Back off!

>Write-In
>>
>>1377971
>I wanted to talk to the counselor.
>>
>>1377971
>I wanted to talk to the counselor.
>>
>>1377971
>Write-In

The councilor is a friend of my Uncle and he wanted me to stop in and say hi.

Honesty ho!
>>
>>1377971
this >>1377985
>>
>>1377971
>>1377985
thirding
>>
>>1377985
All right, I'll change my vote to this
>>
>>1377985
>>1378134
>>1378216
>>1378222
"The counselor is a friend of my uncle, and he wanted me to stop in and say hi."

"Oh, really? What's your uncle do?"

"He's a forest ranger. He helps people who get lost near Mt. Hood."

"Protecting the land from industrialists. I like it. My dad's a guru who gives people spiritual guidance and life advice, and cleanses their auras and stuff, and my mom's a medicine woman. I'm learning how to be one too!"

"'Medicine Woman'? More like a snake-oil salesman...woman. Those natural cure-alls only work for really minor things. The people who sell them always exaggerate their effects to sucker people into buying them instead of using ACTUAL medicine."

"Hey, Alfred, lay off of her! A lot of drugs have active ingredients that come from herbs! You need to stop being so judgmental!"

"Judgmental! Do you know all the stupid trash I've had to put up with because of all the paranoia abou-"

"HEY LOOK THE BUS IS HERE LET'S STOP ARGUING NOW!"

The five of you file onto the bus. Rowan takes a seat between Alfred and Orion, with Moonbeam sitting to Orion's right. You take a seat at the end.

As the bus starts rolling, you can feel the simmering resentment between the two boys roiling under the surface.

>So... let's talk about what our parents do, and stuff...

>Talk to Alfred (about what?)

>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

>Talk to Orion (about what?)

>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)

>Write-In
>>
>>1378319
>So... let's talk about what our parents do, and stuff...
>>
>>1378319
>Talk to Alfred (about what?)

"Hey... I am sorry that people have tried to force things on you and your family... we're not trying to do that. Dad always said that everybody has got a different way of dealing with things so let's just all promise ... to keep.. an open." Trail off as you realize everyone is looking at us and go silent
>>
>>1378345
"Hey, Alfred... I'm sorry that people forced things on your family and stuff... but we aren't trying to do that. Dad says... said... that everybody's got a different way of dealing with things. So let's all promise to keep... an open..." You realize everyone's staring at you, and trail off into silence.

"... You're right. Sorry, Mary. I overreacted."

"Great, everyone's friends again! Now... let's talk about what we want to be when we grow up, or something!"

"Sure. Personally, I'd like to work at NASA. Knowing my luck, I'd probably end up being a janitor there or something... but a chance to contribute to our understanding of the universe outside of the atmosphere would be incredible."

"Fashion designer! Definitely! Although, if I had a chance, I'd settle for marrying a beautiful prince..."

"Do they even have princes anymore? I thought there were, like, all these revolutions and stuff..."

"Yeah, but they still let the princes hang out and have nice things and stuff. But anyways, once I marry a prince, I get to be QUEEN when I grow up, and that'd just be awesome! I'd live in a beautiful mansion and own a horse named Diamondancy Buttercup, and-"

"That name sounds famil-HEY. This is just like those dolls you used to play with when we were, like, five!"

"Well? A girl can dream."

"Psht. I'm going to be a cryptozoologist."

"Radical. What's a cryptozoologist?"

"It's someone who studies species that as-of-yet aren't recognized by science, like Bigfoot, and the chupacabra."

"Well, I'm probably going to be a medicine woman like my mom, but apparently I have to go to high school anyways, so... guess it's your turn, Mary."


>(Shy) Remain silent.

>I don't really know...

>I'm going to be a queen.

>I'm going to be in horror movies.

>Mortician.

>Psychologist.

>Write-In
>>
>>1378526
>Mortician.
>>
>>1378526
> A detective like our dad
>>
>>1378526
>(Shy) Remain silent.
>>
>>1378526
>>I don't really know...
>>
>>1378600
switching to this
>>
>>1378600

This, seems like how she would interpret our line of work
>>
>>1378600
>>1378698
>>1378701
"I want to be a detective, like my dad."

"Your dad was a detective? AWESOME! Did he bust drug dealers and stuff?"

"ROWAN! She's probably sensitive about that."

"Oh, yeah..."

"No, it's fine."


You arrive at the Portland Arcade. The inside is a dimly-lit space filled with row after row of pinball machines. Alfie dumps out a stack of quarters, rapidly divides them into five equal piles, and hands one to each of you. The group starts scattering into the arcade.

Who do you want to spend this time with?

>Orion

>Rowan

>Moonbeam

>Alfie

>(Shy) Spend the time by yourself.
>>
>>1378796
>>Rowan
Let's get a solid female friendship before we hang out with boys
>>
>>1378796
>Rowan

For this >>1378809 and because honestly the siblings are my favorite so far. Still if it came down to a choice between Moonbeam and Alfred I would pick Moonbeam since she seems a lot less antagonistic and also because she could probably hook us up with useful herbs and reagents
>>
>>1378796
>Rowan
>>
Rolled 1, 1, 6, 10 = 18 (4d10)

>>1378809
>>1378896
"Hey, Rowan... can we hang out?"

"Yeah! I hope you like pinball, though; I'm pretty good at it!"

"Hey, sis, you ready to-"

"Oh! Sorry, Orion, I already have a player two! How about you play with Moonbeam or something?"

"Buh-"

"No, its totally good! HEY, MOONBEAM, ORION HERE WANTS TO PLAY PINBALL WITH YOU!"

"Oh, sure. Never actually played these things before. Thanks!~"

Orion's face goes red and sweaty as Moonbeam pulls him away by one arm.

"Oh, those crazy kids, right? Come on, let's do this one!"

You get pulled over to a two-player, highly-patriotic-looking pinball machine: PIONEER flashes above the scoreboard.

Roll Dexterity + Composure (5 dice). Must beat above roll.
>>
Rolled 4, 9, 1, 4, 1 = 19 (5d10)

>>1379003
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1379003
Exploding.
>>
Rolled 3, 8, 9, 8, 4 = 32 (5d10)

>>1379003
>>
Rolled 5, 4, 10, 2, 6 = 27 (5d10)

>>1379003
>>
>>1379020

Boom

>>1379019

Hey we're pretty good at pinball
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1379026

Fuck
>>
>>1379019
"Wow, you're pretty good at this!"

"...I guess..."

The two of you start playing on separate machines; you start adjusting to the rhythm of the pinball machines, and you start making small talk with Rowan.

>Did you always want to be a fashion designer?

>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?

>Why's your brother believe in the supernatural?

>Write-In
>>
>>1379081
>>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?
>>
>>1379081
>Why's your brother believe in the supernatural?
>>
>>1379081
>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?
It begins
>>
>>1379081
>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?
'rion and Moonbeam
sittin' in a tree
K-I-S-S-I-N-G
>>
>>1379081
>Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?
>Why's your brother believe in the supernatural?
>>
>>1379084
>>1379105
>>1379125
"Why were you so eager to send Orion off with Moonbeam?"

"Well, he and I play games against each other, like, all the time, and I wanted a chance to play someone else. Plus, you know, he needs to get out and meet some girls, and if he's dating one of my friends, that'd be SUPER cool, because then I wouldn't have to worry about getting into catfights and stuff!"

"Oh!..."

"Speaking of boys..." Rowan leans in and gives you a mischievous grin, her braces gleaming. "You got someone you're sweet on, Mary?~"

>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.

>No, not really...

>Alfie seems nice?...

>Actually... maybe your brother?...

>Don't laugh... Rock Hudson.

>Write-In
>>
>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk
>>
>>1379190
>>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.
>>
>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.
>>
>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.
>>
>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.
>>
>>1379190
>There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk.
>>
>>1379198
>>1379199
>>1379213
>>1379214
>>1379265
"There was a guy, but he was... kind of a jerk."

"Awww, that's so sad... but don't worry, I'm sure there's a guy out there for you somewhere! And if he is, then I'm going to find him! I'm almost as good at matchmaking as I am at fashion!"

"...You're sure about that?"

"One hundred MILLION percent, definitely! I've never met a problem I can't solve with a little smarts and a can-do attitude!"

You continue to fool around with Rowan at pinball until the sun starts to set, and everyone disperses back to their homes.

Mary's Asset learned: Determined.

You do your schoolwork for the night and head to bed, satisfied.

You take the bus to school the next day, meeting your friends in class. You notice that Moonbeam has started sitting more to the front of the class, alongside the rest of your group.

Things are pretty normal until English rolls around. All of you are busy reading excerpts from a poetry book when you start to hear a faint creaking noise. You look up to see one of the halogen lights above you slowly shaking. The right-hand screwplate holding it to the ceiling looks old and rusty, and is starting to break. If it breaks at this angle, it'll clip you before smashing straight into Alfie's face. You can see the rusty metal starting to tear...

>(Initiative) Shout 'Look Out!' as loud as you can.

>(Athletics) Tackle Alfie

>(Atheletics) Dive out of the way

>Write-In
>>
>>1379393
>>(Athletics) Tackle Alfie
>>
>>1379393
>(Athletics) Tackle Alfie

May as well try, also we should never ever go over to Moonbeams house, I was just reminded what our frailty is and if there's any house the has burnt sage in it it's hers
>>
>>1379393
>(Initiative) Shout 'Look Out!' as loud as you can.
>>
>>1379393
>(Athletics) Tackle Alfie
>>
>>1379407
>>1379411
>>1379433
Roll Strength + Athletics (2 dice). May spend Willpower to increase to 5 dice.
>>
Rolled 3, 13 = 16 (2d20)

>>1379437
>>
Rolled 7, 3 = 10 (2d10)

>>1379441
Wait, scratch that last one.
>>
Rolled 7, 4, 1, 10, 2 = 24 (5d10)

>>1379437

Spending
>>
Rolled 8, 7, 5, 2, 3 = 25 (5d10)

>>1379437
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>1379450

Boom
>>
>>1379450
You think quickly, and with an enormous effort, you shove Alfie down and out of the path of the light, which swings down seconds later, almost hitting the fat kid (Kyle?) to Alfie's left.

A few minutes later, class is let out early. The rest of your group crowds around Alfie.

"Al, you okay?"

"Did your beautiful, beautiful hair get hurt?"

"I know you don't believe in superstition, but please, take this, it protects against the Evil Eye-"

"I'M FINE! JUST... EAT LUNCH WITHOUT ME!!" Alfie shoves his way out of the group and bolts toward the nearest door, leaving the group dazed, arranged around the gap where he was standing.

"What'd we do?"

>Follow him

>Go and eat lunch with the other three

>Write-In
>>
>>1379493
>Follow him

You guys go ... I'll catch up
>>
>>1379493
>Write-In
Tell them to go ahead while we go after Al
>>
>>1379493
>>1379509
this
>>
>>1379500
>>1379509
>>1379526
>>1379493
What they said
>>
>>1379500
>>1379526
>>1379532
"...Listen, you guys go ahead."

"Okay..."

"Hey, Mary, are you sure you want to go after him? He looked pretty upset. Like, REALLY upset. Punch-you-in-the-face-even-if-you're-a-girl upset."

"...Yes."

You cautiously push open the side door Alfie ran through and see him lying down on the slope, face-down in the grass, pounding his fist. You can hear muffled screaming mixed with faint sobs and gulps for air and something being whispered under his breath.

>(Stealth) Get closer and try to hear what he's saying.

>Wait for him to calm down.

>"It's not your fault, Alfred."

>Write-In
>>
>>1379580
>(Stealth) Get closer and try to hear what he's saying.
>>
File: not your fault.jpg (58 KB, 740x437)
58 KB
58 KB JPG
>>1379580
>"It's not your fault, Alfred."
>>
>>1379580
>(Stealth) Get closer and try to hear what he's saying.
Time to use our evil cat god given gifts to do some good
>>
Rolled 7, 8, 2 = 17 (3d10)

>>1379626
>>1379603
Roll Dexterity + Stealth (7 dice). Must beat the above roll.
>>
Rolled 4, 7, 7, 9, 7, 4, 1 = 39 (7d10)

>>1379700
>>
Rolled 7, 3, 2, 4, 7, 9, 10 = 42 (7d10)

>>1379700
>7d10
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>1379725
>10
>>
Rolled 8, 1, 4, 1, 5, 5, 10 = 34 (7d10)

>>1379700
>>
Rolled 10 (1d10)

>>1379744
>>
>>1379725
You slip up towards where Alfie is crying and listen:

"Why does this keep happening... Mrs. Sarah... she couldn't have been right, could she? But even if it were, shouldn't the damn place?... oh, GOD, why?! Why do I have to pay for what he did?!?!! It's not my fault! IT'S NOT FAIR!"

>(Shy) Back up slowly.

>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You're okay.

>What are you talking about?

>Write-In
>>
>>1379862
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You're okay.
He needs someone to be with him. And also this nigga is fucking cursed so maybe we should have Dadtective take care of this.
>>
>>1379862
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You're okay.
>>
>>1379862
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You're okay.
>>
>>1379880
>>1379901
>>1379908
"It's okay, Alfie. You're okay."

Alfie jerks up and looks at you, glowering from reddened eyes. "Why are you spying on me?"

"I-I'm not spying-"

"YES YOU ARE DON'T LIE TO ME! You just followed me because you want to laugh, don't you?! Well, go on! Everyone does, eventually! Why do you think you guys are my only friends? Because anyone who knows me for too long ends up hating me! So will you, I know it!"

>(Empathy) Try and discern his inner emotional workings.

>(Shy) I-I'm sorry! (run off)

>Write-In
>>
>>1379937
>(Empathy) Try and discern his inner emotional workings.
also, what exactly do our contracts do?
>>
>>1379937
>(Empathy) Try and discern his inner emotional workings.
Man he's really stressed about all this huh.
>>
>>1379937
>(Empathy) Try and discern his inner emotional workings.
>>
>>1379937
>(Shy) I-I'm sorry! (run off)
>>
Rolled 8, 10 = 18 (2d10)

>>1379945
>>1379980
>>1380007
Roll Wits + Empathy +Sensing Instability bonus (6 dice). Must beat above roll.

>>1379945
Updated sheet to summarize Contracts.

>>1379980
If you had literally everything going wrong around you all the time, you'd have damage too.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>1380014
Explosion.
>>
Rolled 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, 2 = 25 (6d10)

>>1380014
Hey, could we use Lunatic's Knowing Gaze? If he has psychological damage, it could tell us something.
>>
>>1380022
Yep, once this roll-set is finished.
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1380022
>>
Rolled 1, 8, 7, 5, 2, 1 = 24 (6d10)

>>1380014
>>
Rolled 7, 10, 8, 2, 7, 10 = 44 (6d10)

>>1380014
Finishing the set.
>>
Rolled 8, 1 = 9 (2d10)

>>1380198
'Splode.
>>
>>1380198
>>1380206
Alfie's hurt, somewhere deep inside. He's so used to getting hurt by others that it's hard for him to cope with no getting hurt by them. He desperately wants someone to reach out and connect to, but he doesn't know how. More than anything else, he wants an explanation for his bad luck that makes sense. Something real.

>Use Lunatic's Knowing Glance

>(Kind) I'm not going to hurt you. Not ever. I promise.

>(Pledgecrafting) Listen, Alfie. I want to show you something, but it has to be a secret between us. Promise you won't tell anyone unless I say you can, and I think I can help you.

>Write-In
>>
>>1380229
>Use Lunatic's Knowing Glance
>>
>>1380229
>Use Lunatic's Knowing Glance
>>
>>1380234
>>1380261
Roll Wits + Wyrd (4 dice).
>>
Rolled 4, 8, 4, 10 = 26 (4d10)

>>1380325
>>
Rolled 2 (1d10)

>>1380339
>>
Rolled 7, 6, 8, 10 = 31 (4d10)

>>1380325
>>
Rolled 7 (1d10)

>>1380362

Boom
>>
Rolled 8, 2, 6, 4 = 20 (4d10)

>>1380325
Finishing

Hily shit, mary is very good in this being a changeling thing
>>
>>1380532
Hily shit, a shit in the shape os small hills
>>
>>1380362
You look at Alfie for a few seconds, and you see into the damaged, jagged edges of his psyche:

-When Alfie becomes overwhelmed by emotion, he starts being violent: to himself or to others. This violence mostly takes the form of wild swinging (to others) or hitting his head against objects (to himself).

-Alfie has anxiety attacks whenever he's exposed to rollercoasters. These can often lead to violent lashing-out if unchecked.

"What are you looking at me like that for? STOP IT!"

>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Alright?

>(Pledgecrafting) Alfie, I can help with you being unlucky. For real. But you're going to have to promise that you aren't going to tell anyone what I'm going to show you.

>Write-In
>>
>>1380806
>(Pledgecrafting) Alfie, I can help with you being unlucky. For real. But you're going to have to promise that you aren't going to tell anyone what I'm going to show you.
>>
>>1380806
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Alright?
I'd rather get to know Alfie better before we show him, and in all honesty, showing our true form isn't going to help him. If anything it might make the problem worse.
>>
>>1380806
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Alright?

Let's keep it under wraps for now, we have only just run into these people, and we should at least talk to the councilor before making this leap if not Dad or Uncle Terry
>>
>>1380806
>(Kind) It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Alright?
>>
>>1380844
>>1380840
>>1380957
"It's okay, Alfie. You don't have to hurt anyone. I'm here, and I'll help you. Okay?"

Alfie balls his hands up into fists... then slowly relaxes them. "...Okay. I'm... I'm sorry you had to see that. I try so hard to be positive about it, but... it's hard for me to do that."

"It's okay. You want to eat lunch with us?"

"Sure."

The two of you enter the cafeteria and head to your friend group's table.

"Hey, guys. Sorry about earlier, I was just a bit shook up by that near miss. Good thing Mary was sitting next to me!"

"Yeah, Mary. You saved Alfie's LIFE!"

"Well, I probably wouldn't have died, but I might have gotten hospitalized, which is pretty bad..."

Your group starts eating their lunches.

>Talk to Alfie (about what?)

>Talk to Orion (about what?)

>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)

>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

>(Shy) Eat in silence

>Write-In
>>
>>1381015
>>Talk to Alfie (about what?)
See if we can hang out after school and find out more about the curse
>>
>>1381015
>Talk to Orion (about what?)

Ask him if he can help us out with the Science work, a study group sort of deal will probably be the easiest way to keep up hanging out with the parents all being alright with it
>>
>>1381035
This
>>
>>1381035
>>1381186
"...Hey, Orion..."

"Hmph?" Orion finishes swallowing his mouthful of baloney. "What's up, Mary?"

"I could use some help with my science work..."

"REALLY!?" Orion's eyes practically light up. "I'd love to help! What're you having problems with? I mean, the basic Earth Science module's pretty easy for a lot of people, but I can understand that you might have some trouble with the expanded water cycle and stuff-"

"It's kind of all of it. I'm not really... that good with science."

"Everyone says that, but I'm willing to bet you are: you just don't realize it!"

"Yeah, now that you mention it, I could use some help with English, sister. You know a lot about that stuff, right?"

You blush slightly at the compliment. "I guess..."

"Cool! We could, like, have a study club or something after school!"

"That's definitely a good idea!"

"YEAH! BEST FRIENDS CLUB!"

"...I suppose it can't do any harm, right?"

"That's the spirit, Alfie! But where should we all meet after school?"

"I wouldn't say NO if you pressed the issue, but... my house wouldn't be the best idea. Apologies."

"Aw, why not?"

"Just trust me."

"Okay... what about your house, Mary?"

>...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it.

>...What about your house, Rowan?

>...I think Moonbeam's house is fine.

>Write-In
>>
>>1381237
>...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it.

It's our idea, we should at least check and see, let's have us ask along with Rowan and Moonbeam as well. That way we could possibly rotate around
>>
>>1381237
>...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it.
>>
>>1381237
>...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it.
>>
>>1381243
>>1381252
"...Maybe. If Uncle Terry's okay with it."

"Great! Now, I talked to Uncle earlier, and I have an idea about the best places to look for genuine hauntings!"

"Still stuck on this haunting thing, huh? Well, I guess I'll tag along, and then we'll all see that there's no such thing as ghosts."

"Is so! You'll see!"

"Fine. Let's see this Saturday!"

"Good. Meet outside the school, sundown."

>Can I come, too?

>(Leave to call Terry).

>I don't think t-that's a good idea...

>I think we should all go together... for safety.

>Write-In
>>
>>1381474
>Can I come, too?

Mary Gang=Scooby-Gang

It's even the right time for it!

We need to get a van when one of our crew turns 16
>>
>>1381474
>Can I come, too?
>>
>>1381474
>Can I come, too?
>>
>>1381474
>(Leave to call Terry).
Lets call Terry first
>>
>>1381479
>>1381484
>>1381557
"Can I come, too?"

"What? Oh, yeah, sure. Since you're on the fence about this sort of stuff, you can serve as a neutral witness, like on TV!"

"YEAH AND I CAN COME WITH GHOST-HUNTING OUTFITS!"

"Hey! If you turn up, that makes it two-to-one against!"

"Then, like, can't I come?"

"Yeah, that's a great idea! Me and Alfie on one team, and Moonbeam and my bro-bro on the other!"

"Alright!"

You have a bit of time left, thanks to the extended lunch.

>Talk to Alfie (about what?)

>Talk to Orion (about what?)

>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)

>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

>(Shy) Eat in silence

>(Call Terry)

>Write-In
>>
>>1381638
>(Call Terry)
>>
>>1381638
>(Call Terry)
>>
>>1381638
>>(Call Terry)
>>
>>1381638
>(Call Terry)
>>
>>1381638
>(Call Terry)
>>
>>1381679
>>1381691
>>1381712
>>1381768
>>1381893
You go up to the front desk and ask for the phone, then dial Terry's number.

"Yeah?"

"Hey, Uncle Terry. It's me."

"Oh, wassup, Spooky?"

"Nothing much. Hey, some friends want to come over to study, is that-"

"Hmmm... I dunno. We got a small house, and the basement's off-limits. You got anywhere else?"

>Yes

>(Subterfuge) No, and my friends really, really, REALLY want to meet you!

>(Presence + Manipulation) Ah, COME ON! Please? Please please please????

>Write-In
>>
>>1381915
>>(Presence + Manipulation) Ah, COME ON! Please? Please please please????

we have a penalty for not showing puppy eyes but I think we can manage, and I don't want to lie to him
>>
>>1381915
>(Presence + Manipulation) Ah, COME ON! Please? Please please please????
>>
>>1381915
>(Presence + Manipulation) Ah, COME ON! Please? Please please please????

We are also getting other places figured out so that it can rotate but we wanted to do it tonight and it'll be for helping with schoooooooooool
>>
Rolled 8, 5, 3, 6, 3 = 25 (5d10)

>>1381937

And dice
>>
>>1381915
>Yes
>>
Rolled 2, 8, 6, 10, 9 = 35 (5d10)

>>1381932
>>
Rolled 96 (1d100)

>>1381956
>>
Rolled 9, 7, 7, 8, 1 = 32 (5d10)

>>1381921

I'll roll too but we usually should have to wait for after teller tells us to roll, or the rolls may influence the choice that gets picked
>>
>>1381970

That's one that I don't think ever got put down as a guide. Varies depending on how many people are posting, with less people rolling with the vote shortens up the time between story posts which keeps it moving but you are right about it influencing choices
>>
>>1381970
"I know and we're getting other places figured out so that it can rotate but we wanted to do it tonight and it'll be for helping with schoooooooooool! C'mon, please? Please please please please please???"

"ALRIGHT, alright! Don't annoy me, Spooky, I'll have them over. You can have the living room for tonight, alright? I'll pick all of you up after school."

"Thanks! Bye, love you!"
You hang up the phone and run back to your group.
"We can do it at my house tonight, Uncle Terry's going to pick us up!"

"Awesome! This'll be great!"

"Yeah... what's your uncle like? I mean, you said he was a ranger, but... you know, what's he like?"


>He's kind of scary, but nice.

>He's really... protective.

>He means well.

>Write-In
>>
>>1382154
>>He means well.
>>
>>1382154
>He's kind of scary, but nice.
He doesn't mean to be...All the time.
>>
>>1382154
>He's kind of scary, but nice.
>>
>>1382154
>He's really... protective.
>>
>>1382154
>He's kind of scary, but nice.

You just have to get to know him
>>
>>1382154
>He's kind of scary, but nice.
>>
>>1382357
>>1382260
>>1382216
>>1382192
You think back to your first real interactions with him.
"He's... kind of scary, when you first meet him. But after that, he's really nice!"

"Yeah, I know some adults like that. Well, I can't wait to meet him!"

The rest of the day goes by quickly, and soon, you see Uncle Terry's beat-up van rolling up the hill. He rolls the window down and cracks a grin (showing off his huge canines to your Sight).
"Hey, kids! I'm Mary's uncle, Terry! Now get in, you're making me miss my shows."

Orion and Rowan give you a look as you climb into the side. You wave them in.
"Come on, guys!"

The rest of your posse climbs in, clambering over the discarded take-out bags that litter the floor.

"So, who are y'all?"

Alfie leans over the seat from the back of the car and reaches a hand forward.
"Alfred Winchester, Mr. Freedman! Pleasure to meet you!"

"Oh-ho, you got manners! Good on you, and your mom for raising you right!"
Uncle Terry leans back and puts his arm in a crushing grip.

"I'm Moonbeam Lemongrass."

"...Are you kidding me?"

"What?"

"Oh, nothing, just me running my big mouth again. Nice to meet you, Moon-*snrzt*-pardon me, Moonbeam."

"AND WE'RE ROWAN AND ORION, NICE TO MEET YOU MR. FREEDMAN, WOW YOU'RE BIG!"

"Sis, you can't just SAY that!"

"Oh, hush, boy. She didn't mean anything mean by it, and I'm not blind and deaf: I know I'm a big guy. Nice to meet you, kids."

Orion leans over as you pull out of the school driveway. "Is this guy really your uncle?"

>Yes.

>No, I just call him that because he and my dad are really close.

>I'm sure, you jerk!

>Write-In
>>
>>1382811
>Write-In
Of course why do you ask?
I forgot is Terry's mask black, that might be a little weird considering.
>>
>>1382944
Yeah. Terry's Mask is a BIG black dude (both in terms of height and weight).
>>
>>1382811
>No, I just call him that because he and my dad are really close.

That's not an odd thing to run into, hell I've only got two uncles and I'm not related to either of them
>>
>>1382811
>No, I just call him that because he and my dad are really close.
>>
>>1383032
>>1383049
"No, I just call him that because he and my dad are really close."

"Oh, ok- wait. 'ARE really close'? Is your dad ali-"

"Bro! Didn't you just say something about asking personal questions?"

"Well, if her da-mmmphh..."
Orion thrashes futilely as Rowan starts to give him a noogie. "Aw, don't be such a party-pooper, bro! We'll have time to ask this sort of thing when we play Truth-or-Dare! Hrm. After we finish our homework, of course!", she sheepishly adds as Terry's eyes flicker to the rear-view mirror.
"Good. I don't want y'all to get up to some foolishness in my house. And stay out of the basement, get it?"

"Why-"

"Because I said so, that's why. Got a bunch of stuff piled up down there, and if you knock it over, that's a hospital trip for you, and your parents probably hitting my black ass with a lawsuit! Erm, sorry about the language. Anyways, here we are."

You look up at your home, sitting on the top of a gentle incline. It's a big step up from the three-room arrangement of your old life. There's a kitchen, living room, TV room, and TWO bedrooms! And an indoor toilet and cellar you can get too from inside everything! Sure, the place smells like cigarettes, and is dirty most of the time with trash and the occasional discarded booze bottle, but it's nice enough, especially with the Hollow-
Your heart sinks a little bit when you realize you can't take your friends into the basement and show them the Hollow. Partially because you aren't even sure if they could see it, but mostly because Terry said you couldn't go in the basement.

Your friends are also staring at the house, but you can see on their faces that they aren't impressed.

"It's, like, very homey looking."

"...How far away is the nearest burn ward and fire station? Just curious, can't be too careful."

"Hey, Orion, doesn't it remind you of that crazy guy who lives in the dump and-"

"shutupshutupshutuphe'llhear!"


"Here we are, kids! Get up and get going! Y'all're gonna be in there by yourselves for a bit until I get back from the Chinese take-out place with dinner. Mary, you know where the spare key is. Keep out of trouble, hands off my liquor, and don't even THINK about going into the basement!"

The van pulls away with a screech from the protesting engine, leaving your group on the curbside.

"So... you've always lived like this, Mary?"

>Lived like what?

>No. Things used to be a lot worse (shiver).

>(Ignore the comment) L-let's get inside and get started, right?

>Write-In
>>
>>1383179

>Lived like what?

I like this quest and your style, OP !
>>
>>1383179
It's not as bad as it looks
>>
>>1383179
>>Lived like what?
>>
>>1383179
>Lived like what?
>>
>>1383179
>Lived like what?
>>
>>1383272
>>1383453
"Lived like what?"

"Like, in a death-trap that looks like it should be condemned. Seriously, I think I just saw the roof shift!"

"What's your damage, Starbrother? My family crashes in a pad like this, there's nothing wrong with it!"

"Nothing wrong with i- wait, STARBROTHER? What's that, some kind of hippy name?"

"It's what I was thinking of calling you, but apparently, you're just a square. I thought you had your vibes all lined up, but you're judging WAY too harsh on physical appearances."

"Okay, okay! Sorry I said anything, Mary. It's a real... nice... house?"

Orion looks over at Moonbeam, who nods sharply, her long blonde hair slightly flopping over her face as she does so.

"Alright. Let's just... get inside and start on our schoolwork."

You all head inside your house and crash in the living room/kitchen (which, conveniently, is the first room from the entryway). You settle into your comfy blanket you keep on the sofa and pull out your science book as your friends look around.

"Woah, what's with the no-lights stuff? Oh, I get it! Eco-friendly."

"I guess that's why these lamps are ACTUAL lamps, too."

"Why's there little bits of trash everywhere? Seriously, this place looks like more of a firetrap every second. At least there aren't any lightbulbs that might burst suddenly... I'll just... stay out of the TV room."

"Hey, you didn't tell me you had a dog, Mary! You've got to do something about the shedding, though. So where is he?!"


You realize that you might have some quick lying to do.

Select one from each of the following:

Lights:

>Uncle Terry and I like dim light, like lamps. Bright light is... kind of annoying.

>(Manipulation + Subterfuge) Come up with a convincing lie.

>(Presence + Subterfuge) Feign Ignorance.


Trash:

>Uncle Terry just does that. He says it makes the place feel more like home. I just clean up when things get too messy.

>(Manipulation + Subterfuge) Come up with a convincing lie.

>(Presence + Subterfuge) Feign Ignorance.


Dog:

>Oh, that's just Uncle Terry's hair!

>(Manipulation + Subterfuge) Come up with a convincing lie.

>(Presence + Subterfuge) Feign Ignorance.
>>
>>1383642
>Uncle Terry and I like dim light, like lamps. Bright light is... kind of annoying.
>Uncle Terry just does that. He says it makes the place feel more like home. I just clean up when things get too messy.

"I'll make sure to pick up beforehand next time, didn't know you guys we're coming over... sorry."

>(Manipulation + Subterfuge) Come up with a convincing lie.

"Oh the dog is my dad's, he's not around right now." (This is perfect, now we can convince our Dad to get a dog.)
>>
>>1383642
>Uncle Terry and I like dim light, like lamps. Bright light is... kind of annoying.
>(Manipulation + Subterfuge) Come up with a convincing lie.
Oh, shoot. I forgot you guys were coming. Uncle Terry is kind of messy.
>(Manipulation + Subterfuge) Come up with a convincing lie.
Wherever dad is right now.
>>
>>1383642
>Uncle Terry and I like dim light, like lamps. Bright light is... kind of annoying.
>(Manipulation + Subterfuge) Come up with a convincing lie.
>(Manipulation + Subterfuge) Come up with a convincing lie.
Ok this was a fucking mistake. Soon Jerry is gonna bust in yelling about some Gentry bullshit and our cover is blown.
>>
>>1383808

Nah Jerry knows better than all that, worst case scenario he comes up from the basement
>>
Rolled 3, 9, 6 = 18 (3d10)

>>1383661
>>1383808
Roll a Manipulation + Subterfuge test (6 dice) for the first lie. Must beat above roll.
>>
>>1383895
>>
Rolled 3, 6, 5, 2, 1, 10 = 27 (6d10)

>>1383895
>6 dice
>>
Rolled 3, 2, 8, 9, 9, 9 = 40 (6d10)

>>1383895
>>
Rolled 4 (1d10)

>>1383906
>10
>>
Rolled 1, 3, 9, 8, 6, 10 = 37 (6d10)

>>1383895
>>
Rolled 1 (1d10)

>>1383919

Boom
>>
Rolled 2, 9, 10, 9, 5, 8 = 43 (6d10)

>>1383895
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 6, 10 = 21 (4d10)

>>1383908
Okay, you've got that first one. Roll the same pool for the second. Must beat above roll.
>>
Rolled 5 (1d10)

>>1383991
And explosion.
>>
Rolled 9, 4, 5, 6, 1, 10 = 35 (6d10)

>>1383991
>>
Rolled 3, 8, 5, 7, 2, 8 = 33 (6d10)

>>1383991
>6d10
>>
Rolled 3 (1d10)

>>1383949
>>
Rolled 9 (1d10)

>>1384005
>>
Rolled 1, 7, 1, 1, 9, 2 = 21 (6d10)

>>1383991
>>
>>1383895
>3d10
>>1383991
>4d10
Was there a circumstance where they got extra dices to detect our lie?
>>
Rolled 1, 4, 7, 6, 1, 10 = 29 (6d10)

>>1383991
>>
Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>1384040

>>1384017

I think that it's for a different person in our group
>>
>>1384017
You're having to invent two lies on the spot.

>>1384005
>>1383908
"Uncle Terry and I just like dim light. Bright light's kind of annoying for us. The trash... well, we only take out the trash every other week, but we missed last week because of a family emergency."

"Oh god! What happened?"

"My dad... kind of had to organize something for work. He's got the dog."

"Oh! What kind of dog is it?! Is he friendly? I hope he's friendly!"

"He's a long-haired German Shepherd."

"Cool!"

"Yeah, but aren't we here to do our homework?"

"...Fine, I GUESS. Let's just get this out of the way."

Roll Intelligence + Study + 2 (5 dice) to work on your homework. Each individual roll represents 15 minutes of studying. Stop when you have 5 successes.
>>
Rolled 1, 8, 2, 9, 6 = 26 (5d10)

>>1384071
>>
Rolled 6, 4, 1, 8, 5 = 24 (5d10)

>>1384071
>>
Rolled 5, 2, 3, 4, 7 = 21 (5d10)

>>1384071
>>
Rolled 1, 1, 4, 3, 8 = 17 (5d10)

>>1384071
>5d10
>>
Rolled 2, 3, 4, 6, 6 = 21 (5d10)

>>1384071

More rolls?
>>
>>1384135
Until you hit the magic number.
>>
Rolled 10, 10, 9, 1, 6 = 36 (5d10)

>>1384071
>>
Rolled 3, 1 = 4 (2d10)

>>1384188
>>
>>1384188

Nice, an hour and a half of studying is pretty good
>>
>>1384191
It takes your group about an hour and a half to work through the assignments: halfway through that, Uncle Terry came through the door with Chinese, apologizing for the wait ("Mr. Hong was slammed tonight", he offers by way of explanation). The study group eventually dissolves into the five of you hanging out in the living room, talking over boxes of Lo Mien.
"So, Starbrother, what's it like in Boring?"

"Eh, the name's misleading: the town actually has a lot happening in it. It may not LOOK like it does, but.." Orion leans in and looks around conspiratorially. "I saw a Sasquatch in the woods out there."

>No way.

>What'd it look like?

>Sas-what?

>Write-In
>>
>>1384258
>What'd it look like?
>>
>>1384258
>What'd it look like?
>>
>>1384258
>What'd it look like?
>>
>>1384277
>>1384287
>>1384444
"...What'd it look like?"

Orion clears his voice and starts talking in the tone of someone who's carefully rehearsed telling this story for days:

"So there I was, in the back of my dad's car as we were driving back from the Pottery Barn. I look out the window, and BOOM! Right there, on the side of the woods, a 'squatch! He must have been, like, ten, no, twelve feet tall, with fur as pale as moonlight and a big monkey face!"

"What was he doing?"

"Pulling up a Deer Xing sign from the ground like it was a dandelion! I swear on my life that this happened?"

"I dunno, bro-bro. I don't remember anything like this happening-"

"That's because this happened that week you were sick with pinkeye!"

"Oh, yeah! Wait, weren't you sick too?"

"Yeah, but there was that day I hadn't caught it yet!"

"Okay, if you two would stop bickering: what happened next, Orion?"

"Well...I tried to point it out to my dad, but when I turned around to point it out, both it and the sign were GONE."


"Sounds more like some guy in a costume than a mythical ape. Probably stealing the sign to melt it down and sell the metals."

The screen door swings open and an old man walks into the room. His hands are as gnarled as an ancient tree, his eyes are a shade of blazing amber, and his beard is full of twigs and vines, rich and deep green like high-summer growth. His skin is scarred and nicked with strange yellow-orange marks, like tiny hatchets. All of this is wrapped in a long leather coat, baggy and moth-eaten jeans, and a frayed polo shirt.

"Hey there, sweetheart."


>Hey dad.

>Daddy! (run up and hug him)

>Uncle Terry's in the basement, doing stuff. What's up now?

>Write-In
>>
>>1384542
>Daddy! (run up and hug him)

Come and meet my friends!
>>
>>1384542
>Daddy! (run up and hug him)
>>
>>1384542
>Daddy! (run up and hug him)
>>
>>1384555
>>1384628
>>1384730
"Daddy!"
You run up and give him a big hug, your four-jointed fingers locking together . He smells like old trees and turned earth.
"It's good to see you too, Mary. And who're these little devils?"

"My friends!"

"Hello, Mr. Freedman!"

"It's Derwaldt, actually."

"Oh. Hey! I'm Rowan and that's my brother Orion! Are you really a detective?"

"Well... yes, I suppose. I'm working on setting up an office right now, actually. And who are you, star child?"

"I'm Moonbeam Lemongrass."

"Oh, really? Your dad's Hermes Lemongrass, right? I've talked to some of his students. Love a chance to get a face-to-face meeting with him sometime."

"Pardon me: I'm Alfred Winchester, but you can call me Al. If you're a Derwaldt, and you're Mary's dad, why's she Mary Freedman? AND you look nothing alike. And where's the long-haired shepherd?"

"Well, aren't you observant?" ("A little too observant", you hear your Dad add sotto voce). "Well, Mr. Terry's Mary's legal guardian, but I raised her, mostly. Helped her come out of her shell, after her adoption. And the dog's at my house right now: we kind of swap it back and forth when one of us can't deal with it."

"Ohhh...kay." Al has a clear skeptical tone in his voice.

"Anyways, love to hang out and talk about my job, but I need to talk to Uncle Terry about something. He down in the basement?"

"Yep."

"Alright. Love you, sweetie."

"Love you too, dad."


He walks by you and into the small door that leads to the basement. You turn back to see your friends looking at you.

"So... you're adopted?"

"...Yeah. I don't like to talk about it. Don't remember much about my real dad."

"Oh. Didn't mean to prod. So... I guess we should probably go now."

"I mean, you don't have to-"

"Yeah, we kind of do. Don't want to break curfew. Nothing to do with you, okay?"

"Alright, Orion."

Your friends call their parents and leave, one-by-one. You go to bed uncertain about what happened.


The next day is Thursday, and, much to your relief, the awkward tension you briefly felt last night seems to have dissolved. Your group agrees at the start of lunch that the Stones will host next. The five of you start chattering again:

>Talk to Alfred (about what?)

>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

>Talk to Orion (about what?)

>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)

>Write-In
>>
>>1384542
>Daddy! (run up and hug him)
>>
>>1384911
>Talk to Rowan (about what?)

Privately; Last night wasn't too weird was it? I am sorry about the mess... wasn't expecting people over

(I am going with her because she's the closest to Orion and might have heard any suspicions he had, Moonbeam would just assure us that she loved it and understood (seriously I think she's my favorite of the group) and I can't picture Mary opening up to the guys about it)
>>
>>1384911
>>Talk to Moonbeam (about what?)
Relate to her about questionable living conditions.
>>
>>1384958
This
>>
>>1384958
>>1385122
"Hey, Rowan?... Can we talk? Alone."

"Uhhh, yeah?"

You put a hand on her shoulder and half-walk, half-drag her into a corner.

"Wow, your hands are really skinny!"

"Listen... last night wasn't too weird, was it? I'm sorry about the mess... I wasn't expecting people over."

"Oh, it's fine! We just didn't expect your family to be so complicated is all. It's not like Orion has any wacky theories about you or anything!"

Her tone definitely indicates that Orion has a wacky theory about your family.

>Okay.

>(Persuasion) Listen, I couldn't live it down if your brother thought bad about me. Could you please tell me what he's thinking?

>Write-In
>>
>>1385195
>(Persuasion) Listen, I couldn't live it down if your brother thought bad about me. Could you please tell me what he's thinking?
>>
>>1385195
>(Persuasion) Listen, I couldn't live it down if your brother thought bad about me. Could you please tell me what he's thinking?

I... haven't had... well f-friends before
>>
>>1385195
>(Persuasion) Listen, I couldn't live it down if your brother thought bad about me. Could you please tell me what he's thinking?
>>
Rolled 4, 7, 5, 9, 9 = 34 (5d10)

>>1385202
>>1385209
>>1385210
Roll Manipulation -1 (2 dice). Must beat above roll.
>>
>>1385272
....c-can we add Will to that shit.
>>
>>1385282
YEp.
>>
>>1385288
HOW MANY
>>
Rolled 2, 9, 9, 1, 1 = 22 (5d10)

>>1385294

Will adds 3 dice and I am spending as well
>>
Rolled 9, 1, 3, 4, 1 = 18 (5d10)

>>1385195
>>
Rolled 1, 2, 7, 7, 6 = 23 (5d10)

>>1385272
>>1385313
NICE
>>
>>1385317

Well it met but I don't think that will help overall, and we don't have anything that will boost it as far as contracts are concerned
>>
>>1385272
>>1385288
*soft crying followed quickly by open sobbing*
>>
Rolled 3, 3, 7, 6, 2 = 21 (5d10)

>>1385272
>>
>>1385313
"Listen, I couldn't live it down if your brother thought bad about me. Could you please tell me what he's thinking?"

Rowan gives you a pained look. "I'm sorry... like, I'm REALLY sorry, but I can't. We're twins, we keep each other's secrets. If I told you, he'd be SUPER SUPER mad!"

>(Intimidate) (quietly) Well I'LL be super mad if you don't. You don't want to see me mad, do you? (lock eyes).

>(Persuasion) COME ON! What could it hurt? I promise not to tell...

>(Kind) It's okay, I understand.

>Write-In
>>
>>1385372
>(Kind) It's okay, I understand.

Not something to push, we've only been friends for a little while
>>
>>1385372
>Persuasion Come On! What could it hurt? I promise not to tell...

Tell her you know that it might look kind of bad but you aren't like the mob or anything.
>>
>>1385372
>Write in
That's ok... I mean it's not like friends keeping secrets from eachother is kind of a scummy thing to do, particularly if said friend asked you. Or that studies show that a web of secrets in a friend group can swiftly lead to that friend group breaking up... Yeah, so don't worry!
>>
>>1385372
>>Write in
>That's ok... I mean it's not like friends keeping secrets from eachother is kind of a scummy thing to do, particularly if said friend asked you. Or that studies show that a web of secrets in a friend group can swiftly lead to that friend group breaking up... Yeah, so don't worry!
>>
Rolled 8, 8, 4, 3, 8 = 31 (5d10)

>>1385563
>>1385815
Roll Manipulation -1. Must beat above roll.
>>
Rolled 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 = 50 (5d10)

>>1385826
ah shit. Rowan, why you gotta be so lucky at this?
Spending will to give us a chance.
>>
Rolled 9, 1, 9, 8, 4 = 31 (5d10)

>>1385829
WTF?????????????!!!!!!!
>>
>>1371192
>RT quest never coming back

but why
>>
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>>1385829
>>
Rolled 1, 6, 6, 4, 4 = 21 (5d10)

>>1385826
>5d10

>>1385829
>Rolled 10, 10, 10, 10, 10 = 50 (5d10)
>>1385839
>Rolled 9, 1, 9, 8, 4 = 31 (5d10)
Mother of god...
>>
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>>1385846
My reach exceeded my grasp.

>>1385829
>>1385839
What the actual fuck.

"That's okay... I mean, it's not like keeping secrets from your friends is a horrible thing or anything."

"Wai- hold on, I didn't-"

"And it isn't like you're one of my only friends, and you're saying you can't trust me to keep a secret that's about me in the first place."

"Wait, wha-"

"I mean, what if you're gossiping behind my back about me? Making fun of me? Pretending to be my friend?"

You work up some tears and start playing up your stutter.. "I j-just... I just couldn't stand that. It would hu-hurt so much... I just d-d-don't know what I would d-d-do if a friend betrayed me like that... H-h-how I could l-l-live with myself..."

"Oh god, don't do anything, Mary! I would never hurt you like that!"

"B-b-buh how can I be s-s-s-sure, if you're keeping secrets about me behind my buh-buh-back?"

"Well... ARGH, okay, but you can't tell him I told you, okay?"
She leans in close. "He thinks your dad and uncle are actually... you know..."

She makes some vague gestures.
"W-wha?"

"They're... fairies."


>...How did he know?

>(Subterfuge) T-that's silly. Is that all? Sorry I got all worked up for nothing, I'm just... you know...

>Write-In
>>
>>1385877
>(Subterfuge) T-that's silly. Is that all? Sorry I got all worked up for nothing, I'm just... you know...
Well we knew he was smart, but looks like he's even smarter than we thought.
>>
>>1385877
>write-in
>I'm pretty sure they're not gay
>>
>>1385877
>>write-in
>>I'm pretty sure they're not gay
>>
>>1385877
>My reach exceeded my grasp.

Hogwash you fucking quitter
>>
>>1385877
What's RT quest?
>>
>>1385877
>write-in
>I'm pretty sure they're not gay
I mean old girl is like 13, she should understand innuendo at her age. In about a year its all she'll be able to talk about.
>>
>>1385910
Call me what you will. I realized at a certain point that I'd worked my plans for the quest into such a snarl that I couldn't execute a coherent narrative, and decided to cut my losses. I'd call it pragmatism, but if you want to call me a fucking quitter, your call.

>>1385916
A quest I ran under a different name.
>>
>>1385877
>>1385893
>>1385919
4th. So THAT'S what kids are calling it these days.
>>
>>1385925
>worrying about being coherent in 40k

Really now.

Well, can you at least keep the same QM name so I can avoid you after you abandon hippy quest?
>>
>>1385947
Certainly. Sorry you're bitter.
>>
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>>1385947
>>
>>1385948

What can I say? I wasted a lot of time getting invested in that quest for you to drop it because you felt like you were in too deep.

I will say that you're very good at running, and I did enjoy the hell out of your attention to detail. If it were another dime a dozen "what do" quest who would give a shit if you abandoned it?
>>
>>1385959
I don't blame you for being angry. Mea maxima culpa.

>>1385948
To clarify: I have no intention of abandoning this quest. Unlike RT quest, I know what I'm doing in WoD. First system and all. Now, on to the quest again.

>>1385893
>>1385904
>>1385919
>>1385936
It takes a second for what she's saying to click in your head.
"I'm... pretty sure they're not gay."

"Yeah, but... two men, raising a child together, meeting in a secret basement... kind of weird..."

"I can understand that. Sorry for getting so upset earlier. I'm just... you know...new at this."

"Yeah. I mean, growing up without parents has to be hard. BUUT that's all in your past nowww! And tonight we're going to get WILD! I'm talking making matching sweaters, prank calls, everything! You are going to LOVE. IT."

The two of you walk back to the table and rejoin the group (who're currently arguing over an important historical fact: is the Middle East part of Africa, Europe, or Asia?).

The rest of the day flies by unremarkably (save for Al almost having the basketball hoop fall on him), and soon, you're sitting outside, waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Stone to show up with your friends.
As you wait, you spot a familiar figure jogging up the hill, his ginger hair shining in your eyes like a warning light, his already ruddy face made more so by the summer sun. Sam. It looks like he's coming up to the school.

>(Stealth) hide.

>Try to ignore him.

>Greet him neutrally when he comes up.

>Write-In
>>
>>1385978
>Greet him neutrally when he comes up.
>>
>>1385978
>Greet him neutrally when he comes up.
>>
>>1385978
>Greet him neutrally when he comes up.
We all know sam is a dumb peter pan child, but is he dumb enough to fuck us over.
>>
>>1385984
>>1385986
>>1385993
A few minutes later, Sam's wiry legs take him right up to the bench on which your little group is sitting. His eyes swivel a bit as he locks onto you, and he gawks his neck out and starts talking in an obviously-fake nonchalant tone.

"Oh, uh, hey, Mary. Um, what a surprise to see you here! Didn't expect to, uh, see you. Here."

"Hey, Sam. What do you want?"

"Well, um... it's just that we haven't talked in a couple months, like you asked... BEcause, you know, you said you wanted to take some time... and, well..." He sucks in a big lungful of air. "Doyouwanttocomebacktotheclubhousewithmesometime?"

He looks down at his shoes and absent-mindedly kicks a loose piece of asphalt.


>Uh, you've picked a really bad time, can we talk about this later?

>Sure, I'd be okay with that. But this DOESN'T mean I'm your girlfriend, okay?

>I'm sorry, Sam, you're really sweet, but I've got big-kid stuff to do, okay?

>Not if you were the last boy on Earth.

>Write-In
>>
>>1386005
>Uh, you've picked a really bad time, can we talk about this later?
>>
>>1386005
>Sure
>>
>>1386005
>Uh, you've picked a really bad time, can we talk about this later?
>>
>>1386005
>>Uh, you've picked a really bad time, can we talk about this later?
>Why don't you hang out with us since you're here?
We're already hanging out with our new friends, Sam can join us if he wants. Details of the club house can wait until we're out of the magical house.
>>
>>1386005
>I'm sorry, Sam, you're really sweet, but I've got big-kid stuff to do, okay?

It's always best to do this early
>>
>>1386037
>>1386014
>>1386030
"Uh, you've picked a really bad time, can we talk about this later?"

"Why? What're you doing?"

Orion looks over from his conversation and spots you talking with Sam.
"Hey! Who's this, Mary?"

"I'm Sam, the toughest kid in all of Portland! We can be friends if you want."

"Oh, so you're a tough guy, huh? I'm Orion. You know Mary?"

"Uh, y-y-yeah. W-we met a while ago..."

"Oh, you probably knew each other in the orphanage!"

"What? What're you-"

"Yes, that's definitely where we know each other from." You nudge Sam slightly in the ribs: his skin is practically scalding.
"Oh! Uh, yeah, definitely! Back in the... in the old orphanage."

"Hey, bro, what's goin'- oh, and who's this little guy?"

"I AM NOT LITTLE! I'M THE TOUGHEST KID AROUND!"

"Oh my gosh, he's adorable!"

"AM NOT!". The red of Sam's face is approaching purple from his embarrassed flush.

You hear Al shout from across the drive. "Hey, I see a green Chevy coming up, that's your family's van, right Orion?"

"Yeah, that's them!" He turns back to Sam. "Sorry, tough guy, but us big kids have to go do big-kid stuff now."

"I can do anything you can do, easy!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah! Take me along with you, I double-dog dare you!"


>Come on Orion, let's go.

>You can come with us, Sam. I mean, if that's cool with you two.

>(Shy) Stay out of this.

>Write-In
>>
>>1386108
>(Shy) Stay out of this.
>>
>>1386108
>(Shy) Stay out of this.

It seems the best option here.
>>
>>1386108
>Come on Orion, let's go.

We need to keep this separate at the very least, we'll need to have a talk with Sam later and certainly not around our friends, too much of a risk of fallout
>>
>>1386108
>Come on Orion, let's go.
Nope, nope. We are not having these two groups mingle. Sam will ruin everything.
>>
>>1386108
>>Come on Orion, let's go.

God, this Sam fellow gets on my nerves

we shouldn't bring the groups together, specially since Sam is crazy and will fuck everything up. He's already losing it and the guys barely talked with him
>>
>>1386430
>Sam will ruin everything.
What will he do?
>>
>>1386458
He's about as subtle as a Mac truck.
On fire.
>>
>>1386108
QM, in those posts that have lots of people talking I often can't tell who says what. Perhaps you should add something like
>"...", Sam says. Orion answers "..."
>>
>>1386373
>>1386430
>>1386457
You get up and shoulder your bag. "Come on, Orion, let's go."

"Alright, alright. See you, kid."

"HEY! DON'T WALK AWAY FROM ME, YOU, YOU, YOU-ASSHOLE! YOU'LL BE SORRY! YOU'LL BOTH BE SORRY! AARRGHH-H-H-HHUUU..."

Sam flops on the ground and starts bawling his eyes out. "I THOUGHT WE WERE F-F-RIENDSS...."

Rowan takes a step towards him with a pitying look on her face, but you shoot a hand out and grab her by the shoulder. "Come on, Rowan. Don't encourage him."

"Bu-"

"Mary's right, sis. He's just throwing a tantrum because he can't get his way. Anyways, mom and dad are here." Orion walks over to the van and pops the door open. "Hey dad, how was work?"

"Eh, could've been worse. At least no one tried to kick over one of the exhibits. Mom's back home, making a roast. Hope you're all ready, kids!"

You climb into the van (padded seats, adjustable headrests... the whole thing is way nicer than Uncle Terry's) and take a seat in the back. Alfred joins you, while Rowan, Orion, and Moonbeam sit up front.

"So, my twins have been telling me all about you scamps! Now, let me ask you: how many of you like museums?"

"Oh, I do!"

"Great, Alfred, I thought you might! Well, I don't know if they've told you this, but us Stones run a museum... and live in it, but ONLY for tax reasons, not because our old house had to be condemned because of... Orion?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm rambling again, aren't I?"

"Eh, kind of."

"Ahem. Anyways, we run a museum of natural history, kind of, so, before you get settled in and working on your schoolwork- how about a tour?"

>Yeah!

>No.

>What's it a museum of?

>Write-In
>>
>>1386997
>Yeah!

Come on Mary, he just said it's a museum of Natural History
>>
>>1386997
>Yeah!
>>
>>1386997
>Yeah!
>>
>>1387037
>>1387040
>>1387064
"Yeah!"

"Well, alright! And hey, if you like it, why don't you tell your family about it?"

"Dad, c'mon, they're our FRIENDS. Don't get all salesman on them!"

"Oh, sorry, honey bun."

The van winds away from Portland into a small township just outside of the suburbs. The Stone house/museum looks like it was built in an old logging building, garishly-painted.

"Um, no offense, Mr. Stone, but this doesn't look like a natural history museum?"

"Oh, really? What makes you say that?"

"Oh, the mural of Bigfoot being abducted by a UFO, the statue of a troll outside, and the fact that the sign above your museum says 'Professor Impossible's House of the Unexplained'?"

Orion and Mr. Stone start up at the same time.

"Now look here, young man-"

"Hey, Al-"

"Just because so-called 'mainsteam' science doesn't recognize the existence of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist at all! Why, new discoveries are being made every day! Who are you to say that parascience is an invalid field?"

"Do you even have a degree?"

"Yes, yes I do. Zoology PhD, University of North Carolina."

"Then why are you out here, running a tourist trap?"

"AND that wraps up question time! Now, let's all go inside and I'll show you the OOPArt room!"

The 'OOPArt' room, as it turns out, is a converted entry hall full of photographs and weird-looking stones, some with carvings.

"Look here: this is a ceremonial clay sculpture from South America, over 4,000 years old! Doesn't it look like a 747?"

"Looks more like a crude sculpture of a bird to me."

"Come on, Al, don't be a square! I'm really picking up what daddy Stone's laying down!"


"Thank you, Moonbeam. And, my young skeptic, what about this? This figure right here, in this Egyptian carving: it's CLEARLY using a desk-top computer: something that was only invented in the past year, and which are still in very limited use!"

"That could be anything! And besides, what are you trying to say? Ancient Egyptians had computers? They didn't even have electricity!"

"Ah, now you're starting to think! No, that's not what I'm saying. But have you heard of the latest studies on the possible bi-directional nature of time done by Professor Hawking at Cambridge?"

"What now?"
>>
>>1387182
Mr. Stone starts discussing a fringe theory about Relativity with Alfred, and you start looking around the Museum, which seems to be laid out around the OOPArt room:


>The room to the north has a sign above it labeled "Ley Lines: Fact or Fiction?" A number of little dioramas are laid out in it.

>The eastern room looks like a trophy hall: "Cryptids: what Biologists Missed" is written above it.

>The room to the west seems to be full of photos and interactive exhibits. The sign above it says "Your Mind is Stronger Than You Think!"

>The room to the south appears to be a gift shop: you got a brief peek at it as Mr. Stone quick-stepped you through, but it could be worth another look...

>A spiral stairway in the corner is labeled "OFF LIMITS: STAFF ONLY". The home is probably up it.

>Write-In
>>
>>1387185
>The room to the west seems to be full of photos and interactive exhibits. The sign above it says "Your Mind is Stronger Than You Think!"
our mind is very powerful
>>
>>1387185
>The room to the west seems to be full of photos and interactive exhibits. The sign above it says "Your Mind is Stronger Than You Think!"
>>
>>1387193
>>1387218
You head over to the western exhibit.

Pictures of various magicians and fortunetellers dot the walls here, along with explanatory plaques:

"The human brain: one of the last great mysteries of science! More is known about the most distant stars than about the workings of the brain! CONVENTIONAL scientists will tell you that the brain is a mere organic computer that runs yourself! But Professor Impossible believes that the brain can be used for more than thinking! And so does Dr. Carl Jung, RENOWNED PSYCHOLOGIST! Indeed, across the world, many people claim to be able to use the untapped powers of the mind to:

-Read people's thoughts!

-See events in distant places, and even in the future and past!

-Lift and move objects!

-Combust paper!

-And much more!

Follow the arrows, as Professor Impossible takes you on a journey into the incredible power of the human mind! And be sure to drop by the gift-shop for book on how YOU- yes, you!- can unlock these powers for yourself!"


The exhibit has displays on clairvoyance, precognition, mind-reading, mediumship, and telekinesis, with each one briefly discussing the topic from a 'scientific' stand-point ('The most likely way telepathy functions is through the interaction of the electromagnetic field emitted by the brain!'), and a small set-up in which someone (for the low price of $2) might be 'tested' for psychic powers, promising large monetary payouts if they should be right. All of them currently have signs on them saying "Please wait for Professor Impossible to oversee your PSI-test!"


>There's another exhibit through this room: looks like there's some jars full of... something, in them. The sign above says "The Disgusting Marvels of Evolution!"

>It might be fun to show this room to Moonbeam and Alfred. You're certain that Moonbeam, at least, would insist on getting a PSI-test done on her.

>Head back to the rest of the group.

>Write-In
>>
>>1387331
>It might be fun to show this room to Moonbeam and Alfred. You're certain that Moonbeam, at least, would insist on getting a PSI-test done on her.
>>
>>1387185
>The room to the west seems to be full of photos and interactive exhibits. The sign above it says "Your Mind is Stronger Than You Think!"
>>
>>1387331
>It might be fun to show this room to Moonbeam and Alfred. You're certain that Moonbeam, at least, would insist on getting a PSI-test done on her.

I'll be honest, I want to see if we ping on a PSI test ourselves but ... money
>>
>>1387331
>It might be fun to show this room to Moonbeam and Alfred. You're certain that Moonbeam, at least, would insist on getting a PSI-test done on her.
>>
>>1387379
>>1387376
>>1387341
You poke your head out of the room.
"Hey, guys, check this room out!"

"What- oh, wow, far-out!"

"'Your Mind is Stronger Than You Think?' Please don't tell me this is about psychic phenomena."

"Why do you have to be such a skeptical square, man? It's mad harsh."

"Because there's no basis for psychic ability whatsoever?"

"Well" Moonbeam squints at a nearby sign- "Carl Gung didn't think so!"

"It's pronounced 'Jung', and just because he's an authority on psychology doesn't mean he's the end-all authority on the brain.


"Yeah? Well, you know, I'm psychic, and I'm going to prove it. Mr. Stone!"

"Yeah?"

"I want to do the precognition test!"

"Well, if you have the two dollars..."

Moonbeam immediately starts digging in the leather pouches strapped to her dress belt.

"Okay, here's three quarters... and five dimes... another quarter... five pennies... one, two, SEVEN nickels... and two more quarters! That's two dollars!"

Mr. Stone coughs. "Actually, that's-"

Moonbeam sighs. "I know, it's not enough, is it?"

"Well... I'll tell you what, I'll tell you how much you owe me if you fail, okay? Now, I'm going to flip this coin seven times in a second, but first, I want you to write down a seven-letter sequence of H or T, where 'H' is 'heads' and 't' is 'Tails'- you know what that means, right?"

Moonbeam nods.

"Okay, well, once you've done that, I'll flip the coin seven times, and if you guess the sequence right, you'll get $250, alright?"

"Alright!"

Moonbeam goes over to the stand and writes down a string.

"Okay, now, fold it up and put it in the envelope by the paper. Good. Now-"

Mr. Stone produces a quarter from his pocket and starts flipping.

Roll Wits + Composure -2 (2 dice). May spend Willpower.
>>
Rolled 8, 7 = 15 (2d10)

>>1387512

Huh, seems like a small sample size
>>
>>1387512
I am assuming that we need seven successes.
>>
Rolled 4, 5 = 9 (2d10)

>>1387558
Work dice, work!
>>
>>1387558
Nope. You're just watching Moonbeam.
>>
Rolled 6, 7 = 13 (2d10)

>>1387512
>>
>>1387579

Well hopefully 1 success does something
>>
>>1387553
As Mr. Stone flips the coin, you notice Moonbeam reach into one of her pouches, close her eyes, and start moving her lips. Her fingers move in the pouch like she's manipulating something in it. You can feel the air tingle in a funny way.

"Okay. Heads, Tails, Heads, Heads, Tails, Heads, and-"

during the final flip, the coin falls between Mr. Stone's fingers and lands sharply on its edge.

"...Huh. Didn't see that coming. Well, let's see-"

Mr. Stone opens the envelope.

"Well, I think it's safe to say-"

He stops and looks at Moonbeam. Then back down at the paper. Then at her again.

"...Do you mind if we repeat this? Only this time, I want to flip it twenty times."

Moonbeam shrugs. "Sure."

Mr. Stone puts down the paper and takes her aside. The rest of the group crowds around the paper:

HTHHTHE.


"That's... impossible."

"Geez..."

"Ohmygosh! This is so COOL, bro!"
>Wow.

>Did any of you- feel weird when that happened?

>Guys. We need to talk.

>Write-In
>>
>>1387688
Pull moonbeam aside and ask her what she did
>>
>>1387702

This, wait for things to calm down a bit and then we can see where the conversation goes
>>
>>1387688
>Pull moonbeam aside and ask her what she did
>>
>>1387702
>>1387791

We should probably let them finish first before just suddenly dragging her aside, that would seem suspicious
>>
>>1387816
Teller will probably work these together but if not this is my vote
>>
>>1387702
>>1387791
>>1387860
You stay silent and watch as Moonbeam writes down a 20-letter sequence and puts it in the envelope. Then, Mr. Stone flips the coin. This time, Moonbeam keeps her hands in front of her and doesn't do anything. And, sure enough, her guess is wrong.

"Well, I suppose someone was going to get lucky eventually. Now... TECHNICALLY you should win $250 dollars, but I don't feel comfortable giving that much to a kid, so- how about $50?"

"That's fine, Mr. Stone! Shame that I'm not REALLY psychic, though..."

"Well, look at it this way: maybe you ARE psychic, it's just... intermittent. I, personally, believe EVERYONE has some form of psychic ability or another, even if it's so minor that, to a mainstream scientist, it might be taken as merely good intuition."

As Moonbeam walks away from Mr. Stone (who starts leading the group into the next room), you gesture to her.
"Hey, Moonbeam. Do you mind if we talk in private?"

"Yeah, Sunshine. What's up?"

You lead her back into the central hall.
"...What did you do?"

She shrugs. "I got lucky. Or maybe I have powers of intuition. You know, they say that's a trait of old souls, and my dad always called me that."

>(Empathy) Try and tell if she's lying.

>I saw you playing with something in your pocket.

>(Intimidate) Don't lie. I'll get upset.

>You shouldn't lie to a fairy.

>Write-In
>>
>>1387924
>Write-In

You don't have to hide, I felt it. What was that?
>>
>>1387924
>(Empathy) Try and tell if she's lying.
Maybe she actually dosen't know anything weird is going on.
>>
>>1387929
This also throw in vague hints that we are supernatural
>>
>>1388028

Exactly, it'll also be perfect for when we reveal we can see ghosts, this way we never have to reveal were a fairy
>>
>>1387929
This. I think it's safe to say we bumped into something here

After meeting mr. Stone I don't feel confortable telling people what we are, stone and orion may try to use us to get fame and money, like a bigfoot hunter
>>
>>1388162
Also,
Yay, moonbeab(bff) is one of those probability mages! What's the name of the sphere again? Entropy?
>>
>>1387929
>>1388028
>>1388162

"You don't have to hide. I'm like you, I felt it. What was that?"

Moonbeam's face breaks into a wash of pain and panic. "Oh gosh, please don't tell the Council, they'll have me KI-I-ILLLEEDDD!..."

"What?"

"I mean, I know I'm not supposed to use magic to steal from Sleepers, and I'm already weird 'cause I awakened when I was a kid, but my family doesn't have a lot of money even with Mom doing the healing business on the side, and I just wanted to get some pocket money! Please, don't tell! Please, please, PLEASE!"

>Okay, but you have to tell me everything.

>What are you talking about?

>...You're a witch?

>Write-In

>>1388178
Spheres are oWoD. This is nWod, we have ARCANA. And yes, she has access to the Fate Arcana, which:
1. Allows for the manipulation of probability and destiny.
2. Has a poorly-understood connection to the True Fae!

That's why you could sense her magic: Changelings, like all fairies, have a natural ability to sense when someone's toying with the strands of Fate.
>>
>>1388192
>...You're a witch?
>>
>>1388192
>okey, but you have to tell me everything
>>
>>1388192
>Okay, but you have to tell me everything.
>>
>>1388192
>Okay, but you have to tell me everything.
Starting with...
>...You're a witch?
>>
>>1388210
>>1388221
>>1388222
"Okay, but you have to tell me everything."

"Well... my mom's a witch, like me! Only she knows how to heal people and talk to the natural world and stuff, and I can see the future and make things happen. Dad can't use magic, but he knows about it. I had my Awakening when I was ten, which is really young- not, like, SUPER young, you know, but still- and I've been studying spells ever since! Only now I have to go to high school, because Mom says that it's important I learn how to deal with people. I'm studying under Master Keraunos- well, once I'm done with high school I will be, and he already lent me a spellbook and helped me craft a focus! I haven't picked a Shadow Name yet, because, you know, I'm not REALLY a witch yet? But still! So, who are you apprenticed to?"

>(Subterfuge) My dad. Yeah, he's a wizard.

>(Subterfuge) Master... Maesterion?

>I'm... not actually a witch. I'm a fairy.

>Write-In
>>
>>1388327
>I'm... not actually a witch. I'm a fairy.
>>
>>1388327
>I'm... not actually a witch. I'm a fairy.
>>
>>1388327
>I'm... not actually a witch. I'm a fairy.
>>
>>1388360
>>1388362
>>1388373
"I'm... not actually a witch. I'm a fairy."

"Wait, you're a- OH, WOAH. This is... this is rad! And your dad and uncle?"

"Yeah, they're fairies too."

"This is... this is so cool! I can't wait to tell my mom and dad all about this!"

>No! You can't tell anyone.

>Okay, just- don't tell the others, okay? This has to be between the two of us.

>Write-In
>>
>>1388545
>No! You can't tell anyone.
>>
>>1388545
>No! You can't tell anyone.
"Let's swear an oath: Neither of us tell anybody about our families unless it's an emergency."
>>
>>1388545
>No! You can't tell anyone.

I can get in trouble too, we need to keep this between ourselves. We need to swear an oath, for a year and a day, we shall not reveal our nature's to others unless in a true emergency.
>>
>>1388632
>>1388585
>>1388581
"No! You can't tell anyone about this! I could get in trouble too. You have to promise me that unless there's a real emergency, like if someone's hurt or going to die or something like that, we won't tell anyone about each other. Okay?"

Moonbeam pauses for a second, and then nods. "Okay."

You feel something shift in your stomach like a nest of snakes, but in a good way, as the oath takes hold.

"Hey, you kids! The roast is on!"

"Coming!" the two of you call out.

The dinner and homework session are quiet and uneventful, but you go home with your mind buzzing with worry and excitement. Going ghost-hunting might be more fun than you thought, now that there's an actual witch involved...


And that's it for this thread. Next thread begins tomorrow, but one last vote; it's ABOUT the next thread:

>Play as Jerry

>Play as Terry (sheet here!: https://pastebin.com/EcuPAVps )

>Play as Mary
>>
>>1388770
>Play as Terry
>>
>>1388770
>>Play as Terry
I think it is time we give him a good kick in the arse with our votes so he changes his messy and lazy way of life. The kids are already talking and they were over only once.
>>
Play as Terry
>>
>>1388770
I'm in on the Terry thread, just don't forget that Jerry has a duel/challenge comming up
>>
>>1388770
>>Play as Terry
>>
>>1388770
>Play as Terry
>>
>>1388770
>Play as Terry
>>
>>1388804
>>1388837
>>1388863
>>1388904
>>1389032
>>1389311
>>1389331

Here we are: >>1389349




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