Gameplay

May 4, 2025 9:46 am

The year is 1931. You live in Providence, Rhode Island in Ma Shanks’ Boarding House. Times are tough. The Great Depression means that immigrants and long-time residents, including you, are experiencing hard times.

Knifesedgegames

May 7, 2025 8:26 am

Gameplay

1931. Ma Shank's Guest House, Providence

The year is 1931. You live in Providence, Rhode Island in Ma Shanks’ Boarding House. Times are tough. The Great Depression means that immigrants and long-time residents, including you, are experiencing hard times.

You have all gathered outside the room of Mr. James Gardiner. He’s not been seen for at least two days and everyone is getting concerned for his well-being.

[ +- ] Audio link to set the scene

OOC:

You can all take this opportunity to introduce and describe your character and say a little about what the others might know about them.

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 7, 2025 11:56 am

Gameplay

Joe Turner stood nervously in the hallway as the landlord opened the door. Wearing a white shirt with a loose brown tie, suspenders and brown pants with plain worn business shoes. Usually he had a business jacket to match the pants, but today he had the sleeves rolled up on his shirt and apparently had left his jacket in his room. He'd already adjusted his tie, glasses, and shirt sleeves a few times as he fidgeted waiting for the door to be unlocked.

"Hope James is fine... we were supposed to meet and he is usually quite dependable." he adjusted his glasses again.

A man in his early thirties, you know he runs a few businesses, which like nearly everything in the city have run into some hard times. Still, he has work, which is better than most can say. He leaves every day to go to work and comes home late, does not talk much about what he does but he is pleasant and a quiet neighbor.

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 7, 2025 1:34 pm

Gameplay

Rita has the key of Mr Gardiner in her hand.
In her mind she repeats "Please be ok... please be ok..." but having to open the apartment of one of the tenants is never (or nearly never) for a good reason.
James has not been seen for two days and it is the moment to know whether they should call the police or not...
"Please be ok... please be ok..." Rita keeps saying to herself

In trembling voice Rita says loudly
"Please, be calm everyone... I will open the door, and then we will call him again. Then I will enter. If someone of you volunteer I will thank some company in case .... in case... well... the rest of you, please, wait here until we come out. Perhaps James just wants some time to be alone... quietly... "

Rita breathes, tries to calm herself... knocks again the door with hope... and finding no response, uses the key to open the door.

Once it is opened she adds with trembling voice

"Mr Gardiner? Are you Ok? We are worried... we are entering you apartment ..."

OOC:

I forgot to inform everyone! It is landlady :)

Last edited May 7, 2025 1:35 pm

Knifesedgegames

May 7, 2025 1:37 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Can you tell us what Rita looks like and what the others might know about her (before we go inside)

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 7, 2025 1:54 pm

Gameplay

Martin Bauer is practically vibrating with curiosity about what happened to Mr. Gardiner. In the almost two years that man has lived here, Martin hasn't managed to learn anything about him save for his name. What does he do for a living? Why does he hardly leave his room, and why does he spend his nights reciting what sounds like complete nonsense? Is it some kind of poetry? Or maybe he's speaking in tongues? He doesn't know James at all, and for someone who knows most of the people here better than he knows his own daughters, that's deeply frustrating.

Martin is a tall, fairly well-built Austrian man in his fifties with greying brown hair and a full beard. His clothes - a woollen vest, a plain white shirt, simple trousers and boots - give off the impression of having seen better days, as does the man himself. He's lost some of his accent as he's been living in America for over forty years, but he's still obviously not American. Most people know him as the widower who seems overly interested in other people's lives, though Martin of course thinks he shows a perfectly reasonable amount of interest.

Last edited May 7, 2025 1:55 pm

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 7, 2025 5:18 pm

Gameplay

"I'm right here by your side, ma'am. I'll accompany you inside, just in case." Bruno tips his hat and gives a little smile to Rita. His voice is steady, compared to the tension otherwise suffusing the hallway he almost seems a little blasé about it all.

Maybe this Gardiner bloke has flown the coop. Or maybe he's still in there... The thought of stumbling across a dead body wasn't exactly appealing, but it wouldn't be the first time seeing one. And it's not like Bruno's got much of a choice right now. When life puts you behind the eight-ball, you gotta find your own way out.

Between his chiseled jaw and piercing dark eyes, Bruno's rugged good looks wouldn't be out of place in a silent movie along the likes of George O'Brien or Rudolph Valentino. But his clothes tell a different story. The hat and overcoat has been patched and repaired repeatedly, his dark brown pants and waistcoat are fraying at the edges. The clock he wears has stopped at 6:45, who knows how long ago.

He's a familiar face to most everyone at the boarding house, though it's hard to find anyone who would call him a friend. Whenever he does speak, it's clear he's working hard to keep his Lithuanian accent from creeping through, though he usually fails.

Last edited May 7, 2025 5:19 pm

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 7, 2025 6:56 pm

Gameplay

Rita nods and smiles nervously to Bruno. She is happy he is the one that volunteered. Not that she knows much about him but... he seems the kind of guy to have at your side when things go bad. A tiny tear is almost leaving her dark eyes, but she manages to keep it in place. She is the Landlady!

Rita is in her late thirties. Her hair is slighly combed and cut not long and not short, just... in between. Her dress is clean and very well ironed, but is not new. Her plain shoes have seen better times too. Noone in the building knows (she hopes), but all her clothes are second hand. Being a widow with a 10 year old kid to feed and dress (Johnny) is not easy... Luckily, working at Ma Shanks’ Boarding House as a landlady provides her with a small apartment to live and some money. Not much, but enough.

She is worried for James. It is one of the few tenants that gives her conversation... She really hopes he is ok...

Last edited May 7, 2025 8:26 pm

Lori Hurley

Cola Inactive for 1 months

May 7, 2025 8:18 pm

Gameplay

"Goodness, you all. I've known Mr. Gardiner quite a while and he is most certainly not one to run off for no good reason. I am sure that someone as interesting as my colleague is certainly bound to come back."

There, beneath that book shop owner's almond-shaped eyes, did doubt lay bare in her soul. Lori Hurley stood close, black heels planted into the wood paneling underneath, arms crossed over a black and white dress that spoke both conservative stuck-up bookkeeper up high, and knee-showing flapper down low. Pale, slim, in the last vestiges of her twenties...

"At least, I have my hopes he is. I've never pegged Mr. Gardiner for a dastardly man to run off with such an important book of my collection. I need The Dreamers' Dictionary back or, God forbid, I might not have my Book Shop open any longer."

—And oh so hurting for money. She always had been, the residents around her knew her book shop of rare arcane tomes and obscure literature was a sinkhole of money from the small talk she'd have with others. At first, it was a dream to have opened a business like this, and now she depended entirely upon Mr. Gardiner's appearance to keep her dream in reality.

Last edited May 7, 2025 8:26 pm

Knifesedgegames

May 7, 2025 9:04 pm

Gameplay

Rita turns the key in the lock and the door is slowly opened.

From within comes the lingering smell of candles, long since burned out, and something sickly-sweet and copperlike. Looking in, you see it. Framed in the shafts of sunlight streaming through gaps in the curtains. A body!
The body is lying on a tarpaulin, stretched out on the floor. You can see blood. The man’s body and clothing are covered in blood. It looks as though he somehow fell over from a kneeling position. The body is wearing a green tweed coat and a brown sweater-vest—the clothes Mr. Gardiner usually wears. It must be Mr. Gardiner!

The scene is shocking. His head has been mutilated by knife cuts.

OOC:

Everybody please make a Sanity check. This should be 1d100 against your current Sanity. This is a 1/1d4 sanity check, so if you pass (roll under) you lose one sanity point. If you fail (roll over) you lose 1d4 sanity points.
(If you are new to Gamer's Plane, hit the Add New roll below, put Sanity in the reason and 1d100 in roll box. It will attach the roll to your post.)

Sanity loss also results in an involuntary reaction, for example.

[ +- ] Typical involuntary actions

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 7, 2025 9:11 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

50/50, let's roll

Martin recoils as if shielding himself from a blow. "Mein Gott!"

Last edited May 7, 2025 9:16 pm

Rolls

Sanity (vs 50) - (1d100)

(60) = 60

Sanity loss - (1d4)

(4) = 4

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 7, 2025 9:13 pm

Gameplay

"Šūdas!" Whatever Bruno had been expecting, it wasn't... this.

OOC:

Goodbye sanity, nice knowin ya!

Last edited May 7, 2025 9:16 pm

Rolls

Sanity (vs 50) - (1d100)

(77) = 77

Sanity Loss - (1d4)

(4) = 4

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 7, 2025 10:27 pm

Gameplay

Joe glanced in and immediately regretted it, feeling his stomach lurch, he turned toward the wall covering his mouth quickly. He took a few deep breaths to regain his composure and keep his last meal in place. He did not trust himself to speak just yet.

OOC:

Made the roll - 1 sanity lost

Last edited May 7, 2025 10:31 pm

Rolls

Sanity Check - (1d100)

(43) = 43

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 8, 2025 1:39 am

Gameplay

Rita stares at the scene... quietly.... his eyes fixed in the body.
It is not the first dead she sees. It reminds herself somehow of her dead husband.

The other tenants don't wait and enter too. She looks at them pondering whether it could have been one of them...

"Whoever did this shall pay for it.... We... I must call the police..." she says coldly
"You must all leave the apartment..."

Last edited May 8, 2025 1:02 pm

Rolls

sanity (50) - (d100)

(38) = 38

Knifesedgegames

May 8, 2025 5:58 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Your investigator’s Sanity points can rise and fall. Sanity is used to determine whether your investigator can withstand witnessing various horrors, as well as stand up to fearinducing situations, without turning tail and running away. The loss of Sanity points can lead to insanity.

[ +- ] Mechanics - Sanity Loss

Tommy Delacroix

Knifesedgegames

May 8, 2025 6:09 am

Gameplay

Tommy, Rita's son, stands at the top of the stairs watching. He calls down,

"Mama, what is it? Is Mr Gardiner ok?"

Knifesedgegames

May 8, 2025 6:14 am

Gameplay

Mr. Gardiner's Room

Lori Hurley

Cola Inactive for 1 months

May 8, 2025 1:09 pm

Gameplay

"M-Mister... Gardiner?"

The ghastly sight had her hand riveting onto the door frame to hold that quaking fear deep down, even as it boiled over into her general mannerisms. An early breakfast rumbled, stuck into the back of her throat, waiting to celebrate that new stench of death. Pungent, the kind of pungent that sticks around for the next day as death clung to the living.

"W...we were just talking just a few days ago about dreams and Ancient Greek a-and I... I..."
She stood statuesque, petrified into a barely held together dignity that could shatter at whatever worse revelations came next. She wanted to step in, get a closer look as if looking would revive, yet her black Mary Janes wouldn't rise.

Rolls

Sanity - (1d100)

(2) = 2

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 8, 2025 1:30 pm

Gameplay

Focus.

His hands are shaking, and he can't tear his eyes away from the macabre scene. He'd thought... not sure what he had thought. Maybe a robbery gone wrong, or the man had just gotten tired and put a gun to his temple. But this was savage. What kind of person could do something like this?

Focus, dammit!

Right, time's of the essence. With a scene like this, the fuzz will be all over the place. If he's gonna get anything useful here, he better move quickly.

Lori gives him an opening. As he makes his way inside the room, he makes a wide circle to avoid getting too close to the body. Seems sensible. "He didn't say anything strange when you spoke? Didn't seem worried or afraid or nothing?" While speaking he lets his eyes drift over the room. Gotta be something worth something in here, right?

Last edited May 8, 2025 1:32 pm

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 8, 2025 1:47 pm

Gameplay

Rita turns to Tommy
"Thomas Nathanael Delacroix! What are you doing in here! Mum is working.
Go back to your room, close the door and do your prayers! Now!"

Then she turns to the tenants and she tries to be with them as firm as she was with Tommy without much success "Please... this is a murder scene... we must go and call the police!"

It is the first time she has been in this apartment since Mr. Gardiner rented it. Somehow she tries to look for pictures of him... alone or with someone.
´
Is there something that calls Rita's attention as different from how the apartment should look like? The presence of absence or some furniture, something out of place?

Knifesedgegames

May 8, 2025 2:03 pm

Gameplay

As Rita's back is turned to deal with her son, Bruno slips into the room, casting his eyes about. He instantly tells that there doesn't appear to have been a fight, all the furniture is upright and there are no bloody footprints. The only unusual trappings sit in the floor in front of the corpse, a piece of bloodstained paper lies between two black candles, both of which have burned down to the stubs.

Rita casts her attention back to the room and sees everything in order as it should be, a writing desk to the right of the door, with piles of correspondence, a small kitchenette with a dining table, a bookshelf separating the sleeping area with bed, bedside table and wardrobe. Nothing appears to be missing with regards to furniture.

OOC:

Incidentally, it would be acceptable to send Tommy to run to the Police Station, he often goes out on his own and it wouldn't be out of the ordinary.

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 8, 2025 9:18 pm

Gameplay

Giving it a second thought, Rita calls back her son
"Tommy, wait a moment my dear"

She goes to the corridor
"Would you mind to go to the police? Do you remember when dad went to heaven? Mr Gardiner went too... and we need the help of police... You could ask them to show you their badges sfterwards my dear.
Go quick and I will make pancakes for dinner!
Thank you my dear"

Last edited May 9, 2025 6:45 am

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 8, 2025 10:35 pm

Gameplay

Rita's words are like static to Martin's ears, and he enters the room, unable to stop himself from glancing at Gardiner's corpse from time to time. Gardiner's room is practically bursting with secrets, and right now, his mind is squarely set on finally finding out what makes - or, more accurately, made - that secretive man tick. He peers at the piece of bloodstained paper in front of the corpse. "Let's take a look at you." He doesn't seem to notice that he's said it aloud.

Tommy Delacroix

Knifesedgegames

May 8, 2025 11:10 pm

Gameplay

Excited at the prospect of being helpful in an important situation, Tommy bounds down the stairs and out the front door.

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 9, 2025 1:08 am

Gameplay

Joe wanted to do nothing more than leave, but as young Tommy raced off to get the police, he followed some of the others into the room. He tried to not look at the body, fearing that he would be unable to keep from throwing up. "What's with the black candles?"

He was quickly looking around the room, "Anyone see what might have cut him? Don't touch it if you do."

As Joe mentions those things he cannot bear to look, so turns his back to the body. Facing away, he looks at the things on the table near the door. What might James been working on...

Knifesedgegames

May 9, 2025 6:12 am

Gameplay

Martin steps in, carefully moving toward the body. The tarpaulin on which it rests, like the rest of the room, is splattered with dried blood, although it appears to have protected the expensive Oriental rug beneath.

Crouching, Martin peers at the piece of blood-stained paper that sits between the two candle stubs. It appears to be handwritten but in an unusual language.

[ +- ] Martin

Joe takes a look at the table by the door. It holds a lamp, an attractive wooden holder for paper, pens and some envelopes, a man's hat and a pile of correspondence, a couple already opened and a number still sealed.

OOC:

What does Joe inspect first?

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 9, 2025 6:55 am

Gameplay

When Rita steps in, she finds all the tenants around the room

"Oh please... ohhh please... this is a crime scene now... We can not... We must keep it as it is so the police can do their job and find whoever did this and pay for it...

Do you think he did it to himself? I didnt see anyone coming... or any noise... "

Her eyes goes to the pile of correspondence. She has been handing him everyday whatever came for him, but seeing it all together, seems a lot now. Why to keep some of it unopened sparks Rita's curiosity.

OOC:

As landlady, what does Rita know about the correspondence? Was it arriving to the building by mail or handed? or arriving somewhere else?

Knifesedgegames

May 9, 2025 8:06 am

Gameplay

All mail is delivered to the front door and Rita has the job of sorting them and depositing them in locked mailboxes for each room on the ground floor from where tenants would collect their own mail. Rita likely saw all of these envelopes at some point and Mr Gardiner had more mail than most in the building.

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 9, 2025 10:19 pm

Gameplay

The note, being in neither English nor German, is inscrutable to Martin. Shaking his head, he looks to Gardiner's bookshelf; maybe he'll find something of interest there.

Lori Hurley

Cola Inactive for 1 months

May 10, 2025 1:05 am

Gameplay

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila says:

"He didn't say anything strange when you spoke? Didn't seem worried or afraid or nothing?"

"Why... Mister Gardiner was always a very passionate man or, at least, that's how he always s...seemed..." Lori holds back that anxiety waiting to spew forward from her throat and bravely swallows it back down with an audible gulp, then continues.

"Interested? Single-focused? He... was very very interested in dreams. Obsessed with it. And he was such a good talker too, I... well, I loaned him a couple of books... The Dreamer's Dictionary, that one's really rare... Myths and Legends of Ancient Greece and Rome by E.M. Berens, The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud and A Primer in Greek Vocabulary..."

Even with the cadaver presented so strikingly to them, Lori's second act of bravery was to finally step in with the rest of the concerned citizens. She didn't want to admit it, knew it was immoral to be more concerned about a book when her colleague was freshly slaughtered, but the deeply curious lady couldn't help but let her eyes scan over the letter next to Martin.

OOC:

It's alright to infer that the letter is written in Ancient Greek for my character, right? She has 40% in Ancient Greek and personally handed Mister Gardiner the Ancient Greek books. I want to try a Language (Ancient Greek) check.

Knifesedgegames

May 10, 2025 2:42 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Yes, Lori recognises the language as soon as she sees it. Go ahead and make your skill roll. Do you want to translate it out loud?

Knifesedgegames

May 10, 2025 2:56 am

Gameplay

Handing the note to Lori with a shrug, Martin makes his way out of the living area and into the bedroom section, the bookshelf faces the bed, diving the two areas.

Knifesedgegames

May 10, 2025 2:58 am

Gameplay

OOC:

What's Bruno doing, @Synaptic ?

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 10, 2025 7:36 am

Gameplay

Bruno nods along as Lori goes on. While the others focus on that note filled with gibberish, he begins to (respectfully, of course) rifle through the nightstand and have a look around the bed area. "He's gotta have left something around here? To explain what's happened here, I mean."

Lori Hurley

Cola Inactive for 1 months

May 10, 2025 11:09 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Sure thing, would be good to get Lori to relay what it says to the rest of the group.

Rolls

Language (Ancient Greek) - (1d100)

(1) = 1

Knifesedgegames

May 10, 2025 12:08 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Skills rolls have different levels of success, 50% of your skill is Hard, 20% is extreme. Roll a 01 and Yay! That’s a critical!

Knifesedgegames

May 10, 2025 12:12 pm

Gameplay

Lori translates the paper to all who are listening.

OOC:

Can I take Occult rolls from everyone.

Also, Lori can I have a Cthulhu Mythos roll. I'll give you a bonus die as you got an extreme on the translate, so roll the 1d100 and an additional 1d10.

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 10, 2025 12:21 pm

Gameplay

Joe Turner, the businessman, looked over the table. He ignored the mail and small writing items. "You said he borrowed some books, those are odd topics. I do not see any books here on the table."

Joe looked for anything that looked like a book on the table. He did not see anything, but James might have hidden them which would make them harder to find. Where would he put them?

Unless he saw something big enough to hide a book - Joe would leave the table and start looking through the cabinets.

OOC:

Added after seeing the translation...

Joe paused as the translation was read "What in gods name..."

Last edited May 10, 2025 12:24 pm

Rolls

Occult (5%) - (1d100)

(70) = 70

Knifesedgegames

May 10, 2025 12:39 pm

Gameplay

Joe looks over the table but doesn't see any books so turns his attention to the cabinets.

Bruno and Martin step into the bedroom area. The bed appears to be tidily made, a depression on the pillow where someone slept on top of the covers. Bruno goes straight to the nightstand on which stands a desk lamp and a book. Opening the drawer..

Knifesedgegames sent a note to Synaptic

[ +- ] Martin

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 10, 2025 12:42 pm

Gameplay

Bruno pauses his rummaging as Lori reads the note. Doesn't sound any less like gibberish in english. And yet, for some reason, he can't shake that feeling of unease it creates within him.

Rolls

Occult (5%) - (1d100)

(13) = 13

Secret Roll

Lori Hurley

Cola Inactive for 1 months

May 10, 2025 1:28 pm

Gameplay

"No books? That's... well..." Her brow drops as she faces Gardiner's body again with a look of regret and the worrying feeling that things have gone awry so quickly, "I just can't comprehend what manner of trouble Mister Gardiner got up to to leave behind such a weird letter... did it have to be in Ancient Greek too?"

After a quick glance at Joe and Bruno, Lori squints at that letter as if some secret laid between the lines.

"Yog-Sothoth, dreams... I never pegged Mister Gardiner for one to have mental issues..."

Rolls

Occult - (1d100)

(82) = 82

Cthulhu Mythos - (1d100)

(15) = 15

Cthulhu Mythos (Crit) - (1d10)

(1) = 1

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 10, 2025 1:34 pm

Gameplay

Martin's gaze wanders over the books on the shelf, most of which seem ordinary enough with a few stranger ones, but the drawer is what's really calling to him - practically ordering him, in fact. Part of him wonders what Julia would think about him rummaging through the belongings of a dead man, but for the moment, curiosity overrides all other considerations. While he's opening the drawer to take a look inside, he hears Lori reading the note in English.

Although he still has no idea what the note means, the strangeness of it makes him think that Mr. Gardiner was not quite right in the head. It's unsettling to think that he lived so close to such a man for almost two years.

Last edited May 10, 2025 2:13 pm

Rolls

Occult (vs 5) - (1d100)

(93) = 93

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 10, 2025 7:14 pm

Gameplay

Rita doesnt know how to stop the other tenants curiosity... and her own
"Oh... please... this is a crime scene... police will arrive at any moment... and this... this is very extrange... Mr Gardiner was so nice... and... I didnt know he knew Greek... Or was into strange Gods...." She does the cross on her face

She then turns to the correspondence and looks to the sender. With shaking hands she takes a look into one of the contents of one enveloppe... and perhaps other... and other...

Rolls

Occult 5% - (d100)

(69) = 69

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 10, 2025 7:57 pm

Gameplay

Joe opens the first cabinet, glancing quickly through the contents. Occasionally he looks over his shoulder nervously. There was so much blood. He wiped the sweat from his brow on his shirt sleeve. "Ancient Greek... candles... it makes no sense."

Joe's mind went to the item James asked him to find for him...

He turned quickly back to the cabinet.

Knifesedgegames

May 10, 2025 9:20 pm

Gameplay

[ +- ] Mechanics - Pushed rolls and Luck

Knifesedgegames

May 10, 2025 9:28 pm

Gameplay

Knifesedgegames sent a note to gesges

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 11, 2025 8:11 am

Gameplay

Rita reads outloud Joe Turner's name..,trying to remember whether James ever mentioned him or said anything related to the correspondence.
She also tries to remember which was Mr. Gardiner's job...
"This letter asks for ledgers... was him accountant?"

She takes a quick look at the others trying to see if the sender is the same and the dates

Last edited May 11, 2025 8:11 am

Knifesedgegames

May 11, 2025 10:29 am

Gameplay

Joe moves over to the kitchenette, the countertop holds a new looking hot-plate. Opening the cupboards above, something falls out.

OOC:

Joe, give me a Dodge roll

Knifesedgegames

May 11, 2025 10:44 am

Gameplay

Knifesedgegames

May 11, 2025 10:48 am

Gameplay

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Martin opens the drawer at the bottom of the bookshelf. It contains very little, pens, paper, envelopes.

OOC:

Can I have an INT check from Martin please. Also a SPOT HIDDEN roll.

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 11, 2025 11:49 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Let's see how this goes...

Rummaging through the drawer's scant contents, Martin notices something.

Last edited May 11, 2025 12:13 pm

Rolls

INT (vs 60) - (1d100)

(3) = 3

Spot Hidden (vs 45) - (1d100)

(37) = 37

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 11, 2025 11:51 am

Gameplay

Joe swallowed, his mouth dry when Rita read his name. Damn. He should never have sent a letter.

"Yes, James was doing some book keeping for me. My business I need to track deliveries and purchases, balances and such. James was helping me."

Distracted by Rita and opening the cabinet, he did not see the item falling out of the cabinet until it was too late.

Last edited May 11, 2025 11:52 am

Rolls

Dodge (30%) - (1d100)

(82) = 82

Lori Hurley

Cola Inactive for 1 months

May 11, 2025 2:37 pm

Gameplay

Lori pulls in with some deep focus, the crazed scene behind her fading away as she pulls into her own mind for something she read before—or perhaps witnessed before. She holds one side of her temple and applies some pressure, as if to Push a button in herself to figure things out. Her eyes connect with that nasty thing of Gardiner, peering over the wounds, the positions, the black candles, the weird letter...

OOC:

I'll be first to brave an L for a Push! LOL OMG

Last edited May 11, 2025 2:38 pm

Rolls

Occult (Push vs 70) - (1d100)

(84) = 84

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 11, 2025 3:12 pm

Gameplay

Rita didnt noticed that Joe was... Joe until he talked
"Oh..." she says.

She takes a looks at the other letters with even more curiosity.

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 11, 2025 3:21 pm

Gameplay

Bruno fishes out a thin journal out of the nightstand. "Might have something here, a diary or something?" He starts leafing through the pages.

Synaptic sent a note to Knifesedgegames

Last edited May 11, 2025 3:25 pm

Knifesedgegames

May 11, 2025 8:16 pm

Gameplay

There is a thud followed by a crash that makes everyone jump. A jar of pennies hits Joe in the head (-1hp) then bounces of the counter and shatters, sending coins flying everywhere.

Knifesedgegames

May 11, 2025 8:22 pm

Gameplay

Lori is drawn to the body, crouching down to inspect the body more closely. She notices a deep cut, freshly made, around the head, as if a knife traced a spiral from the crown the the neck. The clothes are blood-soaked and his unbuttoned shirt reveals strange marks on his chest. Lori then loses her balance her hands landing in the pool of coagulated blood.

OOC:

I think that will call for a Sanity check for Lori (0/1)
Also, give me a First Aid and a Spot Hidden

Knifesedgegames

May 11, 2025 8:26 pm

Gameplay

Martin figures from the way the drawer looks, the size doesn't add up, suggesting perhaps a secret compartment. He feels around the scroll work until he finds a button and pressing it there's a click, revealing the compartment within.

Knifesedgegames

May 11, 2025 8:36 pm

Gameplay

[ +- ] Bruno

[ +- ] Mechanic - Tomes

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 11, 2025 9:08 pm

Gameplay

The book appears to be a dream diary of some kind. Ordinarily, reading about some stranger's dreams would seem to Bruno to be a psychological torture on par with watching paint dry. And it's definitely not what he came here for. Even so, he can't quite bring himself to put the book down.

"You.... ehh, Lori. You said he was obsessed with dreams, right?' Bruno curses himself for only barely paying attention to the conversation around him. "And that note said something about dreams too, no?"

Synaptic sent a note to Knifesedgegames

Last edited May 11, 2025 9:10 pm

Lori Hurley

Cola Inactive for 1 months

May 12, 2025 4:01 am

Gameplay

It was all so... odd. Mister Gardiner's death didn't look very conventional. It was all the small cuts, deep, scattered, almost if done in a ritualistic way. So odd... so interesting...

"Yes. Mister Gardiner was so eager, almost frantic about learning about dreams, what they mean, but I always figured Mister Gardiner just enjoyed stuff like that. I never thought he'd well... do whatever this is to himself--Oof!"
As Lori came low, eyes practically eating up all those details in Mister Gardiner's body, that her heeled balance broke past and she found herself with a fistful of coagulated blood between her knuckles. The red tinges her skin and a patch of white on her sleeves.

OOC:

1... then a 100 in the same game. What is my luck ;o;

Last edited May 12, 2025 4:02 am

Rolls

Sanity - (1d100)

(18) = 18

First Aid (v 30) - (1d100)

(48) = 48

Spot Hidden (v 45) - (1d100)

(100) = 100

Knifesedgegames

May 12, 2025 5:45 am

Gameplay

[ +- ] Mechanic - Fumble!

Knifesedgegames

May 12, 2025 6:14 am

Gameplay

As Lori tries to get up, she slips, her entire front, covered in blood, and coming face to face with Gardiner. Being so close, she spots something in the blood beneath the body, a blade!

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 12, 2025 11:27 am

Gameplay

Distracted, the penny jar hits Joe in the head. "Ouch..."

As it smashes on the counter, pennies flying everywhere, Joe takes a few steps back from the glass and penny storm. Once everything settles, he looks around like a child caught with his hand in the candy jar.

"Sorry..."

He barely gets it out when Lori falls next to the body. "What the... are you ok?"

Initially he moves to help the woman up, but she is now covered in blood, so Joe recoils realizing he has gotten too close to the body for his liking and not wanting blood on him. He quickly scans the kitchen area for a towel or something he can hand Lori.

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 12, 2025 3:40 pm

Gameplay

Only vaguely aware of what's happening elsewhere in the room, Martin searches the hidden compartment.

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 12, 2025 3:50 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

did the movement of other letters bring another name or letter content to Rita's hands?

Last edited May 12, 2025 3:51 pm

Knifesedgegames

May 12, 2025 7:40 pm

Gameplay

Rita finds another letter from Gardiner's bank manager in Scotland regarding dwindling funds in his account. The letter warns that unless measures are taken to address the situation, Gardiner's account will be cleared out within the next six months.

Knifesedgegames

May 12, 2025 7:43 pm

Gameplay

[ +- ] Martin

Lori Hurley

Cola Inactive for 1 months

May 13, 2025 4:38 am

Gameplay

A nascent horror brews beneath Lori's features as she fell face-to-face with Gardiner and she hurriedly pulled herself away. Curdles of blood stuck to her hand like a viscous and far too clingy gelatin, they peel off--just barely--as she rises away from the blood pool. Her eyes caught something, a shimmer of blade hidden in its depths, and all of her focus stuck to that offending silhouette bathed in red.

"Bl-" She uttered the first part out, barely getting a hold of herself while Joe went to fetch a towel. No amount of education could protect someone from being covered in the blood of someone they were well-acquainted with. Lori Hurley had always been a little too curious, too eager to see and check things for herself. She points at that hidden blade underneath Gardiner's body.

"Blade... the suicide weapon... I'm guessing?"

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 13, 2025 3:13 pm

Gameplay

"Apparently he had finantial problems... didnt knew..."

OOC:

The unopened ones are similar?
Was him on date with the rent?

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 13, 2025 8:27 pm

Gameplay

The wrapped book (if indeed it is a book) is the most interesting to Martin. If it's been wrapped and hidden in this compartment, it must be secret, and if it's a secret, Martin wants to know about it. He removes it from the compartment and unwraps it.

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 13, 2025 9:42 pm

Gameplay

Bruno is largely absorbed in the journal he has found, but the sudden ruckus causes him to peek out past the bookshelf towards the body on the tarpaulin.
"Miss Hurley...? Are you alright?" he mumbles in surprise at the now even grislier scene, but he quickly changes focus as he follows her gaze to the blade. "We... we really oughta not touch that, I think?"
Yeah, definitely not. No reason to give the cops even more questions to ask.

Last edited May 13, 2025 9:42 pm

Knifesedgegames

May 13, 2025 10:17 pm

Gameplay

Knifesedgegames sent a note to gesges

Knifesedgegames

May 13, 2025 10:26 pm

Gameplay

The book, it is indeed a book, is heavy, so Martin sits on the bed to unwrap it on his lap.

It is a very old looking tome, and written in symbols similar to the ones on the note. Greek, perhaps? It is bound in cracked and aged leather and is frail with age. There is a publication date on the inner page, 1658. There is a bookmark within, reserving a specific page.

Bruno, who has been skimming a slim book he appears to have found, glances up at Martin and the tome on his lap. He may have just read about it.

OOC:

Bruno, I'll need a Language English roll from you to see how much of the journal you have taken in.

Knifesedgegames

May 13, 2025 10:29 pm

Gameplay

Joe hands Lori a towel he found neatly folded on the kitchen counter

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 14, 2025 9:51 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Rolling.

Rolls

Reading comprehension (40%) - (1d100)

(24) = 24

Knifesedgegames

May 14, 2025 11:51 am

Gameplay

[ +- ] Bruno

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 14, 2025 2:14 pm

Gameplay

Synaptic sent a note to Knifesedgegames

Last edited May 14, 2025 2:16 pm

Rolls

Occult (7%) - (1d100)

(68) = 68

Knifesedgegames

May 14, 2025 2:18 pm

Gameplay

Knifesedgegames sent a note to Synaptic

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 14, 2025 2:36 pm

Gameplay

Synaptic sent a note to Knifesedgegames

Last edited May 14, 2025 2:37 pm

Rolls

Occult (7%) - (1d100)

(94) = 94

Knifesedgegames

May 14, 2025 7:34 pm

Gameplay

Knifesedgegames sent a note to Synaptic

OOC:

Lori and Joe, what are you doing?

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 14, 2025 10:28 pm

Gameplay

Having handed Lori the towel, he stepped back from the body which had become far to close to. "A blade you say..." Joe looked nervously back at the body, "so he did this to himself? why would anyone do that?"

He glanced back at the kitchen where his previous accident was, then decided to have a look at the small table in the corner of the kitchen.

Lori Hurley

Cola Inactive for 1 months

May 15, 2025 3:29 am

Gameplay

Lori looks up to Bruno while wiping off her face and clothes, "...Y-you're right! Curiosity got over me, but still..."

But still, it's all too peculiar. She takes a moment to compose herself, taking deep breaths and pulling herself away from the blood heap before considering what Joe had to say.

"I haven't the faintest idea... Mister Gardiner never indicated having those type of urges. All this about 'Opening the Gate' and "Preparing the Way to Dreams' sounds a lot like he got caught up in some weird ideas... which reminds me, maybe..."

After having shifted off most of the wet blood off of herself, she shifted off the tarpaulin and towards the wardrobe just to see if she could find her book in there.

Knifesedgegames

May 15, 2025 6:17 am

Gameplay

As Lori steps into the bedroom, a bloody mess, she sees the two men, Martin, sitting on the bed and Bruno beside him, both reading books. The one in Boris' hand she doesn't recognise, it looks like some slim journal, but the book on Martin's lap, a huge ancient looking tome, does catch her eye. She's not seen it before, but instantly recognises it as incredibly valuable from its age alone. Gardiner has never mentioned owning such a book and given her connection over books, this comes as a surprise.

Thoughts of the wardrobe gone, her eyes are drawn to the bookshelf opposite the bed, a drawer underneath clearly contains the copy of "A Primer in Greek Vocabulary".

Bruno is flipping through the book he carries, gets frustrated and tears it in half, flinging it onto the bed.

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 15, 2025 7:54 pm

Gameplay

Martin has been flipping through the pages of the book. Although he doesn't know Greek, maybe Gardiner left some notes in English.

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 15, 2025 9:11 pm

Gameplay

Bruno looks down at the torn pages in front of him. "Dammit, this all just sounds like nonsense. Dreamland, bargains and rituals, I can't make heads or tails of it..." Though he's loathe to say it aloud, something in those pages drew him in. He felt like he was on the cusp of piecing something together. But no, just frustration and shredded papper.

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 16, 2025 12:40 am

Gameplay

"Please... be careful with whatever you touch... Police will arrive at any moment..."

Hearing Lori, Rita turns to help her clean herself

"which reminds you, maybe... of what?"

OOC:

does the table where the envelopes where have any box or compartment?

Knifesedgegames

May 16, 2025 8:49 pm

Gameplay

Martin hunts for anything in the time written in English , without luck. He does look at the page with a bookmark and it has the same text read on the note in front of the body. There are also diagrams of spiral shapes drawn on a body.

Rita, the table by the door has no drawers, so aside from the letters, there's nothing else of interest.

Joe steps to the dining table, there is a single place setting and one chair but otherwise the table is bare.

Knifesedgegames

May 16, 2025 8:52 pm

Gameplay

A dragging sound on the floor interrupts your investigation of the room. The mutilated body of the room’s tenant shifts its limbs and suddenly lurches to a standing position.
You look on in terror as the flesh around Mr. Gardiner’s head begins to peel, the flesh spiraling downward like some horrific party trick with an apple. The blood-slicked skull turns to look in the direction of the bedroom with malevolence in its lidless eyes.

OOC:

Sanity rolls everyone (1/1d6) - Bruno and Martin are exempt for the moment as they are out of sight of the thing

[ +- ] Map

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 17, 2025 12:22 am

Gameplay

Joe looks on, his mind unsure what it is seeing, "Dear god..." he whispers.

Rolls

Sanity Check - (1d100)

(16) = 16

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 17, 2025 1:32 am

Gameplay

Rita screams "Oh oh ahhhhh"

Rolls

sanity (50) - (d100)

(43) = 43

Knifesedgegames

May 18, 2025 10:27 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Joe and Rita lose 1 sanity each. Just waiting on Lori, who can see what's going on. @Cola

Knifesedgegames

May 23, 2025 11:01 am

Gameplay

I'

OOC:

ll give @Cola another day to respond, then I'll go ahead and move on.

Lori Hurley

Knifesedgegames

May 24, 2025 8:52 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Rolling sanity for Lori
That's a fail vs 49

Rolls

sanity - (1d100)

(50) = 50

Sanity loss - (1d6)

(2) = 2

Lori Hurley

Knifesedgegames

May 24, 2025 8:55 am

Gameplay

Lori lets out a piercing scream and stumbles back into the bedroom to get out of sight.

OOC:

(This alerts Martin and Bruno that something is seriously wrong on the other side of the bookshelf.)

Knifesedgegames

May 24, 2025 8:58 am

Gameplay

OOC:

OK, let's go to initiative. In CoC, this is simply order of dexterity. You all get a single action. @wizard11 you're up first.

Martin 80
Bruno 55
Rita 50
Joe 50
Lori 40
Gardiner-Thing 35

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 24, 2025 4:32 pm

Gameplay

Martin rises from the bed, alerted by Lori, and peers around the bookshelf. He grips the book in his hands, hoping that it might help him to defend himself if necessary.

The Gardiner-thing

Knifesedgegames

May 24, 2025 6:12 pm

Gameplay

The Gardiner-thing

As Martin appears around the bookshelf, holding the tome the creature’s head jerks around staring directly at him.

OOC:

Time for your Sanity check, Mr Bauer

.

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 24, 2025 6:16 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Sanity check time
Oh dear. So that's a sanity loss of 4, down to 42.

Martin's mind struggles to wrap itself around the horrific sight. It's a corpse, a mutilated corpse, yet it moves. "Wiedergänger!" he shouts, scrambling backwards from the thing with no regard for his surroundings. In that moment, he might as well be the scared little boy hiding in his room after one of his grandmother's stories scared him witless.

Last edited May 24, 2025 6:30 pm

Rolls

Sanity (vs 46) - (1d100)

(80) = 80

Sanity loss - (1d6)

(4) = 4

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 24, 2025 7:35 pm

Gameplay

The tattered remains of the dream journal fall from Bruno's hands at the sound of Lori's scream. His nerves are already frayed as he turns the corner and comes face-to-gory-face with... something. Something he can't even begin to form the words to describe.

He staggers back in shock, eyes trying to find something recognizably human in that mass of peeling skin and coagulating blood. He fails.

This can't be real. This can't be happening.

OOC:

Looks like I'll join you down in the lower forties of sanity.

Last edited May 24, 2025 7:40 pm

Rolls

Sanity (vs 46) - (1d100)

(53) = 53

Sanity Loss - (1d6)

(4) = 4

Knifesedgegames

May 25, 2025 12:14 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Thankfully that’s not quite temporary insanity but certainly inching closer to indefinite insanity

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 25, 2025 7:09 pm

Gameplay

Rita turns to see Mr Gardiner on foot... Her blood freezes and a scream gets trapped in her gut... too intense to leave it.

OOC:

current sanity 47

Last edited May 25, 2025 7:11 pm

Rolls

Sanity - (d100)

(1) = 1

Knifesedgegames

May 25, 2025 9:03 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

No need for further sanity rolls, Rita, it’s only on first sight (as the two men didn’t see last round)

You can still act normally

Knifesedgegames

May 28, 2025 9:31 am

Gameplay

OOC:

While Rita decides her action, what is Joe doing?

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 28, 2025 11:37 am

Gameplay

Seeing James... no that was not James anymore... it could not be. Seeing the thing rise from the floor, Joe was frozen for a moment. As it turned away from him, he tried to move away from it, only to find the solid wall behind him. Glancing around, he spotted the open door. His mind grasped at that one thing... the door out of the apartment.

Slowly he slid along the wall and the kitchen... inching toward the open door as the thing continued to look away from him into the bedroom.

The Gardiner-thing

Knifesedgegames

May 29, 2025 5:05 pm

Gameplay

The Gardiner-thing

As the Gardiner-Thing stands fully it tilts back its head and emits a horrible whistling scream from its throat orifice.

OOC:

Everything make a contested POW check vs Gardiner’s POW or be dazed for 1d3 rounds

It has made a Hard success, so you need to at least match that to resist

Rolls

POW - (1d100)

(35) = 35

Martin Bauer

wizard11

May 29, 2025 5:52 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

POW check

The terrible scream of the creature that was once James Gardiner rattles Martin to the core.

Last edited May 29, 2025 6:23 pm

Rolls

POW (50%) - (1d100)

(70) = 70

Rounds dazed - (1d3)

(2) = 2

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

May 29, 2025 11:42 pm

Gameplay

The horrible scream splits Joe's skull, a wave of dizziness hits him and he stumbles against the kitchen counter. Desperately he grabs the side of his head trying to block out the sound.

Last edited May 29, 2025 11:44 pm

Rolls

POW (60%) - (1d100)

(62) = 62

Dazed - (1d3)

(3) = 3

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

May 30, 2025 11:20 am

Gameplay

Bruno slams his hands over his ears, trying in vain to shut out the horrid sound.

OOC:

What does Dazed mean in this context?

Last edited May 30, 2025 11:22 am

Rolls

Hard POW (25%) - (1d100)

(79) = 79

Dazed - (1d3)

(3) = 3

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

May 30, 2025 12:22 pm

Gameplay

Rita covers her ears with her hands as she closes her eyes in terror

Rolls

pow (60) - (d100)

(40) = 40

dazed - (d3)

(1) = 1

Knifesedgegames

Jun 1, 2025 8:55 am

Gameplay

[ +- ] Dazed

OOC:

In her absence, I'll rule that Lori is dazed for 3 rounds. Hopefully @Cola will check in.

Rita, you do have the opportunity to use Luck on that roll. Although it's a fail (you need 30 for a Hard success) you can spend 10 luck from your pool to avoid getting dazed (@gesges)

gesges

Jun 2, 2025 5:54 am

Gameplay

OOC:

I will keep the luck for later... something tells me it will be useful 😅

The Gardiner-thing

Knifesedgegames

Jun 2, 2025 6:21 am

Gameplay

The Gardiner-thing

Round 1

If it were not for the swirling colours distorting your vision, you would see the creature lurch toward Martin and swings at him with a bloodied fist.

OOC:

In melee combat, you have the option to either dodge or fight back. With a Dodge, you avoid the damage on a successful roll, regardless of success level. Instead you can fight back and if you get a better success than your attacker, can do damage. On a draw, the attacker always wins. You cannot use Push but you can use Luck on combat rolls. What would you like to do, Martin? Keep in mind you have a penalty dice, whichever option you take.

Rolls

Brawl - (1d100)

(76) = 76

Martin Bauer

wizard11

Jun 2, 2025 1:12 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

So that's a 92...ouch.

His ears ringing from the creature's scream, Martin tries to dodge the blow.

Last edited June 2, 2025 1:15 pm

Rolls

Dodge (40%) - (1d100)

(2) = 2

Penalty die - (1d10)

(9) = 9

Knifesedgegames

Jun 2, 2025 6:55 pm

Gameplay

Martin attempts to dodge and even though he mistimes it, the fist doesn't connect.

OOC:

Ok, let's move to Round 2. Rita comes out of her Daze. Please make a Sanity roll @gesges

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

Jun 2, 2025 7:00 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

current sanity 47

Seeing former MrGardiner moving towards Martin, Rita grabs whatever she finds that could be thrown... as the lamp in the table!

Last edited June 2, 2025 7:52 pm

Rolls

Sanity (48) - (d100)

(21) = 21

Throw (25) - (d100)

(76) = 76

Knifesedgegames

Jun 2, 2025 7:06 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Lose 1 sanity point. You may now act normally, Rita.

gesges

Jun 2, 2025 7:54 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

i was slow editing the post :) now complete

Dead Boarder: Keeper

Knifesedgegames

Jun 2, 2025 8:37 pm

Gameplay

The lamp flies across the room, smashing against the bookshelf.

The Gardiner-thing

The Gardiner-thing attempts to grab the book from Martin.

OOC:

Again, Martin can attempt a fight back or dodge.

Rolls

grab - (1d100)

(94) = 94

Martin Bauer

wizard11

Jun 2, 2025 10:23 pm

Gameplay

Martin attempts to use the book to land a decent hit on the thing.

Rolls

Fighting (Brawl) 50% - (1d100)

(48) = 48

Penalty die - (1d10)

(8) = 8

Knifesedgegames

Jun 2, 2025 11:23 pm

Gameplay

Martin pulls the book aside before Gardiner can grab it then swipes it through the air trying to hit the thing.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 2, 2025 11:24 pm

Gameplay

Round 3

Martin is out of his daze this round.

OOC:

Give me a Sanity check

Martin Bauer

wizard11

Jun 3, 2025 2:41 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Down to 39 sanity now...

Last edited June 3, 2025 2:43 pm

Rolls

Sanity (42) - (1d100)

(73) = 73

Sanity loss - (1d3)

(3) = 3

Knifesedgegames

Jun 3, 2025 5:17 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

That pushes Martin beyond the threshold so now enters Indefinite Insanity. Unlike Temporary Insanity, there is no Intelligence save, you immediately enter a Bout of Madness

[ +- ] Indefinite Insanity

Bout of Madness

Physical hysterics or emotional outburst: The investigator is incapacitated from laughing, crying, screaming, etc. for 1D10 rounds (Your choice based on how you think Martin would naturally behave.

Rolls

Bout of Madness - (1d10)

(8) = 8

Rounds - (1d10)

(7) = 7

Knifesedgegames

Jun 4, 2025 5:26 am

Gameplay

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

Jun 4, 2025 5:54 am

Gameplay

OOC:

can the rest of us act? I think so, if not ignore

Rita looks nervously for something else she could use to hit/harm Mr Gardiner, as she thinks whether a dead one, or almost dead one, can be hurt

OOC:

ok, I did one wrong d100(25) which was a 6... then repeated and added 2 instead on 1 due to my bad internet connection, which were a fail 🙈

Last edited June 4, 2025 5:58 am

Rolls

Secret Roll

Throw (25) - (d100)

(53) = 53

Secret Roll

Knifesedgegames

Jun 4, 2025 7:03 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Only Rita can act this round. I’ll take your first roll (the 1d100 is a 6, a perfectly good roll! Drop 2 luck and you have yourself a critical hit, would you like to do that ? @gesges

gesges

Jun 4, 2025 1:30 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Yes, lets do a critical hit :)

Martin Bauer

wizard11

Jun 4, 2025 2:40 pm

Gameplay

Martin feels something in his mind snap like a twig and he falls to his knees, screaming incoherently.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 4, 2025 3:12 pm

Gameplay

Rita scrambles, looking for something to throw, laying her hands on a bladed letter opener. Launching it with all her strength, it thuds into the back of Gardiner's neck. As it hits, the spirals across his body burn with a blue light, everywhere except the head and neck.

OOC:

Ok damage of a small knife is 1d4+damage bonus. Rita is pretty strong, so has a db of +1d4. as a crit and this is an impaling weapon, you get max damage + a damage roll for the weapon, so effectively you are doing 1d4+8 damage!

Knifesedgegames

Jun 4, 2025 3:28 pm

Gameplay

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

Jun 4, 2025 3:42 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

damage...

Rita observes open-mouthed the blue spirals appearing, as she looks for something else to throw....

Last edited June 4, 2025 3:43 pm

Rolls

Damage - (1d4+8)

(2) + 8 = 10

Knifesedgegames

Jun 4, 2025 3:44 pm

Gameplay

The Gardiner-thing stumbles, reaching back at the thing in its neck, trying to reach it, momentarily distracted from its assault on the now screaming Martin.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 4, 2025 3:45 pm

Gameplay

Round 4

OOC:

This round, Bruno, Joe and Lori come out of their daze. Make sanity rolls please (1/1d3)

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 4, 2025 3:52 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Rolling.

Edit: 1 sanity lost.

Last edited June 4, 2025 3:52 pm

Rolls

Sanity (42%) - (1d100)

(23) = 23

Lori Hurley

Knifesedgegames

Jun 4, 2025 9:20 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

-1 Sanity

Rolls

Sanity - (1d100)

(29) = 29

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

Jun 4, 2025 10:41 pm

Gameplay

Leaning heavily on the kitchen counter...

Rolls

Sanity Check (59) - (1d100)

(35) = 35

Knifesedgegames

Jun 5, 2025 5:49 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Joe loses 1 sanity, as the colours dissipate and he comes to his senses.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 5, 2025 5:53 am

Gameplay

Round 4

OOC:

Everyone (except Martin) can act as normal

[ +- ] Initiative order

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 5, 2025 12:05 pm

Gameplay

Bruno's vision clears, adrenaline kicking in as he sees the creature stumble back from the letter opener. Still unsure of what to do, he falls back on what comes naturally. He tries to sock the creature straight in the jaw.

Rolls

Brawl Check (60%) - (1d100)

(71) = 71

The Gardiner-thing

Knifesedgegames

Jun 6, 2025 7:12 pm

Gameplay

The Gardiner-thing

The Gardiner-thing tries to fight back.

OOC:

That's a fail. You can drop 11 luck for a success, Bruno.

Rolls

Brawl - (1d100)

(94) = 94

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 6, 2025 7:34 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Alright, I will do that!

Rolls

Unarmed attack - (1d3+1d4)

(1) + (4) = 5

Knifesedgegames

Jun 6, 2025 7:51 pm

Gameplay

There's a crunch as Bruno connects with Gardiner's blood-slicked jaw. Again, the spirals light up with that eerie blue light, but not on its face. the head is jerked to the side and it immediately turns its attention to Bruno, the skinless face still impassive.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 6, 2025 7:53 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

(Note attacks to a targetted area like the head would usually call for a penalty die, however given the distraction of the letter opener in the back of the neck, I have given you a bonus die, so they cancel each other out in this instance)

Knifesedgegames

Jun 6, 2025 7:54 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Rita's up next.

Rita Delacroix (née Hendrix)

gesges

Jun 7, 2025 7:18 am

Gameplay

Rita, encouraged by her previous success and Bruno's making MrGardiner glow again, tries again to hit him. This time she grabs the chair

Rolls

Hitting with chair - (d100)

(93) = 93

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

Jun 7, 2025 12:34 pm

Gameplay

Joe saw the opening for the door as Rita went for the chair. In an instant he could be gone from this horror show. Then what, he'd have to keep running, get out of town. Without the books, he was a dead man.

His head was still reeling from that horrible scream, his hands shaking, he felt like vomiting. One last glance at the bloody skull of the thing which used to be James was enough. Joe sprinted for the door. Better to run, keep running, than die is this apartment.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 8, 2025 9:28 am

Gameplay

Rita finds the chair unexpectedly unwiedly and doesn't meet her target. Joe slips behind her and heads out the door.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 8, 2025 9:31 am

Gameplay

Lori stands back in the corner, as Bruno faces off against the thing. It glances at the book in Martin's hands, before attempting to slug Bruno out of its way.

OOC:

Bruno, you can either fight back with a brawl or dodge

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 8, 2025 9:47 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Bruno's fighting back with everything he has.

Rolls

Fight back (60%) - (1d100)

(26) = 26

The Gardiner-thing

Knifesedgegames

Jun 8, 2025 10:26 am

Gameplay

The Gardiner-thing

"uuuggh!"

Rolls

Gardiner Brawl - (1d100)

(66) = 66

Knifesedgegames

Jun 8, 2025 10:30 am

Gameplay

OOC:

OK, you've got a hit there! Now if you want to target a particular body part (ie the head) you can take a penalty die on that roll (another d10) or go ahead and roll (if you don't want to do that, I use the Warhammer determiner of location and reverse the to hit roll, making 62 a hit to the body)

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 8, 2025 2:14 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

I'm not liking my odds with the penalty die, so I'll go ahead and just strike regularly without targeting anything in specific.

Rolls

Counter-punch damage - (1d3+1d4)

(2) + (2) = 4

Knifesedgegames

Jun 8, 2025 4:15 pm

Gameplay

Bruno ducks under the blow and throws an uppercut at the creature's gut. It feels like hitting brick wall, the blue spirals flash at the impact and it appears to have no effect on Gardiner.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 8, 2025 4:24 pm

Gameplay

Round 5

Martin 80 - (Bout of Madness until round 10!)
Bruno 55
Rita 50
Joe 50
Lori 40
Gardiner-Thing 35

Knifesedgegames

Jun 9, 2025 6:26 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

@Synaptic you're up again !

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 9, 2025 8:56 pm

Gameplay

Bruno curses and shakes his hand in pain. The damn thing didn't even flinch. Seeing Joe bolt for the door, thoughts of escape finally start to intrude on his adrenaline-fueled brawling. He starts trying to circle the Gardiner-corpse, trying to get closer to the door without turning his back to it.

Swallowing hard, he throws another punch, this time aiming straight for the head again. That at least seemed to have some effect last time.

OOC:

Right, thanks, forgot that last punch was just a reaction!

Rolls

Brawl (60%) - (1d100)

(87) = 87

Penalty die - (1d10)

(1) = 1

The Gardiner-thing

Knifesedgegames

Jun 11, 2025 6:10 am

Gameplay

The Gardiner-thing

Gardiner fights back!

OOC:

Neither blows connect.

Rolls

brawl vs Bruno - (1d100)

(74) = 74

Knifesedgegames

Jun 11, 2025 6:11 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Rita, you're up next.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 11, 2025 8:07 pm

Gameplay

Seeing Joe just leave, Rita drops the chair and follows him.

The Gardiner-thing

Knifesedgegames

Jun 12, 2025 5:59 am

Gameplay

The Gardiner-thing

The Gardiner-Thing steps back a moment a from its neck-orifice releases another dreadful whistle, drowning out Martin's terrified screaming.

OOC:

Lori and MartinBruno only are affected by the dire tune this time. Give me a POW roll. You'll need a HARD success to resist.

Rolls

POW - (1d100)

(19) = 19

Lori Hurley

Knifesedgegames

Jun 12, 2025 5:59 am

Gameplay

OOC:

POW

Rolls

POW - (1d100)

(75) = 75

rounds dazed - (1d3)

(3) = 3

Martin Bauer

wizard11

Jun 12, 2025 2:26 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

POW check

Rolls

POW - Hard (25%) - (1d100)

(12) = 12

Knifesedgegames

Jun 12, 2025 2:36 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Martins already in his own world, so unaffected by this

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 13, 2025 9:20 am

Gameplay

OOC:

Did you mean Bruno? I'll roll just in case.

Rolls

POW - Hard (25%) - (1d100)

(3) = 3

Knifesedgegames

Jun 13, 2025 10:26 am

Gameplay

OOC:

My bad, didn't realise I put Martin, instead of Bruno. Martin is of course immune.

OOC:

Bruno resists the strange noise and may act normally next round.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 13, 2025 10:27 am

Gameplay

Round 6

Martin 80 - (Bout of Madness until round 10!)
Bruno 55
Rita 50 - Running!
Joe 50 Running!
Lori 40 Dazed
Gardiner-Thing 35

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 13, 2025 4:42 pm

Gameplay

Bruno struggles to block out that awful noise. It's hard to focus, nearly impossible to maintain any semblance of courage as others flee. Some little voice in the back of his mind tells him he really should just follow their example.

However, another voice tells him that he'll never be able to look his sisters in the eyes if he abandons the dame still in the room. And that Bauer fella, he seems to be coming apart at the seams. He can't just abandon him, can he?

"Lori!" he barks out. "Can you get him outta here!?" He throws another punch, just hoping to draw attention away from the others.

Last edited June 13, 2025 4:57 pm

Rolls

Fighting, Targeted strike (Neck/Head). 60% - (1d100)

(44) = 44

Penalty Die - (1d10)

(1) = 1

The Gardiner-thing

Knifesedgegames

Jun 13, 2025 8:50 pm

Gameplay

Gardiner fights back

The Gardiner-thing

Rolls

brawl - (1d100)

(88) = 88

Knifesedgegames

Jun 13, 2025 8:50 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

OK, you've got a clear hit to the head, roll your damage!

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 13, 2025 8:58 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

Rolling.

Rolls

Damage - (1d3+1d4)

(3) + (4) = 7

Knifesedgegames

Jun 14, 2025 12:12 am

Gameplay

There is a crunch as the Gardiner-Thing's head snaps back from the solid uppercut. The blood soaked figure staggers back a few steps, stumbles and collapses, unmoving and once again silent.

Knifesedgegames

Jun 14, 2025 9:19 am

Gameplay

Whatever happened here, it's over but none of you will ever be the same again. The corpse of James Gardiner is unmoving again. Within minutes, a patrolman arrives and will likely have questions for all of you.

Martin, comes out his reverie and is taken to a hospital for observation, but refuses to let go of the book.

Lori has no memory of what happened in those last moments. She doesn't get to recover her books, but perhaps the police will be open to her claiming them.

Joe, unable to obtain what he was looking for may have to look over his shoulder for a time. Once the police are done with him, perhaps he'll leave the city.

Rita, dismayed at the loss of her favourite tenant, at least protected her son, the thing most precious to her.

Bruno, may have been the hero of the day, but the police might not see it that way. He taps his pocket to make sure the things he grabbed are safely stowed for later inspection.

[ +- ] Bouts of Madness and Cthulhu Mythos

Over the following weeks, you piece together the truth of the situation. James Gardiner enjoyed a vivid and fantastical dream life but somehow lost his ability to dream. He sought occult solutions to regain his dreams and found a spell in a tome that he believed would open the way for his dreams to return.
Unfortunately, the spell and the book were cursed. Some strange entity from another world tricked Gardiner into performing the rituals he found in the tome. One prepared his body to become a vessel for the foul entity while the other led to his death, sending poor Gardiner’s soul
into oblivion. His empty body could then be possessed by the entity—just as you discovered.

Due to your timely actions, you can feel proud to have played your part in foiling the schemes of a monster from beyond.

[ +- ] Rewards!

[ +- ] Skills used

Joe Turner

DrifterDwarf

Jun 15, 2025 10:55 am

Gameplay

Joe laid low for a while, trying to figure out what had happened. He considered a number of times trying to break into James' apartment again to retrieve his ledgers, but he could never approach the door again. The vivid memories of what had happened, he would still wake up in a cold sweat at night. The fact that he had procured the daggers which James had used to do that to himself continued to haunt Joe. Eventually Joe sold what he could and left the city, his enterprises in ruin, but he was alive.

Rolls

Sanity Increase - (1d6)

(4) = 4

Bronislovas 'Bruno' Skirgaila

Synaptic

Jun 15, 2025 6:26 pm

Gameplay

Bronislovas ended the day with a bruised fist and a pocket full of contraband, hastily squirreled away before the police arrived.

In the weeks that followed, he did his best to get on with his life and fence the stolen goods. If he perhaps spent a few more evenings at his brother's speakeasy, nursing a drink or three, nobody who knew him thought much of it. And if he occasionally woke up in a cold sweat in the darkest hour of the night, well, he rarely shared his bed with anyone anymore.

Whenever they met up to discuss the latest star-studded Hollywood release, his sisters noticed him trailing off frequently, gazing off into the distance. Anikke and Dovana never asked too directly what was on his mind, and he wouldn't have known what to answer if they had.

Some things were best left buried, and, if God was merciful, forgotten.

Rolls

Sanity increase - (1d6)

(1) = 1

Language Increase (40%) - (1d100)

(45) = 45

Fighting Increase (60%) - (1d100)

(32) = 32

Language improved - (1d10)

(3) = 3

Martin Bauer

wizard11

Jun 15, 2025 10:55 pm

Gameplay

Martin spent a week under observation before being discharged due to lack of available space in the facility. As the weeks went on, Martin appeared more and more tired as a result of many a night spent trying to learn Greek from what little he could find on the subject. What little sleep he did get was often interrupted by nightmares of walking corpses, and from time to time he would sleepwalk to the room where Gardiner used to live and wake to find himself staring at the door. Martin may have survived his encounter with the unnatural, but he was far from unscathed.

OOC:

Didn't Martin fail his Dodge roll due to the penalty die?

Rolls

Sanity increase - (1d6)

(6) = 6

Spot Hidden (45%) - (1d100)

(24) = 24

Knifesedgegames

Jun 15, 2025 11:00 pm

Gameplay

OOC:

You’re right, I missed that penalty.

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1931. Ma Shank's Guest House, Providence

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