Part Four: Run
Sunday, August 8th 1790
Three things were on the front of Robert’s mind as he awakened under a floorboard in a house that Virginia said she kept in case of emergencies. He thought about his daughter Lizzy. Worrying about how much danger she would be in from CL. He thought about how much he needed to kill CL and he thought about McCallister. There really wasn’t a safe option of things to do. He could confront CL. He could steal his daughter and take her to safety out of the city. He could also seek McCallisters protection.
He was interrupted from his thoughts by a stomping on the floor. “Are you going to lay in there daydreaming or come out and help me figure out what to do.” Virgina said.
After prying himself out from underneath the warehouse rough wood floor he sat up and stared at her. “We need to kill CL or seek protection from McCallister, but my money is on killing CL before he kills my daughter. You know that since you were there when we made the deal.”
“We can prove that this is what you think it is.” She replied.
“Can’t I? The better question is, how hard will it be to move in the city if everyone is looking for us?”
“If we move now, before the city rests then we should be alright as long as we keep our faces hidden.” she points at the black veins that are a bit deeper on her tonight than they were last night. She must have had a harder time than Robert. “We wait much longer and we’ll be out in the open.”
Robert isn’t one to run. “Alright, lt’s to go make sure the Captain isn’t a traitor.” He says.
I’m going to hit a Face Danger for moving across the city. They are wanted by the Pacte, which I’m assuming until proven otherwise has most vampires in the city under its thrall in one way or the other.
Note: Here is where I realize that Iron in the Blood is ignoring companions and how they can impact play. The game does not use Assets in the way that Ironsworn does and I mostly play loner characters in my solo games. Look for Companion notes in the next version of the game. For now I’m going to let Virginia give a bonus to certain rolls.
Face Danger. We are not hiding or deceiving, just moving through the city making our way with good observation and staying in crowds. +Wits +Virginia. 2+2 vs double 8s. A miss and a match. I’m going to make his fear come true. His daughter is mixed up in this now. He’ll find out as he is ambushed.
They are walking, almost to the safe house when a tall man dressed finely but not too finely, steps out in front of them.. A wealthy man who wears fine clothing fit to do real work. He is holding a long pink ribbon. In the dark and spiratic light of lanterns Robert can’t make out much about it but the man places himself right in their way. Virginia places her hand on Robert’s arm.
Robert does not back away but steps up to the man, staring at him. Daring him to do something.
Secure an Advantage. +heart for courage. I’ll let his soldier training help with that also. 4+4 vs 8 and 10. A miss.
There is a scuffle behind Robert. He doesn’t look back, just stares at the man. He sees others coming out of the night around him. Outnumbered, and he assumes that Virginia is rendered useless to him.
“What?” Robert says.
“What is the only thing you have to say for yourself?” The man says.
“Do I need to say anything for myself. You friend are the one interrupting my night.”
The man sighs, “Mr Tyler, you have no more nights left to you. This is fairly simple. I, honorable servant of his highness Lord Addington, am here to execute his will. His will is that you be put to death immediately for the murder of our allies and their servants. You have two choices. You fight, you die, she dies. You come with me and you die.” he holds up the ribbon. Robert realizes what it is then.
His daughter’s ribbon. The one with the stars at the end that he gave her when he got back from the war. The man doesn’t smile about it. He doesn’t appear to be enjoying this but it still sets Robert off.
Since the time he was made into a vampire he was told about how he has to hide what he is. That showing mortals what they are could lead to terrible things both from the mortals and the elder vampires. Robert leans into that. He stretches out with his mind, with his heart to the mortals who are still busy in the streets at this time of night. He reaches deep into their thoughts and says, “notice us, see the monsters around you. See the truth!”. He watches for a reaction out the corner of his eye, waiting for the moment to explode so he can run.
Robert is supernaturally trying to compel the people around him to look deeply at the monsters vampires but that would be the next choice. I’m going with +heart because he is trying to reveal the truth to humans and being courageous in the process. +shadow would also work because of trying to trick the vampires but I don’t feel that is how Robert is acting here. I’m opting to not spend blood on this but still using a vampire ability (mental projection). Robert is sitting on 10 momentum so I’m going to use that if I roll pourly. 6+3 vs 7 and 4. A strong hit.
in their presence but that isn’t his ultimate goal. His goal is to escape. To run. I’m going to roll Face Danger and not Compel for that reason. +heart. He’s not tricking anyone.
In the 1.1 version of the rules it is not stated overtly but a vampire can do vampire-like things without calling the blood if they are just relying on their normal stats. That is a clarification to be made in a later draft as well since it is implied but not stated.
A long second ticks by and then the first scream is heard. A lady notices the veins in Virginia’s face and screams “plague”. Down the street a vampire who was concealing themselves in the dark sends a group running back up the street toward Robert yelling for help from a “devil in the streets.” The vampires holding Virginia are shocked enough that she breaks free and as the man with the ribbon turns slightly Robert bolts around him and down the block. Virginia on his heels.
Robert runs toward his daughter. To his wife’s brother’s house. He has to know for sure.
I pictured his daughter living with her uncle on a farm in the under developed portion of the island, past Greenwich, which at the time was a quiet suburb. I’m going to use Ironsworns Scene Challenge rules for this. I think this trip should be hard and take time. They are on foot and the city is looking for them. I’m going to call this Formidable.
First thing Robert is doing is running into the shadows. He needs to lose them before they can get themselves out of the mess he just made for them.
Robert and Virginia run into the darkest part of the street and Robert pulls the shadows close behind them to mask their journey.
Face Danger. He’s being chased. +edge and he is pulling the shadows behind him. +blood. I’ll take a +2 from the blood for a total of +4 with edge. 1+4 vs 5 and 8 a miss. I burn Momentum bringing it down to +2 and giving me a Strong hit.
He isn’t very skilled as a vampire and his attempts to pull the shadows around them is laughable. Virginia doesn’t say anything thankfully. Just when he thinks they won’t make it far enough he happens upon a side alley, wide enough for them to slide through that is barely noticeable in the darkness.
Endure Hunger. Robert is down to +2 control because of him not fully recovering from last time. I roll that 1+2 vs 6 and 4. A miss. -1 momentum.
The hunger starts to eat at him and for a second he thinks of turning his back on his daughter to satisfy it, but quickly comes back to his senses.
The alley takes them further west and Robert takes them that way, hoping that the Greenwich road might be less busy and give them time over their pursuers, if they have figured out where they are heading yet.
Secure an Advantage. Again with the +2 from edge. The dice hate me. 2+2 vs double 10s. I roll on pay the price and I think the thing that is lost is time.
Robert turns onto the road to Greenwich, which runs closer to water and is immediately wrong about it being less crowded. It’s not only less crowded but he picks up a new tail, who runs after him as he dodges back into the city. Robert thinks he is escaping but realizes that he lost track of Virginia. She’s nowhere to be seen. He makes the call to keep going. His daughter is more important and he needs to shake this new menace.
Face Danger. +edge again. 5+2 vs 6 and 5. Finally a strong hit.
He springs up over a small wall, doubles back half a block, shoots down another alley and then heads back north. No sign of the follower. Now to put some distance between them.
Secure an Advantage. +edge again . 4+2 vs 6 and 3. A weak hit. +1 momentum
Robert thinks he is in the clear. He springs up onto a street gain and thinks he catches a glimpse of his pursuers down the block. He needs to be smarter about this but all he can do is think to run.
Face Danger. More running. 3+2 vs 2 and 9 a weak hit. I mark progress but I also mark countdown. That leaves me at 3/10 and countdown at 2/4. Not good odds. He’s not even out of the city proper yet. Pay the price 1 stress.
He runs and runs and runs. Cutting across town, back and forth, trying to make his way, he makes progress but everytime he thinks he is in the clear another one appears. Running behind him, up in the rooftops, watching from the windows. He begins to think that maybe he won’t make it and even if he does he won’t be able to save her.
Endure Stress. 4+4 vs 3 and 4 a strong hit. Embrace it +1 momentum
It’s his duty to save her. The only thing he is in this world for, even in this condition. He slams down the doubt like a hammer on the anvil and keeps running.
Face Danger. 5+2 vs 6 and 1. A strong hit. +1 momentum.
Robert reaches what he considers the edge of town. The place where buildings start to thin out and he can see parts of the old revolutionary breastworks in the distance. He thinks he can anyway. He knows they are there but his eyes can’t make them out fully in the dark. Although he thinks he has lost them he needs to be careful but he knows he has never been good at sneaking. He is going to have to make another run for it.
Face Danger. 1+2 vs 6 and 6, a miss on a match. Man this run is not going very well. Pay the price (take harm). Since this scene challenge is Formidable I’m going to park that as 3 harm. Which will bring him to zero health.
He breaks from cover and gets about halfway to where he thinks the old works are when out of the darkness gunfire erupts. Bullets slam into him from multiple sides. He spins and lands face first in a pile of ash. He can see that it might have been a recent bonfire.
Endure Harm. +iron since his health is 0. 2+2 vs 6 and 10. Not his day. Can’t even burn my momentum to help that. I should have used +blood but that is the risk you take thinking you have it beat. I lose 1 momentum and must mark wounded or maimed or roll on the table. I mark wounded.
Design Note: Vampires in the base game are very human like when it comes to taking damage, even healing. Other than they have to spend blood to heal. I might shift that slightly in later versions.
He rolls over realizing that he has been majorly hurt. He thinks he can hear people moving closer to him. He can’t escape like this.
Heal. Robert has a gift of regrowth +2, which means he can Heal with a +2 without having to lose control. He has +2 control right now so he could sacrifice that to gain +blood to this roll. I don’t think he can afford to lose control right now so I’m going to roll just the +2. 4+2 vs 9 and 4. A weak hit. +2 health, clear wounded but I take -1 control. Endure Hunger Robert is now down to +1 control but he rolls this at +2 because of his Bonds. 1+2 vs 10 and 3. A miss. -1 momentum.
His blood immediately starts healing the wounds. Bones nit, bullets are pushed out, flesh heals. He goes to sprint but his body pauses, it’s like for a moment it resists his control, trying to get him to move back toward the city. Back toward food. It wastes precious time. He has to keep running hoping whoever is pursuing hasn’t had time to reload or close the distance.
Face Danger. I’m going to spend that last control to boost his speed. +1blood, +2edge. 4+3 vs 6 and 2. A Strong hit.
He sprints off toward the darkness of the ridge that used to be earthworks to protect the city. His body moves like a blur in the night quickly leaving his pursuers behind. He flies over his original goal but quickly jumps back out hoping to throw off those who think he will use that for cover.
Endure Hunger. +2bonds 5+2 vs 5 and 8 a weak hit.
He can feel his body withdrawing into itself. Conserving energy, making his thoughts turn red with the desire to kill. “Not yet” he tells himself, but he realizes it might be too long and that going toward Lizzy might be putting her more in danger.
Face Danger. I’m going to let him use his heart. He’s in the dark, in the forest. Not running. Trying to move forward without distractions. Doing the most courageous thing he can do. Trying to save his daughter. Also he is pretty dang far from actually succeeding so I think he needs a break. 3+3 vs 8 and 7. Well no break. A miss. My momentum is five so that won’t help. The scene challenge countdown track is full. I’m going to go ahead and roll it and then decide how it all plays out. Scene Challenge Progress Roll. 4 and 10 vs 6. A weak hit. I am successful but not without cost. This whole thing is a tragedy waiting to happen.
He walks through the deep dark. The lights of the city in the distance. He starts to hope he is safe, but then in the dark he hears growling. He stops. Slowly out of the shadows comes three wolves. They are coming from different angles. Robert almost tries to run but then a light strikes up. A pipe being lit. The woman holding it says, “looks like you are in a pickle Mr. Tyler.”
He can’t make out much details but her face looks oddly angular and her skin is a deeper shade, like a deep tan. “Please, lady, let me pass. I have no trouble with you.”
“But you do unfortunately. A run who runs faster than you spread the word on the whole island that you are a murderer of your own kind and outcast. It is my sworn duty as a member of the great society to destroy you.”
Robert looks for escape and seeing none he moves back and pulls out his knife. She smiles.
“They are far off, your little trick at the old works was a good diversion. It means I get you to myself but I don’t kill anyone without knowing why. So tell me Robert. Why am I going to kill you?”
“Because of lies.”
“That wasn’t in doubt. Our culture is all about lies. Why am I going to kill you?”
“Because you must.”
She nods. “Now tell me why I’m going to regret it.”
“Can we just fight and get this done with.”
“No”.
Robert can’t help but feel like this is an opportunity. “You’ll regret it because what I’m doing I’m doing to save an innocent and to fight for what I believe in. You’ll regret it because you are upholding laws that from what I have seen in my short time among you are just as old and outdated as the traditions we just overcame as mortals. You’ll regret it because you are the bad guy in this position. I hope that you see the look in my daughter’s eyes as they kill her so you know my words are true.”
“Very well. You are most likely right.” She knocks out the pipe and puts it into a pouch beside her. It is then that Robert sees that her fingers have grown into claws. “It’s time”.
Enter the Fray. I’m intentionally placing Robert in a bad place. Narratively I painted him into a corner that you can’t survive, or his daughter can’t. Because of the scene challenge roll I know that he is successful at getting to and saving his daughter but a price must be paid. This is the price. She is a Formidable Foe. He most likely won’t win and that is on purpose, but let’s see. 3+3+1 vs 7 and 4 a weak hit. I’m going to take momentum. Bringing Robert to +7
Robert readies his other knife and gets braced for whatever she is going to bring at him. He can’t read her emotions but the dogs are hungry. He edges toward the one that is more fearful knowing that at least that attack will be weaker.
Clash. +2iron,+1Role 4+3 vs 9 and 4 a weak hit. He’s going to take +3 harm and give 2. This reduces Robert to 0 health and 6 momentum. I like to roll Endure Harm before I narrate. Endure Harm. +Iron 5+2 vs 7 and 1. A weak hit.
She comes at him quickly and without anymore warning. She’s calm for a beat and then she is all fury and rage focused on him. He slams into the ground, knife driven into her hip as she proceeds to rip into his side. He can feel the exposure of his bones in the crisps night air. It’s all he can do to keep her from ripping out his heart with his other arm. He can’t find a way out from her attack, all he can do his stab and stab and hope she gets off him.
Clash. 2+3 vs 9 and 4 (and how did I roll that again) another weak hit. 2 to her 3 to him. That knocks him down to +3 momentum, still at 0 health. Endure Harm. 6+2 vs 6 and 7 a strong hit! Giving him initiative.
He stabs her in the shoulder and she uses the opening to launch her claw deep into his gut. He has very little blood to spill but what is there leaks out. He smiles. There is something about the absurdity of this moment that gives him strength. He pushes upwards off the ground with all his years of strength from being a soldier and a blacksmith. Her face goes from intense killing machine to calculating and she steps back away from him. He brushes himself off and resets himself, then.. Strikes.
Strike. +2iron+1knifefighter 5+3 vs 3 and 9. A weak hit. Deal harm but lose initiative.
He lounges at her driving the knife into her arm as she twist to move out of the way. Or so he thought. Instead she grabs him and uses his momentum to slam him back into the ground. Once again she comes at him furiously.
Clash. 1+3 vs 9 and 10. A miss. He is now down to 0 health and 0 momentum. Endure Harm. +2. 1+2 vs double ones. A twist.
She slams her whole set of claws on one hand through his arm pinning it to the ground. Her face gets close. He is not screaming. He knows he is not going to win this. “I feel bad that I have to kill you but I do want you to know that your daughter is safe and I disagree with the actions of this so-called Pacte.” Her voice is harsh, like you’d expect a growling wolf to sound if it tried to talk. “You fight well for a fledgling.”
She gets off of him. He gets to his feet. He is weak and in no position to seize the opportunity.
She comes back at him.
Clash. 6+3 vs 6 and 5 a strong hit.
He feels as if she intentionally slid herself onto his knife. For a second he thinks she is mad. Her eyes do not seem sane as they glare at him. He takes the opportunity and brings his other knife, as damaged as his arm is to her face.
Strike. 4+3 vs 8 and 9. A miss. Shoot. Endure Harm. 6+2 vs 8 and 9. What is it with these high rolls! A miss. I’m going with a roll on the chart. 13… Face death, but since he is a vampire he Moves Through Time instead. I’ll deal with Move Through Time at the start of the next session.
His knife doesn’t make it to her face. The wolves come out of the darkness then and pull him down. Pull her off his knife. They ravage him. As they are gnawing on him, she kneels down beside him. “I make you two promises. She will not die and I’ll see you again.” She closes his eyes like he is already dead and he sleeps.
End Part Notes: I was exceptionally mean to Robert. I meant to be but I didn’t. The narrative flow pretty much took me there. It helps that I wanted to reset so he could actually have a fighting chance, and two I wanted to move him through time. The dice in their way guide those choices. They helped me discover the last character he meets by putting me in a position where narratively it made no sense for him to make it to his daughter, but they told me he succeeded. It’s a nice wrap up to his life in 1790.
In the first text of part 5 I’ll deal with the Move Through Time move as well as how badly at least ten years of being absent will affect the threat level of the french vampires and the Pacte.