*comment ñáéç *page_break *temp current_location *set current_location chicago_haven_neighborhood *goto night_check *label night_check *if Blood > 15 *set blood 15 *goto night_check_2 *if Blood <= 15 *goto night_check_2 *label night_check_2 *set Blood -1 *if Blood <= 0 I'm out of blood. *page_break The hunger is too great... I cannot control it. *page_break I am covered with blood. There is a dead body before me... I don't recognize him. I am full, but now I must flee... *set Blood +10 *set Compassion %+10 *set Exposure +1 *set recent_misdeed 3 *set Wealth +10 *goto night_check *if Blood > 0 *set wealth +income *goto night_check_3 *label night_check_3 *if blood < 4 It should be noted that you are hungry... if you are forced to any sort of exertion, you could lose control of yourself. *gotoref current_location *else *gotoref current_location *label blood_check *if Blood > 15 *set blood 15 *gotoref current_location *if Blood <= 15 *gotoref current_location *label empty *goto little_italy *label uptown_2 You emerge from you haven, looking cautiously over your shoulder for demons and fake angels. Setting out into the night, you begin exploring the territory around your haven. You will need to know soon if a vampire other than yourself has already claimed this area... lest things turn ugly. *goto meet_horace *label south_side_2 *goto meet_horace *label lincoln_park *goto meet_horace *label canaryville *goto meet_horace *label little_italy *goto meet_horace *label meet_horace *set horace_communique true Fortunately for you, it seems that your brethren have found you. *page_break A voice echoes around you. Inside you. Someone - other than yourself - is inside your head. ::${given_name}, we have little time for introductions,:: says the voice. Looking up and down the street, you are unable to identify the source of the... voice? People are walking to and fro without taking notice of you. ::Stop drawing attention to yourself. Just keep walking. One of the Quaestor's minions is probably watching you.:: You make an almost comic attempt to straighten your walk and while studiously ignoring the world around you. "How do I..." you whisper aloud. ::Just think it. Don't even whisper.:: ::Like that?:: ::Yes, you sap. Now listen. You met Phineas, the vampire with the wings. He is trying to save our kind from discovery. Clyde Thrasher and his delusions are drawing too much attention, and soon he will be caught by mortals and all sorts of dire events will come to pass. I understand that you want to remain uninvolved, but I must urge you to go to Phineas' aid. Either that, or leave town, as I will tolerate no interference from you.:: *choice #::I will help Phineas.:: ::I am glad to hear it. Now...:: ::But, wait, who are you? And where are you?:: ::I am nearby. And I prefer to retain some anonymity for just a little while longer. The day after tomorrow, go to the Stroll. Phineas will meet with you there. Keep an eye out for anyone following you.:: *if speaks_english With that, the voice in your mind... ceases. *goto phineas_rejected *else ::But, how will we communicate? We don't speak the same language!:: ::He will be prepared.:: With that, the voice in your mind... ceases. *goto phineas_rejected #::I will leave town.:: *if patricide *set discretion %-10 *goto patricide *else *set discretion %-10 ::I am disappointed in you, but it does seem our kind have increasingly turned to bestowing the Gift on cowards as of late. I trust I will not see you in Chicago again.:: The voice... presence... departs from you consciousness. You return to your haven immediately, pack your things, and prepare to depart from Chicago. *page_break Over the next few months, you hear rumors about the vampires of Chicago. It seems that O'Donnell went missing and, in his absence, Phineas was made Quaestor of the city by the Governor. Such are the ways of the undead. *goto_scene timejump2 *label patricide ::I'm not sure that you quite understand the gravity of your situation, ${mr} ${surname}. Your maker was ${sire_name}, if I am not mistaken.:: At that, your blood runs cold. You can almost feel what is coming next before it does. ::It's funny how he hasn't been seen in some time. I don't suppose you know anything about that?:: ::I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about.:: ::Oh, ${mr} ${surname}, I'm sure that you do! If you do not go assist Mr. Campbell, Governor Bjornsen himself will hear of your crimes. We will see how much your miserable unlife is worth then.:: *choice #::I will help Phineas.:: ::I am thrilled to see such a change in your attitude. The day after tomorrow, go to the Stroll. Phineas will meet with you there. Keep an eye out for anyone following you.:: *if speaks_english With that, the voice in your mind... ceases. *goto phineas_rejected *else ::But, how will we communicate? We don't speak the same language!:: ::He will be prepared.:: With that, the voice in your mind... ceases. *goto phineas_rejected #::Do your worst.:: *set discretion %+20 ::And so I shall,:: and with that, the voice quiets. You return to your haven immediately, pack your things, and otherwise prepare to depart from Chicago. Your exit from the city is utterly lacking in grace, but sometimes expediency trumps such things. *page_break *goto_scene timejump2 *label phineas_rejected You arrive at the Stroll on the appointed day. *if speaks_english = false *if speaks_german After waiting for a short while, a day-laborer approaches you, hat in hand. "Evening, ${mr} ${surname}. I've been sent to fetch you," he says in German. "There's a room nearby where you can speak freely with Mr. Campbell." You stand and follow the man into the night. *goto phineas_in_room *elseif speaks_french After waiting for a short while, a dewdropper approaches you with a tip of the hat. "Evening, ${mr} ${surname}. I've been sent to fetch you," he says in French. "There's a room nearby where you can speak freely with Mr. Campbell." You stand and follow the man into the night. *goto phineas_in_room *else After waiting for a short while, an older woman approaches you and courtseys. "Evening, ${mr} ${surname}. I've been sent to fetch you," he says in Spanish. "There's a room nearby where you can speak freely with Mr. Campbell." You stand and follow the man into the night. *goto phineas_in_room *else *if perception > 2 You notice Phineas approaching from aways off. You lock eyes long enough for him to know that you've noticed him. He may have some talents, but apparently remaining unseen is not one of them. *goto phineas_rejected_2 *else You are startled when Phineas' voice appears over your shoulder. *goto phineas_rejected_2 *label phineas_rejected_2 "I see you've changed your mind," he begins. "I did require some convincing. I thought you were off your nuts, parading around in those wings of yours." "I was hoping to use them to my advantage." "How'd that work out for you?" Phineas pauses before responding: "I'm not here to fight. Are you going to help me with Clyde or not?" "I'm here, aren't I?" "He's staying at a place down on west 53rd. Let's go." *goto_scene chicago_clyde *label phineas_in_room The translator closes the door behind you. The formerly winged man, Phineas, is waiting for you. He begins speaking through the translator: "It will be difficult for us to achieve our goals if we cannot speak freely. I have engaged this translator to spend the next few weeks with you, teaching you how to speak English. Do your best to learn quickly, as Clyde is causing chaos while you dither." *page_break *set speaks_english true After several weeks of intense work, you are feeling relatively confident of being able to hold simple conversations with Phineas. He arrives one night in place of the translator. "I am pleased to hear of your progress. But the time for praise is later. Right now, we have to deal with Nicky and Herbert." *goto_scene chicago_nicky_and_herbert