*comment ñáéç *hide_reuse *advertisement *gosub_scene util check_flow *temp prey "empty" *if feeding_style = "Drunks" *set feeding_style "drunks" *if feeding_style = "artists" *set prey "a young banjo-player" *if feeding_style = "children" *set prey "a young boy" *if feeding_style = "clergy" *set prey "an old friar" *if feeding_style = "drunks" *set prey "a drunken youth" *if feeding_style = "gamblers" *set prey "a young crap-shooter" *if feeding_style = "itinerants" *set prey "a sailor" *if feeding_style = "laborers" *set prey "a sweaty ditch-digger" *if feeding_style = "prostitutes" *set prey "a young whore" *if feeding_style = "socialites" *set prey "a local temperance-worker" *if feeding_style = "soldiers" *set prey "a grizzled veteran" *temp distracted false Having been @{chasing_wilson welcomed—temporarily, at least—to|welcomed to} Memphis, you set about establishing a home for yourself. *gosub memphis_haven *if fled_from_vicksburg *page_break Through the end of the war, the former slaves are given rations by the Union army, and even for some time afterwards. In recent months, however, the Federal Government has withdrawn the distribution of food, and the city is roiled by unrest. On May 1st, 1866, the mostly Irish police force riots against the blacks, murdering, assaulting and raping their way through the "refugee" section of town. When the dust settles, over a hundred buildings are burnt down, including churches and schools. In the days and weeks that follow, an uneasy peace falls over the city. Amid this tension, you @{literate write|commission a letter} to ${wilson} and direct him to send you your things. Perhaps he was good enough to maintain them during your rest? To your delight, some personal effects arrive a few weeks later, but no note accompanies them. You @{literate write again|send another letter}, directing him to join you in Memphis, but no reply is forthcoming. *elseif hasty_exit_from_vicksburg or (exiled_from_vicksburg and (maddox_status = "alive")) *page_break *set wilson_embraced_by_withers true Your new haven established, you @{literate write|commission a letter} to ${wilson} and direct him to send you your things. Your personal effects soon arrive, but you receive no written response from ${wilson}. You @{literate write again|send another letter}, directing him to join you in Memphis, but no reply is forthcoming. *elseif slept_through_vicksburg and (knows_wilson_embraced = false) *page_break Your new haven established, you @{literate write|commission a letter} to ${wilson} and direct him to send you your things. Your personal effects soon arrive, but you receive no written response from ${wilson}. You @{literate write again|send another letter}, directing him to join you in Memphis, but no reply is forthcoming. *page_break Goods from around the world have begun to flood the markets of Memphis again. And, with the end of the embargo on cotton, prices have dropped measurably. While visiting downtown one evening, you consider whether you should purchase a new outfit. *gosub clothing_and_bonds *goto sort_kkk *label clothing_and_bonds *temp mirror false *temp eschew false *choice *if priest *selectable_if (wealth > 2500) #Yes, I could use a new cassock. *set wealth -1000 *set discretion %-5 *set anachronism %-5 *set rationalism %+10 The wool cloth is rough and scratchy on your skin, but it is comforting in its familiarity. *selectable_if (wealth > 5000) #Yes, I could use a fine new cassock. *set wealth -2500 *set anachronism %-5 *set rationalism %+10 The fine wool cloth—imported from Ireland—feels smooth against your skin. You feel as though you could conquer the world—or give an inspiring mass—in your new outfit. *if anachronism > 50 *if male *selectable_if (wealth > 50000) #A new handmade suit would be most welcome. *set wealth -5000 *set anachronism %+10 *set shepherd_credentials %+5 *set independence %+5 It takes several weeks for the suit to be finished, what with several trips to the tailor to get the measurements just right. When it is finally finished, you realize that it was worth the wait. It is exhilarating to have something that moves with you like a second skin. *else *selectable_if (wealth > 50000) #Only the latest fashions from Paris will do. *set wealth -5000 *set discretion %+5 *set anachronism %+10 *set shepherd_credentials %+5 *set independence %+5 Though intensely uncomfortable, you do look fabulous in the dresses that have just arrived. *selectable_if (wealth > 25000) #Something stylish and functional. *set wealth -2000 *set discretion %+5 *set anachronism %+5 *set mirror true *if male The tailor makes sure to adjust the suit to make it a better fit. Looking at yourself in the mirror, you have to admit that you cut a dashing figure. *else The dressmaker makes sure to adjust the dress to your shape. Looking at yourself in the mirror, you have to admit that anyone would find you irresistable. *selectable_if (wealth > 10000) #Something functional and appropriate. No need to draw attention to myself. *set wealth -500 *set discretion %-5 Your new clothes are well-made, while lacking in ostentation. An excellent choice, if you do say so yourself. *selectable_if ((wealth > 25000) or (ethnicity = "choctaw")) #I prefer the @{(ethnicity = "choctaw") Native dress of my people|fashions of days gone by}. *set discretion %+10 *set anachronism %-5 *set independence %+5 *if ethnicity = "choctaw" Since there are no tailors for clothes of the sort you seek, you set about making your own. You spend many nights with bone needle and thread, stitching your clothes in the way your parents taught you. When you are done, you are more than satisfied with the results. *else *set wealth -1000 *if male The tailor is a little confused by your request, but does not dally overmuch. He is experienced, and grew up learning to sew the sorts of patterns for which you have asked. *else *if ethnicity = "german" The tailor is a little confused by your request, but does not dally overmuch. He is experienced, and grew up learning to sew the sorts of patterns for which you have asked. *else The dressmaker is a little confused by your request, but does not dally overmuch. She is experienced, and grew up learning to sew the sorts of patterns for which you have asked. When the new outfit is finished, you rush to pick it up. You feel a rush of comfort at the sight of yourself in clothing which you understand. The world has changed so quickly, but at least—in some small way—you can remember something of what came before. #Clothes are clothes. When they rip, I have them mended. When they can no longer be mended, I have them replaced. *if wealth > 100 *set wealth -100 *else *set wealth 0 *set discretion %-10 *set anachronism %-5 *set independence %-5 *set eschew true Never let it be said that you were ahead of the curve. *if mirror Before turning back to the @{male tailor|dressmaker}, you take a moment to consider your reflection in the mirror. *else You spend a few moments considering your reflection in a mirror. *choice #I am proud of the creature that stares back. *set discretion %+5 You have heard it said that many vampires do not survive their first decade, and here you are some six decades dead. You are proud of what you have accomplished—as you should be. #The sight of myself, unchanged after half a century, saddens me. This twilight existence is an abomination. *set compassion %-5 You turn away from the mirror and do your best to push aside these thoughts. The despair of your unending suspension—from life, from time, from love—will find no answer this evening. #I am, in fact, slightly uncomfortable with the sight of myself. I have never felt at home in my own skin—and the way that others have treated me because of it. *set compassion %-5 *set anachronism %+5 When you were a child, your family was frustrated by your steadfast refusal to behave as they expected you to. In time, you bent to their will—and the will of the world around you—but you wonder whether, now that you are a vampire, must you always obey? *if mirror Concealing your thoughts from the @{male tailor|seamstress}, you pay their fee and take your packages home. *if wealth > 100000 @{eschew Though you may eschew fashion, you do not forsake your finances.|Your new clothes donned, you decide it is time to take care of your finances.} You set out to hire an attorney to attend to these affairs on your behalf, since you are circumscribed by the daylight. @{(discretion > 50) It irks you to cede control to this attorney, but you can see no other solution.|} He promises to find you the best rate of return on your capital. *if year < 1872 Lately, the city of Memphis has issued a number of different bonds to finance improvements to the city, offering a handsome interest rate. You urge him to not be too speculative, but he assures you that the city will make good on the debts. *set municipal_debt ((wealth *0.20)/17) *else Starting immediately after the war, the city of Memphis began issuing bonds while it sought to modernize as well as rebuild its damaged infrastructure. However, due to the increasingly dim outlook of tax collection in Memphis, the bonds are trading at a discount to their face value. But that also makes them an appealing investment—or so your attorney asserts. *set municipal_debt (((wealth *0.20)/17) * 1.2) *set bought_memphis_bonds true *set municipal_debt round(municipal_debt) *set wealth *0.8 *return *label sort_kkk *temp a_colored "a colored" *temp question_maryann_outside false *if ethnicity = "choctaw" *set a_colored "an Indian" *if (ethnicity != "african") and (ethnicity != "choctaw") *if (ethnicity = "yankee") and (male and (charm <= 2)) *goto encounter_kkk *if (ethnicity = "yankee") and ((male = false) and (charm <= 1)) *goto encounter_kkk *if religious_tradition = "catholic" *goto encounter_kkk *else *if speaks_english *goto meet_forrest *else *goto encounter_kkk *else *goto encounter_kkk *label meet_forrest *page_break Having established yourself in Memphis, you waste no time in expanding your social network. Sinking your claws into mortal power structures is a necessity of immortality, after all. *if ethnicity = "yankee" However, you are somewhat surprised when you are invited to a soirée celebrating the start of a railroad from Memphis to Selma, Alabama by the Marion & Memphis Railroad Company. *else Thus, it comes as no surprise when you are invited to a soirée celebrating the start of a railroad from Memphis to Selma, Alabama by the Marion & Memphis Railroad Company. The soirée is being held at the home of a former Confederate general, Nathan Bedford Forrest. It is through a mutual acquaintance, Miss Susanne Davies, that you secure an invitation. Miss Davies considers you to be something of a discovery, and seems intent upon showing you off to the town. *if (maddox_status = "with") *if maddox_num = 1 Unfortunately, Wilson would not be welcome in Forrest's home. He grits his teeth at the news. "Ah didn' think Ah'd hav' ta' be bowin' and scrapin' fo' no bukrah even afta' I b'came one o' dem vam-piahs." You do your best to calm Wilson down, but he is still furious when you leave for the party. Walking out of the house, the sound of that cough of his follows you down the street. *if maddox_num = 2 Anselm makes it clear that he intends to come with you. As he dresses, you can hear him coughing in the other room. *page_break "…and that is how we defeated those colored soldiers at Fort Pillow," he concludes with a dramatic sigh. The room erupts into applause as Forrest finishes the story of his infamous raid into Tennessee during the war. Clearly, you are in the company of Confederate sympathizers. A member of the audience voices the concerns of the crowd: "But, how are we to end the occupation?" "As you are well aware, Tennessee has already been readmitted to the Union. And as long as Republicans control the legislature, we will continue to suffer at their hands." "How will we vote out the Republicans?" someone else inquires. "I have a plan." "A plan?" the crowd returns. "Yes, a plan. My friend Minor and I have figured it out. We will vote out the Republicans by turning the coloreds against them." "Turning the coloreds against the Republicans? How will we do that?" exclaims a woman's voice. "Yes, well, if you want to send your husband into the library with me, I'd be happy to discuss it with him," Forrest says with a smile. The woman blushes, and the crowd laughs. "Walter, follow General Forrest into that library, and don't you come out until you've chased them Republicans back across the Mason-Dixon, you hear me?" "Yes, Mildred," replies the sheepish Walter. The greater portion of men muster and relocate to the library. @{(perception > 1) Sporting a resplendent silver beard and head of hair, one older man in particular looks displeased by these events. He too stays behind with the womenfolk.|} *if male *fake_choice #I too follow the menfolk into the library, to hear what General Forrest has to say. *goto forrests_library #I do not follow; far more can be accomplished with the ladies of society anyway. *goto forrest_party_continues *label forrests_library "Gentlemen, I don't need to remind you that Governor Brownlow—that undercover Mason—and the Union have emasculated the South with their radical policies of integration and enfranchisement." There is a general rumble of agreement in response. "I've invited you here this evening to speak to you about the reclamation of our honor." "You tell 'em, General!" "Most of you gentlemen have joined with me in refusing to pay the taxes that this government has the audacity to demand of us. The audacity," he repeats for emphasis, "to demand that we finance a government from which we are excluded. I will not stand for this." "Kill 'em all!" "And so I come before you tonight," he continues, a smile on the General's face after that last outburst, "to tell you about the next step that we must take. My good friend Minor and I have been recently inducted into the Ku Klux Klan, and have formed a chapter here in Memphis. It is a fraternity of which we are proud to be members." "The cuckold clan?" That gets a laugh. Forrest rolls his eyes. "No. The Ku Klux Klan, an organization founded to be the implement of the revolution. We fought and bled for this land in the Revolution, and afterwards we set down our arms. We thought that the time for peace had come, and we let our organization dissolve, confident that our sacrifice was complete. We were wrong. The very same imperial forces that we defeated then have returned! They have forbidden our participation in the government that has been constituted in our absence. We must rebuild the Klan, and together reassert the honor of our people. We will not stand for the Republicans, the Imperialists, or the coloreds who are trying to upset the natural order of things." The room erupts into applause, with many of the attendees calling for the war to resume. *choice #I cheer along with the crowd. *set compassion %+5 Forrest takes a moment to bask in the applause. He pretends to seek to calm the gathered men, but you can sense that he glories in their adulation. You cheer along with the men, joining in the cheers that call for the fall of the Union and the return of the Confederacy. After a few moments of this, however, you pause to consider your actions. Why are you cheering? *choice #Because I agree with Forrest. *set compassion %+10 Your enthusiasm for Forrest's words is infectious, warming the bitter hearts of those near you. *goto rest_of_speech #To blend in with the crowd. *set discretion %-10 You do your best to cheer along with those in your immediate vicinity. They seem to take you at face value and pay you no more mind. *goto rest_of_speech #I sit quietly by and watch. *set discretion %-5 The men around you continue to shout and carry on as Forrest does little to discourage them. You notice that several individuals shoot you suspicious looks, but no one challenges your lack of enthusiasm. *goto rest_of_speech #During a pause in the cheers, I inquire: "The Klan existed before? Why have we never heard of it?" *set discretion %+5 *set history_of_klan true General Forrest smiles at you. "Yes, it existed during the American Revolution. In fact, my friend Calvin Jones, who was there in Pulaski this Christmas Eve past, is the great-grandson of a member of the first Klan. Thomas McKissack was a soldier in the Third North Carolina Regiment, who fought and bled for the birth of our country. It is from him that we learned of this brotherhood of patriots." "And they told no one of their existence?" "Like Cincinnatus, they sought the best for their country, not glory for themselves. There was no need to advertise their role. And it is from them that we take the name of a leader in our fraternity: the Cyclops. Cyclopes, like McKissack, organized chapters of the Klan, encouraging men to join the war and defeat those imperialists." The crowd cheers again. Clearly, Forrest knows his audience. *goto rest_of_speech *selectable_if (discretion > 30) #I slip out the door while everyone is busy cheering. I want no part of this. *set compassion %-5 *set discretion %-5 While Forrest basks in the adulations of his peers, you make your way to the exit. Just as he motions for them to calm down and retake their seats, you slip out into the party proper. No one seems to notice your exit. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *selectable_if (discretion > 65) #Once the crowd has calmed, I seek to dispute Forrest's proposition. *set discretion %+20 How do you seek to dispute Forrest? *choice *selectable_if (discretion > 45) #"Isn't it clear that we have lost? We were barely able to manufacture the rifles necessary to equip our troops…" Clearly, a logical argument based upon economics is the best way to go. *set discretion %+10 *set anachronism %+5 *if charm > 3 *goto supernatural_charm *else *goto hue_and_cry *selectable_if (compassion < 55) #"How can you say such things? Men are men, whatever the color of their skin…" Clearly, a moral argument based upon humanist principles is the best way to go. *set compassion %-5 *set discretion %+10 *if charm > 3 *goto supernatural_charm *else *goto hue_and_cry #Actually, I'm going to keep my mouth shut. A room full of Confederate sympathizers does not seem like a good place to offer argument. *set discretion %-5 *goto rest_of_speech *label supernatural_charm *set exposure +1 *set kkk_1869_resolution "dispersed" There is a grumbling from the crowd, but your awesome presence stifles the worst of the protests. When you are finished with your speech, Forrest seems to nod at the wisdom of your words. The gathered men soon realize the meeting has been adjourned and begin to disperse. You sense the evening's host approaching. *goto after_speech *label hue_and_cry *set exposure +1 *set kkk_1869_resolution "disrupted" A hue and cry goes up from the room at your words. "I am afraid that we are unacquainted, sir," Forrest exclaims over the jeers. You wait a moment until the room quiets a bit before replying: "My name is ${given_name} ${surname}." "Well, ${mr} ${surname}, you clearly have misunderstood the nature of this gathering." "Clearly I have." "Then, if you will excuse us, we have business to attend to. Business that does not appreciate the presence of a god-forsaken darkie-lover. Gentlemen, would you please see ${mr} ${surname} to the door?" Suddenly, you find yourself surrounded by a group of armed men, excitedly escorting you to the edge of General Forrest's property. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *label rest_of_speech "I am here tonight, friends and neighbors, to invite you to join us. Our organization was re-conceived in this very State, and I intend for this to be its home—both physical and spiritual—as we expand throughout the Confederacy and even into the North. Together, we shall reassert our rights, taken from us by those Republican bastards! We shall reclaim our lands, taken from us by the Union armies! "Together, with God on our side, we shall take our cause into the corrupt heart of those Yankee bastards, and burn their vile cities to the ground!" The room erupts into cheers again. Cries of "Remember the Hesper!" fill the room. The speech continues in much the same vein for a time, until the General reaches the end of his pitch; one of the key points of his conclusion is that the gathered individuals should refuse to pay taxes to the city and the state, and should deny the debts incurred by the Republicans, since they had no voice in incurring those debts. "No taxation without representation!" joins the list of outcries. Based upon the enthusiasm of the crowd, it seems he has found a receptive audience for his cause. Once the meeting is adjourned, you slowly jockey for the opportunity to introduce yourself. Threading your way through the crowd, you manage to catch your host's eye. *goto after_speech *label after_speech *temp offend_forrest false *temp question_hesper true *temp pressing_business false *set met_nbf true Forrest extends his hand to you. "Nathan Forrest. Most of the folks around here just call me General. A pleasure to meet you." "${given_name} ${surname}… *choice #…and the pleasure is all mine, General." *set discretion %-5 "If I may inquire, what brings you to Memphis, ${mr} ${surname}? I assume that you are new to our city." *selectable_if (discretion > 30) #…and the pleasure is all mine, Mr. Forrest." *set discretion %+5 *set offend_forrest true Forrest narrows his eyes at your disregard for his accomplishments. "You are new to the city, aren't you?" "You are correct. I have only recently arrived.…" *choice *if kkk_1869_resolution != "dispersed" *selectable_if (offend_forrest = false) #"I came here to find men like you. Men that want to restore the honor of the Confederacy." *goto join_kkk #"I feel that Memphis presents business opportunities for those with the eyes to see them." *if ethnicity = "yankee" "I don't really think this is the place for you, ${mr} ${surname}. Haven't you been listening? You should get yourself back over the Mason-Dixon line as fast as your legs will carry you." Sensing that you are no longer welcome, you excuse yourself. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *elseif offend_forrest = false Forrest laughs aloud. "You are correct there. I was penniless when the war ended, but you see me here now, president of a railroad. Opportunities abound for those that are willing to reach out and grasp them." "Penniless?" "Why, yes…the Union confiscated my land and my property, and that was after I had already spent a fortune outfitting myself and my men to do battle." "You have sacrificed much, General." "I have. And as you can see, I intend to take it all back… and then some." "I find myself in good company, then, as I too seek to squeeze every last drop out of this city." "Well, I shall keep you in mind, should any opportunities present themselves, ${mr} ${surname}." "Thank you, General." "Well, if you will excuse me…" with that, the General takes his leave to tend to other guests. *set charmed_nbf true *goto nbf_party_conclusion *else "Well, all I can say is, best of luck in finding those opportunities, ${mr} ${surname}. They are there for those willing to seize them." "Believe you me, Mr. Forrest, I intend to squeeze every last drop out of this city." "Well, if you will excuse me…" with that, the General takes his leave to tend to other guests. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *if chasing_wilson #"I do not intend to stay for long, however. I have some business to attend to, and then I will be on my way." *set pressing_business true "That is unfortunate. We have quite a lovely city here on the river." "I have noticed. But my obligations are pressing." *if question_hesper #"What is this Hesper your audience was cheering over?" *set question_hesper false "A little expedition the Klan undertook. A most successful one, if you ask me." "Expedition?" "Yes, well, someone had to stop Clayton's foolish plan to establish a negro militia." "And so you did. End the plan, that is." "Most assuredly so. Can you imagine? The idea of arming and training those animals? It would be the end of civilization as we know it." "It would be the end of civilization…as we know it," you reply. #"My home feels as though it were no longer mine own. I hope to find a new one here." *comment no direct response *if (ethnicity != "yankee") and ((offend_forrest = false) or (offend_forrest and (charm > 3))) "You should consider staying a while. I think Memphis will see a rebirth of unimagined proportions in the near future." *choice #"I look forward to that time. I am sure that we shall meet again?" Really, you want nothing more to do with this man. "Yes, ${mr} ${surname}, I expect we shall." "I look forward to it." With that, you excuse yourself, and seek out other company. *set charmed_nbf true *goto nbf_party_conclusion *if pressing_business #"Well, as I said, I have obligations. I do hope that your rebirth comes to pass, however." "I thank you. It is a pity you will not be a part of it, however. Please, won't you excuse me?" Bidding you farewell, the General departs to tend to his other guests. *goto nbf_party_conclusion #"Rebirth of the sort of which you were just speaking?" "Why yes, ${mr} ${surname}. Exactly!" *goto join_kkk *else "Yes, well, best of luck." With that, General Forrest excuses himself. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *label join_kkk Your conversation with the General continues for some time, and at the end of it, he invites you to attend a meeting of the Klan. While you make no commitments, you do promise to consider the matter. As you part, Forrest notes that you will be hearing from him again soon. *set invitation_to_join_kkk_extended true *goto nbf_party_conclusion *label forrest_party_continues *temp coloreds_and_papists false *if male Once they have departed, a middle-aged woman approaches you; she is clearly important, as the other guests clear a path for her as she moves. "Not one for politics?" "I find the matter tiresome, yes." "I pray nightly that Nathan will put down his arms one day and accept the peace that has been made, but I fear it will be some time yet before he does so." "And you are?" "I am Mary Ann Forrest, his wife." @{(compassion > 65) Apparently, the hostess is doing her duty. Most of the other individuals at the soirée have avoided you, unconsciously sensitive to your predatory nature.|} "A pleasure, Mrs. Forrest. My name is ${mr} ${surname}. I have only recently arrived to Memphis, but was fortunate enough to be invited to your lovely little soirée by Miss Davies there." "Ah, Miss Davies. I can see why she would want to keep you close," she says with a wink. Her joviality soon subsides, however, and her brow furrows when she glances again at the library door. *else From somewhere in the crowd, a voice calls out: "Dear Susanne! Is this the person of whom you spoke so highly?" It belongs to a middle-aged woman, whose import is clear as the other guests move aside as she approaches. Susanne touches your arm, a gesture of reassurance, as she replies: "Mary Ann! Allow me to present ${mr} ${given_name} ${surname}, recently of Vicksburg. She has been so good as to grace our city with her presence." "A pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Forrest," you exclaim with a ${bow}. @{(compassion > 65) Apparently, the hostess is doing her duty. Most of the other individuals at the soirée have avoided you, unconsciously sensitive to your predatory nature.|} "Oh, Mary Ann, please." "A pleasure to meet you, Mary Ann. I must thank you for extending the invitation for this evening to me." "Oh, any friend of Susanne's is a friend of mine." Pleasantries such as these continue on for several minutes before you Mary Ann finally speaks her mind: "I pray nightly that Nathan will put down his arms one day, and accept the peace that has been made, but I fear it will be some time yet before he does so." "You are worried for him?" "Of course, ${mr} ${surname}. As all women worry for their husbands." *label post_maryann_conversation *choice #"Do you know what they are discussing in the library?" *if charm > 3 Mrs. Forrest is hesitant to speak. Undeterred, you flash that winning smile of yours *if question_maryann_outside again; she glances around quickly to assure herself that you truly are alone out here, and then finally unburdens herself. *else again, and finally she breaks down. Seeing that she is almost on the verge of tears, you guide her into a corner where you can speak with a little more privacy. "My dear Nathan refuses to lay down his arms. The war has been over for years, but still he believes that the Confederacy will rise again. He is so filled with hate, I simply cannot bear it." "Hate? For the Union?" "No, for the coloreds, the Catholics, and the Masons. He does not listen when I tell him to forgive those who betrayed us." "Betrayed us?" "Well, they're the reason we lost the war, you know. The coloreds, the Catholics, and the Masons worked as spies and saboteurs for the Union, and undermined whatever advances we made." "I…didn't know that." "But of course! We would not have lost on the true field of battle. But no matter. We have lost, but Nathan cannot forgive them, and he seeks to punish them for their treason." "Punish them how?" "He has joined a fraternity that calls themselves the Ku Klux Klan. They intend to drive the coloreds and the Catholics out of the South by any means necessary. Both groups will reproduce until we Americans are the minority, and then they will overrun the Union, just as they overran the Confederacy." *set coloreds_and_papists true *goto post_maryann_conversation *elseif charm = 3 Mrs. Forrest seems hesitant to speak, but after a few more words of reassurance, her resolve wanes. "They're going to get themselves killed if they aren't careful." "Who is going to get themselves killed?" "Nathan and his friends. They've decided to take up arms against the coloreds and the Catholics who betrayed the Confederacy." "Take up arms?" "Yes. Have you heard of the Ku Klux Klan? My dear Nathan has begun recruiting for them." "I dare say I have not heard of this…clan?" "Yes, well, perhaps for the best. They fight a war that is already lost. Soon the whole country will be overrun with coloreds and papists." *set coloreds_and_papists true *goto post_maryann_conversation *else "Oh, it's nothing. A sort of boy's club." "A boy's club?" "Yes, they dress up in sackcloth and ride in circles on their horses. Come, let me introduce you to a friend of mine…" *page_break *goto nbf_party_conclusion *if (perception > 1) #"I overheard someone speaking of the importance of the upcoming elections…" "Yes. Those who fought for the Confederacy were banned from running for office after the war, but President Johnson has been issuing pardons left and right." "And you expect for the Democrats to resume control of the State?" "But of course! Once we've chased out the carpet-baggers, the negros will fall into line and things will go back to how they were. It won't take long before they realize that voting for the Democrats is in their own best interest." *goto post_maryann_conversation *if (feeding_style = "soldiers") or (charm > 2) *selectable_if (feeding_style != "vegetarian") #"You know, I'd really like to meet with General Forrest, if he has a minute." After all, you do have an affection for the blood of soldiers. *set fed_from_forrest true *achieve fedonforrest Some time later, Mrs. Forrest introduces you to the General. Once the two of you are alone, you close the distance between you gracefully. When you leave his side a few minutes later, other than a spot of blood on your kerchief, it's almost like you were never there. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *if feeding_style = "socialites" *if question_maryann_outside #"You know, it really is so lovely being out here, all alone with you…" Such a perfect opportunity to feed from this charming creature. You close the distance between you gracefully. When you leave her side a few minutes later, other than a spot of blood on your kerchief, it's almost like you were never there. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *else #"Why don't we step outside? It seems like a lovely evening, and you can tell me more about this whole affair." After all, you do have a thing for the blood of socialites. *set compassion %+5 Once the two of you are alone, you close the distance between you gracefully. When you leave her side a few minutes later, other than a spot of blood on your kerchief, it's almost like you were never there. *goto nbf_party_conclusion #"How do you occupy yourself, Mrs. Forrest? Surely your life isn't all gay parties?" She titters at your jest. "No, of course not! No, I occupy myself with women's affairs." *if male "Women's affairs?" "Of course! My dear friends, Elizabeth Avery Meriwether and Lide Smith Meriwether—they're married to the Meriwether brothers, you see—are both instrumental in the education of the citizens of Memphis regarding the plight of women: their disenfranchisement, their lack of rights in divorce, and the dangers that alcohol offers to them." @{(feeding_style = "drunks") The idea that someone is trying to reduce the consumption of alcohol sends shivers of fear down your spine. From whom would you feed, if there were not drunken louts about?|} "And you join them in these efforts?" "Oh, yes. We have regular committee meetings, where we organize letter-writing campaigns, charity drives and other events to improve the lot of the fairer sex." *choice *selectable_if (anachronism < 60) #"Women are not suited to the rigors of politics, Mrs. Forrest." *set anachronism %-10 *set discretion %+10 Mary Ann turns a little pale, clearly offended by your antiquated views. She quickly excuses herself, rushing away from you. What a strange thing for her to get upset about. The idea that women deserve equality? Preposterous. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *if feeding_style = "Drunks" *selectable_if (discretion > 40) #"Why would you ever want men to stop drinking?" *set compassion %+5 Mary Ann turns a little pale. She quickly excuses herself, rushing away from you. "Did I say something wrong?" you wonder aloud. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *selectable_if (anachronism > 40) #"You have set yourself a noble goal, Mrs. Forrest. I too look forward to the day when women have the right to vote." *set anachronism %+10 *set compassion %-5 She is clearly pleased by your words. "When you take a wife some day, ${mr} ${surname}, she will be welcome at our committee meetings." *goto post_maryann_conversation *selectable_if (anachronism > 60) #"You have set yourself a noble goal, Mrs. Forrest. I too look forward to the day when not only white women, but men and women of color can vote as well." *set anachronism %+15 *set discretion %+10 *set compassion %-15 *if question_maryann_outside *set charm -1 *set question_maryann_outside false Mrs. Forrest gasps at your declaration. "Why…why…I never!" "Never what?" Having noticed your escalating exchange, several men who were standing out of earshot have now closed on you and Mrs. Forrest. *goto maryann_offended *else Mrs. Forrest gasps at your declaration. "Why…why…I never!" "Never what?" Having noticed your escalating exchange, several of the men still in the room have now closed in on you and Mrs. Forrest. *goto maryann_offended_inside *else "Divorce law?" "That, of course. But I also campaign for temperance as well as the enfranchisement of women." *if feeding_style = "drunks" The idea that someone is trying to reduce the consumption of alcohol sends shivers of fear down your spine. From whom would you feed, if there were not drunken louts about? *else "That is noble of you." "You should consider joining us one of these evenings! Your company would be most welcome." *choice *if feeding_style != "drunks" #"I should very much like to join in these temperance proceedings!" *set temperance_movement true *set anachronism %+10 *set compassion %-10 "I am so glad to hear that! Leave your address at the door, and I shall make sure to include you when we next gather!" She is clearly delighted by your interest in her project. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *else #"I should like to join your organization…" the better to sabotage it from within! *set temperance_movement true *set compassion %+10 "I am so glad to hear that! Leave your address at the door, and I shall make sure to include you when we next gather!" She is clearly delighted by your interest in her project. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *selectable_if (discretion > 40) #"Why would we ever want men to stop drinking?" *set compassion %+5 Mary Ann turns a little pale. She quickly excuses herself, rushing away from you. "Did I say something wrong?" you wonder aloud. *goto nbf_party_conclusion #"You are courageous, and have a long fight ahead of you." *set compassion %-5 *set anachronism %+5 "It is true. I am glad to know that you support our cause, even if you do not have time to join it." *goto post_maryann_conversation #"I do not think women are worthy of enfranchisement." *set anachronism %-10 Mary Ann turns a little pale, clearly offended by your antiquated views. She quickly excuses herself, rushing away from you. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *if question_maryann_outside = false *selectable_if (compassion < 60) #"Why don't we step outside? It seems like a lovely evening, and we can better speak away from prying eyes." Clearly, she is in need of comforting, and I feel called to assist her. *set question_maryann_outside true *set charm +1 *set compassion %-10 Immediately braced by the cool night air, Mary Ann seems to relax a bit. There are some other individuals on the patio, but they are outside of earshot. You suspect that here, away from the watchful eyes of her peers, she will be a bit more compliant. *goto post_maryann_conversation *if coloreds_and_papists *if question_maryann_outside *selectable_if (discretion > 20) #"Overrun by coloreds and papists? What sort of delusion is this?" Of course, such an outburst will surely elicit the attention of others nearby… *set compassion %-10 *set discretion %+10 *set exposure +1 Mrs. Forrest gasps at the rudeness of your outburst. "Why…why…I never!" "Never what? Had someone tell you that you are deluded?" Having noticed your escalating exchange, several men who were standing out of earshot have now closed on you and Mrs. Forrest. *set charm -1 *set question_maryann_outside false *label maryann_offended One of them opens his mouth to speak. "I'm sorry, ${mr}…?" "${mr} ${surname}," you reply curtly. "Yes, ${mr} ${surname}. I'm afraid we haven't met yet…" "This is no time for pleasantries, Mr. Owens. Please, this Republican is not welcome in my home. Please escort ${him} out!" The gathered individuals gasp at the assertion of your Republican affiliations. "Please, ${mr} ${surname}, won't you follow me?" The question from Mr. Owens seems more like a demand than a request. *choice *selectable_if (discretion > 35) #"I can see myself to the door, thank you very much." *set discretion %+5 You turn and briskly exit the room. As you are leaving, you can already hear Mrs. Forrest relating the effrontery with which you expressed your Republican views, to the collective gasps of her audience. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *selectable_if (discretion < 65) #"Yes, perhaps I should take my leave now." *set discretion %-5 Owens escorts you from the presence of Mrs. Forrest with all due haste. As you are leaving, you can already hear Mrs. Forrest relating the effrontery with which you expressed your Republican views, to the collective gasps of her audience. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *if (charm > 3) and ((anachronism > 50) and (compassion <= 50)) *selectable_if (discretion > 45) #Flashing them an awe-inspiring grin, you have a moment to get the last word: "I'll have you know, my affiliations are mine own, but they are most certainly not with a motley gaggle of ignorant individuals who cannot accept that they have lost, and who refuse to see that every day they spend pretending otherwise is another day they fall behind their former enemies." *set discretion %+10 You can almost hear the slackening of jaws throughout the room. With a flourish, you exit the room and then the building. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *if (charm > 3) and (compassion > 45) *selectable_if (discretion > 50) #Flashing them a fearsome grin, you have a moment to get the last word: "I'll have you know, my affiliations are mine own, but they are most certainly not to anything as mercurial as a political party. If I do have an affiliation, it is to those who do not truck in idiocy and inanity. Clearly, I was wrong to imagine I might find myself in good company here." *set discretion %+10 You can almost hear the slackening of jaws throughout the room. With a flourish, you exit the room and then the building. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *else *selectable_if (discretion > 35) #"Overrun by coloreds and papists? What sort of delusion is this?" Of course, such an outburst will surely elicit the attention of others nearby… *set compassion %-10 *set discretion %+10 Mrs. Forrest gasps at the rudeness of your outburst. "Why…why…I never!" "Never what? Had someone tell you that you are deluded?" Having noticed your escalating exchange, several of the men still in the room have now closed in on you and Mrs. Forrest. *label maryann_offended_inside One of them opens his mouth to speak. "I'm sorry, ${mr}…?" "${mr} ${surname}," you reply curtly. "Yes, ${mr} ${surname}. I'm afraid we haven't met yet…" "This is no time for pleasantries, Mr. Owens. Please, this Republican is not welcome in my home. Please escort ${him} out!" The gathered individuals gasp at the assertion of your Republican affiliations. "Please, ${mr} ${surname}, won't you follow me?" The question from Mr. Owens seems more like a demand than a request. *choice *selectable_if (discretion > 35) #"I can see myself to the door, thank you very much." *set discretion %+5 You turn and briskly exit the room. As you are leaving, you can already hear Mrs. Forrest relating the effrontery with which you expressed your Republican views, to the collective gasps of her audience. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *selectable_if (discretion < 65) #"Yes, perhaps I should take my leave now." *set discretion %-5 Owens escorts you from the presence of Mrs. Forrest with all due haste. As you are leaving, you can already hear Mrs. Forrest relating the effrontery with which you expressed your Republican views, to the collective gasps of her audience. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *if (charm > 3) and ((anachronism > 50) and (compassion <= 50)) *selectable_if (discretion > 45) #Flashing them an awe-inspiring grin, you have a moment to get the last word: "I'll have you know, my affiliations are mine own, but they are most certainly not with a motley gaggle of ignorant individuals who cannot accept that they have lost, and who refuse to see that every day they spend pretending otherwise is another day they fall behind their former enemies." *set discretion %+10 You can almost hear the slackening of jaws throughout the room. With a flourish, you exit the room and then the building. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *if (charm > 3) and (compassion > 45) *selectable_if (discretion > 50) #Flashing them a fearsome grin, you have a moment to get the last word: "I'll have you know, my affiliations are mine own, but they are most certainly not to anything as mercurial as a political party. If I do have an affiliation, it is to those who do not truck in idiocy and inanity. Clearly, I was wrong to imagine I might find myself in good company here." *set discretion %+10 You can almost hear the slackening of jaws throughout the room. With a flourish, you exit the room and then the building. *goto party_ends_with_confrontation *if (perception > 1) and (question_maryann_outside = false) #"Who is that man with the magnificent beard?" *set met_albert_pike true "That is General Pike! A lovely man, really. Here, allow me to introduce you," she says, before you can dissuade her. Following along on her heels, you soon come face-to-face with General Pike. He is no less impressive at this proximity. "General Pike, this is ${mr} ${surname}, recently arrived from New Orleans." "A pleasure," he says. "Now, if you'll excuse me, a hostess's obligations are never finished," Mary Ann says with a smile. "Are you enjoying your time in our fair city, ${mr} ${surname}?" he inquires politely. "I am. Though I am still getting my bearings." "That is understandable." "Tell me, General Pike, why did you not follow General Forrest into the other room?" *if (male = false) and (charm <= 3) He looks at you a little uncomfortably. "Such political matters are not worthy of a lady's attention. I would not wish to trouble you unduly." Try as you might, you are unable to persuade General Pike to divulge his concerns. After a time, he seems to grow weary of your inquiries, and excuses himself. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *if (male = false) and (charm > 3) He looks at you a little uncomfortably. "Such political matters are not worthy of a lady's attention. I would not wish…" "Oh please, General Pike," you interject, exerting the full force of your supernatural charms, "do not let the weakness of my sex dissuade you from thinking aloud. I will do my best not to interrupt your thoughts." "Well, in that case…" "Yes, you were saying why you did not follow General Forrest into the other room…" He pauses a moment, recalling where he was. After a moment, his eyes light up, and he begins: "Because I know what he has to say, and his objectives are not mine own." "Oh?" He studies you carefully. "I trust you have heard of the Freemasons?" *if learn_of_masons "I have," you reply, carefully. How does this mortal know of the Freemasons? "Well, General Forrest was once a fellow Freemason." "Truly?" you reply, incredulously. *elseif intelligence > 1 *set learn_of_masons true "The fraternal organization?" you reply. "Yes, exactly." "What of it?" "As you know, they a dedicated to the improvement of the individuals, and through the leadership of those individuals, the world." "But you do not answer my question." *else *set learn_of_masons true "I'm sorry to say I have not." "That surprises me. But no matter. It is a fraternal order, dedicated to the improvement of individuals, and through their leadership, the world." "I see." "Unfortunately, General Forrest has tired of our methods and seeks more direct action." "And so you avoid his conspiracies." "But not his friendship." "Nor that of his wife, clearly." "Mary Ann is a delight. A true patriot, that one." "Patriot?" "Yes. Her philanthropy is near-legend in our community. Which is fortunate, because the Catholic orphanages are running rampant in the wake of the war." "Excuse me?" "Yes, they've been collecting orphans and indoctrinating them in the papist hierarchy. Thanks to Mrs. Forrest, however, there are several local charities free from the tyranny of the priests." "I see. You are doing something about this, aren't you?" "I am. On behalf of the Freemasons, I intend to lobby the Federal Government to limit immigration from Ireland and other papist nations." He looks around the room, observing who might be listening, before continuing. "Truth be told, the war was not fought over slaves; it was fought on behalf of those Irish dogs. I fear now that the way is paved for their takeover of the nation. We must insure that these United States remain a nation of the people." "But, how will you do that from here?" "I won't. I intend to relocate my law practice to Washington. Only there will I be able to influence matters directly." "I am sure that the country will be indebted to your service." "If I am successful, the people will never realize how indebted they are." Over the next half an hour or so, Pike continues to relate his vision for limiting papal influence in the country, as well as discussing a manuscript he recently published. As Sovereign Grand Commander of the Southern Jurisdiction, Pike seems to have considerable influence within the Order, and the publication of the manuscript has only increased his prestige. Seemingly convinced that he has converted you to his cause, he urges you to remain in contact, and then moves on to continue his evangelization. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *selectable_if (willpower >= 3) #I'm most interested in allaying any suspicions about my vampiric nature. *set exposure -2 You call for a drink for you and Mrs. Forrest—in this case, tea spiked with rum. You make a show of enjoying your drink as long as you can stand it. Eventually, you excuse yourself so you can void your insides of the vile fluids. Though you feel like a pair of worn boots, you hope that your charade has put any witnesses at ease about your nature. *goto nbf_party_conclusion #"Well, I don't want to keep you…" You excuse yourself from your conversation with Mrs. Forrest. *goto nbf_party_conclusion *label party_ends_with_confrontation *if question_maryann_outside *set charm -1 *set question_maryann_outside false *comment endif Unsurprisingly, you are not invited again to the home of Nathan Bedford Forrest. *goto finish *label nbf_party_conclusion *if question_maryann_outside *set charm -1 *set question_maryann_outside false The rest of the party passes without incident. During that time, you see smiles and good cheer grace the countenances of the attendees; clearly, the men of the party are pleased with the developments of the evening, and their excitement is quickly passed to their feminine counterparts. *if (maddox_status = "with") *page_break *set carothers_rapport %-10 *set chasing_wilson true *set maddox_status "free" To your surprise, when you return home from the soirée, ${wilson} is nowhere to be found. His things are gone. After several nights, with no sign of him, you speak with Carothers about it. Carothers chides you for being an unfit dominus; no proper dominus would allow his offspring to go untutored into the night. He informs you that you must find ${wilson}, and bring him to justice. Though he does not set a time limit on this task, it is clear that you will face the consequences of ${wilson}'s actions, should they endanger the Society while he is on the loose. *set carothers_ignorant_of_pb false You do not linger to ask what sort of punishment that might entail. *page_break *goto join_kkk_invitation *label encounter_kkk *if memphis_haven = "beale" *page_break A few weeks later, you find yourself *if feeding_style != "vegetarian" sharing an intimate moment with ${prey}, when a whiff of smoke catches your attention. You look up from your prey, blood trickling down your chin, trying to discern its direction. *else prowling the streets, doing your best to resist the urge to feed from every passing human while you search for an animal large enough to sate your growling insides. A sudden whiff of something draws your attention; you try to distract yourself by focusing on the possibility of danger. Yes, definitely smoke, you think to yourself. And not distant. *if (maddox_status = "with") The jerk of your head brings ${wilson} to attention. He has been *if feeding_style = "vegetarian" drifting along at your side, rolling his eyes at your self-discipline. *else watching intently while you feed, waiting for his turn. *choice *selectable_if (discretion > 20) #I seek out the source of this smell. It is not difficult to locate the source; within a few minutes you round a corner to find a crowd dressed and hooded in sackcloth in the midst of preparing to string a black man from a tree. With holes cut for eyes and simple glyphs drawn on their chests, the masked figures keep a crowd of locals at bay with farm implements and torches; it would be generous of you to ascribe all of two firearms to the scene. *label scene_of_lynching The men in sackcloth do not falter in their task. Within moments, their victim will be dangling from a tree. *choice #I sit back and enjoy the show. *set compassion %+15 *set justice %+25 *label observe_lynching With a gesture, several of the men in sackcloth grasp the rope, pulling their victim into the air. Their leader stands forward to speak while the man jerks and dances his way out of this world. *if speaks_english or (maddox_status = "with") *if speaks_english = false ${wilson} translates for you. "We, the Ku Klux Klan, do hereby execute the sentence delivered unto Robert Jordan, for violence committed against members of the natural citizenry of Memphis." *if (maddox_status = "with") ${wilson} is clearly enraged. He moves to interrupt, but you hold him back. "There are too many of them. You will be the death of both of us," you hiss. "Wut is deh point o' bein' a vam-piah ifn Ah can' do nuttin'?" "You are alive, and will live forever. There is plenty of time to wreak vengeance later." He seethes quietly beside you. There is much wailing from the women and children held at bay by fire and steel. It is several awkward minutes before Jordan's body ceases its morbid jig. *else He speaks, but you are unable to understand the words. He does keep his remarks to a minimum, however. There is much wailing from the women and children held at bay by fire and steel. It is several awkward minutes before the man's body ceases its morbid jig. You@{(maddox_status = "with") and ${wilson}|} return to your haven, contemplating what you witnessed this evening. *goto finish *if speaks_english *selectable_if (charm > 3) #I step forward and, exerting my supernatural charm, dissuade these ruffians from their task. *set discretion %+5 *set kkk_1869_resolution "saved" *temp humanity "humanity" *if rationalism > 55 *set humanity "Christian charity" Stepping forward, you make an eloquent speech calling upon the ${humanity} of these men to put down their implements and let their captive go. You strain your powers to their utmost, and ultimately succeed. The men in sackcloth release their prisoner, who rushes to the arms of his sobbing family. The men in sackcloth slink away into the night. Reflecting upon your deeds… *choice #I lick my lips in anticipation of the favor I have gained with my neighbors. *set compassion %+5 #I stand proud knowing I have saved a man's life from a miserable end. *set compassion %-10 *goto learn_of_kkk *selectable_if (discretion > 35) #I barge into the circle and demand the release of the captive. *if (ethnicity = "african") or (ethnicity = "choctaw") *set discretion %+15 *if male The mob turns to look on this @{(ethnicity = "african") colored|Indian} man who demands they stop. A leader steps forward, and from beneath his mask intones, "Do not interfere with the righteous deeds of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, lest you bring the focus of our unlidded eye upon you!" *if willpower <= 2 *if discretion > 50 *set discretion %-20 You quaver under the gaze of all these faceless men, staring at you from the depths of their hatred. Between this palpable threat of violence, and the multitude of torches in their possession, you feel yourself backing down and seeking to disappear into the crowd of onlookers. Moments later, the mob returns to the task at hand. *goto observe_lynching *else *label unblinking Unblinking, you stare back at this thug, weighing your options. *choice #I press forward, demanding the release of the captive. *set discretion %+10 *set compassion %+5 *set distracted true It is only moments before you regret this decision. The gathered men advance towards you, bearing their torches and other implements. You feel the tide of terror rise within you at the sight of the flames. You do your best to resist the crushing fear, but you can only withstand it for so long. You turn and run; the men shout and give chase. *gosub resolve_pursuit *goto learn_of_kkk #Thinking the better of this course of action, I bow and scrape away, withdrawing into the crowd. *set discretion %-10 The men laugh at your cowardice, and then turn back to the task before them. *goto observe_lynching *else The men in sackcloth break into loud guffaws at the sight of ${a_colored} woman demanding the release of their prisoner. One of them waves a torch in your direction, which does much to dissuade you from any further efforts on the man's behalf. *goto observe_lynching *else *set discretion %+10 *if male The mob turns to look on this man who demands they stop. A leader steps forward, and from beneath his mask intones, "Do not interfere with the righteous deeds of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, papist, lest you bring the focus of our unlidded eye upon you!" *if willpower <= 2 *if discretion > 50 *set discretion %-20 You quaver under the gaze of all these faceless men, staring at you from the depths of their hatred. Between this palpable threat of violence, and the multitude of torches in their possession, you feel yourself backing down and seeking to disappear into the crowd of onlookers. Moments later, the mob returns to the task at hand. *goto observe_lynching *else *goto unblinking *else The men in sackcloth break into loud guffaws at the sight of a woman demanding the release of their prisoner. One of them waves a torch in your direction, which does much to dissuade you from any further efforts on the man's behalf. *if willpower <= 2 *if discretion > 50 *set discretion %-20 You quaver before the multitude of torches. You feel yourself backing down and seeking to disappear into the crowd of onlookers. They do not even notice, as they have already turned back to the task at hand. *goto observe_lynching *else *goto unblinking *else *if (charm > 2) #Though they will not understand my words, perhaps I can induce them to abandon their current task and pursue me; though, I will need to be fast or stealthly to elude them. *set justice %-10 *set discretion %+5 @{(maddox_status = "with") You push ${wilson} away from you, whispering "Get yourself home!" before you|You} leap onto a barrel and begin haranguing the men. They look at you uncomprehendingly, but based upon your obscene gestures, they take your meaning. *if charm > 3 *set distracted true Using your supernatural aura, you project your defiance outwards. You can see the men seething in rage. The leader wavers—torn between the task at hand and the clear insult to everything he holds dear on the other—but his resolve crumbles. With a shout, the crowd begins pursuit of you@{(maddox_status = "with") and ${wilson}|}. *gosub resolve_pursuit *elseif (ethnicity = "african") or (ethnicity = "choctaw") *set distracted true The men cannot stand the idea of a @{(ethnicity = "african") darkie|savage} mocking them as you are. Almost as one, they abandon their task and give chase to you@{(maddox_status = "with") and ${wilson}|}. *gosub resolve_pursuit *else Unfortunately, the leader of the men has the presence of mind to only send a handful of his minions in pursuit of you. The rest continue with their grim task while you@{(maddox_status = "with") and ${wilson}|} endeavor to elude your pursuers. *goto learn_of_kkk *selectable_if (stealth > 2) #Diverting the attention from the prisoner, I seek to foil the efforts of the men in sackcloth. *set discretion %-10 Fraying the rope at inopportune moments, untying knots they thought they had secured, and otherwise frustrating their efforts, you manage to prevent the lynching of the captive. Unfortunately, the leader of the mob refuses to bow before these misfortunes. Taking a machete from an associate, he hacks away at the captive's neck, showering himself and his compatriots in blood and provoking cries of horror and outrage from the crowd. *if willpower > 3 The smell of the fresh blood calls to you, but you are more than capable of resisting its temptations. Looking on in frustration, you watch as the men in sackcloth disperse, content in the demonstration of their power. *goto learn_of_kkk *elseif willpower = 3 *if feeding_style = "vegetarian" *goto frenzy *else Thankfully, you were feeding when the smell of smoke caught your attention. Otherwise, you might not have been able to resist the smell of the blood drifting on the wind. Looking on in frustration, you watch as the men in sackcloth disperse, content in the demonstration of their power. *goto learn_of_kkk *else *label frenzy Releasing a primal howl, you leap in the direction of the decapitated body, eyes and fangs glinting. Fortunately for you, several members of the mob, bearing torches, thrust them in your direction on instinct. The proximity of the flames turn your storm of hunger into a tempest of fear. Changing directions quickly, you run from the fire and into the comforting embrace of the night. *goto learn_of_kkk #I look on in horror. *set compassion %-5 *goto observe_lynching *selectable_if (discretion < 70) #Best to avoid anything that might bring me closer to my eternal rest. *set discretion %-10 Returning to your haven, you do your best to ignore any lingering fears that remain. The next evening, you learn about the source of the fire. It seems that a group of white men, dressed in sackcloth and calling themselves the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, gathered in the district to hang a black man accused of disregarding his position in life. The residents of the Beale District set about making plans for the funeral. *goto finish *elseif memphis_haven = "pinch" *page_break A few weeks later, you find yourself @{(feeding_style = "vegetarian") prowling the streets, doing your best to resist the urge to feed from every passing human while you search for an animal large enough to sate your growling insides. A sudden whiff of something draws your attention; you try to distract yourself by focusing on the possibility of danger.|sharing an intimate moment with ${prey}, when a whiff of smoke catches your attention. You look up from your prey, blood trickling down your chin, trying to discern its direction.} Yes, definitely smoke, you think to yourself. And not distant. *if (maddox_status = "with") The jerk of your head brings ${wilson} to attention. *if feeding_style != "vegetarian" He has been watching intently while you feed, waiting for his turn. *if feeding_style = "vegetarian" He has been drifting along at your side, rolling his eyes at your self-discipline. *choice *selectable_if (discretion > 20) #I seek out the source of this smell. It is not difficult to locate the source; within a few minutes you round a corner to find a crowd dressed and hooded in sackcloth in the midst of preparing to string a black man from a tree. With holes cut for eyes and simple glyphs drawn on their chests, the masked figures keep a crowd of locals at bay with farm implements and torches; it would be generous of you to ascribe all of two firearms to the scene. *goto scene_of_lynching *selectable_if (discretion < 60) #Best to avoid anything that might bring me closer to my eternal rest. *set discretion %-10 Returning to your haven, you do your best to ignore any lingering fears that remain. The next evening, you learn about the source of the fire. It seems that a group of white men, dressed in sackcloth and calling themselves the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, gathered in the district to hang a black man accused of disregarding his position in life. The residents of the Beale District set about making plans for the funeral. *goto finish *else *if (discretion < 80) and (ethnicity != "french") *page_break From the relative peace of your Republican brethren, you are able to observe the political turmoil that follows in the wake of the war. From the ashes of the Confederacy, an organization by the name of the Ku Klux Klan arises. Though relatively disorganized, it does its best to discourage blacks and the Irish from voting Republican through lynchings, demonstrations, and other forms of political violence. A local chapter has been formed, led by the former Confederate officers Nathan Bedford Forrest and Minor Meriwether. *choice #What do I care about such a mortal organization? *set discretion %+5 *set shepherd_credentials %-10 *selectable_if (shepherd_credentials > 35) #I attend to the ebb and flow of mortal affairs, and this organization deserves some of my attention. *set observing_kkk true *set shepherd_credentials %+10 *goto finish *label learn_of_kkk *if distracted Unfortunately, though the vigilantes abandoned their victim to pursue you, the crowd was not a passive participant in this demonstration; they made sure the victim was still there when the vigilantes returned from their hunt. Though temporarily delayed, the victim still met his grisly fate@{((rationalism > 60) and (religious_tradition != "pagan")) ; you console yourself with the notion that you gave the victim two more hours to get right with his God|}. *if (discretion < 60) or (shepherd_credentials > 45) You later learn that the men in sackcloth belong to a nascent organization that calls themselves the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Born from the ashes of the Confederacy, they seek to discourage the blacks, the Catholics, the Masons, and any Republicans from voting through lynchings, demonstrations, and other forms of political violence. A local chapter has been formed, led by the former Confederate officers Nathan Bedford Forrest and Minor Meriwether. *choice #What do I care about such a mortal organization? *set discretion %+5 *selectable_if (discretion < 65) #I attend to the ebb and flow of mortal affairs, and this organization deserves some of my attention. *set observing_kkk true *goto finish *label join_kkk_invitation *if invitation_to_join_kkk_extended It is only a few days later when you receive an invitation from Forrest to join him at the bluffs the following evening. "The time has come for you to pledge your loyalty to the Cyclops." *choice #I meet him at the appointed time. From the distance, you can see a circle of men, clad in sackcloth and bed-sheets, standing in a circle. They bear torches, and their horses nicker at the gusts of wind. Even from this distance, you can detect the notes of amiable conversations. Apparently, the gravity of the evening does not interfere with their social hour. *if stealth > 2 When you appear unannounced in their midst, they recoil in fright; their puny mortal senses were not sufficient to detect your approach, and you took the opportunity to startle them. Forrest is the first to recover, offering his hand in greeting. *else You approach slowly, and their conversation slows and comes to a silence as they individually take notice of you. When you arrive, Forrest offers his hand to you in greeting. Grasping it, you are surprised by the youthful grin that splits his face. You have heard that the force of his boyish enthusiasm was the animating spirit of his nigh-fanatical troops during the war. "Come, let us go below…" he says, gesturing. Before you can disagree, a hood of sackcloth is placed over your head. *page_break *set carothers_humanity +1 *set exposure +1 *set history_of_klan true *set joined_kkk true *achieve kkk You descend into a chamber deep beneath the earth. They remove the hood, and it only takes a moment for your eyes to adjust. The room is lined with quarried stone, and decorated with *if (lore > 3) or (anachronism > 65) what seem to be, on quick inspection, Egyptian hieroglyphs. *else strange markings, the origins of which you do not recognize. The men in sackcloth gather round; the flames of their torches lick the ceiling, which has clearly been damaged by similar ceremonies in the past. With little further ado, their leader—Forrest, you presume—bathes you in blood of the lamb and anoints you with the sacred oil. The ceremony is not terribly long, and concludes with a homily on the nature of freedom and the struggle which is necessary to procure it in the face of tyranny. The sound of his voice confirms your suspicions that their leader is Forrest. When you mount the stairs to exit, Forrest claps you on the back. The gesture of camraderie rings false to both of you. #I have no interest in joining them, but I do intend to keep an eye on them. *set shepherd_credentials %+5 *set invitation_to_join_kkk_extended false *set observing_kkk true You tend to observe the ebb and flow of human affairs, and the Klan seems like an organization poised to affect their course. #I want no further dealings with the Klan; they are beneath my regard. *set discretion %+10 *set shepherd_credentials %-10 *set invitation_to_join_kkk_extended false Whatever the nature of Forrest's nefarious activities, you want no part of them. No matter that he claims noble goals and a storied pedigree for the organization. #I want no further dealings with the Klan; interfering with their activities threatens the Rule of Reserve. *set discretion %-10 *set independence %+10 *set invitation_to_join_kkk_extended false Whatever the nature of Forrest's nefarious activities, you want no part of them. No matter that he claims noble goals and a storied pedigree for the organization. *label finish *if memphis_haven = "yankees" *page_break *set noticed_paving true Sometime later, in the middle of a fine summer day, you awake to the smell of something burning. You are forced to lie there for the next several hours until the sun sets, tormented by the thought that you are about to go up into flames. Once the sun has set, you burst from your resting place, and flee into the street. There, you discover the source of the smell: the streets are being paved. The workmen are done for the day, but the stench of the chemicals hangs heavy in the air. *if technology > 1 Fascinated by innovation, as you are, you suppress your fears of a fiery death and inquire after the construction methods being utilized; the portions of town that have already seen the paving completed are certainly improved by the addition. It turns out that the city is using cedar blocks as the paving material. After some research, you learn to your dismay that cedar blocks work very well under consistent weather conditions: always wet, always dry, or always moist. Unfortunately, if the weather cycles between very wet and very dry, the cedar blocks rot and crumble very quickly. Though you have not been here long, from what you have observed, these paving blocks will have a hard time of it in Memphis. *if technology <= 1 The next few weeks are an exercise in discipline, as you struggle to calm yourself during the day; rationally, you know that your home is not burning, but the pervasive odors provoke a deep and abiding fear, demanding that you run and seek shelter from your impending demise. *if maddox_status = "with" *set chasing_wilson true *set maddox_status "free" *page_break *set carothers_rapport %-10 It is only a few days later that you return from some business with an accountant—there are many things that a vampire must do when establishing a new home—that you discover that ${wilson} is gone. After a few days, you arrange a meeting with Quaestor Carothers, and do your best to delicately inquire as to whether he has seen your errant offspring. He informs you that, no, he has not, but that you will be held responsible for any deeds done by him. He then suggests that you busy yourself with the hunt; you do not hesitate to excuse yourself. It seems you have a wayward child to locate. *if wilson_embraced_by_withers and ((chasing_wilson = false) and (rejected_sam_wilson = false)) *set maddox_status "free" *page_break You wake a few days later to a letter from Quaestor Withers. @{(withers_rapport > 40) She misses your company, it would seem.|What could she possibly want with you?} @{literate You open the note and scan its lines briefly.|You take the note to your attorney, and ask him to read it to you.} @{(withers_rapport > 40) Perhaps "missing you" was a poor choice of words.|} *if (hasty_exit_from_vicksburg) or (exiled_from_vicksburg) *set knows_wilson_embraced true In the letter, she reveals the fate of ${wilson} ${maddox}: she took him for herself, turning him into a vampire. Unfortunately for her, he seems to have abandoned his dominus, and to the best of her knowledge, made his way to Memphis. She entreats you to find him and return him to her. This is, of course, a great embarrassment for her: a young vampire, loose without supervision in another quaestor's domain… *if exiled_from_vicksburg The irony that she is practically begging for your assistance when she so recently exiled you from her domain is not lost on you. *if debt_to_withers *set chasing_wilson true She points out the debt that you owe her, letting you know that she would consider it paid in full should you accomplish this task. Unable to say decline, you reply in the affirmative, promising to do your best to locate your former valet. *finish Volume Three *else She offers you a debt, should you be successful in this task. How do you reply? *choice #Yes, I will undertake this task. *set debt_offered_from_withers true *set independence %+10 *set withers_rapport %+20 *set chasing_wilson true Your acceptance of her terms is reciprocated with a letter overflowing with gratitude. Unfortunately, it contains no further clues as to the whereabouts of ${wilson}. #Hah, no, I want no part of this débâcle. *set rejected_sam_wilson true *set independence %-5 *set withers_rapport %-15 Your reply is polite but definitive: you want no part in her impending downfall. She does not write again. #I do not deign to reply. *set rejected_sam_wilson true *set independence %-15 *set withers_rapport %-25 You have made no friends this day, but let no one doubt your contempt for the Quaestor of Vicksburg. #I inform Carothers of the vampire loose in his city; @{debt_to_carothers this might be a way to discharge my debt to him|if I'm to be owed a debt, I'd prefer it to be from him}. *set withers_rapport %-35 *set carothers_rapport %+15 *set applethorp_rapport %+10 *set independence %+10 *set chasing_wilson true *set carothers_ignorant_of_pb false Carothers rolls his eyes at this news; he has his own opinions of Quaestor Withers it seems. But the threat of an untutored vampire in the city cannot be simply overlooked—certainly not in a city as small as Memphis. The disclosure that ${wilson} was formerly your valet seals the deal: *if debt_to_carothers *set carothers_debt_wilson 3 he accepts the offer of you corralling ${maddox} in exchange for the discharge of your debt to him. *else *set carothers_debt_wilson 2 he offers you a debt in exchange for the successfully corralling of this ${wilson} ${maddox}. One of the first things that you do is spread some silver around the city, letting it be known that you are on the lookout for @{maddox_num a one-eared freedman|a one-eyed Cajun}; there can't be that many of them skulking about, can there? To Withers, however, you send no reply. And so begins your time in Memphis. *finish Volume Three *else *set chasing_wilson true Instead, she writes to inform you that your former valet, ${wilson} ${maddox}, *if knows_wilson_embraced her recent offspring, has abandoned his dominus. *else *set knows_wilson_embraced true has abandoned his dominus; it seems that, after @{fled_from_vicksburg you abandoned him|your release of him}, Withers found it prudent to retain his services and to make that service permanent. Permanent, until he decided to flee her company. As best as she can tell, he is headed for Memphis. *if flirting_with_withers She implores you in florid language to find ${wilson} and send him back to her. You write an appropriate response, and send it off. You are only too happy to do such a favor for her. *elseif withers_rapport >= 60 Considering your rather positive relationship with Samantha, you decide it best to listen to her needs. You respond with a polite note, saying that you will do your best to find this miscreant and return him to her. *else *set debt_offered_from_withers true Your response is evasive. If only she were to make it worth your while.… Within a few weeks, you receive a response, offering you a debt of gratitude should you find and return her errant offspring to her, or otherwise resolve the situation. After all, it is a serious stain on her honor to have a young vampire loose on the world. *if compassion < 30 When you are finished reading, you crumple the letter in frustration. You had hoped that ${wilson} would be free of the Society, but instead your kindness has only enmeshed him further. *page_break In the following weeks and months, you spend some time searching for ${wilson}. Though you search high and low, you can find no sign of him in Memphis. Unfortunately, @{wilson_embraced you are obligated to continue pursuit of your offspring, however half-heartedly.|by means of your correspondence with Withers, it is made clear to you that you are obliged to pursue the matter unto its resolution.} It seems that Memphis will be your home for the time being. *finish Volume Three *page_break *if chasing_wilson In the following weeks and months, though you search high and low, you find no sign of ${wilson} in Memphis. @{wilson_embraced Unfortunately, you are obligated to continue pursuit of your offspring, however half-heartedly.|Unfortunately, despite it being Withers' indiscretion, it seems that you are obliged to pursue the matter unto its resolution.} You go so far as to spread some coin throughout the town, making it known that there is more where that came from, should someone come to you with word of your quarry. For the time being, it seems like Memphis will be your home. *else @{(withers_rapport < 60) You are grateful to be free of Withers' company. You finally|Though you miss Withers' company, here you will} have the opportunity to make your mark upon the Society. For the time being, then, Memphis will be your home. *finish Volume Three *label memphis_haven The area around Beale Street is the economic and cultural hub for the freedpeople of the city. There is a ghetto known as "the Pinch" on the water; recent immigrants—particularly the Irish—start their time in the city there. The Appalachians and other poor whites cluster together to the east of downtown. There is also an enclave of Northerners who have relocated here in order to aid in the reconstruction of the city. Finally, you could take up residence in the newly-annexed Greenlaw Addition with the [i]nouveau-riche[/i]. *choice #The Beale District. *set memphis_haven "beale" You decide upon a house at the corner of Vance and Wellington; it stands a few blocks south of Beale Street, the center of black economic and cultural life in Memphis. It is also not far from the Memphis and Charleston railroad; the sound of the trains populates your dreams with machinery of iron and steam. The district itself is not without its tensions, however. The flood of former slaves from plantations further down the Mississippi has severely disrupted the free black culture that had developed in Memphis prior to Secession. These locals want little to do with the unskilled, uneducated and penniless laborers who have set up a shanty-town to the south and east of the Beale neighborhood. In particular, the refugees are still violently angry over an announcement during the winter of 1865 by General Howard that the plantations will not be broken up and the land given out to the former slaves; instead, he strongly suggested that they return to their former homes and seek employment from their former masters. Most find such a proposition untenable. This results in a host of individuals ripe for exploitation. *if (ethnicity = "african") or (ethnicity = "choctaw") Amid this chaos, it is easy for you to go unnoticed. *else *set exposure +2 You, of course, stand out in this community. Your neighbors surveil you with suspicion and distrust. #The Pinch. *set memphis_haven "pinch" The land on which the Pinch is built never seems to dry thoroughly. When the rains come, it is the first portion of the city to flood. Sometimes it's difficult to distinguish between beached barges, houseboats, and shacks assembled from whatever detritus can be scavenged from the city or the river. While you could have managed to find better accommodations elsewhere, the area does hold a certain fascination for you. *if ethnicity = "irish" After all, these are your people. *elseif (ethnicity = "african") or (ethnicity = "choctaw") *set exposure +2 You are looked at warily by your neighbors. They make it clear that you are unwelcome here. You do your best to ignore them. *elseif religious_tradition = "catholic" At least here you can be with those who share your faith in the One True Church. They may not be your favorite neighbors, but they are certainly better than your other options. *else Amid this chaos, it is easy to go mostly unnoticed. *if able_to_identify_jews *if (ethnicity = "german") Notably, there is a small but growing community of German-speakers in the Pinch. Many of these families are Jewish, but it is nevertheless comforting to hear your native tongue spoken in the streets, even if they do have funny Eastern accents. *else You soon discover that there is also a thriving Jewish community in the neighborhood; they mostly speak German, however, so your interaction with them is limited. Some of their members have been in Memphis since before the war, but like the Irish, many more have come since. Their numbers are now such that they have recently formed the congregation of B'nai Israel, situated at the corner of Main and Exchange. They mostly live within two blocks of this intersection, so that they can easily walk to services on Friday evenings. *if (speaks_english = false) and (speaks_german = false) Of course, your inability to communicate with your neighbors does strain things a bit. But through hand gestures and patience on both sides, you are able to communicate your needs when necessary. *if able_to_identify_jews = false *page_break *set able_to_identify_jews true You soon begin to take note of a community whose members also live in the Pinch. Even when they do not wear hats, the men sport small knit discs on the tops of their heads, as well as curls sprouting from their temples—despite the rest of their heads being closely shorn. *if (ethnicity = "german") and (compassion <= 50) They speak German, and though their Eastern accents are sometimes hard to understand, it is comforting to hear your native tongue spoken in the streets again. *elseif (ethnicity = "german") They speak German, but with an Eastern accent that makes them difficult to understand. You inquire after the identity of these individuals, and soon learn that they are a community of Jews. Some of their members have been in Memphis since before the war, but like the Irish, many more have come since. Their numbers are now such that they have recently formed the congregation of B'nai Israel, situated at the corner of Main and Exchange. They mostly live within two blocks of this intersection, so that they can easily walk to services on Friday evenings. #Among the Appalachians. *set memphis_haven "east" The area to the east of the city is one of those districts that was formerly farmland but which has recently been carved into lots and developed into rowhouses to satisfy the housing needs of the growing city. Discharged Confederate soldiers, day-laborers, and the marginally educated fill this neighborhood. There are numerous Southern Baptist churches that are being constructed with surprising haste. *if ethnicity = "scotch" *set exposure -1 *set local_fame %+10 On those occasions that a hoe-down takes place, you find yourself compelled to step forward and offer a song. After two or three of these events, the neighborhood attitude changes from one of distrust to one that welcomes you with open arms. *elseif (religious_tradition = "catholic") or ((ethnicity = "african") or (ethnicity = "choctaw")) *set exposure +2 You are greeted with open hostility by your new neighbors. They see your presence as an affront. You do your best to ignore them. #Among the Northerners. *set memphis_haven "yankees" You make your home among a colony of Yankees who have come south; some have come seeking opportunity, but many more have given up everything they know to come and help their brethren rebuild. They have formed a solid community because no one seems to want them here: the former Confederates consider these "carpet-baggers" an occupying force, and their opinions about everything from politics to education have quickly worn through whatever gratitude the former slaves might have held for their liberators. You are welcomed by your neighbors. Their allies are few, and they do not look twice at someone willing to throw in their lot with the Republicans. *if ethnicity = "yankee" *set exposure -1 You find it comforting to once again be among people who say what they mean and mean what they say. *selectable_if (wealth > 300000) #In the Greenlaw Addition. *set wealth -100000 *set haven_value 100000 *set exposure -1 *set memphis_haven "greenlaw" The center of town, unsurprisingly, is the oldest portion of the community. In the blocks east of the main squares, the merchants and artisans of the city make their homes. It is easy enough to lease a townhome from the bank, recently repossessed in light of the owner's post-war bankruptcy. @{speaks_english |The banker who leases you the property makes sure to point out, however, that English is the tongue of this city. Though the bank makes no judgements on its tenets, he advises you to apply yourself to the language of your neighbors.} The thought occurs to you that the former owner might come knocking on your door, demanding to be allowed to return. You muse that such a gesture would be poorly received. *if (ethnicity = "southern") or (ethnicity = "french") *set exposure -1 You are welcomed by the neighbors, who are happy to see that a dignified individual such as yourself has joined their ranks. *return *label resolve_pursuit *if agility > 3 Using your supernatural speed, it is simple enough for you to elude the men. However, you are careful to keep them occupied in the hopes that doing so will give their victim time to escape. It is a long night. *elseif (stealth > 2) Using your abilities of misdirection, it is simple enough for you to elude the men. However, you are careful to keep them occupied in the hopes that doing so will give their victim time to escape. It is a long night. *elseif (agility = 3) and (stealth = 2) Your fleetness combined with your rudimentary powers of misdirection allow you to elude the men with some effort. However, you are careful to keep them occupied in the hopes that doing so will give their victim time to escape. It is a long night. *else Unfortunately, you are not fast enough or stealthy enough to elude the men in hoods. Eventually, you find yourself cornered by torches, axes, and pitchforks. *if combat > 7 *set exposure +2 You kill three of them before the rest retreat a moment to regroup. Seizing the opportunity, you scale a wall and run like your unlife depends upon it. *else Your beast comes screaming out of you, biting and clawing as the men press around you. But you are ill-equipped to defeat a group of armed former soldiers hell-bent on your destruction. *set killed_by_mortal true *goto_scene scoring *return