Monsterhearts: DexCon 2013 LongCon: Part 2

7 July 2013: 2pm-6pm Monsterhearts: Part 2 of 3

Josh and Lena were there again, as was I. We also had a new player, Martin, who played Luke Korkowski, a werewolf. Luke worked at the refinery and did not go to school. He had a crush on Fiance Bodi. Ophelia had one on Goliath Bodi. The Bodis were in town to run the Carnival.

There was a flashback, according to my notes, something about ancient enemies. I think that meant Luke's family and the Bodis.

Quietude went to Ophelia, I think? Ophelia was watching for Goliath. And my notes say that there was something under the ocean. Perhaps this was a vision? Perhaps Quietude was staring into the abyss, a common way to learn things in Monsterhearts. If so, that may explain why my notes say that Luke went to Fiance and then "This is wrong--these words are wrong--she is drowning and the deeper she goes, the harder it is to save her."

Luke, in human form, noticed that the Bodis smelled wrong to him . Some smelled of camphor. While not all of them did, the smell seemed to pervade everything.

My notes say there was a Model A Ford. The back door opened. A guy with slicked back hair and a healthy glow to him had his eyes totally on Fiance. I'm not sure if that was Luke or not. It might have been her brother.

Regardless, Luke made eye contact with Fiance. Luke was a handsome fellow. Fiance was tomboyish, and the smell of camphor got stronger as she got closer to him.

Fiance: You afraid of girls?

Luke: I saw your brother over there -- I don't want to get too close.

Fiance: Beer later?

Luke: Yeah, sure.

Fiance: Come back here in a couple hours till we're done.

I think other people -- either one or several of men whom Meredith had seen in his visions in the previous session -- came over to Fiance after Luke was out of sight, though he may have been watching. Certainly, one of the PCs must have been.

Man: So.

(Fiance bristles.)

Man: We don't need your type here.

Fiance: What do you mean our type? We come here every year. This is our town.

(Goliath comes over.)

Man: Dude--just stay out of our way.

My notes remind me about Margie Grubs (married a man ten years older than she was and had an affair with James Howard who had previously been involved with Cassidy). It also says something about an old man going to the carnival, perhaps with his mother. Someone was nervous about it, but the father was determined to Be a Man.

Possibly this had to do with Luke's past. Perhaps it was his parents who had done this in the past. I'm not sure. My notes say that Luke was looking for Sabin, but I don't recall whether that was in the present or the past. At one point, Sabin had several men in the same place as Luke's father and summarily dismissed the family, I think from the Carnival. Luke's father had been outraged, but couldn't do anything about it. Luke's mother was in tears. Luke was too, for he was not allowed on any ride.

My notes next say that Russell's mother was Ariana Place, Camilla's niece.

Quietude and Ophelia were together. Quietude kissed Ophelia and got a string on her. Surprised, Ophelia lasted out at Quietude, dealing her 1 harm, but also taking 1 harm, for Quietude's skin was like glass. Hitting her -hurts-!

Ophelia: You're not Goliath! That's not okay!

Poseidon sensed Ophelia's turmoil.

Poseidon: Come to me Ophelia. I'll take care of you.

I think Ophelia went into the ocean to talk to him.

Poseidon: I do not like what happened to you. What would you like to have done to her, Ophelia?

Ophelia: I'm curious to know what's with her. Why did it hurt when I hit her?

Quietude (desolate, on the shore): It hurt! And it -hurt-! And broken.

If my notes are correct, her hand, or possibly her arm, was on the beach. If so, I think she picked it up and reattached it.

Luke saw some of what had happened and tried to run into the water after Ophelia. Quietude shut him down to protect Ophelia's secret, even though she didn't like Ophelia's relationship with Poseidon and wanted to save Ophelia.

Luke got the Condition: Shocked. I think my notes say that Quietude cleared her harm by eating Luke's words.

I think Luke used his heightened senses to Gaze Into the Abyss. He was looking for Quietude's secret weakness. He realized that it was The Girl in the Water, i.e., Ophelia.

Luke: You obviously care for her. I don't know why you don't help her. I'm going to save her, so either help me or get out of my way.

Ophelia: She is drowning, but not from the water. You can't save her.

Luke got 1 experience for believing that Ophelia was in no danger from the water.

Quietude: You can't save her.

Luke: What the hell's going on here?

Quietude: She's already dead.

Luke: Excuse me?

Quietude: She has a protector in the water and she is beholden to it.

Luke: What's the girl's name?

Quietude: Ophelia.

Luke: And what's your name?

Quietude: ...

Luke: I'll make it easier. I'm Luke.

Josh: She writes her name in the sand.

Luke: It's cool -- it's cool.

My notes say that he got out of her face, and something that I can't read, possibly that he thought Quietude and Ophelia were loves.

Quietude wrote Luke's name in the sand, I think, then wiped it out.

Josh: She wants to take the word back.

I am not sure whether Quietude or Ophelia said, "Luke -- so we know you." I do know that Ophelia left the water and returned to the beach, where she saw Quietude and Luke. She immediately hit on Luke to reinforce her heterosexuality.

I think Luke tried to Gaze Into the Abyss and the player rolled an 8. He was trying to see who was in charge, but this clearly had nothing to do with Ophelia or Quietude, as he got the same vision that Meredith had the session before. Luke recognized the man who hit the girl. That was Billy, from the refinery. The guy with the "food" was also from the refinery.

Someone (Ophelia?): We're fine -- you're the one who--

Luke (I think): Des this happen a lot?

Someone, perhaps all of them, decided to blame everything on the funnel cake. The scene turned into a 3-person erotic context healing scene. This is because the mechanics allow characters to heal one harm in a scene with erotic overtones.

Meanwhile, Russell went to the clam shack to talk to Lorelei, the girl who found the sunken ship Powhatan while swimming. He asked her to tell him about that. She offered to show him, but they'd have to swim, and perhaps he didn't have his swimming trunks?

The GM was fine with him having them in his car, so he did, and he changed into them. They went into the water, and he followed her. Then, she jumped on his back and tried to drown him, doing two wounds (four is fatal) before he was able to get her off him and get away.

Lorelei had the Condition: Scared, probably because she had at least some idea now that Russell wasn't human. just as he knew that she wasn't. She also had a string on him. Russell had two Conditions: Dazed and Waterlogged. Shaken, he decided that he'd better tell his grandmother, Place serpentine matriarch Camilla. But, of course, he had to try to clean up first.

Ophelia went home to put on makeup. She had lots of jars and pots. By the time she was done, she was Dead Hot!

I think my notes say that Ophelia's father was on Wolf Watch, but I don't know what that means.

Magdalena Bodi had cursed Luke's family. She found him in the Carnival and confronted him.

Magdalena: I hear that you're looking for my daughter. We don't want your type around here.

This was an attempt to Shut him Down. He didn't resist, and, for whatever reasons, went into an epileptic seizure.

Magadalena (aloud to herself): If this kid dies, my daughter will never speak to me again.

She put a stick in his mouth to keep him from biting his tongue and got Goliath to get him into the caravan.

Goliath: Really?

Magdalena: Do -not- tell your sister about this.

Quietude decided to look for evidence about what was going on. In other words, she decided to Gaze into the Abyss. She was Drained, but had clear visions. She did this by lying down on the beach until sand covered her entirely and there was a fade to white.

Quietude heard snatches of conversations from all over She wanted to know where to look for more information on Broy's death. It was as if she were walking into a cool, clean fancy house, with thick lush carpets and antiques. The place was enormous. Every room opened onto other people, none of whom recognized Quietude. The people were blond, well dressed, fashionable, like Russell, all talking. The talking was a susurrus; Quietude couldn't understand what they were saying. She couldn't quite make out the whispering. There was a woman in a big room, in front of the fireplace.

Meanwhile, Luke came to a couple of hours later, likely with no idea where he was. There was a faint camphor smell, silky. He was in a place that was what we might think a campsite would look like from inside. The place had a window, so he quickly figured out that he was in the Carnival. It was about 6pm, which meat that it was about 1 hour to Carnival opening time.

Luke snuck out of the trailer and tried to find Fiance. He had visions. He saw a boy. It was Broy Sheely, but Luke did not know who the boy was, as he had no idea who Broy Sheely was. The boy was coming out from behind some kind of structure.

Broy (smirking): Do you need a hand?

He handed Luke a human hand and laughed.

Luke found Fiance. She was now in a dress, wearing a beard. She was surprised, but happy to see him early. He told her that she looked good.

Fiance (trying to pass it off, but blushing): Well, I know facial hair looks good on me.

Luke: I really need to talk to you, ask you about your family's history. Do you know what you are? Do you know what -I- am?

Fiance: I know I'm Fiance. I was hoping we wouldn't have to have this conversation for a while.

Luke: I hope you can help me.

Fiance: How can I help you? (clearly really wants to)

Luke: I want to find out -- I can't tell you right now -- later, Tunnel of Love?

She told him to meet her in her trailer, as she had has her own. Her shift ended about midnight.

Luke tried to Turn her On. He rolled in the 7-9 range. Fiance promised to tell him everything later. She gave him a free ticket to the Carnival. He just had to avoid Magdalena.

Magdalena (returning to her trailer to find Luke gone): Where -is- he? And now my trailer smells of werewolf.

Russell managed to clean himself up a bit before going to see Camilla. He was no longer waterlogged, merely bruised, and "only slightly dazed". Camilla listened to what had happened to him. She asked about a book on the Powhatan, but Russell knew nothing about that. This ended her interest in the matter.

She told him that she wanted him to retrieve an earring. It had been found on Broy, but Cassidy had it. Camilla was quite displeased at the behavior of her earrings.

Camilla: They should stay in no matter what I'm doing. The jeweler is no longer in business.

She gave Russell Cassidy's home address. He asked and she confirmed that, yes, the Places had killed Broy. He asked about Margie Grubbs. She said that "animals" had killed Margie because of some power struggle between them. She also made it clear that she knew he'd had sex with Pauline. Then, she dismissed him.

Russell: This went... swimmingly.

Perhaps one of his cousins: Just don't rock the boat!

Russell picked up Pearly for the Carnival. She was perhaps covering bruises with makeup. She was certainly not exactly happy or in the mood to talk.

Pearly: Let's just go to the Carnival, Russell.

Russell: Okay.

GM: This is why she likes you -- you don't ask her anything.

Pearly (seeing Russell's Condition): ...Are you all right?

Russell: Air is flowing in and out, so yeah.

Pearly (her hand on his knee, whispering erotically): Are you all right, Russell?

Russell: No...

She helped him heal 1 harm.

Quietude went to the high school, as she lives in the library. She started to change her clothes. She heard a ball bouncing in hallway, coming down toward library.

She looked out. She saw nothing, but she heard it coming towards her. Then, Broy Sheely came around corner, clear faced and bright eyed. As the GM reminded us, he knew that Quietude lived in the library. She gave him a questioning look and tried to Manipulate him. But, Josh rolled a 3. She got woozy and had the Condition: Dream State.

Broy: I've been looking for you.

Quietude: Aren't you dead?

Broy: Maybe, maybe not. It's relative.

Broy (I think): Are you human, still? She said you were human.

Quietude: Why did they kill you?

Broy: I think they made a mistake. Why are you here, Quietude?

I forget what, if anything, she said in response.

Broy: She hit me.

Quietude: Who hit you?

Broy: I shouldn't tell. I think she was scared.

He tried to Turn her On.

Broy (lifting her head): You can tell me anything,

Quietude tried to Shut him Down but rolled a 6.

Broy (laughs): You're a woman of so few words.

He kissed her, pulling the words out of her body, as if he were eating them. The surface of her skin crackled as if she were near something warm, though he wasn't warm. She took 1 harm from shriveling and tried to Run Away.

She was Drained and in a Dream State. Josh rolled a 9. So, she got away, BUT caused a big scene.

The janitor saw her. He didn't know that she lived in the library, but he always sees her. He didn't see Broy. Quietude ran, knocking over his bucket and other tools of the trade. My notes say something about polished wood and skin leaving marks.

Janitor (who, apparently, rarely curses): What the hell?

Quietude, now wet, made it out of the school. She heard Broy's laughter. She ran until she got to Black Pier, still only half dressed. This caused a traffic jam.

Someone: You got to put some clothes on, honey!

She tried to steal some clothes. She was cut on her right arm, so she took something with a long sleeve. She was still in a bit of a Dream State, like a Nyquil fog. And she had the Condition: Unfashionable Clothing.

GM: How do you feel about this?

Quietude: This is awful. I feel like I need to feed.

She decided to feed at the movie theater.

Quietude: I sit down at front. It has to be the very front.

She basked in the news reel. No one was talking.

Audience: Where's the sound? (throws popcorn)

GM: They can still hear the planes -- just not the words.

Meanwhile, Ophelia made it to the Carnival.

Ticket Seller: Have a good evening, Beautiful!

Ophelia: I will, I will!

Goliath was not hard to find.

Ophelia (to herself): He picked _me_. _Me_ to be in car.

Someone: Goliath! Who the hell calls himself Goliath? I bet he's not really that big.

Ophelia: I hate these people!

Poseidon: Why are you so upset?

Ophelia: I want them to just go away and drown!

Poseidon / GM: For the small price of a string, I'll take care of this for you. And by the way, you look lovely tonight.

Ophelia: Do it!

She was now 1 string away from becoming her Darkest Self.

Lena / Ophelia: Is Goliath one of the Bargains I made?

GM: Do you want it to be?

Lena / Ophelia: Yes -- and the other was to come back to life.

She went to the show where Goliath was supposed to do his act.

GM: There in all his glory is Goliath!

Luke: Psst! Psst!

Ophelia: What do you want?

Lena: Just because we had sexual healing...

Luke: I need a favor.

He offered her a string or experience, I'm not sure which.

Ophelia: Fine -- just not now!

Luke: I can see this is very important to you -- outside later.

Ophelia: Okay, fine, go. go!

Luke: Just don't forget.

Goliath looked at Luke, eyes narrowing. Luke left.

Quietude was running towards the pier.

The person running the show (emcee? barker?): Is there a volunteer? Who among you is brave enough?

Ophelia volunteered, immediately and enthusiastically. Indeed, she was the _only_ volunteer.

Someone in the audience: Er... I think you should pick that girl.

And that happened. Ophelia had her moment to try to Turn On Goliath with the sentence she had been practicing all year.

Ophelia: You're really strong!

She rolled a 7.

Goliath smiled and spoke for the first time, in a thick European accent.

Goliath: Thank you.

He recognized her from last year and was flattered and touched.

Ophelia: Afterwards! Do you want to go for a shake?

Goliath: Yes!

Couple in back (the one Ophelia asked Poseidon to destroy): It's so warm. We should go for a swim.

The crowd was entranced.

Person running the show: And would you like to see her lifted in a car?

Ophelia got to re-live her experience of the previous year as Goliath lifted the car with her in it. Ophelia and Goliath agreed to meet at 11pm.

Meanwhile:

Quietude: I've calmed down. I've eaten. At the movie theater.

Ophelia met up with Luke. He wanted her on lookout while he was with Fiance.

Ophelia: I'm free till 11.

Quietude arrived and joined Ophelia.

Ophelia / Lena: Ophelia talks and doesn't stop talking until... I awkwardly stop talking.

After all, she'd been kissed by Quietude. and was now gushing to her about Goliath.

Ophelia: Maybe... maybe I wouldn't have bee able to do it without... my experience with you... Thank you for your kindness to me.

Quietude: There's something holding you back.

Ophelia: No, I've got everything.

Quietude: Your friends under the water -- they're bad for you.

Ophelia: Without him I wouldn't be alive.

Quietude: You've paid for that.

Ophelia: I don't think I'd have Goliath without him. I'm going on a date with him -- I told you all about that.

Quietude said that Ophelia would never truly have him with her "friend"'s help.

Ophelia: How can you _know_ that? (rolls to Hold Steady) You're not one to talk -- you're pretty weird. He's not that bad -- He says you're not that cool, but -I- like you.

Quietude (I think): Told you.

Poseidon: I -did- give you Goliath. Sand can't control the sea.

I think my notes say that Quietude walked / ran away from Poseidon, or at least from the water. Regardless, Poseidon got a string on Quietude.

Meanwhile, it turned out that "Fiance" was short for "Defiance".

Ophelia (to Luke, I think): Goliath wouldn't hurt anyone, but if you need some private time, I totally understand.

Luke and Fiance had a private talk about hard truths.

Luke: Do you know about our family history?

Fiance: Do you know who _I_ am? My mom told me I shouldn't talk to you anymore... I get the sense you're not normal -- but who is?

Luke: I know this is gonna sound weird. My family a long time ago was curesed by your fmaily -- and I want to know why and what can be done about it.

Fiance: Oh my God -- you're a werewolf??? Well -- I'm a vampire. I guess this means we can't really date? Because I really like you.

Luke: Suddenly that makes so much sense! The smell!

Fiance: But why would my family -curse- you?

Luke: Can we work together?

Fiance: Absolutely! I think there's some stuff in my mom's trailer -- old stuff.

I'm not sure what the stuff was -- drugs or diaries. My handwriting really isn't easy to read.

They decided to make out first, because you never know what's going to happen.

Luke: You're cool for a girl vampire. <Fade>

The GM confirmed that, yes, Goliath was also a vampire.

Russell wandered with Pearly, still a bit Dazed. But, that didn't stop him from winning a giant stuffed snake for her. Quietude, her Dream State Condition gone, spotted them.

Quietude (to Pearly): Leave!

She rolled a 12 to Shut Pearly Down. Pearly fled, glaring at Russell.

Quietude (to Russell): We have to talk.

She brought Russell to the Tunnel of Love. I forget what they talked about, but I think it was about Broy. They were talking too loudly for the others in the Tunnel of Love, who were trying to make out in peace. I think Quietude may have fed on their words. Someone threw something that landed on Russell's head in a fit of pique.

Russell and Quietude came out of the Tunnel of Love. The thing on Russell's head was a pair of women's underwear.

Two of Russell's Cousins: Russell??

Russell (weakly): Yeah?

GM: And scene.

Quietude found Ophelia. I think Ophelia and Goliath joined Fiance and Luke, and the two pairs of lovers went to a diner with Quietude. The GM thought it was cool that, despite the earlier awkwardness of Quietude's pass at Ophelia, everyone was cool hanging out together.

Quietude: Promise me -- don't take any more favors.

She bribed Ophelia with an experience point.

Ophelia: All right.

Ophelia offered her own experience point bribe to Quietude.

Ophelia: I really want you to find out who and what you are.

We agreed that this was a good way to write Quietude out for third game, which Josh couldn't make.

Quietude knew that she was akin to the beach and made of words.

Quietude: Glass and Words.

Ophelia: You sure you don't want me to ask Poseidon?

Quietude: No -- I think Cassidy knows.

As for Luke and Fiance, they discovered that in the 1880s or 1890s, there was a girl. My notes say "werewolf just girl", and I'm not sure what that means. She fell in love with a boy who was a vampire and a Bodi. He gave her a ring. They were happy together.

But, when he became injured, she offered herself to him, and he couldn't stop feeding on her. That's how it started.

Her family retaliated: Her brother killed the vampire in revenge. The vampire said, "Thank you." As far as the vampire was concerned, he was an abomination who had killed the only woman who ever loved him. But, his family didn't see it that way and retaliated.

And there we ended the second session. I was the only player there who would show up for the third session, aside from the GM, but Cassidy's and Meredith's players returned, and Bob Dushay joined the game.