Book 7, Chapter 3: Separate Ways

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{{#set:

  | title  = Separate ways
  | is a   = chapter
  | chapter of = Humans are the Worst

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Separate ways

{{#set: location = Downtown Hamilton }}{{#set: location = Ivor Wynne Stadium }}{{#set: location = McMaster Hospital }}{{#set: location = Mohawk College }}{{#set: location = the Convent }}

Downtown Hamilton, Ivor Wynne Stadium, McMaster Hospital, Mohawk College, the Convent, timestamp::2012/01/19 (played session date::2012/02/22)

In which each hero uses a different tactic to gain information and influence over the creature and it's summoners.

{{#ask: |Separate ways |?title |?chapter number |?blurb |?empty |?label |?image |?parentordinal | sort = chapter number | link = none | format = template | template = SMW campaign chapters level 3 }}

Round One

Intentions	Results
The police investigate the gun that was fired last night on Mohawk campus.	While going through the security logs, the police find a clear shot of James' face as the flash of the gun goes off. It is a grainy surveillance photograph.
The Sisters of the Golden Harness are trying to track James down.	See entry on James.
Anton advertises his support group in the student paper.	As Anton advertises his group, the police notice all of the student unrest and media attention that the attacks are getting. They try to close the campus and paper, but a certain bird-like reporter gets in their face with "freedom of the press" and the police get tied up with interviews.
Anthony goes through the public records of the convent.	Anthony goes to City Hall. He wanted to go from the public face of the convent to find information on Sister Katisha (the Mother Superior) and maybe find a link between her and the bear wraith. He started with the tax records, then found the blueprints of the building. He learned that the building has a secret way into the building that was covered up and suspects that it was used for boot-legging or as a stop on the UR.
James sees what he has gotten himself into by listening to the word on the street.	When James goes to see Troy the Bad Boy, James realizes that Troy is stalling him and knows he has to get out. Many people on the street are in the same boat: nervous and trying to hide something. James quickly learns that there is a price on his head, and everyone wants to collect.
Allan asks David to do some research on the sister's symbol through the White Council's resources.	David, who has gone on sabbatical from the bank (resulting in the bank laying off two techies) does some research, but couldn't look too deep because of his own commitments. No new information was found.
Jack investigates the bear wraith; and the bear wraith tries to keep its information secret.	After several false leads, Jack goes for a long shot and talks to a group he would normally never talk to: Tiger Cats. As he leaves a bar near Iver Win Stadium, a fry-chief who's brother had gotten hurt gives him some information. The bear wraith is weak to its own venomous claws.

Round Two

Intentions	Results
The police will try to get back to doing their jobs.	The police are dealing with a Media Feeding Frenzy. The police point out that they are investigating a gun being fired; and some Social Cockroach isn't important enough for them to deal with; no matter how charismatic he is.
The Sisters of the Golden Harness will try to keep out intruders using their wards.	See entry on Jack.
Anton continues to spread word about his support group, and there is an unstoppable leak the police can not control.	See entry on the Police.
Anthony will try to make a delivery system for a school project that will become useful to other people.	Anthony makes a sterile transport container for a school project. It disappears under mysterious circumstances, and is very helpful for Allan.
James will try to break into the convent where he grew up.	James bumps into Jack. He has a bent cross that works as a perfect lock pick ... for most of the doors in the convent at any rate. The cross acts as the convent's Master Key.
Allan will try to synthesize the bear wraith's poison.	Allan's fencing instructor arranges for Anthony's container to be stolen and replaced with component parts (which eventually turn into leaves). Allan makes the venom using the various chemicals and resources of the morgue. Although Allan's plan was to coat weapons in the venom, the demon bear sensed the presence of the venom in Hamilton. It treated the venom as another demo bear present in the city; which violated his contract with the sisters and let it go back to the Never Never.
Jack will try to find out more about the sisters by spying on them; and the bear wraith tries to stop Jack from doing so.	Jack asked if there was any place that James wasn't allowed to go, and promptly goes there. There were many things working against Jack and James. James' photograph was in the paper, the sisters were constantly vigilant, many people were looking for James, and Jack's girl friend decided to do some investigating of her own. Fortunately, the presence of the master key, knowledge of the secret passage, and a timely distraction (a phone call made by Anthony) got the two inside, right under the nose of Sister Candis, who was patrolling. They ended up going through an illusion / hidden wall and silently fell down a flight of stairs. It was pitch black in the room they were in, darker than what Jack could normally see through. There was a complete absence of light. Up above, a nun was muttering to herself.

Round Three

Intentions	Results
The police make an attack on Anton to dig up dirt on him; though there are a few friendly faces on the force for Anton to use to protect him.	The police don't have to dig far to find dirt on Anton! So they put pressure on the media to get the cops who are friendly to Anton to toe the line. Anton rats out his competition for a deal; but once the police have the sent of a potential suspect, they will not let it go. (Anton takes 2 social stress.)
The Sisters of the Golden Harness get on television to counter some of Anton's lies with lies of their own.	See entry on Anton.
Anton wants to take a shot at the convent via the local tabloids.	Even though Anton is being smeared by the police, he gets the Hamilton Screamer to talk to him. While he is waiting, a television sow is on in the reception room. The caption shows that it is Sister Ketisha, who is having an interview about religious persecution and bigotry. When Anton finally gets to meet with a reporter named "Ron", he says that the convent is a front for a whore house, and agrees to go on a sting. When asked for his sources, he gave the names of his competition - the same names he gave to the police! Anton said it was a "classy" place, despite the neighborhood. When Anton gets to the front door, the sisters peg him as a snoop. They show him the good side of the convent life. Anton responds to this failed attempt at reconnaissance with the words "I can't help it if I'm too handsome that people will recognize me!" Ron gives Anton 24 hours to come up with something. As a result, Anton camps out as a dog. Between 11:30 and midnight, Anton sees a guy going through a door designed to be part of the brick wall. The man goes in and comes out 20 mins later looking tired and happy; and heard something being hit. Anton gets some pictures that the Screamer can spin into something substantial. The next day, Ron noticed that a black leather-clad arm is in one of the pictures. He mentions something about Photoshop. When the story breaks, Sister Ketisha is on the news again and is denying "everything".
Allan wants to learn more about the nuns, and taps the mystic knowledge of his fellow courtiers to do so.	After Allan sees Sister Ketisha on television, he notices that she is trying to deny everything without actually saying that no sex is happening. He decides to talk to minor members of the Autumn Court who are still active at this time of the year. The fairy Edenbrook, who was only active because he likes the look of leaves on lawns, mentioned that it is possible to harvest sexual energy from people; but there are other forms of energy that are easier to get - especially without pissing off the White Court. Edenbrook also mentioned that one of his friends from another court mentioned that the balance is off. It is also learned that Qutesh is an Egyptian / Semerian goddess of lust and sexuality. The order is, apparently, made up of former sex workers.
James's player could not make this game.	James got separated from Jack in the near total darkness. He tried to look for clues and found an alter with deep groves, a bowl on the floor and a cellar door. He got interrupted by one of the sisters. She recognized him because he was one of their most famous wards. James made up a hokey story about getting lost; and she grabbed him by the ear and lead him to another part of the nunnery. She seemed to believe he was not innocent. After several days of captivity, James managed to bluff them with a story that his friend Tommy was waiting for him.
Jack wants to search the basement using his mini LED flashlight; but being around James too much caused some magical interference.	Jack has been out of touch with his friends for twenty-four hours. He managed to get into a secret door that James did not manage to get in. By the feel of things, there is some interesting furniture there. Jack works on getting his cell phone to work

Round Four

Intentions	Results
The police attempt to use the fact that they are the police in a brute-force social attack to get Allan to back down.	See entry on Allan.
The nuns attempt to intimidate Anton.	See entry on Anton.
Anton manages to get a hold of one of the nun's clients through his network of contacts.	All four of the people whom Anton ratted out to the police were found face-down in Hamilton Harbor. Their bodies were mangled and they were tied together with rope. Anton also found out that one Bull Dog who retired from the game before Anton joined the pack frequented that area. The pack didn't have any reason to suspect the convent. Edenbrook managed to get Anton in contact with a fairy named Drift. Anton had to fight his instinct to bite at Drift, the way dogs bite at butterflies. Drift showed Anton where even mortals can feel the imbalance. It was at one of those places where Anton smelled Summer Fae, and a fine mesh net made of silver fell on Anton. When Anton got out and shifted back into human form, there were patterns burnt into his flesh. Where the lines of silver rope met was the symbol of the convent. It was burnt all over Anton. Apparently, the nuns have allies in the Summer Court. This encounter prompted the statement "Edenbrook's friend is an asshole!" from Anton.
Allan gets back to work at the morgue, and tries to run interference with the police.	Allan tried to flood the police with reports on the dead bodies that end up on his slab. The police respond with a very strongly worded letter to the university; who chastise Allan for abusing his position. Allan does so, and sends reports to the police with a possible super-natural aspect. One report showed that instead of a bear-like claw to the chest, it was a tiger claw. Maybe some of the Tiger Cats were being affected by the sexual energy harvest or the imbalance and took that opportunity to Cat Out. As a result, the attention of the police was divided.
Jack sees the interesting furniture, and creates a smoke bomb to attract the attention of the fire department.	Jack is able to mix up a smoke bomb, and tries to get it to go out a window that he finds. Unfortunately, there wasn't much air circulation and the smoke does not leave the building. The smoke does, however, go through the vents and into the rooms where clients are. A stream of naked people run out of the convent, just in time for the Screamer to see. Jack gets out of the convent undetected.

Round Five

Intentions	Results
The police will continue to investigate Anton.	On his way home from the convent, while Anton was walking his dogs, a plain-clothes police officer asked Anotn how well he knew his competitors - insinuating that Anton had something to do with their deaths. When Anton says they were in the same business, the officer tells Anton that he needs a permit for his gift-card business, and promptly arrests Anton (along with the dogs). While the police are distracted, Anton slips into dog form, takes a dump in the officer's car, pisses on the car's tires, and escapes with all of the other dogs.
The nuns will try to smear Anton's reputation (such as it is) with lies.	See entry on Anton.
Anton walks his dogs in front of the convent's lawn. He won't pick up the dog duty.	There is a lot of dog poop on the convent lawn. On television, the sisters say that Anton has sunk to the level of sending dogs to poop on their grounds (which is true); that he has a long history of vandalizing their church (which is false) and being unpleasant (which is usually true - but not in the context that they mean). The media is trying to connect the dots. The fact that Anton is well known and eager to tell his story doesn't matter. They are just as satisfied to throw him under the bus. As a result, Anton is painted as a villain.
Allan patches up Anton and boosts his confidence with a pep-talk.	After he got burnt, Anton went to see Allan to get patched up. By the time Allan got back with the proper medical supplies, Anton had gone dog-walking, nearly got arrested, and was hiding. Allan looks for Anton in the most logical place he could think of. Four tries later, Allan finds Anton in some bushes and treats his silver-inflicted wounds. (Anton changes back into human form so that he won't have to be shaved.) As he does so, Allan boosts Anton's confidence and gets him all fired up to do what he has to do. Allan wanted to be sure Anton knew that what he was doing was good. It turns out that all Anton wanted was revenge.
Jack watches the antics at the convent and tries to fuel the fire with rumors.	Jack, who is now part of the crowd around the convent, began a whispering campaign to add to the rumors of what is going on. He makes the events the center of attention (i.e. "I saw whip marks on some of them! I wonder what the fire department found..." As Jack attempted to spread rumors, he heard a sound behind him. It was then that he realized the person holding a camera was Ron - that is, his girlfriend Veronica. She glares at Jack, gets into the Screamer van's door, slams it shut and drives off.

Round Six

Intentions	Results
The police make an attack on Jack by using Empathy to pick up on James acting weird / having to hide something.	See note on James.
The Sisters of the Golden Harness get on television to get the people on their side.	See note on Jack.
Anton's player could not make the session.	Anton is healing from his wounds, but still wants the media spot-light and revenge on the sisters.
Allan tries to protect the Autumn Court from any potential fallout from a police investigation.	Allan tries to rally the wizards against the sisters. He has nothing to trade, but before he can ask (not trade) for help, the Autumn Lady appears, says that she needs to have a word with her knight, and promptly shoes him out the door. Since the Fae (and their representatives) never ask for anything, Allan got into trouble with his boss. He had to try to explain what he was doing to her while hanging upside down from his toes. It was not pleasant.
James tries to get rid of the grainy photograph by turning himself in, and frying the computers.	James found out that the sisters had been in the news, and were lobbying for certain parts of the Sex Worker Act to be repealed. He also knows he needs to get that picture gone or he will continue to be in deep trouble. James struts into the police station, not realizing that his gun will set off the metal detectors around the door. He bolts and the police take after him. It takes three police officers to wrestle James down, and they find his revolver. James has officially become a Person Of Interest in the murder investigation linked to the gun. He is grilled and told that they will be checking in on him often. James must be available whenever the police want him. He did not manage to get the photograph erased.
Jack tries to move the nuns into the Media zone.	Jack contacts other more mainstream religious groups and tries to rally them to his cause. Several groups have not heard about what is happening with the Sisters, and this gives Jack a chance to emphasize the facts that he wants to emphasize. With Veronica also covering the story, there are some difficulties. Not only is it hard for Jack to spin the truth in a way that he doesn't quite believe, but he and Ronny also have a very long discussion about what he thinks he is doing. Jack manages to send out CDs of Anton protesting against the nuns, but Anton's credibility is being hammered due to his association with James. Still, the media is taking the story seriously (and what televangelist doesn't want more time on t.v.?). In spite of the extra time in the spotlight, the ministers and holy people are fettered by the Sister's status as a fringe cult. They also don't want bad press themselves, because the media could easily ask what they have been up to.

Concessions Offered

Consession	Results
The nuns get positive attention in the media and are not run out of town...	... but they must be extra careful with what they do, now that they are in the spotlight. It will be some time before they can summon a Bear Wrath again.
The police find a large animal to blame the attacks on...	... and although the case is still open, the media pressure is off and they can proceed slowly. The PCs are known to the police as trouble makers, but no charges have been laid.
The PCs were seen as being in the wrong place at the wrong time...	... but Jack looses his official position at the Consession Street Station. (Unofficially, it is another story.) Allan watched his words a bit too carefully for fear of pissing off his boss and making promises, and got a poor teaching review. His TA duties are restricted to marking, but he still fences at Mohawk. The picture of James is still on the computer system. And Anton ... is Anton.