[Unknown Armies] Clerks, Detroit Style: Actual Play.

[Cam]

Hi there everybody,

My group recently played the first three sessions of what we hope will become a medium length campaign of Unknown Armies (by medium length, let's say somewhere between 8 to 10 sessions). I've decided to post these notes on the sessions in order to refresh the memories of my players (and myself!). I'm also posting these notes for the interest of any and all UA fans. Comments, speculation, criticism, and "wouldn't it be cool if..." suggestions are all welcomed! Keep in mind, however, that my players will be reading this, so I won't be able to answer any "so, how do you see the campaign ending" type questions.

(Actually, I wouldn't be able to answer such questions anyway, since our game sessions are mostly improvised. The pre-game notes I made for the first session were made on a napkin in a restaurant.)

These posts are LONG, so I’ll break them up into rough scenes, to give you mental breaks/breaths while you’re reading.

Oh, one more thing before we hit the "actual play" (and is it me, or have those words always sounded vaguely pornographic? "Actual Play: Britney Spears!!! Download now!!!"). The campaign is set in the city of Detroit. It should be noted that none of my group have ever been to Detroit, and we really don't know much about it. This is, in fact, one of the reasons why we chose to set the campaign there; not knowing the "true" Detroit allows us to play around with the city, make things up, and improvise details safe in the knowledge of not being contradicted by the "facts". ("Hey, there's no abandoned motor factory on 8 Mile Road!!! I used to live near there!!!") Consider this to be a fictional take on Detroit, if you will, and not a Lonely Planet guide to the city.

The other reason we chose Detroit is because it carries a number of associations and images that we think are pretty cool and worth exploring. Detroit: a city that went boom and bust. The Motor City. General Motors, Ford, Chrysler. The home of Motown and the (arguable) home of Techno. Gangs. Rampant crime. Abandoned factories, closed down in the name of "globalization". Local communities with their economic hearts ripped out. Chain link fences. Urban decay.

So, with this in mind, I hereby present...

CLERKS, DETROIT STYLE.

SESSION ONE:

OPENING SCENE: FROM WINDSOR TO DETROIT

Windsor, Canada. Mike and John, two guys in their early twenties, are getting ready to go to a danceparty in Detroit tonight. They get dressed in casual clubbing gear, drink some beer, listen to some tunes (Detroit Techno, something from the Underground Resistance label). The tunes continue in their car, as they drive towards the bridge that spans the water between Windsor and Detroit.

The streets of Windsor are clean and well lit. As they drive by a park, they see people jogging, lovers walking arm in arm, people walking their dogs. Mike and John are excited; it's gonna be a good night.
"We gotta pick this stuff up at a corner store. Got the address right here."
"God I hate driving to this place."
"Yeah, but they got the goods and the tunes, so we gotta do what we gotta do."

They cross the bridge, drive into Detroit. The contrast is ... striking. The streets are sad lonely places, cloaked in darkness. It seems every third streetlamp is shattered, or flickers like something out of "Twin Peaks". They drive past forlorn abandoned factories, the faded former glory of Detroit. The big three. General Motors, Ford, Chrysler. All gutted. Shapes of homeless squatting in the factories, warming their hands around fires. As they drive past a park they see a circle of kids kicking a fat kid. They stop at a red light, and two homeless guys shamble towards the car.
"Cantaloupe!!! I got a cheap cantaloupe!!!"
"Wash your windscreen! One buck! Windscreen!!!"

Mike turns to John, getting creeped out.
"Can I run this red?"
John nods quickly. "Yeah, punch it Chewie."
Mike hits the pedal, and they run the red light. A few minutes later, they park their car in front of a corner store. Although the front door is open, cold bars stand across the windows, and a neon Coors sign flickers mournfully. Above the front door, another sign says “Leong’s Corner Store and Delivery”.

[Cam]

SCENE TWO: LEONG’S CORNER STORE (OUR CAST OF CHARACTERS)

Two young guys are in the parking lot; one is squatting down beside a motorcycle, working on it with a number of tools, the other is standing over him smoking a cigarette and waving his hands around as he talks.

The smoker is Alex Gustav, a college kid who’s scraped together cash from scholarships, his parents, and working long hours at Leong’s Corner Store and Delivery to put himself through medical school. Well, perhaps it’s more accurate to say he’s an ex-college kid. He’s recently dropped out due to increasing self-esteem issues, and lost his girlfriend due to a combination of the two. He hasn’t been able to bring himself to tell anyone about any of this yet.

The mechanic is Xavier Cruz, a Puerto Rican who did two years military service in order to get his U.S. citizenship. He spent most of that time in the motorpool, explaining the ease with which he works on the motorcycle in the car park. He’s been out of the military for about a year now, and in that time has been approached a number of times by one of the local gangs, a group of Puerto Ricans called “El Mortido” – “The Dead Boys”. [If any readers out there spot any mistakes with the language here, please let me know!] Xavier has been tempted to work with them, especially since it would be very easy for him to then keep an eye on his younger sister Maria who runs with El Mortido, but he’s decided to go straight since leaving the military. Nonetheless, he maintains friendly relations with the gang, and with most of the other street-level players in the local area. He does deliveries for the corner store, as well as maintaining the delivery van; an old ice-cream van that still has the oversized ice-cream cone on top. They decided to keep the ice-cream cone because they thought it had less chance of being stolen that way.

“So, when are we gonna finally meet this Laura you keep talking about?” Xavier peers at the engine as he says this.
“Lenna! Her name’s Lenna!” Alex says, waving his cigarette to make the point.
“Yeah, sorry, Lana, whatever. Thing is, you’ve been talking about her so long man that I’m starting to think she’s a figment of your imagination.”
“Lenna’s not a figment of my imagination Xavier! And that’s LENNA, not Lana! And she’s, well, been kinda, uh, busy and stuff lately and …” Alex’s voice starts to trail nervously away as he spots Mike and John walking into the corner store. “And, um, hey look! Customers! We better go in there and take care of ‘em.” Alex follows them into the store. Xavier smiles and shakes his head as he finishes screwing something onto the motorcycle, then follows Alex.

They walk pretty much smack-bang into Tina Leong, the manager of Leong’s Corner Store and Delivery. Not a difficult thing to do, considering Tina takes up the entire doorway, and more besides. Tina’s a second-generation Chinese-American somewhere in her mid to late 30’s. Tina was attractive, once. You can still see it if you look closely at her face, look beyond the fat and the fatigue-worn eyes. But now she can barely fit through the door, and her face is worn with care. Then again, maybe you’d turn to guilt driven binge eating too if your marriage had fallen through after having a one-night stand with a dead man. [This is Tina’s “trigger event”, which the player came up with. I’ll try and post that later.] Tina doesn’t miss her husband, but she still misses her son terribly. She’s come to see the local neighbourhood as her extended family, and is extremely active (and well liked) in the local community.

“Hey Alex, Xavier, I want you to keep an eye on things for a few minutes. Just gonna take this box of groceries over to Old Man Winters. And I hope you’re not gonna smoke that in the store Alex; a medical student like you should know better!” Alex bashfully stubs out the cigarette, and steps into the store with Xavier. Meanwhile, Tina starts to walk down the street, holding a small box of groceries.

[Cam]

SCENE THREE: HOME DELIVERIES AND DRUG DEALS (SUPPORTING CAST)

A series of short scenes follow, introducing a number of people that circulate in the local community, and how our clerks interact with them.

Tina walks down the darkened street, and steps into an apartment block. She knocks on Old Man Winters’ apartment door. She knows he’s home, because she can hear the television on. The television’s always on. “You’re playing for … a new car!!!” Tina can’t remember the last time she saw Winters outside of his apartment. Maybe never. Apparently, he used to work at one of the motor factories, but that was a long time ago. The only cars he sees now are the ones on game shows. She knocks on the door again.

“Go away! I’m watching my shows!” Winters yells from inside.
“It’s just me! It’s Tina! I’ve got some groceries for you!”
“My shows! I’m watching my shows!”
“Okay, I’ll just leave these outside the door for you, okay?” Tina sets down the box, and walks outside.

Meanwhile, Xavier and Alex eye off the two Canadians who have obviously arrived for a drug deal. Alex thinks they look a little nervous, so he decides to mess with their heads a little.
“So, uh, you guys gonna buy anything?”
“Uh, well, uh, yeah, uh …” Mike and John look around, “Uh, yeah, gum, we gotta buy some gum.” Alex looks at the gum, looks back at the Canadians.
“That’s three bucks a pack.”
“What!?!? Hey man, what are you tr-” Mike starts to get angry, but John quickly puts his hand out, silencing him. “We don’t want any trouble Mike; we just wanna do this, and get out quickly, okay?”
Mike nods, begrudgingly taking out money for the gum. At this moment, a member of the Oak Park Posse strolls in.

The Oak Park Posse is one of the two major gangs in the local area, along with El Mortido. The two gangs currently maintain a truce of sorts, and both gangs have also declared that Leong’s Corner Store is not to be robbed. This is because the clerks, especially Tina, are very active in the local community and are well liked. Tina’s been known to offer extremely extended credit to some of the poorer families in the neighbourhood, and has gone so far as to sometimes give away basic drugs and painkillers and medical supplies for free. (Alex helps out with this considerably, often boosting said supplies from his university campus, using his pass card, and with help from his ex-girlfriend.) If the gangs hit the local store, local sympathy for the gangs would drop dramatically. They also realize that having a trained doctor (Alex) on-hand to treat any gunshot wounds they may pick up is a good thing, and thereby don’t want to alienate such a useful resource…

Tiger, the gang member, nods casually to Alex and Xavier.
“Hey Xavier,” he drawls, “how’s it goin’ ma man?”
“Good Tiger, I’m good.” Xavier nods back. “Look man, if you’re gonna do anything, don’t do it in here, okay?”
Tiger looks at Xavier coolly, then slowly nods. He steps out of the store, into the parking lot. The two Canadians look at each other, then hurriedly step out after him. Mike nervously gives Tiger some cash. Tiger slowly counts the cash, smiles, puts a hand in a pocket, then gives Mike a handshake.

At this moment, Tina steps around the corner, headed back to the store.
“Hey!” She yells. “What are you doing? Are you dealing drugs outside of my store? I’m talking to you!” Tiger shrugs his shoulders, says nothing, trying to look cool, pretending not to hear Tina. “Listen, you get out of here! And you kids too,” Tina looks at the Canadians “get out of here!” Tiger sees the anger in Tina’s eyes, then slowly takes a step back, gives a “yeah, whatever” shrug, then slouches off down the street. The two Canadians quickly jump in their car.

Tina shakes her head as she steps back into the store.
“Goddamned drug dealers … poor kids don’t realize what they’re getting into …” she mutters as she steps into the store. She sees Xavier and Alex, and shoots them a glance that says “Why didn’t you do something about that?” Xavier sighs to himself, and goes back to restocking the shelves.

Not long after this, another familiar face appears at the corner store. It’s Dave the junky, his eyes haggard and hollow. Alex recently boosted a heap of clean needles, and has been giving them out with Tina’s blessing. Dave shambles inside, shaking and shivering.
“Hey guys … um, hey … um, Alex, I’ve just come by to pick up some … um, stuff, you know …” Alex nods.
“Sure thing” he says softly. He runs down into the basement, and grabs some clean needles from the wardrobe full of stuff he’s boosted from the university. He runs back up, and gives them to Dave. The clerks realize that what they’re doing is of dubious legality, but they sure as hell don’t see anyone in authority trying to do anything about the drugs and junkies on the streets. They know clean needles alone won’t solve anything, but they’ll hopefully keep people alive long enough to … well, to hopefully find a way out.

“Thanks man” Dave murmurs as he starts to take a packet out of his pocket.
“Woah!!!” Alex says. “Don’t do that shit here!”
“Oh … sorry man … sorry … I-”
“Look,” Alex says, his voice softening again, “here’s some brochures about that support group I told you about. I think they could really help you Dave. Why don’t we both go down there tomorrow?” Alex could’ve been a good doctor. He cares about the injured people. Pity he dropped out of college.
“Here you go Dave” Tina hands Dave some simple groceries; bread, milk, fruit juice.
“Oh, thanks … I, um, I don’t have any cash on me tonight …”
“Hey, you can pay us next time Dave, okay?”
Dave looks around at the clerks, his eyes suddenly filling with tears.
“Um … thank you, thanks … I … I’ll check out that group Alex … but, uh, I gotta do this one last thing first … just this one last thing … um, sorry … thank you …” Dave staggers out of the store, tears streaming down his face. The clerks silently watch him shamble down the street.

“You know, the mayor keeps talking about wanting to clean up Detroit, but nobody ever wants to actually help these poor bastards!” Tina says. “I mean, all we hear is, ‘Drugs are bad! Drugs are bad! There’s a war on drugs! If you take drugs you’re a loser!’ But we never see any government programs to actually help these people! If the cops bust you with some drugs, you’re more likely to go to jail than to a drug counselor! Fat lot of help that is!” Alex and Xavier nod. Tina’s getting fired up. Getting inspired. “I’m going to make a petition, asking for some kind of clean needle exchange and safe, uh, what are they called, shooting alley to be set up. I mean, it’s not the whole answer, but maybe it’s a start. I’m gonna go upstairs and make that petition. Alex, you’re working the graveyard shift, right? Well, I’ll see you both in the morning.”

Tina heads upstairs to the apartment that she shares with her parents (the previous managers of the store …it’s been in the neighbourhood for quite a long time). Xavier nods to Alex, and heads to his own room, attached to the back of the store.

Alex rubs his eyes, and settles in for the graveyard shift. It’s fairly uneventful, except for a few more junkies who crawl in for clean needles and a visit from Lonnie, the local pimp, with two of his girls, Cindy and Candy. Lonnie tells Alex to be careful; the 8 Mile Boys, the gang on the other side of Oak Park, have apparently been hassling people and businesses in the local neighbourhood. That’s unusual; the Oak Park Posse stays on this side of Oak Park, while the 8 Mile Boys stay on the other. Why are they moving into the local neighbourhood?

[Cam]

SCENE FOUR: THE RETURN OF THE MOTOR CITY, MEN IN BLACK, AND THE SAGA OF FORTY BUCKS.

It’s morning, and Tina puts her new petition and some breakfast for Alex on the front counter as he rubs his eyes. Xavier comes out of his backroom, and puts on the TV. The Mayor is giving a press conference. Accompanied by a small number of industrialists headed by entrepreneur/industrialist Holden A. Martin, the Mayor proudly outlines his new vision for Detroit. It is a program of urban renewal, a program of rebuilding. Motor factories will be reopened. The economic heart of Detroit will start beating once again. Detroit will fulfill its historical promise, and become, once again, the motor city.

The phone rings. It’s Old Man Crandle, calling himself Crandleson, because he’s owed the store well over forty bucks for well over a few months. Could the clerks bring him some milk and eggs and bread and a couple of 40’s? Tina turns to Xavier and Alex.

“Could you ask him to pay at least some of that fifty bucks he owes us? I’ve gotta pay for some new stock that’s coming in today, and things are pretty tight at the moment. I don’t know if I’ll be able to pay you guys on time this week.”
“Don’t worry!” Alex says brightly, “We’ll handle it!”

Alex and Xavier carry the groceries down the road to the apartment block (the same one where Winters lives). They both slow as they see a new, nondescript black car parked across the road from them. Two men in dark suits step out of the car, look around, and start talking to each other.
“Cars like that don’t belong in this neighbourhood,” Xavier says as he and Alex step inside.

They knock on Crandle’s door, and put the groceries down. Could Crandle settle the bill please? Well, there’s this rather large jar of pennies and crumpled up bills that he was going to use to pay his electricity bill…
“That’ll do!” Alex says brightly. Alex steps over and starts counting out the money.
“But … but …” Crandle stammers.
“What the hell is going on here?” The three men turn around, and see Laticia standing at the open doorway. Laticia’s a young mother of two, the second of which she’s currently nursing. “Are you boys bothering Crandle?”
“Well, look, he’s just paying for the bi-” Alex starts.
“They’re taking all my money away from me Laticia!!!” Crandle croaks in a broken voice.
“Well shame on you Alex and Xavier! Shame on you!” Laticia steps into the room, her voice rising in indignation. “You boys oughtta know better! You know what it’s like in this community! Hell, you are part of this community!” Alex and Xavier look at each other.
“Well, okay, look, we’ll just take a little bit for these groceries today, okay?”
Laticia nods, satisfied, then leaves.
Alex looks back at the jar again.
“Well, now that she’s gone…” he starts to reach for the jar.
“Hey!!!” Crandle croaks in disbelief.
“Alex.” Xavier says. “Look, Tina probably won’t be too happy if we leave Crandle nothing for his electricity.” Alex nods.
“Hmm, okay. But remember that you owe us a good forty bucks old man!” Crandle nods his head, then gratefully reaches into his pocket, and hands something to the clerks.
“I want you boys to have this. It’s always brought me good luck. I hope it brings you luck too.”
It’s a yellow smiley-face fridge magnet.

As the clerks step out of Crandle’s apartment, they see the two Men in Black knock on a door at the far end of the corridor.
“Go away! I’m watching my shows!” Must be Winters’ apartment. The two Men in Black shrug, move to a door further along. They knock, the door opens, they show some I.D., and then step inside.
When the clerks walk down to the lobby, they check the name on the letterbox for the apartment the two Men in Black stepped into. D. Samuels.
“Hey, isn’t that Dave? Dave the junky?” Alex says.
They walk down the road towards the corner store.
“Well, that might have been a good thing we did back there, but know how is Tina gonna pay for the new stock?” Alex asks. Xavier narrows his eyes as he sees a familiar car parked up the road from the store.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got an idea. Just go into the store and distract Tina for a few minutes.” Xavier starts jogging up the road towards the car as Alex steps into the store.

“So, what happened?” Tina asks.
“Yeah, well, uh, we got him to pay.”
“For the groceries?”
“No, no, for everything.”
“Everything? That’s fantastic Alex! Wow, I can pay for the new stock and pay you and Xavier on time this week!”

Meanwhile, Xavier jogs up to the car. His sister Maria is in the passenger’s seat, and Raoul, one of the senior El Mortido lieutenants, is in the driver’s seat. They dropped by because Maria wanted to tell Xavier to be careful. The 8 Mile Boys have been making strikes in the local neighbourhood. Xavier thanks Maria then asks for a favour. Could he borrow forty bucks? Maria looks to Raoul (whose hand is snaking a little too high on Maria’s inner thigh for Xavier’s comfort…). Raoul shrugs, and nonchalantly hands Xavier the money.

“Hey Xavier, why don’t you come by the crib tonight? We’re having a party. It’s gonna be great.”
“Maybe. We’ll see.” Xavier nods. Raoul’s eyes narrow.
“Maybe you should drop by the crib earlier tonight. Maybe you could help us with something. I mean, we just helped you; maybe you could help us. It’s only fair, no?”
Xavier looks at the money in his hand, then looks at Raoul. He knows accepting money from El Mortido could get him in trouble later on. He looks back at the store, sees Alex through the front window painfully counting out every single penny in front of Tina, buying time. He nods slowly.
“Okay, I’ll drop by the crib later.” Xavier jogs back to the store, slips the money into Alex’s hand.
“Oh, see! That’s everything!” Alex says.
“Fantastic!” Tina sighs. “Thanks guys!”
“And that’s not all!” Alex says, as he slaps the yellow smiley-face magnet on the side of the cash register.

[Cam]

SCENE FIVE: DAVE THE EX-JUNKY
As Tina is smiling and Alex and Xavier sigh, the front door opens.
“Hi guys!” The clerks turn around, to see the happy, smiling face of … Dave.
“Um, I just wanted to say thanks for everything you’ve done for me. Look,” he digs in his pocket, “here’s some cash. I’m sure I owe you more, and I’ll try and make it up later, but I just wanted to drop by and say thanks!”
Alex looks closely at Dave’s face. Dave really does look happy … and healthy. His eyes aren’t haggard and hollow. In fact, his eyes are clear. They aren’t bloodshot or dilated or anything you’d normally expect to see in the eyes of a junky. He isn’t shaking anymore. He still looks slightly weak and frail but … he looks healthy.
“Dave … what … happened to you?” Alex says slowly.
“Well, I was thinking about everything you said to me, and, well, it just suddenly struck me. Just how damned STUPID it was. Sticking needles in my arms, my legs, my – well, you don’t really need to hear that. But I just realized how stupid and pointless it all was. So, I’ve decided to stop. I’m gonna get on with my life. I’m gonna head down to that group you told me about. So, I wanted to say thanks Alex. Thanks to all of you.”
“But … but …” Alex slowly shakes his head, “you look so … good.”
“Yeah, well, you know, it’s a new day!” Dave smiles. Behind Alex, Xavier’s eyes have gone wide. Sure, Alex is (or was) a medical student who knows intellectually that such sudden recovery from hard-street drugs isn’t possible, but Xavier knows the streets pretty well. He’s seen junkies. And he knows they never recover, at least not like this, not this quickly. And not the ones as far gone as Dave. This isn’t a wonderful miracle he’s seeing. It’s something horribly horribly unnatural.
“Wow, well, um, good luck Dave!” Tina smiles, filling in the silence left by Alex and Xavier.
“No worries Tina! And thanks, thanks for everything. I gotta get going, but I’ll see you guys later, okay?” Dave smiles, steps outside into the sunshine.
“Well, uh, that’s nice isn’t it guys? He’s really-” Tina turns and sees Xavier, wide eyed. “Xavier, are you okay?” Xavier slowly shakes his head.
“No … that … that ain’t right … that …” He keeps shaking his head.

Alex agrees that it’s “highly unusual”, says he’s going home to get some sleep and to check his medical texts for any reference to Dave’s unusual condition. Xavier steps out too, giving Alex a lift home, but then deciding to stop by the El Mortido crib on the way back to the store.

[Cam]

SCENE SIX: THE SAGA OF FORTY BUCKS, CONTINUED.

While Alex and Xavier are gone, Laticia stops by the corner store to pick up some groceries. Laticia and Tina make some small talk, and Laticia mentions she’s glad that Tina extended some further credit to Old Man Crandle.
“But, hang on.” Tina says, confused, “Crandle paid for all of his bills in full today.” Laticia gets pretty angry at this point. She tells Tina what happened in Crandle’s apartment earlier.
“Well, I thought I’d helped them to see sense, but I guess they was just lying to me! They must have just taken all his money as soon as my back was turned, leaving him nothing!”
“Oh Laticia, I’m so sorry, that’s terrible! Look,” Tina says, pulling out the forty bucks that actually came from El Mortido and not from Crandle, “you take this back to the apartment and give it back to Crandle. And tell him sorry from me.”
“Thanks Tina, you’ve got a good heart.”
“Oh, and Laticia, would you like to sign this petition I have here?”
“Sure Tina.” Laticia signs, and heads back to the apartment block.

SCENE SEVEN: THE EL MORTIDO CRIB.

After dropping Alex off home, Xavier drops by the El Mortido crib. Everyone greets him warmly, and he spends some time talking to Juan and Martinez, the most senior guys in El Mortido. Could Xavier head over to a certain address and pick something up for the party tonight? Nothing dangerous, hey, the address is in the university district. Nothing dangerous at all. Just a delivery run. Xavier considers offering to just pay the forty bucks back, but he knows it’s too late for that now. He slowly nods his head, slides the address into his pocket.
“See you at the party tonight.” He says. He steps outside, gets on his bike, and rides for a while, thinking about the things he’s seen the past day.

[Cam]

SCENE EIGHT: MORE MEN IN BLACK.
Late in the afternoon, Alex and Xavier arrive back at the store. Tina isn’t happy with them. How could they take all that money from Old Man Crandle?
“I gave the forty dollars back, so I’m sorry to say that there’s no way I can pay for the deliveries and pay you guys on time this week.”
Xavier sighs, now knowing he’s gotten himself into debt with El Mortido for no good reason at all. No good deed goes unpunished.
“Hey, I was looking at some of my medical texts today,” Alex says, eager to change the topic, “and what happened with Dave should be … well, impossible. Cells can’t regenerate that quickly. It just … doesn’t happen.”
“Yeah, that is pretty strange…” Tina agrees.
“That’s not all.” Xavier says. “A little while ago, I dropped by Dave’s apartment to talk to him, and he was gone. Not only that, his apartment’s completely empty. It’s been totally cleaned out.”
“Okay, that’s weird.” Tina says. “We should really find him and talk to him. I’ll lock up the store.”

However, at this moment, the two Men in Black pull up out front, and walk into the store. Their names are Smith and Jones and their I.D.s show that they work for the City of Detroit Buildings & Safety Engineering Department (B&SE). It turns out that the Mayor, as part of his program of urban renewal, has decided to crack down on local liquor stores. No more liquor stores are to be opened in the city of Detroit, (the city currently has 338 neighborhood liquor and 379 beer/wine-only stores), and furthermore, B&SE inspectors will cite stores for signage violations (cannot cover more than 25% of wall and cannot clutter windows), dumpster enclosures, poor pavement and parking lots (including inadequate drainage), and deteriorated building conditions. And isn’t that neon Coors sign a little too big, given the new signage regulations?

“Well, is City Hall going to help us pay for these improvements, or are we going to have to do them ourselves? If not, it seems to me that the Mayor is doing all he can to put us out of business. And he thinks that’s going to clean up the city? Well, let me tell you Smith and Jones, there are much worse things than neon Coors signs on the streets these days. I mean, what about that crackhouse across from Oak Park? Why isn’t something being done about that? Or about the junkies? Or the gangs?” Tina’s getting pretty angry.

“Hmm, this is an interesting petition.” Smith (or is it Jones?) says as he picks up the petition on the front counter.
“You can sign that if you want.” Tina says.
“Hmm, perhaps ma’am.”
“Actually, if you could bring this to the attention of the mayor, I’d be grateful. If he really is concerned with cleaning up the city, that is.”
“Well, uh, we’ll make sure he sees this.” Jones (or is it Smith?) says as he pockets a page of the petition. He then hands Tina a sheaf of papers. “Here are the new signage regulations, plus everything else you need to know. Good day.”

The clerks watch the two Men in Black get into sleek car.
“You know, those two guys went into Dave’s apartment this morning.” Xavier says.
“Yeah, that’s right.” Alex says.
“Right then. We’ve got to find Dave and find out what the hell is going on.” Tina says. They lock up the store, and jump in the ice cream/delivery van.

[By the way, I got the information for this scene from the following website:
http://www.ci.detroit.mi.us/mayor/releases/2003%20Releases/Crackdown%20on%20Liquor%20Stores.htm It was one of the very few websites I looked at before we played the first session, and it stuck in my mind because it seemed directly related to the plight of the clerks]

[Cam]

SCENE NINE: CRACKHOUSE RAVE.

The clerks head down the road to a record store where Dave used to work, and sometimes still hung around. Leroy, a powerfully built guy who can only be described as a music snob, runs the record store. He often criticizes his customers’ choices, and pretty much tells people what they should and shouldn’t buy. Basically, imagine the Soup Nazi from “Seinfeld” working in a record store. Posters of Detroit Techno heroes and record labels are on the walls, such as Underground Resistance, Jeff Mills, Carl Craig, Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, and Derrick May.

The clerks ask Leroy if he’s seen Dave lately, explaining that the ex-junky recently dropped by the corner store and paid some money he owed them. Leroy immediately checks his cash register, sighs when he sees all the money is still there, and says he hasn’t seen Dave lately. Maybe the clerks want to check out the crackhouse down across from Oak Park?

“Of course, I dunno if that’s a good idea. I mean, it’s a crackhouse. Full of junkies. Not to mention that it’s Oak Park Posse turf. And the 8 Mile Boys have been making strikes across the park lately.” Leroy looks at the clerks, especially the incredibly overweight Tina and the bookish Alex. “I know you got a good name and all, but you wanna be careful.”
“You got any Perry Como records?” Alex chimes in. Leroy fixes Alex with a long hard stare. Pauses.
“You’re joking, right? Okay. When I say, ‘you’re joking right?’ you say yes. Okay?” Leroy pauses. “You’re joking, right?”
“Actually, my parents listen to him, and he really isn’t all that ba-”
“Get out.”

The clerks drive down to the Oak Park crackhouse, park the ice-cream delivery van out front. Xavier, slightly edgy, puts a rolled up ski mask on the top of his head (so it looks like he’s wearing a wool hat). The clerks walk into the crackhouse, past the front door hanging off its hinges, and up the dirty creaking stairs. As they climb they can hear … music. Dance beats. They push open another filthy door to see … a group of about 20 or so people dancing. Smiling. Having a good time. At the far end of the room, Dave has set up a pair of turntables and is spinning some records.

The clerks look around themselves, amazed. Alex recognizes some of the junkies who have dropped by the corner store recently for clean needles. He sees some used needles thrown into corners and wonders if those are the very same needles he helped dispense.

“What’s going on here?” Alex says as he grabs a dancer. “What’s happening?”
“Hey man!” The girl pulls her arm back. “We’re having a party, is all!”
“No no! I mean, the drugs! You’re a … a junky!”
“Yeah, well…” the girl looks down, somewhat shamefaced. “I know. But Dave came by today, and a heap of us were here, and we started talking, and we just suddenly realized how USELESS it all was. You know, sticking needles in our arms. It was a total waste of our lives. So, we’ve decided to stop. And now we’re having a party to celebrate!”
“But … but … you don’t just decide to … to stop! I mean, you’re … junkies!” Alex says, wide-eyed. The girl he’s talking to is certainly gaunt, but looking into her eyes, he can see she’s healthy. He steps away from the girl who keeps dancing.

The clerks walk over to Dave, who changes records and steps over to them. He looks pretty happy. And yeah, him and his friends have all decided to stop doing junk. What about the money he paid the clerks? He borrowed that from some friends who seemed happy that Dave was turning his life around. What about those guys in suits outside the apartment? And why is the apartment totally cleaned out? Well, turns out those guys were looking to buy on behalf of the Detroit Buildings & Safety Engineering Department. And since Dave is turning his life around, he decided to sell.

“Hang on.” Tina breaks in. “You owned that apartment?”
“Well, it was actually my parents’ apartment, but it became mine after they died. I mean, in the end I didn’t pay for electricity or anything, but the fact that I actually had a room to sleep probably kept me alive longer than I should have been. Anyway, when these 2 guys show up looking to buy, I figured it was a great chance for me. I’d decided to turn my life around, and here were these guys offering me money. So, I said yes. I’m gonna visit my younger brother in L.A. I ain’t seen him in a while. And L.A.’s kinda bright and sunny, you know? It seems like a good place to start again.”
“Wow, well, that’s just … uh … good for you Dave!” Tina says.

The clerks see a commotion on the other side of the room. Jackie Z and Tiger from the Oak Park Posse have stepped into the room and are hassling one of the ex-junkies. From what the clerks can see, Jackie doesn’t like what he’s hearing.
“What the fuck do you mean? What do you fucking mean you don’t want it? You’re a fucking junky for fuck’s sake!”
Tina and Alex step over to the gang bangers. Xavier steps into the crowd, and starts slowly working his way around the other side of the room.
“Look Jackie, just calm down, okay? These people have made a decision, and you’ve gotta respect that.” Tina speaks calmly, trying to defuse the situation.
“A decision? A fucking decision? These people are not capable of making decisions!”
“They have, and they don’t want you around. You can’t just … force it onto them.”
“Oh yeah? The hell we ca-” Jackie stops, looks at Alex, then back to Tina, a look of shock, then anger, slowly creeping across his face. “What have you done to these people? What the FUCK have you DONE to them?”
“Woah, Jackie, no, we aren’t selling anything to them if that’s what you think-” Tina puts her hands out.
“I KNOW most of these junkies went by your fucking store! What the FUCK have you given them? What have you DONE to them?” Jackie puts his hand into his jacket, starts to pull out a gun … only to find that he’s staring down the barrel of a massive .454 Casull. Tina may be big, but she’s surprisingly fast when she needs to be.
“Jackie, you might wanna rethink that.”

A long moment passes. Tina sees something break in Jackie’s eyes, and Tina slowly starts to lower the gun, hoping to defuse the situation. At this moment Xavier, with the ski mask pulled down, steps behind Tiger and puts a switchblade to this throat.
“Xavier! No!” Tina gasps.
“Hey, it’s okay, we’re leaving, we’re leaving.” Jackie puts away his gun. “Come on Tiger, let’s go.” The two slowly walk towards the door. As they step through, Jackie turns and says, “This ain’t over bitch! This ain’t over!”

The clerks sigh. Xavier rolls back the ski mask.
“Thanks for using my name there Tina.”
“Hey, I didn’t-” Tina stops, thinks back over the past few seconds. “Oh, yeah. Sorry Xavier.”
“Hey guys, I am really sorry about that. So sorry.” Dave says, stepping over.
“Don’t worry Dave, it’s not your fault. But I think you and your friends better get out of here. The party’s over, you know.”
“Yeah, thanks.” Dave nods, and he starts packing things up.

The clerks head back down the stairs and start climbing into the ice-cream van as Jackie Z and about 4 other Oak Park Posse members step out of Oak Park. With guns. Guns that are pointed at the van.
“Shit! Get us out of here Xavier!” Tina yells as she slams the door and crouches down. Xavier turns the key, but the van won’t start. The Oak Park Posse start firing at the van. The window above Tina shatters, spraying the clerks with glass.
“Drive Xavier, drive!!!” Xavier tries the key again, but no go.
“I think the engine’s flooded!”
“Hey, what the hell do I pay you for?” Tina yells.
“You pay me to make deliveries, not to drive through war zones!” Xavier tries one more time, and the engine finally roars to life. The ice-cream van takes off down the road, as the Oak Park Posse put a few more shots into it.

[Cam]

SCENE TEN: CORNER STORE, UNDER SIEGE

The clerks jump out of the ice-cream van when the reach the corner store, Alex and Tina running inside and starting to pull the shutters down. Xavier, still outside, puts his hand in his pocket and feels the address Martinez gave him.

“Xavier, get inside!!!” Alex yells. Xavier takes a step, thinks, then stops.
“I gotta go. There’s something I gotta do. When I get back, I’ll bring help.”
“Help!?!?! Shit man, we need your help RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!!! C’mon!”
“Sit tight. Call the police. I won’t be long.” Xavier runs to his motorbike, and takes off.
Tina and Alex turn to each wordlessly. Then they keep closing the shutters, and call the police.

Xavier speeds into the University district, comes to a screeching halt outside a fairly nice looking middle class house. He bounds up the steps, pounds on the door. It’s opened by a young guy in his early 20s, tall, with slightly curly brown hair.
“I came by to pick something up. You got it for me?” Xavier says quickly.
“Yeah, sure. Hang on.” He steps into the house, opens a backpack, takes out a package and gives it to Xavier.
“Ben, who’s there?” A woman, unseen, yells out from somewhere inside the house.
“Just a friend Lenna, picking something up! I’ll be back in a minute!” Ben yells over his shoulder, then looks back to Xavier. “So, yeah, this stuff is going to the party tonight, right?”
“Yeah, sure, it’s for the party. Thanks Brad.” Xavier says as he rams the package into a jacket pocket, then runs down the stairs and jumps on the bike.

Meanwhile, Tina and Alex have called the police, and a patrol car has arrived. The clerks tell the cops that the Oak Park Posse is involved, and the cops ask the clerks to stay inside as they walk back to the patrol car.
“Oak Park Posse?” One of the cops says. “They’re some pretty mean motherfuckers.”
“Yeah, that they are.” The other cop nods as they look at each other, the unspoken thought “we don’t wanna die in a slum neighbourhood gang dispute” passing between them. One of the cops walks back to the corner store.
“Uh, look, you guys sit tight in there, okay? We’re gonna do a couple of patrols around the area, see if we can find these guys if they’re on their way here, okay?”
“Uh, yeah, uh, I guess.” Tina says. Tina and Alex watch the cops drive off, then look at each other. Seems like they’re in this alone. And what the hell is Xavier up to?

Xavier pulls up out the front of the El Mortido crib, and bounds up the stairs. There’s a party going on, and it looks like most of El Mortido is there.
“Hey Martinez, Juan.” Xavier says breathlessly as he pulls out the package and tosses it to them. “There ya go.”
“Hey! Good work my man!” Martinez turns to Maria. “Hey Maria, could you cut this shit up?” Maria giggles, then slumps onto a sofa. “Oh for fuck’s sake you just did the last of the old shit! Now we gotta cut this up ourselves!” Martinez gets to work on the coke.
“Hey Xavier, you okay brother?” Juan says as he sees Xavier breathing heavily.
“No. Not okay. Had a run in with the Oak Park Posse, and I think they’re headed to the corner store now.”
“Well that’s not good. Not good at all.” Juan’s eyes narrow. “Maybe some of us should head down there and have a little talk with the Oak Park pussies.”
“Yeah, that’d be appreciated man.” Xavier nods. He grabs a pistol on the way out, jumps on his bike, and takes off, closely followed by Juan, Martinez, and Raoul in a car.

Meanwhile, two cars have come to a screeching halt outside the corner store. Jackie Z and 3 of his boys jump out. Jackie pulls out a pistol, and starts firing into the corner store. Glass shatters and cans of soup explode in the store. Tina and Alex huddle under the counter. Tina grips her pistol tightly, considers leaning around the counter and taking a shot, but then decides not to. With the lead that Jackie and the rest of his boys are putting into the corner store, she doesn’t want to run the risk of catching an unlucky shot to the face if she leans around. Not to mention drawing their fire because they would then know exactly where the clerks are. So, Tina and Alex huddle, and wince every time another shot tears its way into the store.

Xavier comes screeching around the corner on his bike, closely followed by his El Mortido friends in the car. He sees Jackie Z pulling out a Molotov cocktail, a cigarette lighter in his other hand. Xavier brings his motorbike to a sliding, screaming halt as he pulls out his pistol and levels it at Jackie. The Oak Park Posse guys spin around with their own pistols, but find themselves staring down the barrels of El Mortido.
“Don’t do this Jackie, we didn’t fuck up your drug business.” Xavier coolly says.
“Yeah man! Why don’t you and your Oak Park Pussies get the fuck out of here!” Juan yells.
“Juan, we got no beef with El Mortido! These people did something to our customers!” Jackie yells, the unlit Molotov in his hand.
“That wasn’t us Jackie, we aren’t fucking with you.”
Inside, Tina and Alex peer over the counter to watch the tense standoff.
“Somebody is trying to turn us against each other. Somebody is trying to fuck us all over. Somebody is trying to make us do their dirty work for them. Now, does that sound familiar to you Jackie?” Xavier says.
“Goddamn …” Jackie says slowly. “Goddamn … it’s those 8 Mile Boys. Those fucking 8 Mile Boys! They’re turning us against each other!”
“Well, that is no good.” Juan muses, getting angry. “I mean, El Mortido and Oak Park Posse, we have an agreement. But those 8 Mile Boys are fucking around on our turf. And that is no good.”
“Hey, I got an idea,” Jackie smiles, “why don’t your posse and my posse get together, and we go down to the other side of Oak Park, we fuck those 8 Mile Boys up?”
“I like your style Jackie. Let’s go. Let’s fuck ‘em up!!!” The gang members whoop and some fire shots off into the air, pumping themselves up for the confrontation to come. As they get into their cars, Juan turns to Xavier.
“Hey brother, you coming with us, right?”
“Nah, I gotta take care of my friends.” Xavier says, taking a step towards the store.
“Naw, you can take care of them later. Right now, come and help us take care of these 8 Mile fucks. C’mon man, it’ll be cool!”
Inside the store, Tina whispers “Don’t do it Xavier! Don’t go!”
“Nah … that’s … that’s not who I am anymore. I gotta take care of my friends.”
“Hey man, you came up with this idea! You’re not gonna see it through?” Juan asks.
“Don’t worry about him Juan. I guess it’s true what Maria said about him. He really IS a pussy. C’mon, forget about him.” Raoul snorts as he taps Juan on the shoulder. Together, the gang members drive off.

Tina and Alex run out of the store. Tina puts her arm around Xavier’s shoulder.
“I’m proud of you Xavier!”
Xavier hangs his head a little, as the three clerks walk back into the store…

[Cam]

CLOSING SCENE: MIGHT AS WELL DIE WITH A SMILE ON MY FACE

It’s a few hours later. The clerks are cleaning up the store, sweeping up the broken glass, moping up the spilled soup. They’re relieved, but tired; it’s been a long, eventful day, and the adrenaline rush has long gone.
The phone rings. Alex answers, and hears Maria, crying and sobbing.
“Xavier? Xavier? Help me…”
Alex pushes the phone to Xavier.
“Maria, what’s wrong?”
“Xavier … they’re … dead … they’re all dead … oh God … I’m surrounded by bodies … oh God … oh God …” Maria starts sobbing.
Xavier puts the phone down, and runs out of the store, jumping on his bike.
“Hey!!! Where are you going now?” Alex yells, but Xavier’s gone.

Xavier pulls up out the front of the El Mortido crib. He charges up the stairs, leaping over a body that’s face down. He busts into the main room where the party was. The room is full of bodies. Members of El Mortido and the Oak Park Posse lay sprawled across the floor, across the sofas, across the coke-covered table. Maria is curled up in the middle of the room, sobbing, rocking back and forth. And as Xavier steps towards her, he realizes that none of the people have died from violent causes. There are no bullet wounds, there’s no blood, no gore. Just a crib full of dead people … all of whom have horrible enormous grins on their faces.

Back at the store, Tina sweeps the broken glass away from the cash register, taking care not to disturb the yellow smiley-face magnet…

END OF SESSION ONE.

Wow. Okay, that took me WAY longer than I thought it would. Most likely because I went into pretty fine detail. Sorry about that (then again, this is for also for myself and my players, so it’s kinda important for me to hit all the important points.) The session itself took a little less than 5 hours to play. As you can see, however, a lot happened in those 5 hours. We wanted to explore these new characters, and explore the environment they live in. So, lots of character interaction and potential plot threads!

Hmm, I think my fingers are gonna explode from all that typing. I think I’ll leave it here for the moment. However, I will hopefully be able to post the details of sessions two and three before Sunday (which is when we’re hopefully playing session four).

Oh, I should put out that session one was ran before I saw the Angel episode “Smile Time”. No, really, scout’s honour! So, actually, the opening of “Smile Time” REALLY creeped me out, because we closed our Unknown Armies session in the same way!!!

We had a lot of fun playing this session (the next two sessions were also really good … quite tense too), and I’m really digging Unknown Armies. It’s really encouraged us to bring morals, ethics, and the consequences of your actions to the forefront of this campaign.

Okay, thanks for reading this far!!!

Cheers,

Cam.

[Orsino]

Tres Nifty. I like the street-level style. Looking forward to reading more of this.

[knightsky]

Very cool. I would love to play in a campaign like this.

[Breogan]

"El Mortido" sure isnt Spanish, but for all I know Hispanic street gangs speak more Spanglish than Spanish, so...

("The Dead Boys"... could be "Los Muertos" or "Los Muertitos" to imply the young age, but that sounds to me more like a Mexican gang... "Los Muertecitos") also.

Apart from that, is one hell of a nice idea, I would love to play. In fact, if plagiarism is the highest form of flattery, I'm taking notes :-P Really, I would like to have ideas like this

Jesús Couto F.

[Thunder_God]

Interesting read! :) Actually less posts will help me keep my sanity better ;) So, what are they? Mortals? Winder could be a Videomancer I guess, heh. I remember fondly a one-shot by one of the better GMs in Israel where we played detectives who investigated a series of murders and eventually got murdered by the same "Force", their own self-loathing. Mortals in UA is fun, besides it being a rather gritty setting/system :)

[Skiorht]

Very impressive. The set-up is very conductive to tight narration, giving the PCs a lot of ties to the immediate neighbourhood. I love this sort of intense, small-scale gaming.

One thing that I might use in a situation like this would be to explore the dichotomy of Detroit vs. Windsor. Just across the river there's a different city, a different country, a different world... It could be a sanctuary, a trap, or whatever. The border crossing is symbolic in many ways. I'd probably want to shoehorn it in my game in some way.

[Jestocost]

And I'mp retty sure that you'll enter an Otherspace when you try to swim Detroit River once in a blue moon to get to Windsor. When the Windsor is reflected in th light of the moon, you've got to dive until you can't breathe anymore and you'll wind up in a strange strange world.

Just give it a try.

I was once in Detroit: And just lookng across the river was great - behind you the concrete and steel of Detroit, on the other side green, lush Canada. Perhaps that, or just Green Pasture syndrome.

[budman]

Very very cool I hope when i run UA i can run it as well.

mark.

[Future Villain Band]

As a side note, if you want a good general overview of Detroit's history, you should contact their City Council -- a buddy of mine and I ran a Vampire/Werewolf campaign series in Detroit, and we wrote to their City Council looking for info and got some really good material. You can still keep the vagueness you like, but add some info on the African-American history of the area (which is fascinating) as well as all of the cool historical sites for your Cliomancers, such as the castles.

--Eric

[SweeneyTodd]

Very nice detail, thanks!

It's funny; I had thought my UA-inspired D20 game (link (http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=108911&highlight=comfort+zone)) was going to go more like this, but my players came in with ultra-competent military and investigative types. Threw me for a loop.

I'm looking forward to running some pure UA with average joes as PCs, because I think it makes it easier to push exploration of those moral and ethical issues that you're digging in this game. I'd much rather run a firefight where nobody involved is very good at shooting, and they're all scared spitless.

[Mencelus]

Heya Cam! Let me just say to all yous out there - much like Cam's thread about the Nobilis game I ran, Unknown Armies is all about actually playing the thing, rather than reading it. I had no idea how cool Nobilis was until I ran a mini-campaign with Cam and company. Now, playing U.A. is a flipping blast (I'm Alex Gustav) and is much better than just reading the well-written core book. That said, be prepared for some nastiness as (hopefully) Cam writes on about our later sessions...muhahahahaha!

[Cam]

Hey Guys!

Cheers for the feedback everyone, very glad to hear that you're enjoying the "Clerks" details! I'm also glad to hear that this kind of game appeals to people out there. When I was about two-thirds of the way through typing up the session I suddenly thought to myself "Wow. Are people actually gonna enjoy reading this? I mean, I've just typed 6000 odd words talking about ... a bunch of people talking, running a shop, making home deliveries, and looking for an ex-junky. Not the most exciting sounding of games. We were totally into it and totally in character when we were playing, and it was actually very tense at times ... but am I typing up the roleplaying equivalent of a Mike Leigh or Ken Loach movie? I mean, *I* love it, but how many people out there really dig Ken Loach?"

I sometimes wonder what kind of games I'd be playing if I weren't involved with my current group of (extremely excellent) players. From the responses I've read to this thread, it's heartening to know that there's like-minded people out there in rpg land!

I'll try and get session 2 up in about a day or so. Some very cool stuff happens, including yet another stand-off, but this time actually *inside* the corner store. Oh, and Xavier rams a pistol into someone's mouth.

Before I say anything else, I've got to give HUGE props to my players. The session was almost entirely improvised, and pretty much all of the cool stuff that happened in the game came from the players. I really wasn't exaggerating when I said the notes for the first session were written on a napkin! For example, the scene with Old Man Crandle and the ensuing saga of the 40 bucks came entirely from the players. It was because of the 40 bucks that Xavier borrowed the cash from El Mortido, which then got him in debt, which ended up with him delivering the package, which he then used to get the gang's help at the end ... it all came from my players. They totally rock. As GM, I'm just taking all the cool moments and ideas they're giving me, and trying to weave them together in a narratively tight way, with tight pacing.

To address some of the things you guys said:

Breogan, cheers for the Spanish!!! "Los Muertitos" sounds kinda cool. And, of course, oddly appropriate, because the first session ended with an awful lot of them being Dead Boys. Also, cheers for the praise! Feel free to use any and all ideas you see in the sessions I post! The vast majority of cool things I've put into pretty much ALL of the games I've ever GMed are things I've "borrowed" from other GMs and games, so there's some cool gaming karma going on if you can take something from my games!

Thunder_God, yep, the PCs in "Clerks, Detroit Style" are all normal joes, kickin' it in that down-and-dirty, gritty street-style!

Skiorht, yeah, the Detroit/Windsor dichotomy really appeals to me too. It struck me straight off as a really good framing device for an opening scene. It'd be cool to explore it some more, but that's pretty much up to the players. Right now, they're fairly immersed in their local neighbourhood, which as you pointed out is keeping things nice and tight. (And has drawn the PCs into the narrative *very* quickly.) Still, even if Windsor never gets touched on again in the campaign, I think it'll hover at the back of the players' minds because of that opening scene, reminding them that something has gone horribly horribly wrong in their neighbourhood...

Jestocost, I've gotta quote you here:
"I was once in Detroit: And just lookng across the river was great - behind you the concrete and steel of Detroit, on the other side green, lush Canada. Perhaps that, or just Green Pasture syndrome."
Wow, that's a beautiful moment man!!! I hope there's a moment like this in one of the upcoming sessions. But perhaps the clerks are actually happy to be on their side of the river. Sure, it's concrete and steel ... but it's their *home*. And damned if they're gonna leave it or give it up. (Something like that ... of course, entirely up to the players ...)

Eric ... I'm sorry, did you say CASTLES??? In DETROIT??? Woah, okay, I think I'll do a little bit of research into Detroit! Especially as regards the African-American history (good point); in the third session an older NPC made a throw-away line to "the race riots", so it'd be cool to know some of the details. Actually, I was toying with the idea of running an historical flashback episode at some point, so such research would be kinda necessary on my part. Musically as well as historically, actually; I want to get my hands on some classic Motown albums...

[By the way, and this is addressed to my players, how would you feel about that? An historical flashback session at some stage during the campaign?]

Sweeney, just read the posts on your UA inspired game. Cool stuff!!! To be honest, part of me really gets off on the whole uber-competent military/government operative thing (hmm, perhaps I should blame Delta Green for that!); the shot in your "Inside Out and Over" trailer with the dude in full battle dress going apeshit bananas with the assault rifle was totally cool! It was also really cool to see your players taking narrative control every so often, and you as the GM fully encouraging that and running with it.

You're quite right, however, about the tension that easily arises from this gritty street-level style of play. The scene when Xavier was trying to start the ice-cream van and it wouldn't start because the engine was flooded was *extremely* tense. As was the seige at the end. The guy playing Tina thought about leaning around that counter and taking a shot, but then thought better of it, because he knew what would happen if Tina took a stray shot to the face.

Furthermore, because the players were playing amateurs when it came to investigating and stuff, they just naturally started making mistakes that amateurs would! Just like when Xavier pulled the ski mask over his face, put his switchblade against Tiger's throat, and Tina gasps "Xavier!!!" And there's an absolute doozy in session 2, when the clerks park the ice-cream van outside a house to talk to some people inside, then run away because some dangerous guys come looking for them ... and then they go back and pick up the van, and drive it back to the corner store. And park it out the front. And totally forget about it when the same dangerous guys come into the store and say "Um, gee, so, have you seen such-and-such lately?" And then the clerks look through the window at the van and say "um, uh, no, uh..."

Brilliant moment.

Mencelus ... oh, hey, it's Alex Gustav himself! Yep, I'll definitely get the next two sessions up soon. Session two hopefully in the next day or so. And yes, UA is both a joy to read and play.

Actually, the greatest challenges for me in GMing this have been to avoid throwing in every totally cool thing that's in the UA corebook, and to avoid dialing the surreal weirdness up to 11 too quickly. Because, quite frankly, it's a pretty cool corebook. With heaps of good ideas and amazing plot hooks. Too many ideas and plot hooks to be put into just one campaign ... but because they're all SO COOL, my urge was to just put all of them into a blender, hit the button, and then pour an incredibly whacked out cocktail for my players, spiced up with some totally weird surreal shit straight out of a David Lynch film IN THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES OF THE CAMPAIGN.

Thankfully, reason prevailed and I didn't do that ... but seriously, it was hard, I really had to fight the urge. I've gone for a minimal approach, with only hints of weirdness in the first session (Dave the ex-junky, the smiling corpses of the gang members). Seems to be working, and we seem to be slowly turning up the surreal weirdness dial...

But, more of that in session 2. Soon to come.

Promise.

Cheers!

Cam.

[SweeneyTodd]

Originally posted by Cam

...the clerks park the ice-cream van outside a house to talk to some people inside, then run away because some dangerous guys come looking for them ... and then they go back and pick up the van, and drive it back to the corner store. And park it out the front. And totally forget about it when the same dangerous guys come into the store and say "Um, gee, so, have you seen such-and-such lately?"


Yeah, I love that stuff. If I were playing instead of GMing, I think I'd find it cathartic to screw up that badly.

I've done some bits where the players took on the roles of NPCs in flashbacks, and I was amused to see how thoroughly my players were willing to screw up if it wasn't their "main" PC. (At one point we had a bunch of soldiers in the desert in a Humvee, and one's rolling a joint on top of their GPS console while the other's using "night vision mode" to peek at Saudi women's underwear. If only I could get them to make equally bad decisions with their real PCs.)

The one upside of hyper-competent PCs is that they were all so gung-ho to resolve the situation we started off that game with (the dead guy in the bathroom) that we had a Mexican standoff between the PCs in the first five minutes. Until people finally started fishing out badges, I was sure they were going to kill each other.

Looking forward to hearing more about session two, just don't burn out on us. ;)

[Skiorht]

Originally posted by Cam
... but am I typing up the roleplaying equivalent of a Mike Leigh or Ken Loach movie? I mean, *I* love it, but how many people out there really dig Ken Loach?

*raises hand*

Actually, the greatest challenges for me in GMing this have been to avoid throwing in every totally cool thing that's in the UA corebook, and to avoid dialing the surreal weirdness up to 11 too quickly. Because, quite frankly, it's a pretty cool corebook. With heaps of good ideas and amazing plot hooks.

This is just the thing that struck me immediately when I opened the book. There is just so much good stuff it seems a shame not to use it all. I resisted the urge, and decided to let it simmer for a few months.

It was fun to read about the napkin. Most of my games are run pretty much the same way. I have a few ideas scribbled on a piece of paper, a few NPCs, and (if I'm lucky) a relationship map. Then it's pretty much up to my players. I've noticed that a reactive gamemastering style fits me better, and provides me with most fun. I love to be surprised and thrown off-balance. The only limitation I've noticed is when the setting isn't familiar enough to the players.

[ascendance]

Originally posted by Cam
The streets of Windsor are clean and well lit. As they drive by a park, they see people jogging, lovers walking arm in arm, people walking their dogs.

This, sir, is truly the stuff of fantasy. Windsor is pretty much a hole of a town. But I can see why you'd play up the contrast for dramatic reasons.

[Cam]

Hi All!

Okay, I’ll post these as I type … so expect a good half hour or so between each scene, because I type pretty slowly!!!

But, here we go … session 2 …

CLERKS, DETROIT STYLE.

SESSION TWO:

OPENING SCENE: CLEANING UP/PRESS CONFERENCE

It’s the morning after the siege at Leong’s Corner Store and Delivery, and Alex and Tina are finishing up cleaning the store as morning sunlight hesitantly creeps through the broken windows. Xavier still hasn’t returned after receiving that distressing phone call from his sister, and since he didn’t say much as he ran out of the store, Alex and Tina are getting a little worried.

Tina turns on the TV in time to see a news report detailing a horrific gang battle in Oak Park last night.

“And we cross now to Cynthia Weatherdale, reporting live from the battleground that is Oak Park. Cynthia?”
“Thank you Dan. I’m standing in the middle of what can only be described as a slaughterhouse, the site of the worst gangland massacre since the infamous St. Valentine’s Day. Right now Oak Park is running red with the blood of at least 30 gangmembers, most of whom were in their teens…”
The camera cuts wildly through Oak Park, zooming in on bloodied bodies covered in plastic sheets, ejected brass, and the small army of police officers roaming the area.
“…police sources report most of the dead as wearing the colors of the 8 Mile Boys, with a small handful of the dead in El Mortido and Oak Park Posse colors. A three-way clash with the 8 Mile Boys as the targets? Who knows. But this could very well be the start of some of the worst gangland clashes in Detroit, and possibly even American, history.”

The camera cuts back to Dan, smug in his dark blue suit, in the studio. The bottom of the screen has the tag “Gangland violence on the rise” and a silhouette of a gun.
“We cross now to a press conference being given by the Mayor.”
“- we’ll be setting up an anti-gang violence task force to look into this. We’re doing everything we can to get these gangs off the streets, and to make our streets safe. For the time being, I urge everyone in the areas surrounding Oak Park to stay indoors after sunset, and to report and all suspicious behavior using the new anti-gang violence hotline. And I promise you, these gangs will not disrupt our new program of urban renewal. If anything, these people have hastened it. They have made us realize just how important it is for us to rebuild our shattered communities. To give people real jobs and a real sense of community and belonging. To rebuild the glory of Detroit once again. Thank you.”

The Mayor steps away from the podium, nods sternly, and moves behind some curtains. He moves over to a table where a number of his advisors are sitting, including some of the industrialists behind the new urban renewal program, including Holden A. Martin.
“Well said Mr. Mayor,” Holden says, stepping up and shaking the Mayor’s hand.
“Thanks Holden. But it’s true. The sooner we get these factories reopened, the sooner we can start giving these people hope.”
“My thoughts exactly Mr. Mayor.” Holden says. Holden looks to be in his late 50s, possibly early 60s. His hair is gray, dignified. His body is thin, almost frail looking, but there’s an energy, an alertness in his eyes and face which marks him as being anything but frail. “I don’t mean to sound mercenary, but in a way this a blessing in disguise.”
“What do you mean Holden?”
“This sudden bout of gang violence has taken place near areas crucial for the urban renewal program. Factories reopened here, and this particular highway will have to redirected into here. We were planning on buying this land anyway. And after this, I can’t see any sane reason why people would choose to stay in such an area. We’ll secure the land much more cheaply, and face minimal opposition in the process.”
“Hmm, that’s a good point Holden,” the Mayor nods. “Okay, let’s get on it.”
The Mayor looks down at the map of the city Holden is pointing to. His finger is resting on a humble street corner, not far from Oak Park. Looking at the key on the side of the map shows that it’s a commercial business, probably a corner store of some kind…

[Cam]

SCENE ONE: HOME DELIVERIES (AGAIN) AND THE RETURN OF THE MEN IN BLACK

Tina’s suddenly distracted as the phone rings. She picks it up.
“Tina? Tina? Are … are you okay? I mean … are you okay? I was watching the TV and I saw this report about Oak Park and gangs and shootings and …”
“I’m fine Mr. Winters,” Tina says reassuringly, “we’re all fine.”
Alex frowns when he hears this. Where the hell is Xavier?
“Oh … oh … good! That’s good Tina! Now, could you bring me some groceries?”
“Oh, sure, no problem Mr. Winters let me grab a pen…”

A few minutes later Tina is walking down the road with a box of groceries, topped with the latest copy of TV Weekly and a red pen (she knows how Mr. Winters likes to highlight “his shows” in red). She’s a little out of breath by the time she reaches the apartment block. She looks at the stairs, but thinks better of it. She waits for the elevator, which clunks and clatters ominously. A few minutes later, she knocks on Old Man Winter’s door.
“Oh, Tina, it’s Tina! Oh, bless you Tina! Just put the box down there, thank you. And you brought the latest TV Weekly, oh bless you, thank you…”
Tina straightens her back, and looks around Old Man Winter’s kitchen. Most of the shelf space is piled high with old TV Weekly guides and shoeboxes. Winters steps over to a shoebox, and opens it, taking out a huge wad of cash and offering it to Tina.
“Ah, here you go, that should be enough.”
“Uh …” Tina counts throw the wad of cash, “actually, that’s a little too much. Here you go.” Tina gives some of the money back to Winters who idly pushes it back into the shoebox. Tina can’t help but note there’s even more money falling out of the shoebox. And exactly what’s in all those other shoeboxes anyway?
“You’ve got a good heart Tina, you’ve got a good heart. I was just so worried when I heard about that gang violence on the TV, and you’ve always looked out for me … I …I … if there’s anything I can do Tina-” he starts to shuffle back to one of the shoeboxes, but Tina stops him.
“Don’t worry Mr. Winters. I’m fine. And thank you. Anyway, I gotta get back to the store.”
A few moments after Tina steps outside and hears the locks click into place behind her, she hears the muted sounds of a game show drifting through the door…

“Tina! Hey, Tina! Hold the lift!”
Tina throws her considerable bulk in front of the closing doors, and sees Dave the ex-junky jogging down the corridor towards her. He’s got a backpack thrown across one shoulder.
“Thanks Tina!”
“Oh, hey Dave. Going somewhere?”
“Yeah, actually, I’m off to L.A.”
“Already???”
“Yeah. I called those guys, and they said they could easily send the check to L.A. And after the shit that went down in Oak Park last night, I really don’t wanna be here much longer. I mean, we both had a pretty close call with the Oak Park Posse yesterday. I don’t wanna push my luck, you know.”
“Yeah, I know.” Tina nods. But she doesn’t have a younger brother in L.A. she can run to. This is her home. Detroit.

The elevator doors slowly clank open, and Dave and Tina step out into the sunlight. Laticia’s on the front steps with her two kids. She smiles at Tina, looks a little suspiciously at Dave.
“So, you’re really leaving?” She says to Dave.
“Yeah.” He nods. Silence.
“Okay.” Laticia slowly nods. “I can respect that. Just don’t start with that shit again. Seen you almost flush your life down the toilet once. I’ll go all the way to L.A. and kick your goddamned ass if you do that again.”
“Yeah.” Dave nods. “Look, I’m so-”
“Hey, I don’t wanna hear that shit.” Laticia says, holding up a hand. “I’m just glad you’re startin’ again, turnin’ over a new leaf and all that shit. Good luck.” She then slowly extends her hand to Dave. He takes it, hesitantly, and shakes it.
“Yeah, good luck Dave.” Tina smiles, shakes Dave’s hand.
Dave slowly smiles, and then finally Laticia slowly smiles too. The morning sun feels warm on everyone’s skin, suggesting all the possibilities of a new day. It’s a beautiful moment. It’s like Tina can almost hear the gentle string music that accompanies the scene…

And suddenly that warmth is undercut by a sudden, sinister bass note. On cue, Tina, Dave, and Laticia look over to the other side of the street. The see a black government car parked on the curb, two men in dark suits shaking hands with none other than Willy Lomar, owner of the apartment block directly opposite. People use the word slumlord about Willy when they want to say something nice about him. He’s smiling, shaking hands with the suits. Is that Smith and Jones again?
Tina’s eyes narrow.
“Guys, I gotta get back to the store. I’ll be seeing you Laticia. Good luck Dave.”
Tina starts heading back down the road towards the store.
Meanwhile, Dave and Laticia watch the three men get in the car, and drive off. They keep watching for a while. Then Dave shakes his head.
“Wow. That was kinda weird.”
“Yeah. It was.”
“Well, I gotta get to the bus station. See ya Laticia.”
“See ya Dave.”
Dave shoulders his backpack, and starts slowly walking down the road.

[Andy K]

Wow, Cam, great stuff! You should write this up JRPG Replay-Style.

As it is, its great readings. Interestingly enough, I'm beginning a UA campaign this week as well. Can't wait to begin now!

[Cam]

SCENE TWO: RETURN TO THE EL MORTIDO CRIB

As Tina walks back to the store she sees a large car pull up in the parking lot of the corner store. She’s surprised to see Xavier step out, who then moves to the passenger’s side and gently lifts Maria out. They walk into the store, and Tina runs in after them.

“Xavier, where the hell where you ma-” Alex stops as he sees Maria. She’s pale, shivering, and looks scared as hell. “Jesus man, what the hell happened to her?”
“Tell you in a minute. I wanna get her on the cot we’ve got downstairs.”
“Hang on, let me have a look at her. I, uh, know medicine you know.” Alex steps over, looks Maria over. Her pupils are dilated.
“Is she on something?”
“Yeah.” Xavier slowly nods.
“I’ve got some tranqs that’ll help her sleep.”
They take Maria down to the cot, Alex gives her some tranqs, and they walk upstairs to where Tina’s waiting.

“Xavier, what happened man?” Alex asks.
“Well, uh …” Xavier stops.
“Hey, I heard her when she called here. Something was seriously wrong.”
“Well, I went to the El Mortido crib and … they’re dead. They’re all dead. Pretty much all of El Mortido and the Oak Park Posse. They’re all dead in the crib. Maybe the 8 Mile Boys whacked ‘em, I dunno…”
“Nah, that’s not possible man. We saw the news report. El Mortido and Oak Park Posse totally took down the 8 Mile Boys.”
“Well, then … I dunno who took these guys out, but they’re pretty much all dead. A few of them weren’t there, like Juan and Martinez and Jackie Z and Tiger, but the others …” Xavier pauses. “And the weirdest thing is, there was no blood. They weren’t shot. It was like they had all died of …” Xavier slips his hand into his pocket, his hand brushing against the slip of paper Martinez gave him last night. The slip of paper with the address on it. The address he got the package from. “Like they’d all died of a drug overdose.”

Xavier’s hand crumples around the address in his pocket. Everything clicks into place. Goddamn. Maria so easily could’ve been one of the smiling dead. It was only because she’d snorted the last of the old shit that she wasn’t. Goddamn. It could’ve been her. Goddamned sonofabitch is gonna pay.
“I’ve gotta go.” Xavier says.
“What? Hey! No! Fuck that shit man, you’ve been running out WAY too much these past 24 hours man! What’s going on?”
“I think I know who did this to them.”
“Well, shit man, let’s just call the police!”
“Alex, the police weren’t much help to us last night, remember?” Tina steps in. “Hell, the police have NEVER been much help to us. This is our community. This is our town. If someone starts messing with it, it’s our problem. And we’ve gotta help each other. We can’t just keep running off and lone wolfing it. Right?”
Alex thinks about it, slowly nods.
“Okay.” He says. “Xavier, have you called the police at all?” Xavier shakes his head. “Well, I wouldn’t mind checking this out. I mean, there’s been a lot of weird assed drug shit going on lately. I’d like to know what’s going on.”
“Okay then.” Tina says. “I’ll get my father to keep an eye on Maria and the shop.”

The clerks jump into the car (it’s one of the El Mortido cars, but hey, they don’t need it anymore), and take off. On the way, they drive past Oak Park and the crackhouse where they almost got shot yesterday. Already, government surveyors are setting up surveying equipment around the crackhouse.
“Okay, THAT was fast. Seems like the city council has got a real hard-on for buying up the local real estate.” Alex says.
“Yeah, and probably at a steal too with all this gang shit that’s going down.” Xavier nods as he drives. “You know, it wouldn’t surprise me if the city council was actually BEHIND the whole gang violence. You know, actually PAYING the 8 Mile Boys to stir up trouble here and bring down land prices.”
“Xavier, I dunno, that sounds a bit like wild conspiracy theory.” Tina frowns.
“Yeah, well, nothing seems very wild to me after the last 24 hours.”

The clerks pull up in front of the El Mortido crib. The front door is still open, the stairs inside leading up into ominous darkness. Alex jumps out, starts to walk in, then notices he’s alone.
“Ah, so you guys aren’t coming in with me?”
Xavier and Tina, still sitting in the car, shake their heads. Xavier’s seen enough and Tina … well, she’s got this thing about dead bodies. [Before posting session 3, I’ve really gotta post the clerks Trigger Events. It’s basically a shared trigger event about a dead guy who won’t stay dead…]
Alex walks through the apartment, trying not to look too hard at the horribly grinning faces of the dead gang members, their eyes glassy. A record spins endlessly on a turntable, the needle locked in the final groove, clicking, rasping, repeating. He scrapes some different samples of the coke and slowly walks back to the car, shaking just a little.

“Okay,” he says softly, “I think I’ve got enough to go on. I’d like to drop this off at my girlfriend Lenna’s place. She studies pharmacy, she’ll be able to help me analyze it.” Xavier’s eyes widen as he hears the name.
“Lenna?” He asks.
“Yeah, Lenna. I’ve mentioned her hundreds of times.”
“Yeah, right … and she’s in the university district, right?”
“Hey, yeah, that’s right!”
“Okay then,” Xavier says grimly as he starts the engine, “let’s go.”

[Spook]

Living about a mile away from detroit I have to ask... Whats Detroit Techno, and how is it different from regular techno?

[Cam]

Hi Andy!

Yah, as you can no doubt see, UA is kinda rockin' my world at the moment. :)

Let me know how your campaign goes. By the way, did you end up running one of the "One Shots" to get your crew familiar with the system? "Jail Break"?

Oh, and I'll totally send you a mail about music and stuff soon. Promise! Heaps of totally cool stuff floating around, including a new album by Squarepusher!!! :) WOOT!!!

Cheers!

Cam.

[Cam]

Hey Spook,

I'll try and give you a detailed answer soon, but I know if I do that now I'll get all excited and stop typing up the Session 2 details!

First of all, Detroit is arguably the home of techno. Early pioneers like Kevin Saunderson, Juan Atkins, and Derrick May were taking various influences such as electro-funk and the synth-pop of Kraftwerk and mixing it together to create something synthetic and beat-driven, but with the disco influences stripped away (from what little I know, that's much closer to House music). They pretty much created the blueprint for "techno", which of course immediately shattered and splintered into heaps of various sub-genres.

"Detroit Techno" is a recognized subgenre of techno, which, to quote www.allmusic.com "is characterized by, alternately, a dark, detached, mechanistic vibe and a smooth, bright, soulful feel (the latter deriving in part from the Motown legacy and the stock-in-trade between early techno and the Chicago-style house developing simultaneously to the southwest). While essentially designed as dance music meant to uplift, the stark, melancholy edge of early tracks by Cybotron, Model 500, Rhythm Is Rhythm, and Reese also spoke to Detroit's economic collapse in the late '70s following the city's prosperous heyday as the focal point of the American automobile industry."

I understand that every year Detroit hosts the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, a city sponsored event, so it's free of charge. Could be well worth checking out if you're at all interested in dance music.

But, basically, that's Detroit Techno. Dark, driving, mechanistic, melancholy, yet oddly uplifting as well. As such, it's been the perfect musical accompaniment for this UA session so far!!!

(I strongly recommend the "Aztec Mystic" Mix by DJ Rolando, plus pretty much anything by Jeff Mills).

Cheers!

Cam.

(Edited to fix up the allmusic url)

[Cam]

SCENE THREE: LENNA

Xavier brings the car to a screeching halt in front of Lenna’s house. The same house he visited last night to pick up the package.
“Hey, Xavier … how did you know this was Lenna’s place?” Alex asks, but Xavier’s not listening. He’s already out of the car and storming towards the front door. Alex and Tina jump out, and start hustling after him.

BAM BAM BAM!!! Xavier knocks on the front door. BAM BAM BAM!!! Alex runs up to him.
“Hey man, what are you-” The door swings open, revealing Lenna. Lenna’s in her early 20’s, with stern, slightly Slavic features. She’s attractive, with dark hair. [I imagine her as looking a bit like the Tony Soprano’s Russian mistress in “The Sopranos”.]
“Alex, what you- HEY!” Lenna is cut off in midsentence as Xavier pushes in. “Alex! What’s going on?”
“Where is he? Where’s Ben?” Xavier snarls as he stalks around the house.
“Uh, look, Lenna, I’m here with some – uh – don’t worry about Xavier, he’s a fr-, uh, who’s Ben?” Alex says, concerned, confused.
“Ben’s my boyfr-”
“Oh, okay, sorry, sorry, none of my business, really none of my-” Alex starts apologizing, holding his hands up.
“Yeah, he’s the guy who supplied the drugs that killed El Mortido and the Oak Park Posse last night.”
“WHAT?!?!” Alex and Lenna spin around at the same time. And then start talking over the top of each other.

“What are you talking about, Ben would never do such a-”
“Lenna, what’s going on, who are you involved with, who is this Be-”
“Look, who are YOU involved with Alex, who is this Xa-”
“I’m just worried about you-”
“You’re NOT my boyfriend anymore Alex, and you and your friend here are starting to scare-”
“Was Ben here last night?” Xavier cuts in.

“Well, yeah, he was … he … hang on,” Lenna says slowly, “someone came to the door last night. Ben was said it was a friend who needed to pick something up. I heard his voice. It was YOUR voice. It was you, wasn’t it?”
“That’s right. And that bad shit he gave me killed a whole bunch of people last night. Are you in on this too?”
“Whoa! Xavier, just hang on a minute-” Alex starts to say.
“No no no. You both just hang on a minute.” Lenna says. “Exactly who the hell are YOU Xavier? Are you some kind of drug dealer? Drug supplier? What the hell were YOU doing picking up drugs last night?” She turns to Alex. “What kind of people are you hanging around with Alex?”

“Hang on.” Tina breaks in. “Xavier. Did YOU take this stuff to the El Mortido crib last night?”
“Well, yeah, but …”
“I thought you didn’t do stuff like that anymore Xavier. What are you doing delivering drugs for? I’m disappointed in you.”
“Look, because I did that they helped us out last night. And anyways,” he spins back towards Lenna, “I’m not the one knowingly supplying dangerous shit to people! That’s Ben!”
“No! That’s total bullshit! Ben would NEVER do something like that. I mean, he HATES drugs. His little sister died of a drug overdose. He hates drugs. He HATES them!” Lenna pleads.
“Yeah?” Xavier steps forward. “Well, MY little sister almost got killed last night because of your Ben! And-” He stops, and bites down on his anger. Takes a step back.
“Look, Alex, what’s going on?” Lenna says.

“Well, basically, a bunch of people took some really bad drugs last night, and it, um, killed them. I took a sample, and I was wondering if you could maybe help me analy-” Alex starts to pull one of the vials out of his pocket.
“Woah! Alex! No! If that’s what I think it is, then I don’t want it in here!”
Xavier snorts somewhat derisively.
“Where’s Ben?” He asks.
“I don’t know. He’s not here. Maybe at the lab, maybe at his dorm, I don’t know, I don’t know.”
“Fine.” Xavier storms out of the house. Tina looks at his retreating back, looks at Lenna and Alex, and then leaves.
“Look, Lenna, I’m sorry about-”
“I think you should go Alex.”
“I’m just worried about you. About this Ben guy.”
“Ben is … he’s not like you Alex. Ben has this … drive, this energy, this intensity. I’m sorry Alex … you just never had that.”
“Yeah … uh … yeah. I gotta go. Um, see ya.” Alex says awkwardly, then runs out to the car. The engine’s already running, and the car screeches away towards the University…

[Cam]

Hey Everyone,

Sad to say that because of my usual glacial typing speed, it's late and I've gotta take a break from recounting the details of session 2 and get some sleep (and then wake up, get dressed go to work, etc.). Which means I'll hopefully posting the rest of the details of session 2 tomorrow night (uh, that's about 17 or so hours from now for me, probably...).

So, if you're keen to see what happens to the clerks, and what happens when they finally find Ben, tune in tomorrow night!

Cheers,

Cam.

[Mencelus]

Heya Cam! It's a heck of a lot of fun to read over what we did last session - it looks as cool as it was to do (and let's one re-live one's moment vicariously, which is weird, since we were the ones who did all this...). One thing I think Cam hasn't noted is that, as players, we tend to rp the other people as well. So, for example, the discussion in the mayor's office was actually played out by the other players and myself - Cam only had a side role, sort of (GM as screen extra, hmm...).

Which brings me to my next point. Has anyone out here, playing similiar games like UA, ever found themselves in the happy position of being able to screw themselves over? As you've seen, and will see, I almost feel like the other players and me are SEARCHING for ways to screw over our own characters in-game, which makes the whole thin more interesting. Almost like a competition ("Hey, I bet I can make us suffer more!"). Fun stuff.

Great job on the write-up Cam. Keep it up and see you Sunday!

[Cam]

Hey All,

Ah, yes, quite true, that was something I hadn't pointed out yet. Most of the NPCs you've read about so far have actually been played by the players; this has led to some interesting situations where the NPCs (being played by the players) have set up plans that will make life extremely difficult for the PCs.

(The conversation in the Mayor's office being a good example).

Of course, as GM, I don't see that as the players screwing themselves over; I see it as the players making complications that will make the game interesting in the future. Creating future conflicts which, in turn, will create future drama. Needless to say, I love it, because all I have to do is thread together these future conflicts in interesting ways. Less work for me! :)

Speaking seriously, however, it's quite exciting for me, because it means that I'm GMing reactively at times; the players regularly throw curve balls that I have to catch and then thread into the game. Very exciting stuff.

Okay, posting at work, so I should sign off for now ... should be back in a couple of hours time with the final details of session 2.

Cheers!

Cam.

[Yokiboy]

Originally posted by Mencelus
One thing I think Cam hasn't noted is that, as players, we tend to rp the other people as well. So, for example, the discussion in the mayor's office was actually played out by the other players and myself - Cam only had a side role, sort of (GM as screen extra, hmm...).

Okay, this just made this Story Hour even more exciting. How do you actually handle this in-game? I need some more details on how you do this?

What I mean is, have you as a group, including GM, sat down prior to the campaign and talked about the main characters in the plot, and what their roles will be? Take the Mayor's conversation as an example, could you let me know how that played out? Who played who, and what background on the characters were you provided with? I'm guessing that Cam doesn't just tell you, "okay, you play this scene now" without any sort of background on the characters in the scene. I'm confused... :confused:

Love the story, just hate the fact that my group only wants to play fantasy. :mad:

TTFN,

Yokiboy

[Mencelus]

Well, Cam can tell you more of his style, but essentially, when we do a kind of "cut-scene," the roles we need to play are rather self-evident. Take the mayor scene. Obviously, something bad has gone down - he's a politico, he needs to cover his rear and appear to be doing something about whatever is a current concern of the voters. The industrialists are there, so, we can usually gauge what they want - more money, right? Sterotyping? Maybe.

However, and here's the brilliant bit, because we know the base motive of the character, we also know that no one is a paper cut-out: he or she is human, reacting to a real situation. And almost no one things of themselves as evil. Everything a human does, a human tries to justify. Take the mayor scene. The mayor, on some level, actually does care about his city (played by the guy who plays Xavier). Sure, he wants to be reelected. But, somehow, he wants to help. And why not make the city a little better too? New buildings, new jobs, can't be bad, right? Method acting?

Personally, I don't think anyone doesn't have some sort of motive for what they do - there may be random instants of action, but on the whole, we have a web of reasons, or believed reasons, to act when we make moral choices. Maybe that's what UA is all about.

Now, mechanically, Cam takes whatever is the lead character. Storywise, I feel like he points in a direction, and gets something to happen that needs to happen for the story (and our enjoyment, since extensive pre-planning with our group is useless - we ALWAYS think of something weird, off the cuff, which is why I like this group ) :) We're happy campers so we play along, and as Cam mentioned, we, um, make things more interesting.

[GregStolze]

What's fascinating about players who take on NPC roles and screw themselves is that it illustrates something I've written in a couple GMming chapters now -- that there is no strict correspondence between what the character wants and what the player wants. The character seeks goal X, but the player wants a good story about the STRIVING for goal X.

It's interesting that the players in the group recognize this so consciously...

-G.

[magadog]

Hey, if someone else already mention this and I missed it, my apologies, but unless I missed something (entirely possible) Puerto Ricans do not have to do military service to get citizenship... they are born on American soil (I myself was born in a territory).

[Cam]

Hey Yokiboy!

Mencelus covered things pretty well, but I'll try and respond in greater length soon. As Mencelus pointed out, the players can usually gauge what the NPCs in a given situation want. So, in the Mayor/Industrialists example, it was not that much of a stretch for them to think about their goals.

There's also an issue of trust involved. One of the players COULD HAVE had an industrialist NPC suddenly say "Hey, let's stop this whole urban renewal thing, leave this neighbourhood to its own devices, and give our money to charity!" (A ridiculous example, I know, but just for the sake of arguement ... )

But hey, what's the fun in that? First of all, it's highly unbelievable that an Industrialist would act in such a manner. But more importantly, it deprives the players of a cool challenge for them to overcome. As Greg Stolze pointed out, the players want a good story that challenges their PCs. So, every time they play NPCs, they try to contrive ways to create those challenges.

Which then ties back into the trust thing. As a group, we trust each other to take the narrative ball, run with it, and take it to interesting, challenging, and believable places. It's taken our group a while to build up this level of trust, but I've noticed that with each game we've played (we've been playing together for about ... uh ... a couple of years now, I think ...) we've taken more and more chances.

There are some players I know that I wouldn't dream of doing this with. It could be a real opportunity for power-gamers to start stacking the odds of the game/story in their favour. But, again, what's the fun in that?

Another example of something like this happening in this UA campaign so far, was when Xavier's character came into the corner store and said that when he'd gone back to Dave's apartment he'd found it empty. This was something ENTIRELY made up by the player. He didn't even run it past me. He just turned to the other two players, and said it. Which indicated an enormous amount of trust on HIS part. Trust that I wouldn't get all high and mighty and GMy and say "hey, YOU can't make stuff up! That's MY job!" So, I just quietly sat back, thought "Cool!" and then thought "okay ... so what the fuck can THAT mean in this story?", and while the 3 players roleplayed the conversation, a part of my mind was working out various reasons why Dave's apartment would be cleaned out.

Hmmm ... am I making sense? Hmm, dunno if I've done a very good job of describing the process Yokiboy. Basically, we totally trust each other, and improv like hell. But it's taken us about 2 years to get to this stage.

Anyways, here comes a bit more on Session 2. Best of luck with trying to get your players to do something different to fantasy!

Cheers!

Cam.

[Cam]

Puerto Ricans do not have to do military service to get citizenship

Ah, we'll figure some way to retcon that, but cheers for pointing it out magadog!

Cam.

[Cam]

SCENE FOUR: BEN

Xavier turns to Alex as the car comes to a halt in a car park near one of the university dormitories.
“So, you’ve got some idea where to find this guy?”
“Yeah. This dormitory is popular with medical students. If we don’t find him there, the labs are just over that way.”
“Good.” Xavier opens the glove compartment, takes out a pistol, and jams it into his pants. Alex looks at Xavier, looks at the gun, then reaches into the glove compartment and takes out a pistol for himself. He’s pretty pissed at what this Ben guy has dragged Lenna into. In the back seat, Tina’s eyes go wide as she sees her clerks arming themselves with firearms.

There’s not much she can say as the two younger clerks jump out of the car and job into the lobby of the dorm. Tina follows after them.
“Hey, we’re lookin’ for Ben. He around?” Xavier says to a passing student in the lobby.
“Ben?”
“Yeah. Slightly curly brown hair, about this tall …”
“Oh, Ben! Yeah, I think he’s in his room. Number 305.”
The clerks take the elevator up to the third floor, knock on the door of 305.
“It’s open!” A muffled voice says.
The clerks push the door open. There’s two beds, one of either side of the room. A guy in his early 20’s lies on one, headphones around his neck.
“Yeah?” He says.
“That’s not Ben.” Xavier says to the clerks. “Where’s Ben?” he says to the guy on the bed.
“Oh, you just missed him. He got a call about a minute ago.”
“Where’s the phone?”
“Down in the lobby.”
With that, Alex and Xavier charge down the stairs. Tina knows she’ll never keep up with them, so she steps into the room.
“So … uh, I lent my Bible to Ben.” She says.
“Uh-huh.”
“Yeah, and I kinda want it back. It’s my lucky Bible. I feel bad without it. Would you mind if I looked for it?”
“Uh … uh, no, not at all. Knock yourself out, lady. I just gotta, uh, listen to these, uh, lecture notes…” The student pulls the headphones over his ears as the weird Bible lady starts looking through Ben’s side of the room. She’s looking for any drugs or anything that Ben might’ve stashed in there.

Alex and Xavier hit the lobby, and see the dormitory phone hanging from the receiver. Further ahead, the lobby door slams shut.
“Damn! The bitch called him!” Xavier barks as he starts to run. Alex shoots Xavier a look, then takes off after him. They run into the parking lot, frantically looking around them. Where’s Ben?
“Over there! The labs!” Alex yells, pointing.
Alex and Xavier sprint across the car park, and into the lab building. From the third floor window of the nearby dorm, Tina sees them run in.
They frantically run through the labs, knocking over students in the midst of experiments.
“Hey! Watch where you’re goin’ asshole!!!”
“Jesus Christ … somebody call security!!!”
They sprint around a corner in time to see a door ahead leading to the male toilets slam shut. They start running, only to run slam-bang into a student who steps out of a side door holding a pile of medical books. The clerks, student, and books go flying.
“Damn!” Alex and Xavier pick themselves up, charge into toilet. Two guys are at the washbasins, looking alarmed as the main door slams open again.
“Where did he go!” Xavier yells.
The two guys wordlessly point towards the far stall, with the door closed.
“You guys get out of here!” Alex yells, pulling his gun out. The two guys hustle. Xavier sprints towards the stalls … hears the sound of a toilet flushing … he leaps up, hauls himself over the locked stall door, and comes plummeting down on top of Ben, knocking him to the floor. Ben’s holding an empty plastic bag above the toilet. Xavier unlocks the door for Alex.

“So! What the fuck do you think you’re-” Alex starts to angrily say, but then falls silent as Xavier pulls out his gun and wordlessly rams it into Ben’s mouth.
“Oh.” Alex says.
“Did you do it?” Xavier grimly says. “Did you kill them?” Ben tries to say something around the barrel of the gun. Xavier pulls it out.
“What the hell do you care about people like that for?” Ben spits out angrily.
“Did you DO it? Did you KILL them?” Xavier repeats.
“I know you. You picked the stuff up last night, right? Well, yeah, I did it, I killed ‘em, damned straight I did!” Ben spits this out defiantly, almost proudly.
A switch clicks in Xavier’s head. He presses the pistol against Ben’s temple. His face is a mask of rage. His finger slowly starts to pull back on the trigger. The hammer on the pistol moves back ever so slowly … another fraction of an inch, and that hammer will spring forward, propelling a nine millimeter round through Ben’s head.
“Ah, Xavier?” Alex says. “Ah…” What the hell do you say in a situation like this?
The barrel, cold against Ben’s temple, starts to tremble a little.
The gang was dead. But Maria was alive.
Xavier pulled the pistol back.

“Why?” He said.
“Why? WHY?” Ben looks at the clerks, his head shaking disbelievingly. “Why? You’re talking about them as if they matter!”
“They DO matter!” Alex cuts in. “They’re people!”
“No they’re not! They’re scum! Murdering scum! I can’t believe you’re trying to defend them!”
“We’re not trying to defend them!” Alex says. “But WE don’t go around killing people, unlike YOU! You’re the murderer here, Ben!”
“NO!” Ben yells, angrily. “FUCK NO!!! They got what they fucking deserved! They kill my sister, she dies, but you think THEY have the right to go on living? NO! FUCK THAT!”
“Your sister?” Alex says, then suddenly remembers what Lenna said. Ben’s sister died of an overdose.
“Your little sister…” Xavier says slowly, thinking of his own sister. He puts his gun away. “Right. We’re turning you in.”
“What? What are you talking about? The evidence is probably swimming between Detroit and Canada by now.”
“Oh yeah?” Alex says, taking out the vials of coke he’d collected, and dropping them into Ben’s open shirt pocket. “What about that?”
“Get serious guys.” Ben says. “Who are the police gonna believe? The upstanding college guy, or the two guys who just burst into the labs with guns? And one of those guys seems to have gang connections.” Ben looks at Xavier as he says the last of this. “Yeah, real smart play guys, real smart.”
Xavier looks at Ben, looks at Alex. He viciously smashes Ben across the side of the head with the butt of his pistol, takes the drugs back out of Ben’s pocket, and leaves.

Meanwhile, Tina’s overturning Ben’s belongings, yelling “Praise Jesus! But where’s my Bible?” She looks out the window, and sees two campus security guards dash into the labs. “Oh boy.” She says under her breath. “Ah, sorry. Guess the Bible isn’t here!” She lumbers out of the apartment, takes the lift down to the lobby, and walks back to the car. As she climbs in, she finds Alex and Xavier crouching down in the back seat, sweating and breathing heavily.

“Tina, get us the hell out of here.”

[Cam]

CUT SCENE: SURVIVORS ON THE WARPATH

Juan, Martinez, Jackie Z, and Tiger are standing in the El Mortido crib. Surrounded by the horribly grinning bodies of their followers. Dead. All dead.
“What the fuck happened here? We sent them all here to party hard to celebrate our victory in Oak Park, while we went and had a little conference. What the FUCK happened?”
“8 Mile Boys?”
“We just fucking KILLED the 8 Mile Boys!”
After some debate, the gang leaders realize the drugs are somehow responsible. So, who brought the drugs? Well, there’s Xavier. And there’s the guy Xavier picked them up from.
“You got that guy’s address?”
“Yeah, right here.”
“Who the fuck is he?”
“New kid on the scene. My regular supplier was out, and he put me in touch with this new kid. I took some of his stuff a couple of times, and it was amazing. Like, I could almost see Jesus or something like that. So I put in a special order for the party last night.”
“Okay then. Let’s work our way up this list. Let’s start with Xavier. He’s probably at that shitty corner store.”
“Okay. We gotta stick together on this guys. We’re ALL that’s left. Let’s do it.”
They nod grimly to each other, load up on weapons, and walk out of the apartment.

[Cam]

SCENE FIVE: MORAL DEBATES AND BURGER KING

The clerks are driving back to the corner store, with Xavier now at the wheel. And they’re having a SERIOUS debate about Ben’s actions. Alex is unhappy that Lenna has been dragged into the situation, but he can almost understand why Ben did what he did.
“Okay, look, I can understand that he was cut up about his sister’s death.” Tina says. “But that doesn’t give him the right to just KILL people! And to just say ‘oh, these people are scum, they’re nothing better than scum, therefore I have the right to kill them’, it’s just … it’s just repugnant! And self-serving and self-justifying! ‘I shall call these people scum, and therefore treat them like scum’? That’s bullshit! That just sets up an ever-spiraling cycle of bullshit! I mean, sure, they’re gang members, but if everyone just says they’re scum and then treats them like scum and never gives them an honest chance, things will NEVER change! You don’t change things by killing people! You change things by giving people a chance and HELPING people!”
They drive a bit further.

“Wait! Stop the car! Stop the car!” Tina yells. Xavier hits the brakes.
“Shit! What is it?”
“Oh, nothing to be worried about, we were just passing a Burger King and I realized I was hungry. Let’s hit the drive-thru.”
Xavier sighs, and the clerks hit the drive-thru.
“So, what about Ben?” Alex asks.
“He won’t be around much longer.” Xavier says.
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t see Juan, Martinez, Jackie Z, and Tiger at the El Mortido crib. I figure they’re probably still alive. And if they were alive … Ben wouldn’t be for much longer. They’ll put two and two together.”
“But if that’s the case …” Alex is thinking, “Ben was dealing out of Lenna’s place … HOLY FUCK! That could lead them to Lenna!”

Alex leaps out of the car in the drive-thru, and runs to a pay-phone. He calls Lenna’s place, and only gets the answering machine.
“Lenna, this is Alex! Get out! Get the hell out! You could be in danger! Alex has put you in danger! Get out! Get out now!” The second beep cuts him off, and he heads back to the car.
“She’s probably taken off by now already.” Xavier says. “I wouldn’t worry about it man.”

[Cam]

Oh, and I just broke 100 posts and became an "Enlightened One"!!! Yay me!!! :)

Cheers,

Cam.

[Cam]

SCENE SIX: A VISIT FROM THE SURIVIVORS … AND WHERE’S MARIA?

The clerks pull up in front of the grocery store, jump out of the car. Tina’s father is behind the cash register.
“Thanks Dad,” she says. Dad walks back upstairs and starts complaining to his wife about how ungrateful Tina can be sometimes.
Xavier heads downstairs to see how Maria’s doing. Maria’s gone. Xavier runs upstairs.
“Maria’s gone.”
How could she have gotten out without Tina’s father noticing? Maybe he had his back turned or something. The clerks head into the basement. There’s a sliver of a window that’s been pushed open, which is equal to street level. Maybe she squeezed her way through there? But that’s a pretty thin opening … sure, Maria’s young, thin, and flexible, but … could she have really squeezed through there? Either way, it doesn’t matter. Gone is gone.
The clerks head back up the stairs to the store.
“I gotta find her,” Xavier says. “She’s coming down from some bad drugs, and she’s probably scared as hell. I gotta find her.”

At this moment, the survivors of El Mortido and the Oak Park Posse arrive.
“Man, I’m so glad you guys are okay.” Xavier says.
“Yeah, us too. And, hey, we’re glad you’re doing okay too.” There’s zero warmth when they say this. They’re suspicious of Xavier. He doesn’t like that.
“Hey, I was just the delivery boy. YOU set this up Martinez! YOU’RE the one who pressed that address into my hand! What would I have to gain from that? Man, my SISTER was at that party!”
“Oh … shit … sorry Xavier. Are you okay?” Martinez softens.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine, she’s fine too, she was the only one still alive-”
“What? How?” Martinez is suspicious again.
“Hey, she snorted the last of that old shit, remember?”
“Yeah.” Martinez nods slowly. “I remember.” His eyes are narrowed, however. Pretty lucky that Maria just so happened to have the last of the old shit…
“Look, you’ve gotta think about your suppliers man. This Ben guy. He’s the one you want. I’m sure of it.”
“Hmm … okay Xavier. Thanks for your help. We’ll go pay a visit to this Ben.”
“Oh, guys.” Xavier says. “Maria’s gone. She was here, I was taking care of her, but she’s gone. I’m trying to find her man, but … she’s out there somewhere, she’s coming down, she’s scared shitless … look, can you help me find her?” The gang members look at each other. There’s payback to be served, and this guy wants to find his sister? “Hey, she’s El Mortido too, remember?” Juan and Martinez nod slowly.
“Yeah … you’re right, we gotta look after our own. Okay, we’ll look for Maria. Then we’ll pay a visit to Ben.”
“Thanks guys.”

After the survivors leave, Alex turns to Tina and Xavier, worry in his eyes.
“They’re probably gonna think Ben’s at Lenna’s place, right?” Alex asks. Xavier nods. “Well, if that’s the case, and Lenna is still there … I gotta get over there and warn her!” Alex runs to the phone, tries Lenna’s place again, gets her answering machine again, and this time starts leaving an even more disturbing message.
“Just get out NOW Lenna, if you’re listening, please, just get out NOW! There’s these guys, and they’re coming over, and they’re dangerous and they’re-”
“Alex?” Lenna says, picking up the phone. “Stop this; you’re scaring me.”
“Lenna! Thank God! Please get out now. JUST GET OUT NOW!!! Lenna-!”
Lenna hangs up.
Alex tries again, just gets the answering machine.
“C’mon!” He says, running to the ice-cream van. Tina runs after him, but Xavier shakes his head.
“I gotta find Maria. I gotta find her. I shoulda been here for her, I … I gotta find her.”
Alex knows there’s no time for debate. He jumps in the van with Tina. They take off.
Xavier locks up the store, and starts to look for Maria.

[Cam]

SCENE SEVEN: LENNA AND BEN

The ice-cream delivery van pulls up outside Lenna’s place. Alex dashes to the front door and Tina lumbers after him. Alex bangs on the door.
“Lenna! It’s me! Alex!”
The door swings open. Lenna is standing there, with a duffel bag slung over her shoulder.
“I don’t understand what’s going on Alex, but you had better not be full of shit.”
As Tina stands on the front stairs, she feels something ominous building … a sense of foreboding … a sinister bass note that’s welling up from deep within. And it builds the more she looks at the street in front of the house.
“Guys, we gotta get off these front stairs!” She suddenly says. “I think they’re coming! C’mon!” Tina starts to run around the side of the house.
“But … aren’t they looking for Maria?” Alex asks.
“They’ve obviously re-evaluated their priorities!” Tina yells over her shoulder as she runs into the backyard … and slam-bam into a wild-eyed young man in his early 20s. With slightly curly brown hair. He looks around wildly, looks at the back of the house, then looks at Tina.

“Um, hi.” Tina says.
“Hi.” He says. “I’ve come here to help my girlfriend, I think she’s in trouble … and … um … oh fuck, I think I’ve put her in danger … and uh, um, oh fuck, I did it, I did it, I did it, I didn’t mean to put her in danger, I didn’t mean to do it” He puts his hands in his hair, starts to pull, tears forming in his eyes. “Oh, fuck, oh … fuck …”
“Oh … you’re … oh!” Tina suddenly realizes she’s talking to Ben. Well, watching Ben disintegrate, to be more precise. Tina takes a step backwards.
“Um, I’ll be going now…”

Alex and Lenna are walking down the side of the house when they hear a car come to a screeching halt out the front.
“God, she’s right!” Alex whispers, and starts to run. “C’mon!” He whispers over his shoulder to Lenna as he runs into the backyard, and slam-bang into Tina’s back as she slowly backs away from Ben.

“Ben?” Lenna says as she runs around the corner.
“Ben!” Alex says angrily.
“Yeah, I think this is Ben,” Tina says.
“Oh God, oh fuck, Lenna, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry about this, I’m so sorry about all of this and-” Alex steps forward and slaps Ben across the face.
“Calm down and keep it together!”
Ben’s eyes go wide. Very wide. His nostrils flare as he breathes very very deeply.
“I’m calm,” he says. “I’m calm, I’m calm, I’m calm.”
“Okay then, good.” Alex says. “So, what are we gonna do now?”
They suddenly hear the sound of the front door of the house being kicked in. They hear people running into the house. Breaking things. Firing gunshots in frustration.
Lenna takes control.
“Follow me,” she says, leading them further into the backyard, over the fence, into the adjoining backyard. They hide in the bushes for a while, and after a few minutes they hear a car drive off with a screech.

“Okay, I think they’re gone.” She says.
“Right. Let’s get out of here.” Alex says. They run through the bushes again, and jump in the ice-cream van, Alex behind the wheel and Tina in the passenger’s seat. Ben and Lenna jump in the back.
As Alex starts the engine, and Tina looks down the road, she suddenly feels that bass note again, building, as she looks to the left, but not to the right …
“Alex, go right!”
“What? Uh, okay.”
Alex pulls into the street, turns right. As they drive towards the intersection, Tina feels another ominous, cello-like bass note building, this time to the right of the intersection…
“LEFT! Go left!” Alex pulls the wheel to the left. Sure enough, just after they make the turn, they see a police car turn into Lenna’s street in the rear vision mirror. If they’d turned right, they’d have run straight into the cops.
As Alex drives further and then turns onto the highway, the ominous bass note fades away…

“Tina, how did you know which way to go?” Alex asks.
“Uh … I dunno … I … Jesus, how DID I know which way to go!?!?” Tina gasps, her eyes wide open. “How did I know! How did I know!” Tina starts freaking out.
Ben leans around from the back of the van, holds Tina back, looks into her eyes.
“Calm down lady, just calm down!!!”
Tina looks into Ben’s eyes, sees that they’re incredibly dilated. Alex looks around, sees this too.
“Jesus! You’re as high as a kite! Tina, take the wheel!” Alex climbs into the back with Ben and Lenna as Tina struggles with the wheel from the passenger’s side. Considering her, well, considerable bulk, it’s difficult for her to just slide on over. She’s having some trouble, so the van starts to weave a little on the highway.

“Good God Ben!” Alex says as he starts rummaging through his personal medical kit in the van. “I think your heart’s gonna give out if you keep straining yourself like this. Here, let me give you this tranquilizer-” As Alex starts to turn around with the needle, Ben recoils in horror.
“NO! No no no no no!!! Don’t give me that man! Don’t give me that!” He shrieks.
“Ben, you’ve placed your body under enormous strain. Let me take care of you!”
“NO!” Ben yells. “You see, there’s a balance, a finely honed chemical balance, and if you inject me with that you totally FUCK UP THE BALANCE!”
”Ben, you’re high, you’re delusional, you don’t know what you’re talking about! Here-”
“NO!” Ben shrinks into a corner of the van, eyes wide with horror. “Please please please no-”
“Alex. Don’t do this.” Lenna says.
“This is for his own good Lenna.”
“You don’t know that Alex. He says he doesn’t want it. You have no idea what kind of chemical reaction could happen if you inject him with that.”
“CHEMICAL REACTION? Lenna, I am a trained DOCTOR! You’re just some … pharmacist! What do YOU know!”
“I know,” Lenna says icily, “that a trained doctor would be in full possession of the facts of his case before acting. And you are NOT in full possession of the facts. You do not know what is in-” she pauses, clearly unhappy with the fact that her boyfriend is high, “what is in Ben’s veins right now. Inject him with that, and it could create a lethal chemical cocktail.”
“You know, Lenna,” Alex says angrily, “it was always you. You never thought I was good enough. You always doubted me.”
“No Alex,” she says evenly. “You doubted yourself.”

This verbal punch to the guts stops Alex cold. He slowly puts the needle back in the medical kit.
Meanwhile, outside, as the ice-cream van speed along the highway, Tina sees some surveyors setting up equipment on the side. It almost looks like one of them is pointing towards her neighbourhood…
Everyone in the van is silent as they pull up in front of the corner store.

[I should put out that in this scene Lenna was played by Xavier’s player. He did a totally fantastic job here, and pulled out the best verbal punch in the guts I’ve ever heard in a game. As GM, I was playing Ben, so I was basically making with the wild eyes, deep breaths, and freak outs…]

[Cam]

SCENE EIGHT: THE HEART OF DETROIT

While Tina and Alex are running from gang members and hiding in bushes, Xavier is looking for Maria. After a while, despondent, he returns to the store, reopens it. He walks down into the basement … and finds Maria curled up on the cot. She’s shaking, rocking backwards and forwards. Again.

“Maria! What’s wron