Based in San Francisco? Most of the companies in and around San Francisco these days are internet based, biotechnology, or finance, though with a jump in state taxes, the HQs are one by one moving out of state. Most defense contractors are in Southern California these days. The soft on crime/defund the police city prosecutor has been turned out by the voters last June, but the city is still a bit lawless. The failed theory of restorative Justice has yet to be replaced.
The big issues were formerly, anger of city residents at tech companies pushing up rents. Now it’s the current lawlessness, and the lack of sanitation. The population of the city is slowly shrinking, as people are moving to areas with lower taxes, and a working criminal Justice system.
California proposition 79, reclassified many crimes as misdemeanors, and misdemeanors as nothing. This has resulted in organized groups of shoplifters and flash mob that empty store shelves with no fear of consequences, and the goods showing up to be sold on eBay, or on spread out blankets near Union Square. This has national chains closing most of their stores, and many Mom & Pop businesses. Can’t think of a place more needing someone to break a few limbs in the service of Justice.
Yeah the problem with using slave labor is that its almost never skilled labor. you can get slaves to move blocks from point A to point B but you need an expert to get the blocks cut and move them in order, without damaging any, and then experts to get them put in place correctly, etc.
Horror on the Orient Express - The Dreamlands & Milan - Facts In The Case
February 1923, At Least In Some Dimensions
In Which The Investigators Investigate One Brutal Murder, Plan A Second, And Are Investigated For A Third
The three investigators share a compartment in what is nominally the fifth car of the Dreamlands Express, but the dimensions and layout of the train are... flexible. The dreamlands are weird. Internal walls between compartments can be removed at Henri’s whim, to suit the passengers requirements. Current passengers on the train, en route to Aphorat and beyond, are Waking World residents Huxley, Alex and Flo, the arms dealer Karakov, the government courier Mackenzie, an eyeless lunatic restrained in the baggage compartment, and the dancer Zsuzsa (who knows about the Waking World, at least, but doesn’t like talking about it). Dreamland natives on the train are delegations from Ib and Sarnath and the servants of the latter, the Sarrubian wine merchant Mironim-Mer, and several dozen cats from Ulthar.
The investigators don’t know who is changing bed sheets, or cooking the meals, since Henri is the only staff they’ve seen on board.
Mironim-Mer and Karakov have the single compartments to the rear of the investigators, and Madam Bruja in front. Zsuzsa, Mackenzie and the Sarnathians and their servants occupy the 6th car, and the Beings inside the body of the 3rd Train Beast.
Blackjack was last seen just after the train left Zar, as most of the passengers were in the banquet hall eating lunch, and was probably exploring the train as he had previously been seen to do.
One of the Beings of Ib had been glued to the ceiling outside their compartment for an unknown length of time (such charming people, the Sarnathians), between leaving Zar and Alex and Huxley returning to the compartment after lunch. Florence did not return to the compartment, and instead went straight to the cat’s compartment at the end of the train. Alex heard a Meow and a thud in the next compartment, but there was nobody in that compartment when she checked, and no-one outside in the corridor. The door of the compartment was unlocked, and nothing seemed out of place at least as compared to her own.
Huxley had a brief conversation with Henri about the madman secured in the baggage compartment, and while that was happening noted Karakov returning to his own compartment, nursing an injured hand. Karakov refused assistance.
Huxley and Alex departed for their afternoon's entertainment - Zsuzsa in Huxley’s case, and the thagweed hookahs in the men’s lounge in Alex’s. Alex saw Mackenzie in the men’s salon for some portion of that time, Huxley saw quite a lot of Zsuzsa in her compartment, and Flo spent her entire post-prandial relaxation playing with the kittehs.
Alex’s memories of the afternoon might not be the most reliable, as their speculations about the fluid nature of reality were being thoroughly encouraged by thagweed use. Huxley was quite thoroughly distracted, but at least he and Zsusza can be quite sure where the other was all afternoon, and indeed can itemise which items of furniture they were on. Florence could be vouched for by the cats.
Blackjack had been stabbed, three times, but the wounds indicate a weapon more like a letter opener than a proper blade. The exact time of death is uncertain, as Huxley has little experience of rigor mortis in small animals.
Of course, the first thing the investigators do is get all the suspects gathered in one place, under the murderous gaze of the cats. That makes the investigation so much easier, even if the Sarnathians immediately imply that the Beings of Ib must be responsible, and Karakov nearly gets himself flayed alive by the cats by refusing to explain where he got the hand wound. Huxley does, however, determine that the injury is from a serrated blade, not whatever was used on the kitten.
The investigators, aided by cats, start searching the train for evidence, weapons, grappling hooks, clues, and hopefully no monsters (dreamed into existence or otherwise). They find suspicious scratches on the outside of their pavilion, and bloodstains in Mironim-Mer’s compartment, along with evidence that somebody tried to hide the blood and scrub it away with shampoo.
Alex: Somebody with hair did this.
They start questioning people. Huxley learns how the voiceless Beings of Ib communicate, by using a small squeaking creature that translates for them. Huxley has a few questions - who do they think is responsible, and why don’t they fight back when the Sarnathians glue them to the ceiling? The diplomat personally suspects the Sarnathians, since they’re making it abundantly clear that they’re capable of anything, and the Beings are confident that if the Sarnathian delegation continues to demonstrate what scum they are, King Kuranes’ judgment will favour Ib. Especially if Huxley testifies to that effect.
Meanwhile, Florence has taken the misandrist Madam Brujah to the Ladies Parlor, to interview her in private. It’s not like she’ll talk to anybody else. Flo eventually gets her to open up a bit, and asks her if there’s a particular reason she distrusts men so much (apart from all the obvious reasons any woman would).
Madam Brujah: I had a daughter, once.
Florence: Was this in the Dreamlands, or the Waking World?
Madam Brujah: Does it matter?
Her daughter married a much older sorcerer, apparently, because he wanted to satisfy his appetites. Unfortunately, he couldn’t satisfy hers, and when the sorcerer caught his new wife with her lover, he burnt them both alive. But Madam Brujah did arrange a suitable revenge that would ensure the sorcerer would never find peace in that life or afterwards - although she doesn’t specify what the revenge was.
She also gives Florence a few tips on how to increase her Dreaming skill, by focusing on her dedication to the truth, and meditating on the truth of the pen her parents gave her when she went off to become a journalist. It’s also evidence that Madam Brujah is a lot older than she looks, or is from a much earlier time, since she talks about quills instead of pens. Florence doesn’t quite get the knack of it, but with practice or urgent necessity maybe she will.
Huxley also notes that Mironim-Mer might LOOK relaxed, he’s actually very tense. But before he can investigate that, Alex finds a cavalry saber hidden in Karakov’s room. They confront the arms dealer about it, and he does not take it well.
Karakov: Does a man not have the right to defend himself? Do COUNTRIES not have the right to defend themselves?
Huxley: Please calm down, we’re all friends here.
Karakov: Friends? You think that the lands of dream are safe, even after the events of today? The war has followed me - even here I still hear those accursed guns!
Huxley asks some questions about these guns, and more about Karakov’s health in the Waking World, and makes a diagnosis - very serious heart disease. The thump of artillery is his own heartbeat. He attempts to be sympathetic.
Karakov: You think you understand me? Do they say you earned a pound for every man that died in the trenches? It was your role to put men back together - what do you think my role was?
Alex: I know at the very least you are not a cat-killer.
Alex goes to get a stiff drink for Karakov, and gets waylaid by Mironim-Mer, who is out of patience - he needs to know where Florence took Madam Brujah. And then climbs out the window. And turns inside-out into a giant elongate crustacean-thing when Huxley attempts to intervene. It crawls off towards the train-beast carrying the Ladies Parlor, and snips the ropes holding the bridge that connects them.
Flo is rather startled when a man-sized mantis shrimp bursts into the room, but she and Brujah defend themselves with improvised weapons, and a sword that the journalist Dreamed out of a cake-slice. It seems focused entirely on Madam Brujah, and the valise she’s carrying, but Florence stabs it a few times to get its attention away from the old woman.
GM: I’m sure that as a journalist you’re well used to being annoying.
Huxley leaps the gap between train beasts (on his second attempt) and rushes in to be all heroic and saber-waving and swashbuckling, while the creature is dropping Florence in one of the ornamental fountains. It retaliates by mangling his sword arm, and hurries off in pursuit of Madam Brujah, only to get into a massive pile-up with Henri, two of the Sarnathians, and Mac. The Sarnathians are armed, to little effect.
GM: These Sarnathians can’t be guilty of spearing Ib babies, they can’t hit a thing.
It appears the combined weight of four men and one Australian sheepfarmer’s daughter is enough to pin the monster in place, at least long enough for Brujah to reach the dining pavilion. By the time the creatures wriggles free, every cat in the dining car is out for blood, Zsusza is screaming her head off, Karakov is backed against a wall and as white as a sheet, the Beings and servants have made themselves scarce, and Brujah is laughing her head off at the monster’s distress - at least until it snatches the heart-shaped valise off her and tears it open.
It’s empty.
Brujah: *laughing even harder* He’ll never find it! NEVER!
The red glow in the creature's eyes fades, and it backs against the wall, entirely subdued, and doesn’t struggle when Henri agrees it should be restrained with the eyeless madman until it can be handed over to the authorities. Nobody asks the madman his opinions about this.
The investigators collapse in exhaustion after all the excitement, and wake up back in the train station in Milan. Huxley’s dream-mangled arm is quite sore, and his chest injury from the bullet that grazed his ribs the other night is aching, and probably infected. Huxley and Flo stretch their legs, and are heading back to the waiting room when they spot a familiar face - Max von Wurtheim, the associate of the evil Duc back in Lausanne. He’s talking to one of the Orient Express staff, sticks his head into the waiting room, visibly starts, and starts coming back up the concourse. Huxley and Flo attempt to conceal themselves, but Max spots the lieutenant trying to stuff himself behind a kiosk, and Flo trying to hide behind a handful of postcards. His expression transitions rapidly from surprise, to calculation, to a wide and clearly false smile.
Maximilian: Lt. Huxley! And the ravishing Miss Braxton! I am so glad to have found you!
Huxley: Ah, Mr. von Wurtheim, how very surprising to see you here. What brings you to Milan?
Maximilian: Ah, it occurred to me that I had been an absolute cad to Miss Braxton, and I had to make amends.
Florence: Apology accepted. Goodbye.
Maximilian: At the very least let me take you to lunch! Milan has many excellent restaurants!
Huxley: Ah, I’m afraid our schedule doesn’t permit it. We’re leaving for Venice soon.
Maximilian: *Taking a visible mental note of this* Ah, what a shame. Perhaps brunch?
Florence is rapidly approaching Stabbing Point again. Huxley changes the subject, to the fact that Maximillian has one arm in a sling, and a hand that appears to be shriveled and burnt. Huxley suspects the Duc is responsible, but even mentioning the name makes Max go quite pale. Huxley suggests medical attention, or at least something from the pharmacist, but Max just presses some cash into the lieutenant's hand, clearly intending to stay with Flo.
GM: If looks could kill, you wouldn’t even make it to the chemist.
Huxley: Ah, maybe you should come with me, Mr. von Wurtheim.
While they’re away picking up medical supplies, any messages from Professor Smith, and some newspapers, Flo warns Alex that Max is in town, and warns the Orient Express staff not to let him in the waiting room again, on the grounds that he’s a serial harasser. Max suggests a few nice hotels in Venice (not that Huxley intends to follow any advice Max offers) but then hurries on some errand of his own.
There are no messages from Prof. Smith, but there is a telegram from Remi Vangeim in Paris.
REGRET DELAY WITH BOOK STOP TURKISH SCHOLARS TOOK OFFENSE AT LIBRARY RULES STOP WILL WRITE TO VENICE BUREAU DE POSTE
There’s also a rather interesting article in the local paper, which might explain a little more about what happened at la Scala after the investigators fled back to their hotel to pack. Or perhaps not.
Florence: What people say and what actually gets reported in the papers are two different things.
GM: I hope that doesn’t describe your own journalism.
Florence: Oh no, mine are all of the utmost fidelity.
LOCAL BUSINESSMAN MURDERED
Police revealed this morning that prominent Milan businessman Arturo Faccia was last night the victim in a bestial slaying, in a seemingly isolated incident.
He had been at La Scala with friends for the opening night of Aida and had gone backstage to congratulate performers when he became separated from his companions.
His mutilated body was discovered late yesterday by workmen on the roof of our cathedral. An official at the diocese stated, “It is impossible for anyone to get up there at night. This is the Devil’s work.”
Milan police would not describe the wounds sustained, repeating merely that they seem the work of a deranged degenerate. Residents of the city are warned to exercise caution at night.
Signor Faccia was a widower, without children. He had recently returned from a business trip to Turkey.
That’s a bit worrying, but doesn’t actually explain what happened at the Opera House after they left? Of course, it’s possible the paper is covering up the truth.
Florence: Would Milan WANT reports of an enraged mob of opera-lovers rending him limb from limb in their paper?
Maximilian has returned with flowers, and is quite put out that the staff won't let him into the waiting room - it wouldn’t be proper, after all, since he’s not a passenger.
Maximilian: Very well! I’ll buy a ticket!
If they were trying to avoid him, it backfired badly. They might also want to avoid the police detective that’s tracked them down. It’s the same detective that was so helpful after the death of Conti. Huxley makes himself scarce, but Alex and Flo reluctantly agree to an interview in the stationmaster’s office, with one of the Orient Express staff there as a witness. It now occurs to the investigators that they didn’t get their story straight, and have no idea what happened after they left. The detective, on the other hand, is aware that the investigators were variously accused of being communists, injured in the fight with Faccia and his goons, and actually appeared on stage as an extra. He’s also heard that an old woman is claiming to be the missing Diva, and that Faccia vanished from an upstairs office at la Scala while he was waiting for his lawyers. So it’s not surprising Florence and Huxley (when he returns) give two contradictory stories about the evening, each downplaying their involvement as far as possible.
Detective: I hope you sought medical assistance after you were hurt, Miss Braxton-Hicks?
Alex: Oh no, it was nothing really.
GM: Only slightly stabbed.
Florence: Nothing more than you'd expect from a good night out in London.
The detective was also aware that Alex was wearing a suit at the Opera House.
Detective: What do you know about the political affiliations of your companions, Lt. Huxley?
Huxley: Upstanding supporters of king and country.
Detective: I see, I see - and where did your companions purchase their dresses? Milan is a city of fashion, you understand.
So the detective is certain that the investigators were involved somehow, and makes some pointed hints that they report to the various authorities in Venice when they get there, but the disappearance, mutilation and death of Faccia is inexplicable enough that he’s not entirely sure he wants to dig deeper. He’ll probably kick it up the chain, and let the Fascist government take an interest in the party.
The other passengers start to arrive - among them a young woman in obvious mourning, and an old man wrapped up to the eyebrows, in a wheelchair, with a young man as his caregiver. The latter, pale and anxious, requests medical assistance for his grandfather while the train travels to Venice. He explains to Huxley, in babbled and broken English, that he’s taking his grandfather (still rugged up with only his eyes showing) to the hot springs in Sofia for his health. Huxley commences a medical examination, but returns to his compartment after recommending whiskey and warm water. The old man must be more vigorous than his apparent infirmity suggests.
Venice, in warmer months, is one of the most beautiful and romantic cities in Europe, but in winter the city is foggy, and wet, and frozen, with ice crackling in the canals. At night you can walk for hours and see nothing but pools of lamplight, and hear nothing but the sad slap of water on tethered boats, the clang of buoys in the lagoon, and the boom of steamers further out. In Venice, on a foggy winter’s night, it feels like day will never come.
The train arrives at 5.05PM, and it is already dark.
That soft cover is the one I did illos for. That was the original version. Before that was the xeroxed playtest rules. (Also by Steve Petersen). If the Hard back is the same interior as the soft cover, then it was probably a custom job, as I have never heard of a hardback version. However it was common at the time to take soft covers to binderies and have them rebound as hardbacks. This only cost about $60 bucks at the time. Now it is a lot more expensive.
That soft cover is the one I did illos for. That was the original version. Before that was the xeroxed playtest rules. (Also by Steve Petersen). If the Hard back is the same interior as the soft cover, then it was probably a custom job, as I have never heard of a hardback version. However it was common at the time to take soft covers to binderies and have them rebound as hardbacks. This only cost about $60 bucks at the time. Now it is a lot more expensive.
A French project to build a Castle from scratch, has been proceeding now for 25 years. They estimate they have about 10 years to go for completion. Their concept was to start in 1229, and proceed year by year. They also estimate that it would have taken less time to have done it in the 1200s.
A French project to build a Castle from scratch, has been proceeding now for 25 years. They estimate they have about 10 years to go for completion. Their concept was to start in 1229, and proceed year by year. They also estimate that it would have taken less time to have done it in the 1200s.
That soft cover is the one I did illos for. That was the original version. Before that was the xeroxed playtest rules. (Also by Steve Petersen). If the Hard back is the same interior as the soft cover, then it was probably a custom job, as I have never heard of a hardback version. However it was common at the time to take soft covers to binderies and have them rebound as hardbacks. This only cost about $60 bucks at the time. Now it is a lot more expensive.
The Pittsburgh TV market is currently ranked as the 23rd largest in the United States by Nielsen. It has recently gained distinction as one of the most competitive. (In the listing below the table, network O&O’s are denoted in bold.) The market is served by:
Channel
Call Sign
Network
Since
Digital subchannel
Digital Subchannel
Owner
2
KDKA
CBS
1949
(Jan. 11)
Start TV
CBS
4
WTAE
ABC
1958
(Sept. 14)
Cozi TV
--
Hearst
11
WPXI
NBC
1957
(Sept. 1)
Me-TV
--
Cox Media
13
WQED
PBS
1954
(Apr. 1)
Create
Neighborhood
16
WEPA-CD
Cozi TV
1989
(Feb. 28)
Movies!
OTA Broadcasting
19
WPCW
The CW
1953
(Oct. 15)
CBS
22
WPNT
MyTV
1978
(Sept. 26)
Sinclair
31
WIIC-LD
1989
(Aug. 29)
Abacus Television
39
WBYD-CD
JTV
1990
(Jul. 25)
Perez Broadcasting
38
WINP
ION
1953
(Aug. 31)
Bounce TV
Court TV
Ion Media
50
WPCB
Cornerstone
1979
(Apr. 15)
Cornerstone
53
WPGH
Fox
1953
(July 14)
ZUUSCountry
Sinclair
PCNC
1994
(Jan. 1)
Cox Media
AT&T SportsNet
FoxSports
1986
(Apr. 13)
AT&T Sports Networks
PanthersTV
Pitt
2010
(Sep. 21)
VHF:
KDKA 2 (CBS)
WTAE 4 (ABC)
WPXI 11 (NBC)
WQED 13 (PBS)
This PBS member station is a major contributor to national media as the source for Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, National Geographic Explorer, Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?, and Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.
UHF:
WEPA-CD 16
WPCW 19 (CW)
WPNT 22 (MyNetworkTV)
WIIC-LD 31
WBYD-CD 39
WINP 38 (Ion)
WPCB 40 (Cornerstone)
WPGH 53 (FOX)
That soft cover is the one I did illos for. That was the original version. Before that was the xeroxed playtest rules. (Also by Steve Petersen). If the Hard back is the same interior as the soft cover, then it was probably a custom job, as I have never heard of a hardback version. However it was common at the time to take soft covers to binderies and have them rebound as hardbacks. This only cost about $60 bucks at the time. Now it is a lot more expensive.
That soft cover is the one I did illos for. That was the original version. Before that was the xeroxed playtest rules. (Also by Steve Petersen). If the Hard back is the same interior as the soft cover, then it was probably a custom job, as I have never heard of a hardback version. However it was common at the time to take soft covers to binderies and have them rebound as hardbacks. This only cost about $60 bucks at the time. Now it is a lot more expensive.
That soft cover is the one I did illos for. That was the original version. Before that was the xeroxed playtest rules. (Also by Steve Petersen). If the Hard back is the same interior as the soft cover, then it was probably a custom job, as I have never heard of a hardback version. However it was common at the time to take soft covers to binderies and have them rebound as hardbacks. This only cost about $60 bucks at the time. Now it is a lot more expensive.
I agree strongly. You cannot hold a player's personal limitations against their character. If someone is terrible at coming up with soliloquies for their presence attack, consider the best they can do to be a great one. Don't treat their soliloquy as terrible just because they are bad at it.
Related: puzzles and riddles that test the player's ability to solve them instead of the character's. This is ROLE PLAYING and as such you should be checking how good the character is. I play RPGs to do things and go places I cannot personally - its a sort of wish fulfilment as well as storytelling.
I could rant on this for pages as it is an enormous pet peeve with game designers. Its okay to put puzzles and riddles and such into games as long as you allow the skill of the characters to produce hints, details, and information to help solve the problem. Requiring the players to figure out your perfect riddle or fail is not role playing, its you being a jackass as a GM.
We created a team and let one of the players whose never had a leader before, be the leader. The player himself was not necessarily a leader. So, we pushed his character for a Higher Presence, Higher Ego and Tactics skill. As players, when the time came for a leader to do something, then we actively waited for him to make a decision during the game. Repeatedly done, it gives actual experience - and confidence - and the player does much better now with his leader character.
You could just assume what people did at the time, where "man" simply means "human being". I mean if you're going to set it at a time period with the language and words of the time its an option.
Well every player I’ve known haaaates having their characters confined or captured. Champions GM always lament this, but the players don’t change. Mature plays s will acquiesce, but then will bitch. Less mature players will cause problems. So they would prefer to g out like Kamikazes. This brings the biggest difference between literature and games.
I have never heard of Ike Perlmutter being a major Marvel Comics fan. I have heard that he's a notorious penny-pincher who tried to squeeze the budgets for Marvel productions for every dollar he could save, so far as to buy the cheapest food for the studio craft tables, and not reusing Marvel movie themes (a common complaint about Phase One and Two Marvel movies) because it worked out to be cheaper to pay for a new score for each one. The reports I read as to why Perlmutter was pushed out of executive direction of Marvel movies, is that Kevin Feige was tired of fighting with Perlmutter over budgets, so went over his head to Bob Iger to get full creative control. Perlmutter remained in charge of Marvel's television division. If you want to see his "love" for the genre, check out the production values for Inhumans.
FF should be a film about a family that happens to have superpowers, as opposed to a film about superheroes that happen to be related. The Incredibles was the former.
To me the FF lend themselves much more to an episodic TV format than a feature film, though I’m sure it must be possible to make a successful film.
There are many problems with Marvel films right no, and it all happened because Bob Eiger and Kevin Feige tossed Ike Permutter out the door, as Perlmutter was the number one Marvel Comics fan. They tossed him, because he would not greenlight a Black Panther Movie. Because of that Marvel became detached from it's comic past. Feige then made everything post Endgame more female centric, and Superhero comics, being primarily a celebration of Masculinity and Heroism, became problematic, so plots were either female sidekicks, or "The Girl Who is the key to everything" plots, and it lost it's momentum. https://screenrant.com/marvel-mcu-female-heroes/ While not as insulting to the original fans as Star Wars recent offerings, there is enough "woke" here and there to make the films less attractive to the original fans. Also, directors for Marvel films aren't hired, but "cast" to fit identity demographics, and they bring in a lot of "fresh talent", because they don't pay the directors enough for old hands to want to work with them, and they bristle at Feige's heavy hand. Now originally James Gunn was supposed to have helmed Phase 4 movies, "The Cosmic phase", but an ill timed pedophile joke had Disney's head of THeatrical production fire him. Guardians 3 will end Phase 4, with Gunn in charge, but after that he is going to Warners, r and possibly taking Jon Favreau with him. Marvel has an industrial process for making the films where once the script is approved THe Special Effects are detailed and assigned to the effects houses, first to previs, )Pre-Visualization), and the stunt teams are gathered, and the stunt coordinators bright in, and then finally a Director is assigned. This is why there is a homogeneity to the Marvel films of late. They gave up on "Comic accurate" long ago. These are some of the reason why Phase 4 has underperformed.
I have no hope for the Fantastic Four. The Only acceptable version was Roger Corman's that he did for that German Rights holder, a film that never got wide release, but I have a bootleg of I picked up at Comic-con years ago, when bootlegs were available. The casting will probably be Trendy, and I expect the casting announcement for it this weekend as Comic-con is going on right now. It's not that Superhero movies are getting bad, but that superheroes are a poor fit for the current Hollywood culture, and trying to merge the two make for an ultimately unsatisfying blend.