If we're talking to someone in a public den then you probably won't get attacked, and outside you can pull out your gun if need be... Dunno if you'd need backup just for that task. Who else could you bring in if you needed to?

Getting some food on the way seems like a good idea.

Centerfield 2025/05/11(Sun)02:37 No. 1107845 ID: 144bf4
File 174695622493.png - (144.41KB , 800x525 , 028.png )

>>1107837
>>1107844
>Karl needs to eat.

That's a pretty good idea! What'd you have in mind? I'll make it so. You have 22 gold to spend. That covers some variety. And it may help you think.

>find a burger joint along the way and maybe a coffee

Something quick and simple seems like the best choice right now, we can treat ourselves to a nice meal after everything is dealt with.

And a coffee wouldn't go astray, it's been a long day.

Hot diggity dog!

>>1107845
Hot dogs, getcha hot dogs!!

>>1107845
get a Hot Dog. Carts are easy to find, and its simple. Can be eaten while walking. Enough 'meat' to sit solidly well, not so much to make someone sluggish with food coma.

>>1107858
>>1107865
>>1107879
glizzy time? glizzy time

Centerfield 2025/05/12(Mon)04:58 No. 1107902 ID: 144bf4
File 174705108959.png - (231.03KB , 800x600 , 029.png )

>>1107858
>>1107880
>>1107879
>>1107865
>GET DAT GOB A GLIZZY

It occurs to you that you could absolutely destroy a link about now.

The siren song of the Kronjaeger Ward calls out to you:

"Get hungry, folks! Get Hungry! Hot Dogs! Getcher Hot Dogs here! Get Hungry, Folks!"

The good news is you are absolutely in the right part of town. The street vendors here absolutely understand the sort of clients they're going to get.

Starving washouts who have been glued to the green felt for 28 hours. Forgetting to eat or sleep but selling their goddamned shirt for one more round of a game they suck at. Poor saps who end up back on the pavement at the soul's midnight with nothing in their belly and maybe two gold to rub together. For that reason, cheap food is everywhere.

Two gold gets you a hotdog and small cold coffee.

The bun is a little stale allowing it to really drink the excess grease on the sausage itself, which contains at LEAST 3 different mechanically separated animals squeezed into a tight skin with just the right pop to the bites. The vendor is generous with two types of onions. The green ones are basically fresh and the white ones clearly started cooking around the time of your first cigarette. There's a selection of sauces and you get honey dijon.

It is just *perfectly* mediocre.

As a goblin living among humans you have been teaching yourself to eat more complicated foods that require utensils to eat, which is not common in goblin society - but even so you have to admit that the right hand held food just hits different. There is something wonderfully hard boiled about eating a hotdog in the city at night.

Also, in your search for a hot dog, you've gotten to the corner of Ninth and Pine.

The Chop is nearby. Nice.

Nothing like a mediocre hotdog to really hit the spot, now we're ready to tackle anything.

I suppose we should hit this guy's local haunt first.

Dare we case the joint? Well, we do if we don’t want to waste the trip.

Centerfield 2025/05/12(Mon)17:10 No. 1107939 ID: 419b73
File 174709500209.jpg - (1.40MB , 2368x2129 , IMG_20250513_091453977_HDR (1).jpg )

>>1107908
>>1107917

You give the place a once over.
The stairs leading down to the front door of The Chop are actually outside.

From the sidewalk there are concrete steps leading down to a sort of hearth that surrounds the south and east edges of the building.

The entrance, with a bouncer of course is on the south.
The east side has no stairs at street level but a hoppable fence. There is alleyway there with trash cans, a small window and a vent blowing steam. This is likely the kitchen vent of The Chop.

There is also admires escape ladder that leads to the second floor.

(Sorry for the rough description and map)

A FIRE escape ladder. Fucking auto correct

Hmm, lot of ways he could scurry if he's in there, debating whether or not we need backup for this one.

>>1107943
He's on home turf and there's only one of us. I can't see him running.

>>1107944
Who's worried about running? I'm more worried that we walk in and don't walk back out. The bouncer's not gonna let us in just for sightseeing.

Centerfield 2025/05/13(Tue)22:10 No. 1107978 ID: 0a19dd
File 174719944175.png - (139.21KB , 600x600 , templarw.png )

Essentially, your options are

The front door and dealing with the bouncer.
The window and relying on stealth and whatever you encounter that way.
Entering the first floor business then trying to use the air vents or internal stairs to find another way in.

I promise no deaths. I work on Lucas Arts rules not Sierra rules.

Sod it, whichever way we go in, we're gonna need backup, I vote to use our flare first.

>>1107978
I vote we try the front door.

Centerfield 2025/05/14(Wed)04:13 No. 1107994 ID: ecd028
File 174722119296.png - (3.68MB , 3881x3553 , 1674962988012116.png )

We may need some more votes, sorry. We gots one for going it alone and one for ripping our flare first.

>>1107992
Bit early for that. I don't think we're in that much danger, yet.

>>1107993
Sounds good, so far we're just another customer.

Front door. It's just a dive.

Sierra rules are funny though.

Sod it, just walk in.

Centerfield 2025/05/14(Wed)20:41 No. 1108047 ID: 442730
File 174728047423.jpg - (2.39MB , 4096x3072 , IMG_20250515_130335521.jpg )

>>1108019
>Fuck it, let's go I. Through the front door.

You strut towards the front door with a wide, confident walk, when a hand almost as wide as your chest is held out Infront of you. A large human in a jerkin leans in you way.

"Whoa there, cocktail pickle. Show me some colours, yeah. This is not the place or night for time wasters."

Gold's your color, yeah? You've got twenty of it and at least another thirty in your winning smile.

(Ugh, damn securitron ruining my NV speedrun) submit to the credit check, I suppose, don't know if we have enough, though.

Centerfield 2025/05/15(Thu)02:06 No. 1108064 ID: ecd028
File 174729999697.png - (114.96KB , 800x600 , 030.png )

>>1108053
>>1108050
>submit to a credit check

You hold out your two 10 gold notes like your flicking out laundry.

You smile broadly
"Gold's your color, yeah? You've got twenty of it and at least another thirty in your winning smile."

The man steps forward and taps a finger in the center of your chest.
He manages to dredge up some extra impassive meanness to add to his stare.

"Booger, if you ever try to flirt with me again I will flick you into the garbage."

He takes a few steps back and folds his arms.

"Go home to your mommy and bring back some real money. Twenty gold doesn't get someone like you a seat here. It's a flashy joint, see? For flash people."

Right, instead of gut-shooting this wanker, how about we use our signal and call our rich and much more persuasive friend to help us out.

Wow that came out wrong. Go home and call for backup, like actually call someone. Enough with the emergency flare already, you pyromaniacs.
If you need cash in a flash, turn in the job early. It gives us a chance to question the client, too. Otherwise let’s plan on using the vip entrance with a friend.

Oh, yeah, if you turn in the original job you'll be able to flash the cash to get in the front door.

HOWEVER, we could just go through the window. Can't talk to the guy in public that way but he's probably got some incriminating files in his office we could snoop on.

>>1108086
In fairness to the pyromaniacs, phones don't exist in this setting.

>>1108088
Oh, then I guess we'd have to head directly to one of the addresses in our little black book then. Maybe in the morning after we sleep off our concussion.

Centerfield 2025/05/15(Thu)16:45 No. 1108092 ID: 0bc8ab
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>>1108089
QM: That is also completely fine! If I can get a consensus on going home to sleep and trying again tomorrow from multiple players then that is what we will do.

There will be no time penalty on the end result of the case.

Seems to be the way to go, things aren't as frantic as they were initially, maybe a good night's rest is what we need.

>>1108105
Yeah, not a bad idea. More people should be available to call on in the morning too, it must be getting late to drop in on people.

Centerfield 2025/05/17(Sat)07:11 No. 1108172 ID: 2b4977
File 174749109288.png - (194.39KB , 800x600 , 031.png )

>>1108105
>>1108119
>Sleep on it

The nature of this case means that time is an issue but only so much. Nothing is urgent at this point. You need to step back, step into bed and get a chance at a fresh start with real breakfast and maybe even some help. You don't NEED it, but you may as well percolate on your options.

You drag yourself up the stairs bidding a pleasant good night to Balter and get yourself back to your apartment. You keep all your inventory in your coat before hanging it up. That keeps it simple. You change into your pajamas, drink a little green tea and flop into your oversized bed.

Your mind weighs up your options.

Well we got a lot of information today, so definitely don't feel like we're in a bad spot.

I think the play tomorrow should be on the level as possible, getting into a fight we could have easily avoided will just slow us down. So I think we should hit up our well-to-do friend to help us get in the door, and if things go sideways, having a friend to watch our back will come in handy.

Centerfield 2025/05/17(Sat)08:09 No. 1108175 ID: 2b4977
File 174749458329.png - (181.12KB , 800x600 , 032.png )

Dwight Chemisil
An absolute mountain of an elf and one of the closer things Atonak has to an honest cop. Has the intimidating presence of a small building and has a punch like a beer truck. A little too inclined to thinking that any pinch is a good pinch and not inclined enough to do too much paperwork. But when it comes to the crunch he still believes in doing the right thing. Strong and carries some sway on account of his badge and years of service (which he is feeling) but isn't gonna get in Dutch with other cops or local business as a favour to you. Has access to info on anyone with a criminal record. If not at his home, he'll be at the Rockslide East precinct.

Shiokara Halligan
No one goes back further than you guys. He stuck with the goblin life of hustle, crime and influence but he carries a torch for you that could be seen from space. He once betrayed his den to keep you safe and you once saw him leap across a table and beat someone half to death with cocktail muddler for threatening you. That's kind of the flip side of it. He may be your friend but he's still a liaison, a spy and an enforcer for a large criminal organization. He's currently working undercover at a local LOOTERS restaurant and renting a room above it.

Centerfield 2025/05/17(Sat)19:38 No. 1108201 ID: 2b4977
File 174753588330.png - (273.24KB , 800x600 , 033.png )

Sala Goodlady
As a blooch (blue-child, born with troll blood) Sala is actually immensely strong and durable but generally seems completely unaware of this. She regards herself as a delicate, inner city office worker and while not above a little sneaking around and even theft she has a tendency towards hiding behind you or trying to jump into your arms when things get scary. She is, however, an EXCELLENT and connected jurisprudent. She would probably be a highly in-demand lawyer if she was legally allowed to be. She has a decent record of winning cases and would be in the black more if she focused more on law and less on get-rich-quick schemes or gambling. As is, there is a non zero chance she will ask to borrow some money when she sees you. You and her may or may not be a little sweet on each other and she is the only person to date you've given an uppies pass to.

Ro Dollarhyde
A lower mid tier goblin also from your old den. Entrusted with overseeing small construction jobs and collecting envelopes but not exactly a mover and shaker. He knows you, likes you well enough and knows to be nice to you but isn't about to ride or die just because you and his boss are old friends. Physically, his virtues are that he is a formidable and versatile unarmed opponent and a career hoodlum with the skills and knowledge that come with that. Mentally, one of the best things about him is his realism. You and him have occasionally sympathized with each other when you feel like the only sane people in a room. He is cynical, practical and the easiest to pull around to your way of thinking and simple solutions. Not an emotional guy. Bit of a wiseass. Bit of a punkass.

Get rich quick schemes, hm. So, Sala probably wouldn't be opposed to giving you uppies into the kitchen window to sneak into the Chop. I think she may be more the bouncer's type anyhow!

I think Shiokara is the best choice, he has the charm and money to get us in the door without any trouble, and the skills to get us out if need be.

>>1108207
I think the disadvantage of going with Shio is that once we get him up to speed, he's likely to stay with us until this is over. And may arrange unfortunate incidents for everyone else involved in Karl's head getting bashed even if we don't let him kill them while we're together.
Not that I'm against it, mind you, just weighing our options.

Centerfield 2025/05/17(Sat)20:41 No. 1108211 ID: 2b4977
File 174753967489.png - (171.59KB , 800x600 , 034.png )

You blink awake even before your alarm goes off. The fall sun is a little lazy but it's about half awake too. This time of day is for the bakers and newsies. And I suppose we can add dogged private dicks who can't shake a mystery to that list.

You've had some time to think and have a whole day ahead of you. You're back in your apartment office and your actions are your own.

>enter action

>shower, make some coffee

Despite what complications it may bring I still think Shiokara is our best bet, besides, I'm sure he'd be happy to see us.

Do morning prep, check for mail, go see Sala. Whether she gives us a lift or we go on a 'date', it'll be good to work together again.

Centerfield 2025/05/17(Sat)22:38 No. 1108215 ID: 2b4977
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>>1108212
>Shower and coffee
You set the drip going and step into a nice hot shower. You wish the pressure was higher but it feels as though it's washing away some of the confusion and shortcomings of the previous day. You get a lot of time to think. You get yourself squeaky clean with some coal tar soap. You smell good and hard boiled.

The coffee hits the spot. No milk or sugar. You find another 10 gold bill in the coffee tin. Probably not enough to qualify you as a high roller. But it's good to have.

You give some thought to going to Shiokara for help. He's probably cashed up and connected but once he knows you need help it'll be hard convincing him you no longer need it. He'll be with you. Still, there's not much you can't do when you work together.

>>1108213
>Morning prep and check the mail.

You flick through the mail that came through your slot. Bill. Bill. Advertisement for the local soapland. Junk mail for a correspondence course in becoming a private investigator..."Become a sleuth in 14 easy courses only 50 gold each". Banana oil.

You give some thought to asking Sala for help. It'll cost a bit, but she will probably have some decent info. And if you can convince her there's money to be made she is good to go with a heist mission. She can be relatively sneaky for a 6'3" troll woman.


QM: Tracking IDs I feel like there's a motion (and a half?) for Shio and a motion for Sala. I will see what others think. It's the start of the day so you definitely have time to think.

>>1108215
what the hell, might as well go with the golden combo and get halligan

>>1108215
I'd support Sala over Shio. Shio' a loyal friend, but if he got recognized, that could complicate things. Too big a player to keep this case small. and a gambling hall for 'high rollers' is the kind of place that would recognize him. Then everybody thinks "what's he want from those files?" Too much mess. Sala's got what we need, brains and muscle

>>1108224
It's worth noting that Shiokara is currently working undercover and spends a lot of his time as a spy. So despite his high ranking position in the den, I don't think he throws his weight around in person. His appearance and position might not be common knowledge.

That said, I will have a blast no matter who you work with, and I think your choice of Sala has real merit and potential. Just wanted to make sure you knew what's what.

We need a tie breaker. I'll just roll a D3 if we can't get to one.

Or a come from behind victory for dark horse fan favourite Dwight.

I'll vote Rala

>>1108241
Sorry Sala