>>1961313
Thomas 'Tommy' Stalianno

male

>>1961313
Roy Earle
Male

>>1961313
Forgot to put this in OP: voting periods are 30 minutes unless otherwise stated. If there's a tie, I flip a coin.

Steven Raylan Blackmore
Male

>>1961313
Alexei "Alex" Sokolov
Male

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>>1961324
Stevie Ray for short

Luca Carlos Marcello
Male

a mob quest? seems cool

>>1961313
Oops sry >>1961345

Ok, names:

First:
>Thomas
>Roy
>Steven
>Alexei
>Luca

Middle:
>Raylan
>Carlos
>None

Last:
>Stalianno
>Earle
>Sokolov
>Blackmoore
>Marcello

>>1961358
Yeah. I'll stick with my vote tho. its mob-esque

>>1961358
I'm also sticking with my vote. I want to play as the occult Bratva

>>1961363
>>1961368
Please post all votes with your option in >greentext

>>1961358
>Alexei Sokolov

>>1961381
>Luca Carlos Marcello

>>1961358
>Steven Raylan Blackmore

>>1961383
I wouldn't mind this one either, honestly.

>>1961381
Just roll and get the show on the road. You're losing anon interest

Ok, Alexei Sokolov takes it in 5 minutes.

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>>1961358
>Alexi Sokolov
I'd prefer a name like Sevchenko, but I'd rather just get past the name so the quest can actually start. Besides, Russian folklore has all sorts of spooky occult stuff.

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With the third vote, Alexei Sokolov takes it.

+++

The journey home from the lawyer’s office is lengthy, but you hardly notice it. The car’s wheels crunch on the gravel of the manor drive at 5:30 PM exactly. You’d expect no less from Ms. Brunsfeld.

The gardeners tend the grounds, sweeping away the fallen leaves even as more spiral to the earth. Brunsfeld stops the car, and opens the door with a slight bow, her vibrant pink cropped hair at odds with her otherwise formal appearance. You thank her, stiffly unfolding from the car.

The entryway to the manor is made to awe and intimidate visitors. Gargoyles snarl over the great oaken doors, windows like awful eyes glaring down upon the drive. Spires rise above it, the five grand towers growing from the main body of the manor like talons. The manor sprawls around you, wings and attachments built over the years, all feeding back into the central spine of the house. The ominousness is lost on you - you grew up here, in rural...

>Louisiana
>Maine
>Texas
>Virginia
>Alaska
>Other (write-in)

+++

And... Welcome back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ltx-pmjdAAI

>>1961430
>Virginia

>>1961430
>Alaska

damn we're living good, nice fucking house.
now all we need is some vodka with this snow and our russian self

>>1961430
>>1961449
I'll switch to
>Alaska
Just cause I'm curious how this will turn out

>>1961430
Alaska

Voting expired.
>Alaska

The great doors swing open, and you enter the Great Hall. It deserves the capitalization. Portraits of previous family heads hang on the walls, accompanied by depictions of their triumphs and other family histories. Your great-great-great grandfather, leading a charge in some unnamed battle. Your great-grandmother, shaking hands with a demon. Your father, face in shadow, holding the head of a witch (Agatha Vith, you remember. She thought it was funny to dangle you from the North tower, eighty feet in the air, to get back at the family. Your father had not found it as amusing). Ancient armor, swords, shields, and other, more esoteric artifacts line the walls. The vaulting ceilings seem to scrape against the clouds (which they might, given the right conditions; the exact dimensions of the manor seemed to shift with a mind of its own).

These relics from the past recall a better time for the family. Your mother dead not a year, and now your father; almost every subject to the family had weaseled their way out of their contracts, except for…

>The Demons. The family and the forces of Hell have a long working relationship, and the Demons aren’t about to kill their golden goose.
>The Witches. The covens remember the Secret Crusade that the family once brought to bear; and they do not wish to repeat the experience.
>The Monsters. Those that go bump in the night were too firmly collared to flee the family in its time of need. Plus, they get the table scraps.
>None. (*NOT RECOMMENDED*) Your family stands alone, with only its monetary resources and traces of former connections.

>>1961510
>The Demons. The family and the forces of Hell have a long working relationship, and the Demons aren’t about to kill their golden goose.

Angels HATE us

>>1961510
>The Monsters. Those that go bump in the night were too firmly collared to flee the family in its time of need. Plus, they get the table scraps.
Demons are overrated

>>1961522
Second

>>1961510
>The Monsters. Those that go bump in the night were too firmly collared to flee the family in its time of need. Plus, they get the table scraps.

Aight, bowing out for a while. Heading for a movie.

>>1961510
>The Demons

>>1961529
>>1961526
>>1961522
MONSTERS.
MONSTROUS ATTACK DOGS WHEN

>>1962191
It's a werewolf cowboy, so close.

>>1961510
>The Demons. The family and the forces of Hell have a long working relationship, and the Demons aren’t about to kill their golden goose.

>>1961510
>>The Demons. The family and the forces of Hell have a long working relationship, and the Demons aren’t about to kill their golden goose.

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129 KB JPG

>>1961510
> Monsters as fuck

>>1961510
>None. (*NOT RECOMMENDED*) Your family stands alone, with only its monetary resources and traces of former connections.

I choose the impossible. I choose none

You step into your father’s - YOUR study, sitting in the grand chair facing the door. Photos of your family - your mother, father, and sister. A faint smile cracks on your face as you study your father. He seems so sturdy in the pictures, like a fortress. Your mother’s face is full of color, not pallid. Your sister is blissfully unaware of mortality, happily grinning into the camera.

You lean back, a slight tear running down your face.

>How did it come to this?
>No time to reminisce. You have a visitor coming.

>>1962611
>How did it come to this?
Would be nice to get some info

>>1962611
>How did it come to this?

EXPOSITION

>>1962611
>How did it come to this?
I'm a supernatural Russian mob boss I can reminisce about my dead family any time I damn well please

>>1962623
>>1962627
>>1962643
GIMME THAT TASTY PLOT

>How did it come to this?
The tear drips off your face, splashing on the desk. You lose yourself in memory…

Six months earlier…

It’s raining when you arrive at the hall. You’re convinced that your suit is terribly wrinkled and messy exactly where you can’t see it.


You breath. You’re nervous. That’s all. It’s your first time attending the weekly Family report; you’ve just turned 18, finally of age. Ms. Brunsfeld opens the car door, and the rain stings on your face. Brunsfeld hands you an umbrella, which you accept gratefully.

You stand, and take a breath of the crisp Alaskan air, sharply cold even in mid-spring. The Family manor casts a long shadow across you. You steel your nerves and walk to the front doors, which swing open for you. The grand hall is background. All you can see is the way to the meeting hall. Your sister races through the hall, playfully chasing a hellhound. A witch follows, floating lazily along, reading a book. Her cat is curled on her back, imperiously watching everything.
You walk into the meeting hall. Your father sits regally in his seat at the head of the table, grim and contemplative. Cavis, the family’s retained war demon, sits at his left hand, explaining something to him. Meanwhile, Mother Terith and Bas Teller are shouting at each other. Seven other representatives from minor houses sit, slightly cowed.

A cowboy werewolf and a witch shouting at each other over heist prospects should be funny, but you’re too nervous.

Cavis notices you first. He nods to you, and your father’s eyes refocus on you.

“Alexei. Come in, boy, you’re late.”

“Sorry, Father. Mrs. Atten kept me late.”

Your father nods. “I will have a word with her later. For now, let’s get down to business.” He motions to the seat at his right, which you take.

Cavis resettles in his seat, and your father clears his throat. The argument stops instantly.

“Mr. Teller, what have you to report?”

Sebastian clears his throat, the sound odd through the screen.

“The operations in Afghanistan are going smoothly, sir. There’s an active House Frankenstein presence, but they’re just buying up bodies. We’ve got this market cornered.”

Father nods, and indicates to Terith. She adjusts her robes before speaking.

“The Chinese deal was a success. The safehouse is currently under construction. They’re looking at finishing it in early May. House Dracula is active in the area, but they aren’t even harassing us, and my sisters in Beijing haven’t sensed any magical spying, though this is Dracula we’re talking about. If one of the main House is there… we don’t have the magical power to counteract that.”

Your father frowns. “I’ll have you back there in a week, Terith, along with another… 5 Mothers. We need that foothold in Asia.”

Cavis doesn’t need an indication. “Movement into Louisiana is being hampered somewhat by Helsing age-”’

He’s gone in a puff of sulfuric smoke, a Demonic transit circle fading from where he sat. The screen displaying Sebastian’s shocked face fuzzes out, going blank in a snowstorm of static. Terith screams, clutching her head, blood running from her eyes, nose, mouth…

You’re stunned, watching Terith claw at her skull, when your father tackles you to the ground as a blast reports through the room. You hear snarling and screaming. Your father’s ragged breathing is slowing, blood trickling from his mouth into your hair. Nonsensically, you think how your suit is now most certainly ruined.

“Alexei…” coughs your father, voice a hushed, ragged whisper. “Alexei… tell Lenin… that the red sun has -” he’s wracked with another fit of coughing - “the red sun has set.”

His breathing slows, and stops.

It’s another 3 hours, lying there, feeling your father’s corpse cool. The screaming stops after the first; the gunfire starts at the second; and after the third passes, the door creaks open, boots stomp on the floors, and your father’s body is pulled off of you. A werewolf helps you stand. She wipes some of the blood from your face, checking for wounds. There are no cuts on your skin, but there’s a dagger deep in everything you held dear.

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Present day

A knock at the door shatters your reverie. You hastily wipe the tears from your face, before saying “enter!”

Sebastian Teller, hat in hand, steps through the door.

“How’re ya holdin’ up, Al- Master Sokolov?”

>Fine. Let’s get to business.
>Nevermind me. How’s my sister?
>Not so well, Bas.
>Other (write-in)

>>1962942
>How’s my sister?
>Not so well, Bas.

>>1962942
>Who did this Bas? Who dares attack us here; at our own home, at our own family? They shall pay for this trespass in kind.

>>1962958
This and how's my sister

“Not so well, Bas. I’m still coming to terms with the state of the family. I can’t think of who… who could have done this?”

Sebastian frowns. “Chin up, sir. We’ll find the bastards, trust me.” His hand curls into a fist. “I’ll rip out their throats myself.”
You nod, appreciating the sentiment. “First things first: how’s my sister doing?”

Bas nods. “A little better, sir. The Doc stopped by again. Her fever’s broken, but she’s still too sick to move. I’ve been keeping her company.”

>Anything new with business?
>How’s things in the Kennels?
>Gimme a summary of our forces.
>Other (write-in)

>>1963312
>Summary of our forces.

>>1963312
>Gimme a summary of our forces

>>1963312
>summary of our forces.

>>1963312
>Gimme a summary of our forces.

"Recap me on our forces, Bas."

He consults a sheet of paper he brings out of his pocket. "Not very well, considering the shape we were in just six months ago."

"As you know, the Covens and the Demons shredded their contracts when Sergei died. So we lost our witchcraft and Demonic powers." He grins. "But us werewolves, we don't forget our promises so easy. And neither do the other monsters of physical ken. So, we have…”

>250 Werewolves, scattered across the globe; 100 at the Manor, 20 in Beijing, 20 in Louisiana, 30 in New York, 30 in London and 50 in Afghanistan
>20 Jaegers (S), all at Sokolov Manor
>2 Cyclopes (S), here at Sokolov Manor
>5 Minotaurs (S), here at Sokolov
>10 Centaurs (S), at Sokolov
>1 Dragon (S) (Vern, an adolescent) here at Sokolov
>2 Pegasi at Sokolov
>8 Nightshifters, at Sokolov
>25 Salamanders, at Sokolov

>Describe…(monster)
>Thanks, dismissed.
>Another thing…(any previous option)
>Other (write-in)

>>1963554
>Thans, dismissed

>>1963554
>Describe Jaegers.

>>1963554
>Describe…(monster)

>>1963554
>Describe Jaegers

>>1963554
>Describe Jaegers and Nightshifters
Presumably include some in-verse reason we don't know what they are.
>I won't forget that you stuck around, Bas
>Thanks, dismissed.

So let me get this straight, we're an Alaskan born Russian who is now the head of a crime family that's allied with monster (girls)?

>>1963662
Yes, plus cowboys.

Also Alaskan born Russian isn't that far fetched. Some Alaskans can see Russia from their houses.

>>1963613
You're supposed to choose a monster.
>>1963610
>>1963617
>>1963629
"Give me a description of the Jaegers and Nightshifters. My father wouldn't let me mingle with them."

Bas nods vigorously. "For good reason, too, sir. Jaegers are rowdy and vicious. They're Alters - humans changed into monsters by occult science. They're quite dangerous; I've seen a Jaeger tear the head off a grown man bare-handed. They're faster, stronger, and much tougher than regular humans. They've got huge fu- very large fangs, and their skin turns an odd shade as they age - it starts green and goes through yellow, then red, then blue, then purple. In short, very good shock troops, but not much in the way of stealth - or intellect."

He continues. "Nightshifters are large, feathered feline-like creatures with the ability to phase out of reality at will. They're untouchable and can fly when they do so. They're large enough for a rider, though they're ornery - I only ever saw one man with the balls to do it, and that was your pa."

>Thanks, dismissed
>What's our best tactical option to reclaim some power?
>What business ventures are we embarked upon?
>Other (Write-in)

>>1963959
>What business ventures are we embarked upon?

>>1963959
>What business ventures are we embarked upon?

>>1963959
>What business ventures are we embarked upon?

>What business ventures are we embarked upon?

“What pies do we have our fingers in, Bas?” you ask.

He tallies on his fingers as he recites: “We collect money from the local criminal gangs, we’re running 50 werewolves as mercs and gunrunners out of Afghanistan, we collect in New York and London, we’re setting up to collect in Beijing. We’ve lost our connections for witchcraft services and Demon-facilitated smuggling, but we can run slightly more effective ‘normal’ criminal operations with our current monstrous forces. We can collect money where we have a sufficient (10 Inconspicuous) force, which’ll net us about 10k a week. We can smuggle drugs, guns, etc. - not as effectively as if we had Demonic channels, but still profitable at 25k a week. We need more people (20 Inconspicuous) for that, though. Then, we can do merc work when we have a large (30 Inconspicuous or Disguisable) force in the area. This is the most profitable option we have available right now, but we can only do it in destabilized areas. It’ll net us 50k per week.”

>I want to shuffle some numbers around.
>Thanks, dismissed.
>Other (write-in)

>>1965747
>Write in: How do we go about getting us some more o' them inconspicuouses and disguisables?

>>1965747
>How do we go about getting us some more o' them inconspicuouses and disguisables? I want us to prioritize on China specifically Hong Kong. On the long term I want control of their port. That should make world wide distribution easier for us.

>>1965764
>>1965846

"How do we go about recruiting more subtle monsters?"

Bas scratches his head. "We could put some boots on the ground looking for wild recruits, or we could try recruiting a minor house to our side, which would get us their resources. If we're really ballsy, we could raid a Frankenstein Slaughterhouse, grab some very grateful rescues from their cages.

The first is easy, low-risk, but time consuming. 5 recruits a week, at most, and it's a grab-bag whatch'll get. Second option nets more in one fell swoop, but you'll need to be a real smooth-talker to get it to work. Third gets us some really rare and exotic creatures, but if we don't cover our tracks right, Frankenstein'll come down on our heads like a ton of bricks and assorted corpses."

He adjusts his stance slightly.

"We could also attempt to make contact with one of the safehouses that went dark after the assassination. They might've assumed the Sokolovs were all dead and gone, and gone to ground to avoid retaliation."

>Let's find wild monsters (Low-level recruits, not many at once, but regular, cheap, and easy)
>Let's recruit a minor house (Diplomancy or threatomancy required, but adds monetary resources as well as troops)
>I want to hit a Slaughterhouse (large batch of high-level recruits, but carries with it the risk of incurring Frankenstein's wrath)
>Let's reestablish contact with a safehouse (no way to know what you'll get)
>Other (write-in)

>>1969399
>Let's reestablish contact with a safehouse (no way to know what you'll get)
Get back our old assets before we try and acquire any new ones.

>"but if we don't cover our tracks right, Frankenstein'll come down on our heads like a ton of bricks and assorted corpses."
Kek, Sebastian.

>>1969409
"Heh, 'assorted corpses.' Nice one, Bas."

He looks a little surprised, but grins after a moment.

"Glad ya find me funny, sir."

>>1969399
>Let's reestablish contact with a safehouse (no way to know what you'll get)

>Recover safehouse

"What are our options for reestablishing contact with one of our safehouses?"

Bas taps his chin for a moment.

"Well, we had one in Texas, another in Tokyo, one in Russia, one in Canada, and one in Germany," he says. "There were probably others your father kept classified. We'd need to get into his records to find out."

>Get started on the records
>Draft plans to contact a safehouse (specify which one)
>Other (write-in)

>>1970668
>Get started on the records

>>1970668
>Get started on the records
>Start on the Russia warehouse
Baba Yaga time

>>1970949
This

>>1970949
Yep, do this

>>1970875
>>1970949
>>1971008

"Alright, you start looking into the Russian safehouse. Get me a tactical plan for assault. I'll begin looking into my father's records."

Bas nods, bows slightly, and leaves the room, heading in the direction of the Kennels.

You're alone, in your fath- YOUR study. You have your father's laptop, paper records of the family for the past decade, and your father's personal library, consisting of books on every aspect of the occult. Where do you start?

>Laptop
>Family records
>Library
>Other (write-in)

>>1971620
>Family records
If our father knew in any way what he was doing I don't think he'd keep important stuff on a laptop.

>>1971662
Second

>1d20, no modifications.
Best of 3. 1s don't take priority... for now.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>1972908

>>1972908
This is me, thanks to @Wispy and @Nuggertots for pointing that out

Rolled 14 (1d20)

>>1972908

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>1972908
AL DENTE

>>1972919
>>1972925
>>1972947
Dem hot dice.

>>1972919
>>1972925
>>1972947

>AL DENTE confirmed. Reroll authorized.

Your father kept an excellent filing system, and you grasp it quite quickly. You're able to piece together a paper trail that gives you the locations of two more secret Sokolov safehouses: Washington, D.C., and Pyongyang, North Korea. You can't really tell the size or purposes of these bases, but they certainly exist. You're reasonably certain these have always been dark, and you just need to find the right channel to access them.

So once again, you go digging, through finance reports and personal letters. It's slower work, but you manage to find a way to contact the D.C. base. Unfortunately, a member of the Sokolov family needs to be present, so you'd need to stick your neck out and go in person.

You don't find anything on the Pyongyang base, though. It's too well hidden.

>Try another avenue (Library or Laptop)
>Check on your sister
>Check the family finances
>Tour the Kennels
>Other (write-in)

>>1972986
>>Check the family finances

>>1972986
>Try another avenue (Laptop)

>>1972986
>Check the family finances

>>1972986
>Check them finances

>>1972992
>>1973017
>>1973039

You consult the family financial reports on your own laptop. You wince when you see what you're pulling in - the family has fallen far.

Subtotal Income: (3 collection operations x 10k per week = 30k a week, 1 smuggling operation x 25k per week = 25k per week, 1 mercenary operation x 50k per week = 50k per week) = $105,000 per week

Sources: Smuggling and Mercenary are both being run out of Afghanistan. Collection ops are being run out of New York, London, and Alaska. The collection op in Beijing will be ready in 1 week.

Upkeep: $34,550 per week (From total monsters, full math in Discord)

Total income per week: $70,450

>Try another avenue towards the family secrets (Library or Laptop)
>Check on your sister
>Tour the Kennels
>Other (write-in)

>>1973128
>Write in: Try to find out more about the DC base.
I mean can it really be more dangerous than Russia?

>>1973128
>Check on your sister

>>1973143
Second

>>1973143
>>1973236

You haven't seen your little sister since you put her to bed last night. Father's funeral took up most of the day today. Bas says she's doing better, but you want to see for yourself.

You step out of your f- YOUR office, letting the door fall shut behind you. You take a right, go down some stairs, another right, another right, another right (because that's how Sokolov Manor is feeling today) and eventually find yourself two floors down, in front of your sister's room (despite the fact that you went up three flights of stairs).

You knock, and, upon receiving no answer, push the door open slowly. Your sister's tiny form is lying in her curtained bed. The room is overwhelmingly lavender.

>Leave her to rest
>Sit with her
>Other (write-in)

>>1973528
>>Sit with her
Grab the Laptop and star working next to her

>>1973528
>Sit with her
Just be with her for a bit. I disagree with working next to her, this time is just for family.

Good to know we have a magic manor.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

1 we work with her
2 we just sit with her

>>1973557
You take the laptop from your bag, and sit down next to Anna. She stirs, slightly, but doesn't wake. You touch her head, gingerly. Just as Bas said, her fever's down, but she's still bright-hot.

Something feels... off. You feel like something is whispering in the back of your skull. It could just be stress...

>1d20-8

Rolled 15 + 8 (1d20 + 8)

>>1973559

Rolled 12 - 8 (1d20 - 8)

>>1973559

>>1973559

Rolled 3 - 8 (1d20 - 8)

>>1973579

>>1973579
In options field, put dice+1d20+-8

>>1973562
>>1973566
>>1973582
...yeah, just stress. You open up the laptop, and start investigating further into the family...

+++

And that's this thread, ladies and gentlemen! We'll be picking this back up next weekend. Expect the thread to go up around 5pm on Friday! The actual posting will be updated in my Discord, here: https://discord.gg/Gx5PY7

Have a nice week, folks! Remember, when things go bump in the night, ask 'em "where's my fucking money?!" Goodnight!