Shawn ran around to the side yard and then opened the gate to get to the backyard of his house. The summer air was cool, with the hint of soon cooler days to come.

"Where are we going?" Feddler asked suddenly. And then "Did you see that? That was us. It was us. But it wasn't us. Someone did something to change things. I think it was the Puppet."

I don't know where we're going...I just had to get away before Bobby freaked out even more. Shawn waited for a little while, giving the other Shawn a chance to get Bobby and Michael away from him. You think Mr. Clayton did it? Or was it Bradford? But why would he make two of us? I guess if the other Shawn was evil or something...but he didn't seem all that evil.

Around back, Shawn could see that the inside of the house was dark. But there was movement inside. People where in the house. That much was clear.

"I do not know the answer to that question. I think maybe it has something to do with the Puppet and the wish changing. Maybe he changed the wish and that made another one of me. Or another one of us. I am not sure. I think I read something about that in your memory file. How the Puppet was changing wishes."

Shawn felt some shuffling in his brain.

"Here it is. File N^o.3457891." Feddler proceeded to read the memory:


"We'll, it looks bad. Mr. Clayton got into some of wishes I think. I'm not sure but I think so. He said he might be changing some of them. I don't know what that means. But it sounds bad."

Can you see the other Shawn's memory from where you are? Or does he have his own Feddler? Shawn waited patiently for a while, until he was sure the other Shawn and Bobby and Michael had cleared out of the way. Do you think two of me was part of the plan? Or was it something that happened by accident when he tried to do something else?I guess there's not much we can do either way.

Coast clear, he set off down the street, headed for where Bradford lived. Since other Shawn's watching Bobby and Ralph, we should take advantage of this opportunity. Mr. Clayton said he wouldn't interfere with this, so he's probably not with Bradford. If we can get our hands on the dummy, maybe we can get past all this. Keeping Mr. Clayton and Bradford separated hurts them...maybe we can even steal Bradford's connection to him. Shawn wasn't sure if breaking the connection between Bradford and Mr. Clayton would release the dummy's hold on Bradford, or kill him. But in this situation, he wasn't sure he could afford to care...

Shawn heard a shuffling sound inside of his head.

"No. I do not know any of that." Feddler advised. "Something is going on here. And it isn't really a good thing. Not a good thing at all. I could sense something when the other Shawn was around."

"It was another Feddler."


Shawn headed down the street. But as he got towards the street, he heard everyone inside his house singing "Happy Birthday."

It had been a long time since his parents even reminded him about his Birthday. Or the world had payed much attention to how old Shawn was. It was true though. Today, was his Birthday.

Only Shawn wasn't inside. Or, this Shawn wasn't.

Shawn looked back at the house a little wistfully, but continued on anyway. He could celebrate his birthday for real once Mr. Clayton and Bradford were taken care of. That makes sense, doesn't it? Another Shawn would mean another Feddler, right?

"Yes. Another Feddler." Feddler agreed, the sound of the birthday cheers fading into the background as Shawn made his way down the block.

It was night time now. Complete darkness except for the bright street lights and the sound of State Route 1, the distant noise of California cars moving down the coast just about a mile away.

"We have to get to Bradford's house. There it is." Feddler gestured, drawing Shawn's eyes to the structure. No lights were on inside the house. It sat there just like the day that Shawn, Delilah, Tiffany, Ralph and Bobby entered. Just like that day when Bradford brought them through what Mr. Clayton called 'Greater Ventriloquism' to the 'Underworld.' And according to what Mr. Clayton said, everyone but Delilah made it out alive, though Shawn still hadn't seen Tiffany.

Just like Shawn had that fateful day, he simply approached the door and tried to open it. He knew no one would get too suspicious about a kid going over to a house where another kid lived. Even if they were enemies.

The door to Bradford's house opened with a slight sound, the hinges creaking. Somewhere in the bushes, a cricket chirped nearby. Streetlights from across the neighborhood road cast their presence into the dark interior of the house.

The main hallway that Bradford had invited them all into that day appeared before Shawn.   Even through the small bit of light, Shawn observed the garish wallpaper of faded pink and purple flowers on vines in a vertical assortment adorning the walls of the hallway. They twisted to the left leading towards the kitchen as if the hallway walls were more of a garden overrun with weeds.

Shawn crossed the threshold and stepped inside the dark corridor of Bradford's house. The air was tight and smelled stale the way a basement closet might smell. Or like Grandpa's old clothes from when Shawn used to visit his house as a little child.

Shawn closed the door behind him, and quietly crept deeper into the house. He was looking anything that seemed Circus-y, or magical. It might lead him to Mr. Clayton, or at least whatever Bradford has planned.

Shawn felt the stiff clay tiles of the hallway under his feet. He heard the shuffling and scraping of his sneakers against the cold floor in the darkness with his first step. With anticipation of quietly moving down the hallway, Shawn prepared himself to advance with stealth, looking for anything that might be a sign of Mr. Clayton's whereabouts.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Dexterity + Stealth with the following results

0 Successes: 'Scuff..Scuff..Scuff' - Shawn's sneakers make an unanticipated noise against something on the floor. Walking in the dark, even carefully is really hard if you can't see in front of you.

1 Successes: Narrowly Avoided! - Shawn almost walks into a piece of furniture in the hallway but narrowly avoids it. Shawn does not have to make any further rolls of Stealth while in this hallway

2+ Successes: Silent as a Cat... - Shawn sneaks through the hallway, slinking around like a Cat Burgaler. Shawn does not have to make any further rolls of Stealth while in the house.

OOC: 08:52, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 5 successes using 8d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 3,6,10(+10,5),3,10(+1),8,8,5. Dexterity + Stealth + WP.

Shawn moved slowly and silently through the hallway, taking care not to step too quickly and to avoid the cluttered furniture.

As Shawn crept deeper into the hallway and into the depths of the house, the smell of dusty moth balls increased. It was like some kind of old closet. The stagnant air was almost choking and stiff.

Shawn stepped near the threshold of the kitchen. He could move into it, just like that fateful day when Bradford brought him and his friends to the Underworld. Or he could continue down the hallway where there were three distinct doors, probably representing different rooms in the house.

Shawn stepped quietly as he tried to figure out where to look around. He thought back to the last time he was here - Bradford hadn't had Mr. Clayton out last time he was there, so that made it less likely he was in the kitchen. He moved down the hallway; he was looking for wherever Bradford slept.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Intelligence + Composure

OOC: 18:49, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 10(+1),2,5.  Intelligence + Composure .

Three doors. And by the looks of the way the house was organized, the far door would likely be the master bedroom, where adults sleep. That meant that for Bradford to be there or sleep in there, he might have to consider himself an adult.

Maybe.

Then the other two rooms of the three bedroom ranch were probably kids or guest rooms.

Or were supposed to be.

The door closest to Shawn probably had a room of equal size to the non-Master bedroom further down the hall.

Maybe.

Shawn had to decide which door to open and explore.

Shawn considered the possibilities. He didn't think Bradford considered himself an adult...but he might consider Mr. Clayton an adult and keep him there. He knew he couldn't spend too long trying to decide, so he went with his gut and quietly went to the master bedroom and carefully opened the door.

Creeeeeeeeak...

The door pushed open with an elongated screech, the sound of a metal hinge that was rusty.

Shawn saw a bed with drapery and white fabric hanging off the side like someone had been sleeping there recently. There was cherry, oak furniture: dressers, a closet and a small matching desk. All this was visible thanks to the window which, for some reason was open. Moonlight cast its glow along the rug.

Somewhere to the right, there was a shuffling sound. The sound of paper or something close to it...

Shawn didn't step into the room right away. First, he looked at the bed and tried to see if he could tell how big the person who'd been sleeping in it was. And he considered all the different furniture around, whether any of it might fit a ventriloquist dummy. Then he carefully leaned in, looking in the direction of the shuffling sound, ready to pull back and slam the door shut if needed.

Now that Shawn had time to look and think, the bed didn't look slept in at all. It looked like burglars had ran-sacked it. Sheets and pillow cases lay strewn about the bed. Come to think of it, the drawers of the dresser were opened.

Shawn leaned his head inside the room, peering around the corner of the closest piece of furniture to see....

Tiffany.

She had her back facing him. Her once neat dress was stained and dirty with mud and soot. She was digging through packages from the closet.

Shawn suppressed a yelp, but on second thought, realized this was good news, probably. He hadn't been sure if Mr. Clayton had been lying to him about Tiffany surviving, and here she was. Carefully, not wanting to startle her too much, he cleared his throat softly. "Tiffany? Are you okay?"

OOC: Tiffany Resolve + Composure Roll to avoid being startled:

20:03, Today: Shawn's Neighbor - Tiffany Wilson rolled 3 successes using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((7,10(+6),10(+9))).

Tiffany turned around completely calm and collected. Shawn could see streaks of brown dirt, her face peppered with blood as if she had witnessed a horrible murder in the middle of a rain storm. Her eyes were dead serious though.

She raised a single index finger up to her lips as if to quiet Shawn down.

Then with her eyes, she pointed towards the interior of the closet, where there were a series of black suitcases strewn about, many of them unpacked and emptied, the contents of paper and clothing dispersed on the floor around her.

Shawn felt a bit of relief course through him when Tiffany seemed to recognize him. He hadn't realized it consciously, but part of him was afraid she had ended up like Eddy. He crept over to her side and crouched down with her, inspecting the suitcases Tiffany had torn apart. Not wanting to make any noise, he pointed to the strewn about objects, mimed opening and closing his mouth like a ventriloquist dummy, and then gave her an inquiring look.

Tiffany nodded her head, indicating that she was, indeed looking for Mr. Clayton's case. She pointed to one brief case and then to another, touching the black exterior. That's when it became evident that all of the cases were black and that Tiffany was looking for the one that might contain the Bradford's Dummy.

Shawn nodded seriously, glad Tiffany had understood him. He went over to an unopened case and started to silently open it.

Shawn opened the case and saw a few roughly opened envelopes inside. They were crinkled and carelessly thrown into the case. Letter's poured out the side as briefcase opened, spilling paper contents onto the floor.

Shawn took a glance at the letter to see if it looked even a little important. Then, assuming there weren’t any massive, situation shifting revelations, he went to the next briefcase.

Shawn read the first small scratches of the letter written in cursive script on yellowed-paper.

"Crowley,

It is your job to sell this idea to Shawn, not mine. It is you who have requested my help, not the other way around. If you want to be spared the total destruction of the Circus and not become fodder for Proprietor, I suggest you convince him to follow you to the mountain. Little Stone is not aware of our plans...."

---

Shawn opened up another black briefcase and...


OOC: Shawn Rolls Wits + Composure

Shawn slips the letter into his pocket for later, just in case. Then he keeps looking.

OOC: 07:41, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 1,10(+2),5,8.  Wits + Composure.

It was a doll. A doll in the suitcase. All round-face and white porcelain. It was wearing a China doll dress and sported two rose colored dots on its cheeks. There was not mistake about it. This was another Ventriloquist dummy. Perhaps not one that Shawn had seen Bradford use before.

Shawn manages to control himself long enough to set the doll down on the floor next to Tiffany. He still didn't like dummies much, and seeing it had made his heart skip a beat. He tried to go back to his search, though he had to stop and turn the doll around so it wasn't looking at him.

Tiffany patted Shawn on the shoulder, signaling to him that she wanted something. Then she pointed towards the ceiling. It appeared that she was interested in getting a boast to see what might be on the upper shelf of the closet.

She pointed to the shelf where three, separate black briefcases were.

Shawn looked up at the shelf, gauging the height of the closet shelf. Then he looked around at what was in the room. Were there any chairs to stand on? Could the other, already opened briefcases stack on top of each other? If so, how solid were they?

Shawn gazed around the room and found a large chair. It might be heavy to move (Reflexive Roll Strength.) Then there was the chance that the suitcases might be able to be stacked up against one another (No roll.)

Shawn didn't want to move the chair, lest it make a bunch of noise. So he started stacking up the suitcases - there were plenty around, so he basically turned it into an improvised staircase. With a few gestures and careful miming, he tried to get Tiffany to stablize the structure, as well as someone he could pass the suitcases down to. When or if it seemed stable enough, he carefully climbed up, and one by one started pulling down cases.

Tiffany held her hand out for the case as Shawn pulled the first of three down.

"That's it...easy...easy..." she whispered.

Shawn carefully eased it down into Tiffany's waiting arms, not letting go until he was certain she had a proper grip. Then he slowly straightened up and waited for Tiffany to set down the first case before grabbing the second one. Though part of him wondered if they'd really find Mr. Clayton up here. Bradford had to be able to access him regularly, right? Why would he be on a high shelf in a closet?

Tiffany placed the briefcase down on the floor, her hands on either side of it. Then she looked up at Shawn with a tentative look as if to say 'Should we open it?'

Her face was dirty. Mud-streaked smears on either side of a haggard, tired face. Her hair, once blonde, was now caked with old mud and there were several rips in the flower-patterned dress.

Shawn slowly climbed down from his staircase of suitcases and crouched down next to the box with Tiffany. He nodded grimly, ready to see what was inside.

Tiffany opened the briefcase. The hinges made a slight, squeaky noise. She pulled on it, opening the case strong and wide.

Inside, Mr. Clayton's eyes were closed and his arms were folded across his chest. He just sat there, tucked against the white-satin fabric with flower-pedal designs on the inside of the briefcase. His closed eyes revealed remarkably long, eyelashes. Gone was the puppet who pranced around and held a terrific sway over Bradford's life, imbuing him with anger and a lust for revenge.

Instead, Mr. Clayton looked surprisingly like just a plain, old puppet.

Shawn reached into the case very slowly and very carefully, like he was sure Mr. Clayton was going to suddenly move or bite his fingers or something. His hands were trembling as he did, but assuming nothing crazy happened, he'd reach down and lift the dummy out of the box.

Tiffany gasped...

But that was it. Shawn held Mr. Clayton like a small child. The arms crossed against his chest unfolded, gravity pulling them down to where they hung listlessly by his sides. Feet dangling. And there were no strings to be seen.

Shawn searched the dummy's back for the bit that was used to open and close the dummy's mouth and jiggled it a few times. If that didn't have any consequences, he'd try to take it a step further. He pinched his lips together at the middle of his mouth and left the edges open. Then he whispered "Hello." in a quiet voice without moving his mouth, just his tongue. He opened Mr. Clayton's mouth in time with it.

"What are you doing?" Tiffany cautioned, placing a nervous hand on Shawn's shoulder as she whispered. "You know what could happen. You know what he's capable of." Tiffany commented.

The Puppet didn't respond to Shawn's gestures. It did not animate into a maelstrom of horrendous giggles as it had before in the Underworld. It's eyelid didn't open nor flicker as they had previously. There wasn't even the sound of Mr. Clayton's high-pitched, jovial and maniacal laugh, the kind that Shawn had heard in one of the Puppet's many diatribes.

Shawn eyed the puppet almost...disappointedly, though if Mr. Clayton had suddenly come to life, he would no doubt be terrified. He stopped to think, and while he had a few ideas, one seemed like something they should pursue. He leaned in close to Tiffany, practically touching her ear so his whispers wouldn't be heard. "He has tapes that teach him how Mr. Clayton works. We need to find them."

"but what are we going to do when we find it? I was just going to burn and bury Mr. Clayton. What are we going to do with the tapes?"

Shawn shook his head. "That won't work - Bradford's got too much of his power now. We've gotta get the tapes and figure out how to break their connection." Shawn was oversimplifying a little - it'd take too long to explain why he needed Mr. Clayton to free Eddy and maybe stop Bradford without killing him - but he knew burning Mr. Clayton was a bad idea. He looked around the room for a tape deck, or even a Walkman.

Tiffany got up without saying anything, but it was understood all the same that she had, in fact, agreed. She gestured to Shawn the small make-up desk. It hat a mirror on top of it the kind that Mom would used to magnify her own image while plucking her eyebrows.

But more importantly, Shawn saw several drawers. The kind of drawers that might tuck away tapes perhaps. The kind of tapes that would teach Bradford the secrets of Greater Ventriloquism.

Shawn also got up, and went to the makeup desk. He'd actually spent a bit of time at desks like these - smaller movies didn't always have those big fancy makeup setups, so he'd occasionally been made up for the cameras at similar desks. He checked the drawers where he remembered the makeup artists usually storing stage makeup - that was what ventriloquists used, right?

"Did you find anything?" Tiffany whispered the question into the silence.

The first drawer held nothing of interest. The second drawer was littered with papers that had been crumpled up and thrown inside of it as if it was a waste basket.

The third drawer...

And then something happened.

A sound.

A creaking sound.

Someone had opened the front door to Bradford's house.

Shawn shook his head, shoving a few of the papers into his pockets before moving on. When he heard the door, he glanced to the window, gauging the distance, and then quickly opened up all the remaining drawers as fast as he could.

Tiffany looked from one side of the room to the other, clearly hearing the intrusive noise. She got up, moved towards the hallway and then turned back around, frozen in the room as if unsure where or what to do. All thoughts of searching were gone as she quickly moved into the closet and shut it, vanishing from view.

Shawn's hands fiddled in third drawer.


There were the cassette tapes. Or at least 'cassette tapes' for who knew what was on them. They were just thrown casually into this particular drawer. Some of them had little white labels that read 'lesson 3' or 'lesson 8' on them. There was no box containing them, and reaching into the drawer felt like reaching into a junk drawer, the kind that Mom had all over the house and kitchen. There was a plastic clattering as the cassettes knocked against each other. Who knew how many there were? At least twenty may be as many as thirty.

Shawn heard the front door of the house close and knew that whoever had entered was now inside the house.

Shawn knew he didn't have time to go through them cassettes and carry them out, so he just pulled the drawer out of the makeup table and tossed it in the open suitcase he'd pulled Mr. Clayton out of. Then he tossed Mr. Clayton in on top of it and closed the case. He knew it'd make a noise, but that might buy him a little time; he knew from experience if someone heard a noise in their house when they weren't expecting it, they'd stop and try to hear where it came from. He picked up the suitcase and tossed it out the open window - he followed immediately afterwards, glad there hadn't been any stairs in his house.

The tapes clattered out in a rain of plastic into the briefcase. Shawn heard the sound of increasingly frantic footsteps at the sound. Closing the case, and now whomever was there was running down the hall towards the room.

Out the briefcase went through the window. And then Shawn followed it.


Flurghffff...

The sound of Shawn's feet hitting the soft dirt of the garden and then sliding into the weeds, mounds of dirt reaching up to his ankles. And then Shawn's back, off-balance touching the brick siding of the house's exterior.

Shawn could see by the moonlight, the case was open, cassettes strewn about, Mr. Clayton lying on the grass a few feet away like someone had cut his strings in the middle of an act.

Shawn heard the door of the room open inside, someone clearly having entered where he had just jumped out the window.

Shawn tossed Mr. Clayton into the suitcase and started feverishly tossing the cassettes into the suitcase. He knew he didn't have long, but he had to gather as much as he could or this whole breakin would've been useless.

Shawn shuffled the cassettes in and then closed the briefcase just as before. As he did, her heard Bradford's voice from inside the room behind him.

"Mr. Clayton. Mr. Clayton. I'm home."

"Mr. Clayton? Mr. Clayton why aren't you answering me?"

Shawn barely breathed as he realised Bradford hadn't actually noticed that he was there. Carefully, he picked up the briefcase and headed away from the house, trying to put as much distance between himself and Bradford as he could.

Shawn managed to get about thirty yards away, feet shuffling through the grass as the crickets chirped their nightly chorus in unison during the final days of summer.

The scream tore through Shawn like a great shard of glass. He heard it come from Bradford's house through that open window and into the still night. Involuntarily, Shawn's felt the briefcase jolt slightly as if something was awakened, as if Mr. Clayton had stirred. The scream was certainly loud enough to wake anyone alive up. And possibly loud enough to wake the dead.

Before Shawn was even aware of making a conscious decision, his legs continued to pound furiously on the uneven grass, my ears straining from the sound, more certainty that the where it had come from....and whose it was:

Tiffany

Shawn considered turning back...or at least, he told himself that he did. In truth, he knew that Tiffany would probably be caught the moment he jumped out the window. He wished he could go back to help, but instead he continued to pound across the grass, wanting to put as much distance between himself and the house as he could.

Shawn stalked through the night, weaving through bushes and around white, picket fences that glowed brilliantly against the moon. He heard his own breathing as he ran and the rattling and click-clacking of cassette tapes Mr. Clayton's briefcase from within.

With Bradford's house far, far behind him, Shawn came to a tree just on the outskirts of the development, where the road met the nearby highway which was just about a hundred meters away. Headlights blared past, the sound of trucks and traffic moving in the night, the city still awake despite the midnight hour.

Shawn eventually slowed to a halt. When he was sure Bradford wasn't following him, he leaned against the tree to catch his breath and gather his thoughts. He needed to catch back up with his other self - he had an idea, but he needed help to do it. Hopefully he'd be in bed by now and easy to find. Plus, he knew he had a tape player back at home, the kind Mr. Worthington made him use to practice his enunciation.

Still, as he prepared to set out, he remembered the jolt inside the suitcase. He couldn't just let that past - if Mr. Clayton was awake, who knew what he could do? He had to make sure nothing had happened. Gingerly, he set the suitcase down on the ground and opened one clasp. He carefully prised open one edge open a crack to look inside, ready to slam it shut at a moment's notice.

A Shawn opened the first clasp and peered inside, he saw two puppet fingers, squirming their way out of the box. Or at least trying to. There was a muffled, sound. Like something yawning.

Shawn immediately slammed the suitcase shut and closed the catch. He sat down on the top of the suitcase to try and hold it shut as he tried to keep calm. He tried to tell himself this was fine, this was part of his plan. It could all work out if he just stayed calm and brought Mr. Clayton to the other Shawn.

'Click!'

The metal clasp shut the suitcase and all Shawn could feel beneath him was brief, fluttering movements from within. The suitcase moved around a bit, like some kind of animal was inside. But then, after a few moments, the movement stopped.

Leaning against the tree, the night was silent except for the Shawn's harsh exhalations. The crickets seemed to have stopped all of their chirping. And the screams coming from Bradford's room so far away no longer rang out.

Everything was still except for the rush of cars nearby.

The moon glowed bright and strong, casting its ominous shine across the highway and the tree and the distant neighborhood.

Shawn waited a little while longer, until he was sure the movement had completely stopped and wouldn't suddenly start up again. When he'd regained some small measure of calm, he got to his feet and picked up the suitcase. He set out for his home, though he did choose a route that avoided passing near Bradford's house.

Shawn set out for home, going the long way, cutting through a nearby lawn and keeping a safe distance from the house. The crickets still weren't chirping and with the noise of the nearby highway now fading into the trees, a quietness settled around Shawn.

But just up ahead, there was a large shadow lurking.  Another person. They were walking down the road. Not an adult.


A fat kid.

Shawm slowed a little as the shadow got closer and he squinted into the gloom, trying to see who it was. Bradford wasn't really fat, but Shawn was feeling generally paranoid right now. He sized up his escape routes - he could probably break for the trees, or if his house was close enough, he could make a beeline for that.

Either of those was an option and Shawn spotted that both were available. But the shadow was actually closer than it had appeared. And now, in the moonlight, Shawn could see it was a fat girl.

"Hold it right there." She said in a southern twang that wasn't from around LA, but rather from somewhere in the Deep South.

And she was pointing a gun at Shawn as she emerged from the darkness into the moonlight.

Shawn wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, but a girl with a literal gun wasn’t one of those things. He froze in place. “Please don’t shoot.”

"You just keep your hands good n' raised where I can see' em." The girl said, still very much pointing the gun at Shawn.

"First question: are you a monster or a friend of monsters?"

Shawn carefully complied, keeping his hands visible and not making any sudden movements.  "No, I'm not?" He hoped it was the right answer. And really, when he thought about it, if Mr. Clayton was telling the truth about Griffix, Shawn didn't have any monster friends. Not anymore.

The fat girl nodded her head.

"I ain't a fixin' for a fight, but I'll just the same shoot you were you stand. So think real carefully about what you're about to say next. You think long and hard before you answer this next question. Real carefully? You got that?" The girl's fingers tensed, gripping the stock and the trigger as if getting ready to shoot.

"Real careful.  You got that?"

OOC: Shawn decided whether or not to answer, then rolls Wits + Composure

Shawn nodded carefully, not wanting to upset the girl by speaking out loud before she answered her question.

OOC: 07:48, Today: Shawn Cramer failed (no successes) using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 5,5,7,7. Wits + Composure.

"Alright." The girl said. "My name's Kristin. And I'm the one that asks questions here. I'm a monster hunter." She said, taking on the tone of a Sheriff in an Old Western movie. Shawn was familiar with the tone and role, having been on so many sets and seen so many props from his own experience.

"What are you doin' out so late?"

Shawn could tell she was playacting the part of a sheriff, and immediately tried to match her energy like in his acting classes. "I'm just trying to get back home. I was at a friend's house and I didn't notice how late it was." He tried to sound hapless and a little worried, just like the sort of townspeople a sheriff would help in those old movies. "You must be really brave, hunting monsters and everything. Do you think you can walk me home? I'll bet all the monsters would be scared of you."

OOC: Shawn Rolls Manipulation + Expression + Striking Looks with the following results

0 Successes: 'BANG!' Something went wrong with Shawn's explanation. Not only was it not sufficent, it somehow convinces Kristin that Shawn is a monster. Kristin decides to shoot first and ask questions later. She pulls the trigger.

1 Success: Kristin is not convinced. She moves forward and asks a question. After she does, Shawn rolls Manipulation + Expression + Striking looks -3.

2-3 Successes: Kristin is convinced. She continues with the interrogation, without the gun pointed at Shawn.

4-6 Successes: Kristin is convinced. She ceases the interrogation of Shawn

7+ Successes: Kristin is more than convinced. Shawn adds Kristin to Character sheet as "Ally"

08:02, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 3 successes using 9d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling on 9 or more with rolls of 6,5,6,2,9(+10,3),3,6,8,1.  Manipulation + Expression + Striking Looks.

"You're story checks out." Kristin said, lowering the gun.

"But I still gotta make sure that you ain't tryin' to deceive by yarns or windies." Kristin said.

"What's in the case?" She asked, pointing the tip of the barrel at the briefcase containing Mr. Clayton.

Shawn picked up the case, thinking of a story as fast as he could. "This case? It's just my french horn. My mom said I had to practice over at my friend's house, 'cause school's starting soon and I gotta join the band. It's kinda boring, but I'm glad you're here because if a monster came after me and I got it dirty, I'd probably get grounded." Shawn tried to make it sound as boring as possible, so that the girl wouldn't want to look inside. More importantly, he made it sound as normal as he could, the exact opposite of an exciting monster hunter tale - a wild west sheriff wouldn't get bogged down in an extended conversation about groundings and french horns, so dwelling on it would ruin the fun fantasy. "What kinda monsters are out here? I bet you've gotten a bunch!"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:02, Mon 04 Feb 2019.

Shawn Rolls Manipulation + Empathy + Striking Looks + Specialization(?) versus Kristin's Composure + Empathy

OOC: 07:46, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 10d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 3,8,6,4,6,5,6,3,2,3. Manipulation + Empathy + Striking Looks + WP.

OOC: 05:06, Today: Kristin rolled 1 success using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((4,10(+3),6)).

Kristin looked with either doubt or confusion at what Shawn was saying. Perhaps it was Shawn's accent in her ear. Or maybe it was just confusion on her part.

"What's that? I recon' what your sayin' is sort of Cattywampus. Come again?"

OOC: Shawn makes same roll again

OOC: 07:27, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 7d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 8,3,7,7,8,6,4.  Manipulation + Empathy + Striking Looks.

18:21, Today: Kristin rolled 4 successes using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((10(+10,1),9,9)).

"No it ain't." Kristin reproached, flatly rejecting Shawn's explanation of what might be in the case. "Boy, I'm about to cloud up and rain all over you" Kristin said, now getting slightly angry. Her postured stiffened, and she raised her gun again and pointed it at Shawn.

"I didn't just fall off the turnip truck you know." Kristin said. "So I'm gonna ask you one more time." The Fat girl said in a clear tone.


"Whatcha' got in that case?"

Shawn felt cornered and desperate and afraid and frustrated; all he wanted to do was get home and it felt like the whole world was standing in his way. And, like the actor he was, he used it. Shawn suddenly burst into tears - crying on cue was the trick that got him into his first real movie, but this time he channelled his feelings to make it seem realer.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want to lie but I was scared! I borrowed it from my dad 'cause it looked cool and he's a lawyer and I wanted to show my friend, and we opened and a bunch of papers came out and we shoved it all back in and I'm afraid if I open it here the papers would go everywhere and 'cause it's night we'd never find them and and my dad would get mad...an' I thought that if I told you that you'd think I stole the case, and you'd think I was a monster 'cause monsters steal things, but I swear my dad said it was okay!" The words all came out in an undignified run-on rush. Shawn looked young for his age, and when crying he somehow looked even younger. He picked up the case and hugged it to the front of his body, sniffling pathetically. "P-please don't shoot me."

Shawn Rolls Manipulation + Empathy + Striking Looks + 2 versus Kristin's Composure + Empathy

OOC: 20:18, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 4 successes using 12d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 1,8,9,6,1,9,1,4,10(+6),4,5,7. Manipulation + Empathy + Striking Looks + 2 + WP.

06:24, Today: Kristin rolled 2 successes using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((4,9,8)).

"Fine." Kristin soaked up Shawn's explanation about how he borrowed it from his Dad by saying "you probably did borrow it from your Dad."

She lowered the gun.

"But the same rules apply. I'm looking out for monsters. That means that you need to open that case so it can be checked too. I swear, you got words that are slicker than snot on a doorknob. But enough of that. Let's just say I believe you."

"I need you to stop talkin' now. I ain't got time for no more words. Open the case an then I'll walk you back home. For your safety n' mine. Did you know that monsters can hide in all sorts of places. Even when you aren't lookin', the monsters can crawl into things like closets n' closet doors and such."

"Like that there case you got too."

Shawn took a little bit to calm down and stop sniffling, since it'd be weird if he just suddenly stopped. He used that time to figure out his next lie as well - it seemed like emotional manipulation was having a weirdly difficult time working, so he decided to switch to just straight deception. "I don't wanna get eaten...even though I'll get in trouble..." He set the case down and knelt by it like he was going to open it when he paused. "Wait, what if I pinky promise when I get home I'll turn on all the lights and open the case there? Everyone knows monsters hate the light, 'cause that's why night lights keep them away. It'll kill the monster and I won't get in trouble?"

"What??" Kristin said confused. "What are you blabbern' on about? I don't even know what all that blabbern' means."

"You just open the case and then we'll get onto whatever you said. Geez. The more time I spend here, the less I like this place. It's crowded, there's monsters. And there ain't no one around here that actually is from here." She complained.

Shawn was backed into a corner. He couldn't open the case, not just because it might let Mr. Clayton out, but because then the gunslinger girl would know he'd been lying and might shoot him. He leaned forward, back to Kristin and started fumbling with the locks. But really, he was carefully taking out his Liar's goblet, still with a few of his teardrops in the bottom. Careful to keep his back of the head in the way, he tried to drink it down as he considered his lie. A simple one, like that the case just had paper in it.

The glint of the Liar's Goblet's red stone shone in the moonlight, reflecting slighly. It was a rich, dark red that was hardly visible were it not for the reflection of the moon's brilliant light.

Shawn could feel Kristin's eyes on the back of his head, patiently waiting for him to open the case.

All the same, she didn't seem to notice that Shawn had the Liar's Goblet with the remnants of tears at the bottom, cradling in his hands.

Shawn fumbled with the lock again, and then downed the goblet in one swift motion and tried to swallow - he was anticipating something bitter like Little Stone had warned him. Then, once he got the liquid down, he tried to say, "Ugh, this is a waste of time. There's nothing in here but paper."

Shawn spoke the words and waited for some response from behind him. He was still kneeling, back facing Kristin in the silence after he spoke.

Then he heard the first gurgle.

"Glurghhhh." It sounded like the noise that one of the Goblins made in Kid Knight. There was a swishing, moist-sounding noise from behind him. Then the sound of something tearing slightly, like a rubber band.

Shawn immediately felt like something was wrong...he grabbed hold of the handle to the case, and then quickly turned around.

Shawn turned around to see Kristin kneeling on the ground, the whites of her eyes showing. One eyelid flickered slightly, the brown of the eye trying unsuccessfully to flick backwards over and over again like some kind of broken electronic on a toy doll.

Kristin's mouth was outstretched to the point of being an oval shape. Her jaw stretched downward to the mid-point of her chest, tongue lolling out to the side like some kind of dog-zombie in the heat of summer. The corners of her mouth were bleeding, the skin having broken from her stretched-out mouth and jaw.

"Gurgugughhh" Kristin gurgled non-nonsensically.

Bradford stepped forward from the shadows behind her and planted a foot on her back.

"She's just a dummy now Shawn." He stated, pushing her forward with his foot. The big, fat girl fell forward onto the grass in a heap. "I wouldn't worry about her anymore."

OOC: Shawn Rolls  Roll Wits + Composure with the following results

0 Successes! Surprised! Shawn is so shocked he loses a turn

1-2 Successes: Shawn may take any action first, before Bradford

3+ Successes: Shawn was preparing for something like this. He has been paying attention to everything around him.  Shawn may take any two actions first, before Bradford

Shawn doesn’t have time for horror or guilt or sadness. He just holds onto the case and runs - he’s close enough to his house that he heads towards that relative safety.

OOC: 07:28, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 4,9,10(+7),7,9.  Wits + Composure.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:47, Mon 11 Feb 2019.

OOC: Shawn Rolls Stamina + Athletics + 1 (1st Action)

Then Shawn Rolls Stamina + Athletics + 1 (2nd Action)

Five successes are needed in total in order to reach the house. If Shawn gets five success, he reaches the house completely safe. If the two rolls result in less than five successes, Bradford will roll Stamina + Athletics + 1

Shawn just kept running, not even taking the time to look back and see how close Bradford was on his heels.

OOC: 22:17, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 9,2,7,5,10(+2),1. Stamina + Athletics + 1.

22:18, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 3,8,5,3,7,4.  Stamina + Athletics + 1.

Shawn got a good head start, lifting himself upward and running towards his house. He heard movement behind him, his own breath in starting to exhale with each footfall.

Beat It by Michael Jackson was wailing from the direction of his house. As Shawn ran closer, her realized it was his house. There was loud music playing. The music was so loud that it sounded almost like a loud party.

OOC: 20:13, Today: Bradford Stork failed (no successes) using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((7,1,2,6,2)).

Shawn Rolls Stamina + Athletics + 1

Shawn just kept running - he could tell there was something going on at his house...wasn't today his birthday? That complicated things a little, but he knew the side door was probably unlocked, so he could slip in and go upstairs before anyone asked why there were two of him...

OOC: 20:19, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 9,5,4,3,7,3. Stamina + Athletics + 1.

OOC: 20:44, Today: Bradford Stork rolled 3 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((2,9,8,6,8)).

"Come back!" Bradford yelled behind Shawn, and he sounded closer than Shawn thought he might be.

Shawn was almost at the house. And the music was loud. It sounded just like a birthday party. Was it his birthday party?

Shawn stumbled as he got closer...

OOC: 20:52, Today: Shawn Cramer failed (no successes) using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 5,1,3,4,1,6. Stamina + Athletics + 1.

OOC: 05:46, Today: Storyteller, on behalf of Bradford Stork, rolled 2 successes using 5d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((8,6,9,6,1)).

Bradford reaches Shawn's total successes. Shawn is caught!


"Gothcja!" Bradford said in a slawffy, doughy voice, the result of his burned face.

Bradford Rolls Strength (2) + Weaponry (-1) +3(Willpower) (Shawn has no defense as back is turned). If Bradford succeeds, in attack, then +2 lethal damage because of knife.

05:55, Today: Storyteller, on behalf of Bradford Stork, rolled 2 successes using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((10(+7),6,10(+5),5)).

2 + 2 (damage knife) = Shawn takes 4 Damage Lethal.



Shawn felt a hot, white pain in his lower back that traveled all the way up his back and into his neck. There was a soft 'sfffck' sound, and Shawn could hear Bradford's  warm breath on the back of his neck.

OOC: P. 153: If a single attack inflicts an amount of damage greater than or equal to the character’s Stamina, the character may be stunned. If the damage caused by the attack is equal to the character’s Stamina, make a reflexive Resolve roll. A stunned character loses her next action and her Defense for the remainder of the turn.

Shawn Rolls "Resolve"

Shawn feels something hot and painful in his back, but somehow keeps pushing onwards towards the increasingly nearby sounds of Michael Jackson.

OOC: 07:16, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 6d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 7,7,3,3,9,1.  Resolve + WP.

07:18, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 5 successes using 9d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 2,2,10(+4),10(+9),6,4,8,2,9.  Stamina + Athletics + 1 + WP.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:20, Wed 13 Feb 2019.

Shawn ran forward, the searing hot pain in his back slowly turning into gaping, bloody mess. Warm blood was now soaking his shirt as he fumbled with the side door to the basement in his house. His hands were jittery, his palms managing to twist the door knob, the familiar sound of that basement door clicking and the possibility of safety that it brought.

The door opened and Shawn stepped inside.

Turning around, Bradford's face appeared in the doorway. He was meaning to enter into Shawn's house. In his right hand, he held a bloody knife.

Shawn slammed the door behind him as he stepped through, trying to turn the lock. Once he was behind that relative safety he told the other boy, “I’ll scream, and everyone will see you...go away.”

Shawn's knees buckled as he spoke behind the locked door, the weight of the pain now taking on an additional level of burden, even as his adrenaline still ran high.

There was a pounding on the door. A weak, child's pounding, for Bradford after all was just a skinny kid and not Jack Nicholson in The Shining. But even for all its weakness Shawn could feel the hatred and rage pulsing each time Bradford hit the door from outside.

"You let me in Shawn!!!!!! LET ME IN!!!!! LET!!!!! ME!!!!! IN!!!!" Bradford screamed, his voice barely overcoming the loud, birthday music that was blaring all around. Bradford's voice, from behind the door, had retained its clarity and was no longer ugly and doughy as it had been just moments before.

Shawn sat down rather heavily, both mentally and physically exhausted. Bradford's voice was just a background noise as he tried to catch his breath. Still, it couldn't dull his sense of accomplishment - he'd succeeded in getting home, despite everything seeming to conspire against him. He just had to get upstairs - the party wouldn't be on the second floor by his room, and he knew the bathroom there had the first aid kit. He could get bandaged up, and then hide in his room until other Shawn went to bed. Gingerly, he tried to get to his feet.

Shawn's knees buckled again as he struggle to get up and walk.

OOC: This Shawn Character Receives the following wound penalties for the next two days

No Heroic Effort, No 10-Again rolls, -2 to all Rolls


There was a pat, pat, pat. A sound and a trickling of warm blood that had collected on the floor just beneath Shawn. It fell into a puddle. The pain came rushing in, Shawn now saw stars for a brief moment.

If felt for a moment like someone had opened up a seam in Shawn's back and important organs were about to fall out.


"LET ME IN!!!! LET ME IN!!!" Bradford screams broke the spell, even though they were muffled and barely audible from the music in the house.

Shawn tried not to scream as the adrenaline started to wear off and the real pain began. He took a deep breath, wincing as he did, and tried again. This time, rather than just trying to stand up by himself, he grabbed the suitcase, and pushed on it as he levered himself to his knees. Then, he flipped the suitcase on its side and used it to try and push himself to his feet. He made sure never to put his full weight on his legs, instead using the suitcase as a sort of crutch as he tried to slowly make his way to the door that'd take him further into his house.

He was making progress. Each step Shawn moved towards the staircase, the suitcase was his crutch and it prevented him from falling down. The music had changed now, and the song Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go was now blasting through the house.

Then the pounding on the door stopped and Shawn could hear muffled laughing from Bradford outside.

"Mr....Claaaaaaayyyyyton." Bradford said in a loud voice to overcome the music.

"WAKE UP MR. CLAYTON!!! IT'S ME BRADFORD!!!" Bradford shouted.

Shawn could feel the suitcase jolt, one clasp on the outside suddenly popped open.

Shawn was in no position to take any chances. He stopped moving towards the stairs, and instead bore down on the suitcase with his full weight. With a free hand, he tried to pop the clasp closed, and as he did, he whisper-hissed to the suitcase on the off-chance Mr. Clayton could hear. "No! You said you were staying out of this, so stay out of this. You wanted this to be between me and Bradford, so keep your word."

OOC: Shawn Rolls "Strength" Mr. Clayton's "Strength" (1 dice pool - Just a Puppet) +3 (Willpower)

Shawn's Roll has the following modifications:

No Heroic Effort, No 10-Again rolls, -2 to all Rolls (Willpower can be used).

Any 10s that Shawn Rolls will be rolled again since there are nor 10 again rolls.

Shawn could feel presser from the inside of the case as he tried to force it to close. The Puppet wanted out. It was responding to Bradford's call. Still, it was only a puppet. If Shawn wasn't injured, maybe it would have been easier to keep it shut.

"If we weren't injured, maybe it would be easier to keep it shut!" Feddler yelled in Shawn's mind.

Shawn succeeded in popping the clasp back into place with on of his free hands even as his back blazed with pain from the wound in his back.

Snap!

The other clasp came open.

"He's saying something to us. He's saying that he wants to bring us and Bradford together. He's saying that he wants to see the destruction. That is what he is trying to do. He's saying from inside the case that he wants to see one of us die."

Somehow, Shawn could feel those very thoughts emanate from the suitcase. From within the small, cramped space that Mr. Clayton was struggling to get out of. Feddler's words were just an echo of what Mr. Clayton was saying to him from within the case. Shawn felt the words. He heard them just as Feddler had expressed them and Mr. Clayton had responded to the call. And with every jolt and pressing that the Puppet made, Shawn felt the hatred within the case threatening to push itself outward.

OOC:
Mr. Clayton Rolls "Strength" (1 dice pool - Just a Puppet) +3 (Willpower):

20:11, Today: Bradford's Puppet - Mr. Clayton rolled 1 success using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((2,1,10(+7),7)).

Shawn tried to keep hold of the case, but it feels fruitless. He tries using his words. "You'll get your confrontation! I've got a plan that'll make for much more destruction...you just have to give me one night. Wouldn't it be boring to just end it in some random basement?"

OOC: 20:48, Today: Shawn Cramer failed (no successes) using 3d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 5,2,5. Strength - Wound Penalty (2) + WP.

As Shawn spoke the second clasp popped open, he could hear Feddler say something, more of a inhalation of shock and surprise that actual words.

The suitcase pried itself apart with a jangling, springy noise like a jack-in-the-box toy. Out came a single, steel wire that lashed across the room and hooked itself on the door lock, slapping it open. It pushed itself against the door knob itself, turning it with a quick, jerking motion.

Then, like the retractable coord on Mom's vacuum cleaner, it whizzed back into the case.

Shawn heard the door open and Bradford passed through with a smile on his face. He brandished the knife he had already used to open up Shawn's back.

"I'm slowing to slowpppen you up like a slzipper!" Bradford rejoiced, half of his face sagging, the flesh pink and scarred, his words sloppy and chopped.

OOC: Bradford's Defense is 2

Shawn May run with a roll of Dexterity + Stamina +1 (-2 to all rolls, no 10 agains, no heroic effort)

Or Shawn may attempt any other action
This message was last edited by the player at 01:30, Wed 20 Feb 2019.

There was no time for stealth or worrying about what people might think - if Shawn didn't leave now, Bradford was going to kill him! That fear brought his last reserves of adrenaline back, and he used the suitcase to crutch-walk himself up the stairs as fast as he could. He knew he couldn't outrun Bradford in his condition, but he didn't have to. He just had to make it the short distance to the stairs and get into the house proper where Bradford couldn't just openly stab him.

OOC: 20:43, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 3 successes using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 7,1,8,10(+9). Dexterity + Stamina +1 - 2.

This is actually 2 successes because I can't figure out how to turn off 10-again on the roller.

OOC: 14:27, Today: Bradford Stork rolled 1 success using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((2,9,4,7)).


Bradford slowly moved towards Shawn will the killer of instinct of an animal that was going to enjoy killing his prey.

OOC: Shawn needs 2 more successes to 'crutch' himself up the stairs and reach the door.

Shawn kept moving up the stairs, legs shaking but determined. “If you near me, I’m gonna scream! There’s a whole party full of grownups on the other side of the door, you’ll go to prison forever!” Whether by outrunning him or convincing him to back off even temporarily, Shawn just wanted Bradford to stop.

OOC: 16:00, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 1,7,10(+8),7.  Dexterity + Stamina +1 - 2.

Shawn scurried up the steps with his back to Bradford, and Bradford followed close behind.  As if suddenly shocked that Shawn had made it up the stairs so quickly and to the door, Bradford yelled "NOooOO!!"

"He is going to throw the knife!" Feddler yelled.


OOC: Bradford Rolls Dexterity + Athletics minus Shawn's Defense (no defense, back turned). If Bradford succeeds, then Shawn takes 2d10 additional damage.

19:44, Today: Bradford Stork rolled 2 successes using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((1,2,10(+5),8)).

Damage: 04:53, Today: Bradford Stork rolled 2 successes using 2d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((8,9)).


Shawn Gains Condition: Incapacitation - Unable to Move

Shawn Rolls Reflexive "Stamina" Roll to stay conscious with no penalties

Shawn felt the knife plunge into his back. His eyes widened with the oncoming rush of pain, his hand letting go of the suitcase which slid down the stairs and hit the bottom, where it fell to its side.

Pain seared through Shawn's back with more strength than a branding iron, his mind conceding to the torment, unable to bring a thought to completion. Without intention, he felt his body curl into something fetal, something primeval and all the while the pain burned and radiated.

Somehow remaining conscious, Shawn opens the door and staggers through it.

OOC: 05:40, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 2 successes using 2d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 2,10(+10,6).  Stamina.

Shawn staggered through the door, falling through as he pushed it open with his weight. He reached the threshold of the door frame, the music now louder than ever. Searing pain welled up from somewhere, from everywhere in his body.

His back was aflame with unanswered pain. A spasm broke out in between his shoulder blades. It ran down his legs, making them quiver and loose control, sending Shawn down to his knees. Shawn's hands became rigid and white knuckled, gripping at the air as the pain spread out through his body. His vision became blurry and dark. The sound of the music blurred together with the thrumming of his heartbeat.

Somewhere in the distance of the haze, Shawn heard Bradford's footfalls come up from behind him, advancing up the steps.

OOC: 00:27, Today: Bradford Stork rolled 2 successes using 4d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s ((8,5,6,8)).

Shawn takes 2 bashing damage


"RRGGHURPPH!" Bradford yelled as he slammed something into the side of Shawn's head.

Colorful spots contoured the sides of Shawn's eyes and he was vaguely aware that he was no longer in the doorway anymore. There was a high-pitched noise coming from somewhere inside his head which made Shawn's ears ring. Shawn had a brief thought about something somewhere, but he couldn’t remember where. Or what it was.

Suddenly Shawn was aware that he was rolling on, and on, down, the world flipping and flipping around, Shawn trying to shake the fuzz out of his head and Bradford throttling him at the same time.

There was no stopping.

OOC:

Shawn Gains Condition: Incapacitation - Unable to Move

Shawn Rolls Reflexive Stamina roll (with no penalty) to stay conscious

Somehow, against all reason, Shawn remained conscious. But the pain was so bad, he almost wished he hadn't. He couldn't really move, couldn't fight back anymore. He tried to call out weakly, hoping someone could hear him...

OOC: 01:06, Today: Shawn Cramer rolled 1 success using 2d10 with the World of Darkness nWoD system with a target of 8, rerolling 10s with rolls of 8,6.  Stamina.

Shawn's eyelid fluttered and he recognized that his face was pressed against the ground. From his sideways vantage point, he could see an open suitcase. Mr. Clayton was on the ground, splayed out. His arms were tangled in an awkward manner, one hand behind his head, one hand spread out on the rug before him. One of the Puppet's eyelids was closed and the other one was half open.

The ringing in Shawn's head seemed to correspond to the flat-lining of Feddler's voice. Shawn knew on some level that whatever Bradford had done, Shawn was no longer going to be hearing from the inner-voiced demon again any time soon. Perhaps he would never hear from him or anyone again.

Shawn heard Bradford whistling a jaunty tune that sounded like one of the Dwarf's singing 'whistle while you work' in Snow White as he moseyed up Behind Shawn. Shawn saw Bradford's knee plant down in front of his face, blocking out Mr. Clayton from view.

Bradford leaned down to whisper in Shawn's ear.

"sI'm goijng to enshoy shisss..." His twisted voice said to Shawn's limp, immobile body.

There was a soft, sucking, wet sound as Bradford pulled the knife out of Shawn's back.
Bradford said something about revenge for what happened to Ron and his face. Then Shawn heard the meat-hacking sound of the knife hitting his back several more times, and everything went dark....

OOC: This version of Shawn is dead. Proceed with other thread.