RE: [DL] Stone question [SPOILERS]

["Roy Spence" <roy.ster@virgin.net>]

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I agree with the previous posts that Stone would do whatever would generate
the most fear. The way I would play it would be to take Terrance apart, not
just down.  It's one thing for Terrance the heroic gunslinger to go down in
a blaze of glory against the big bad Stone - it's another for Terrance to be
left begging on his knees for his life, before Stone puts the (final?)
bullet in him.

So I'd make us of some of the harrowed powers subtly, like

Evil Eye - at level 5 that smarts.
Marked for Death
Rigor Mortis
Sicken with Infest
Wither
Spook
Voice O'The Damned
Jinx

Some of these could be done while Stone was using Death Mask - so that
Terrance wouldn't have any idea what was going on - he may get some
forebodings but little else ( possibly have him wandering around sneakily
during Night Train, possibly as a townsperson needing rescued but really in
no danger from the vamps).  This also allows you to build up Stones final
arrival/unveiling, with the sense of forebodings and more and more things
just generally going wrong.  Once Stone finally gets to make his official
move Terrance's gut instinct should tell him that Stone is the cause of his
problems, but where's the proof.  This should allow Stone to use some of the
more obvious powers to unsettle Terrance further (possibly Stone would have
used his influence to raise the fear level in the town, to counter the grit,
or also placed some of his undead cronies in the bar to give a further
penalty to any guts rolls if you want to down that route)  If you manage to
get the grit 5 character Scart it should also get the player worried.  Get
Stone to use everything in his power to stack things to his advantage so
that he can "show" people, a scart, hopefully "broken" hero.  Then he'll
call him out - make sure it's a duel to the death and gun him down - I might
also have Stone disable the PC first, toying with him (disable gun arm -
then the other arm, legs etc).  Finally finishing him off after uttering
some suitable quote.

If Philip tries to intervene, I'd have Stone disarm Philip as well (look no
hand) and maybe leave him a squirming bullet in his guts (the Doc can't find
it via the hole it made on the way in) just to remind him of the event.
Stone could finally use Nightmare on Philip leaving him with recurring
nightmares.

The Sheriff might be upset about Stone's method in the shooting, but it was
publicised as a duel to the death, can Stone help it if he is such a bad
shot?  Anyway Stone just needs a quiet word with the Sheriff (who turns
white) and then he's promptly freed.

I can't see Stone being particularly bothered with onlookers, the more
witnesses to a big bad hero being broken, who can tell his demise to others,
the better.

If you really want to be nasty, you could have Terrance's body disappear
from the undertakers, and via a trackin tooth in Philip's belongings, Stone
(or a messenger boy) could drop Terrance off piece by piece, just an
additional reminder for Philip and to keep him in check.

My personal opinion is that it's better leaving the players thinking that
they had a chance no matter how small, rather than them think that you are
simply killing off their character.  Let them know they are the best and let
them get cocky - them let them know they have attracted the attention of
things best unmentioned and finally take them down in the nastiest fashion
you can think of.  I tend not to kill PC's off for stupid mistakes, I like
to show them the repercussions of their mistakes and use the repercussions
to kill them off.  I figure if they escape their fate, it'll take good
roleplaying, which'll make up for their stupid action in the first place.

Anyway a rather lengthy opinion, however I've been quiet of late, so I
figure I can get away with it. :)

Actually, do we have any idea what Stone's Overawe is (not got my books
here?  and if it's of a XD12+Y level - it would be worth spending a red/blue
chip on the roll.

Roy