So. Firstly, I gotta ask.
Forgery, how the hell do a PC pull that off?
Second, if a Faction (Lampblacks) manages to complete their goal in wiping out their rivals in the Red Sashes? What happens to the stuff that the Sashes had access to? Like, the Alchemist?
I know my players are considering to grab him, but cab they do that at all? I don’t think they can afford a Specialist at the moment
First, they have to get the right papers and inks and stamps (or some raw materials to work with.) That is one or more fine items, need to pick those up by acquiring items during down time or spending Coin.
Then you need a copy to work from.
Then it’s a Finesse action, I suspect, with lots of exciting possibilities if they get less than a full success.
If they get the Alchemist and cannot afford that expert, what form of “payment” might the alchemist want, or how might they increase their income? Or do they just take a prisoner to keep in a dimly lit basement and risk escape efforts?
Forgery would fall under tinker maybe? Or I’d probably have them use aquire asset as a downtime action to get a pro to handle it.
I think the power void depends on your fiction. If the LBs are strong enough maybe they fold it in. Maybe up and coming gangs make a grab? Crow’s Foot belongs to the Crows in the end, so maybe an even uglier turf war erupts…
Make the player crew run an op to try and recruit or coerce their Alchemist, or maybe he just goes out in a disturbingly huge bang.
In actual play, I had a Whisper get a copy of an invitation and create a “ghost” of it out of electroplasm, with the complication it was only going to last a matter of hours before the occasional crackles escalated and the document flickered out altogether.
In addition to what others have said, regarding the PCs crew picking up the alchemist, keep in mind tier differences and what that assumes for whether the alchemist would want to deal with the PC crew. If she was previously retained by a Tier II gang, then there’s likely little incentive for her to find it worthwhile to hire herself to a Tier 0 gang. Not only can a Tier 0 probably pay far less, but they also don’t likely have quality infrastructure to support her (a nice lab, steady supplies, reliable job security, physical and paranormal protection and a safe living environment, kickbacks or free lunch at local establishments in the gang’s turf, the prospect of fame, reputation, and high status in certain circles, simple self-respect, degree of autonomy, etc.)
Andrew Shields Leprechaun paperwork! Looks like the real thing, reads like the real thing, vanishes at dawn’s first light the following morning…
Henry de Veuve Indeed. I would not have thought of that, but a player with a whisper character suggested it, and I shrugged and agreed. =)
Well. The Spooks are a Tier 1 gang atm.
They’re really ambitious. Plus, work for Silent the Alchemist is going to be… interesting. The Lampblacks have pretty much annihilated the Sashes, and even cut a deal with Lyssa to have give a hand in putting the Sashes and Mylera down.
It all happened at a party at the Rookery where Lyssa claimed she had found Roric’s will. That… got out of hand. Red Wedding style.
And thank you for all the ideas.