Anything Goes
A scene from “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” written as a Fate Core example
Dramatis Personae
Indiana Jones
High Concept: Two-fisted archaeologist
Trouble: That belongs in a proper museum!
Aspect: Why did it have to be snakes?!
Aspect: My Whip & My Hat
Aspect: Nazis? I hate Nazis.
Skills
Great: Lore
Good: Fight, Notice
Fair: Shoot, Will, Physique
Average: Athletics, Provoke, Rapport, Drive
Stress & Consequences
Physical: ❑ ❑ ❑
Mental: ❑ ❑ ❑
Mild: Empty
Moderate: Empty
Severe: Empty
Stunts
Whip Round
When I’m using my whip to overcome obstacles I can use my Fight instead of my Athletics.
Quick Draw
When I am starting a one-on-one conflict with a villain who is armed with a melee weapon, I always win initiative in the first exchange of the conflict
Allies Wherever I Go
Once per session I can spend a fate point to declare that I previously arranged for an ally to be in the scene who can provide backup. Such allies tend to be two stress mooks that die more often than not, but who can be useful while they survive.
Willie Scott
High Concept: Torch Singer
Trouble: I want to be rich, dammit!
Aspect: Blond bombshell
Aspect: I’ll prove I’m tougher than I look
Aspect: I do care about people, even if I don’t always show it
Skills
Great: Rapport
Good: Athletics, Notice
Fair: Empathy, Will, Deceive
Average: Physique, Fight, Provoke, Drive
Stress & Consequences
Physical: ❑ ❑ ❑
Mental: ❑ ❑ ❑
Mild: Empty
Mild (Mental): Empty
Moderate: Empty
Severe: Empty
Stunts
Inner Reserves
Because I’m tougher than I look I have an extra Mild consequence for mental attacks only.
Irresistable
Because I’m a blonde bombshell I get a +2 on rapport rolls to try and convince people to help me when I act vulnerable.
Do the right thing!
When I’m willing to show I care, I get +2 to my rapport rolls to try and convince people to do the right thing.
Lao Che
High Concept: Chinese Gangster
Trouble: Honour our ancestors
Aspect: Machiavellian Schemer
Aspect: A finger in every pie
Aspect: My loyal sons
Approaches
Good: Clever
Fair: Sneaky, Flashy
Average: Forceful, Careful
Mediocre: Quick
Stress & Consequences
Physical: ❑ ❑ ❑
Mental: ❑ ❑ ❑
Mild: Empty
Moderate: Empty
Severe: Empty
Stunts
Because I have a finger in every pie, once per session I can declare a story detail relating to my pervasive criminal empire without spending a fate point.
Lao Chen & Lao Kao Kan
Lao Che’s sons. They are Good quality mooks with two stress boxes each. For the purposes of this fight they will band together as a unit.
The Honour of our Family
Extreme violence is always an option
Good: Forceful
Fair: Flashy, Sneaky
Average: Quick, Careful
Mediocre: Clever
Stress & Consequences
Physical: ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ (Third box is shown as it takes 3 stress to knock out a 2 stress mook)
Mental: ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ (Third box is shown as it takes 3 stress to knock out a 2 stress mook)
Scene 1: The Deal
GM: So this is Club Obi Wan in Shanghai, China.
Willie: Obi Wan? Really?
GM: Yes, Club Obi Wan. It was burned down a few years ago but now it has been rebuilt and is more popular than you could possibly imagine. Anyway, the club is very lavishly appointed with a red and gold motif. There are giant dragon statues framing the stage and the main room is dotted with large round tables, each of which has a Lazy Susan for passing food around the table to each other. The place is crowded with diners, many of whom have large stands next to their tables with ice buckets. Indy, you’re just heading in through the main doors of the place. You’ll be meeting with Lao Che and his two sons, Lao Chen and Lao Kao Kan. As you cross the floor the huge gong by the stage is struck by a thick-set mustachioed man, signalling the beginning of the floor show. Next to the huge gong is a large decorative sword. You know, just in case that becomes relevant...
GM: Willie Scott heads the act with her backing dancers, and it’s immediately apparent to you, Indy, that this is one hell of a girl. Willie, would you like to describe the act?
Willie: Sure. Well, I emerge from a plume of smoke from a giant papier maché dragon’s mouth. I begin to sway my hips and hold my arms up, slinking as I move down the stage and begin singing “Anything Goes” in Chinese.The dragons have red silk scarves blowing out of their nostrils as if they’re fire. I’m dressed in a fabulous gold lamé dress that hugs my figure nicely. Combined with my blonde hair I match the decor of the Obi Wan perfectly. I have four backing dancers. They all have fans.
Indy: I pause to watch the floor show, distracted by Willie’s good looks..
Willie: Later there’s a tap number with even more dancers, who do lots of co-ordinated dance steps.
GM: The gong is struck again to indicate the end of the performance, and the crowd applauds. The backing dancers quickly disappear while Willie starts singing another song.
Indy: I’ll scan the room for Lao Che and his boys, then make my way over to them.
GM: It’s not hard to find them. They’re all dressed in white tuxedos and have slicked-back hair. Lao Chen has his arm in a sling.They have a sort of smug atmosphere about them as if they are anticipating making out with a good deal here. You’re here to trade the ashes of Nurhachi, one of their esteemed ancestors, for a large diamond named the Peacock Eye. Lao Che has two big henchmen standing behind him, also in white tuxedos.
GM: Lao Che says, “Dr. Jones.”
Indy: I nod. “Lao Che.”
GM: He says, “Nee chin lie how ma?” His men all burst out laughing.
Indy: I have Great lore, do I need to spend a fate point to speak Chinese?
GM: Nope, that’s fine. He said, “How are you lately?”
Indy: I smile a big shit-eating grin and say something pithy back in Chinese. I don’t really care what, I just want to demonstrate that I understand the language as a way of putting him off balance.
GM: Lao Che looks angry and his men’s smiles fade. He says, “You never told me you spoke my language, Dr Jones.”
Indy: “I don’t like to show off.” I take a seat opposite Lao Che.
GM: “For this special occasion I ordered champagne and caviar.” He gestures at the plate of caviar in front of you with an expansive gesture, the unctuous smile returning to his face.
Indy: I look at the pile of caviar on the plate in front of me… and stub my cigarette out in it. It sizzles and a disgusting smell of burning fish eggs wafts up from the plate. I’m treating this as a create advantage action with Provoke to put Lao Che off balance for the negotiation. I roll a Good.
GM: He rolls Fair to resist, so you successfully create the Lao Che is angry situation aspect, but with no extra free invoke. There’s applause as Willie finishes her song. Lao Che stares at you with a strange intensity.”So is it true, Dr Jones? you found Nurhachi?”
Indy: “Sure I found him. Then last night I had a little trouble. Someone tried to slit my throat.” I look across the table at Lao Chen.
GM: He snarls like the bulldog he resembles.
Indy: “It was dark, but I think one of your sons tried to get Nurhachi without paying for him.” I stare pointedly at his recently bandaged hand.
GM: Chen mutters and stands angrily. Lao barks a comment in Chinese and Chen sits down again. “You have insulted my son.”
Indy: “Next time I’ll cut off more than his finger.”
GM: “Dr. Jones… I want Nurhachi.” He pulls a wad of cash out of his pocket and puts it on the table. It’s a fair bit of money, but less than you agreed.
Indy: “As I recall the deal was considerably more.”
Willie: I slink over and put my hand on Lao’s shoulder. I smile, oblivious to the explosive mood around the table. I smile flirtatiously at Indy. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
GM: “This is Willie Scott.” He doesn’t take his eyes off you for a second. “And this is Indiana Jones, the famous archaeologist.”
Willie: I sit down between Lao and Indy. I take out a small mirror to check my makeup.
GM: “Dr Jones found Nurhachi for me and is about to deliver him… now.” Kao Kan, his second son, opens his coat and removes a silver plated pistol.
Indy: I look worried.
Willie: I don’t notice. I’m too busy fixing my makeup and coyly teasing Indy. “Well, I thought archaeologists were always funny little men searching for their mummies.”
GM: Okay, so we’re going into a Contest. It’s a negotiation where each of you is trying to get both the ashes of Nurhachi and the Peacock Eye diamond. The main skills are Provoke or Rapport. Indy, Lao and his sons aren’t creating an advantage for the first exchange, are you?
Indy: Yeah. I grab the sharp steak knife on the table in front of me and grab Willie with one arm around her shoulder. I stick the knife against her ribs.
GM: Okay, go ahead. Willie can resist with Fight.
They roll and Indy succeeds, creating the knife in Willie’s ribs aspect.
Willie: I look down in terror at the knife in my ribs “I was only kidding, can’t you take a joke?! Lao, he’s got a knife!”
Indy: “Put the gun away, sonny.”
GM: Okay, so you’re both using Provoke on this first action. The kid’s got his gun drawn but I didn’t roll to create an advantage so you aren’t particularly intimidated by that. Let’s roll… highest roller gets a victory.
Indy: Sounds good to me. I get +0 for a total of Average.
GM: Luckily for you, I rolled pretty badly. I’m only on Fair. He’s beating you and gaining a victory right now.
Indy: I’ll invoke my knife in Willie’s ribs aspect to win with one shift over. A victory point for me!
GM: Kao Kan glances at his father. Lao finally nods to his son and he slips the pistol back into his pocket.
Indy: “Now I suggest you pay me what you promised, or your girlfriend here is going to be squealing a new tune.”
GM: The ritzy patrons at the tables nearby are unaware of the tawdry drama quietly unfolding at this table.
Willie: I whimper, eye the blade, and look imploringly at Lao. Please won’t he help me?
GM: You can create an advantage to help Indy on his next roll, if you want, since that’s the best way for you to get out of this unhurt.
Willie: I will. Rapport I think, to create the Willie in distress aspect.
They roll. Willie has good Rapport so she beats Lao Che and creates the aspect with a free invoke.
GM Lao puts ten gold coins next to the cash on the table. This is actually a cover for his son, Chen, who uses your moment of distraction while looking at the gold to put a mysterious powder in your drink. I’ll resolve this as Chen creating the advantage of poisoned champagne while Lao gives him a teamwork bonus. You can resist with Notice.
They roll Sneaky Vs Notice. The bad guys succeed with style and Indy’s drink is spiked - 2 free invokes.
Indy: “Try again, Lao. The deal was more.” I poke Willie in the ribs with the knife, using Provoke to make them think I’m really going to do this.
They roll Provoke versus Empathy. Indy wins and places I’m going to stab her - 1 free invoke.
GM: Okay, let’s roll the actual contest actions. Provoke it is!
They roll. Indy burns the invoke Willie gave him and the one on I’m going to stab her.
For some reason the GM elects to keep hold of the poisoned champagne invoke for now.
Indy succeeds with three shifts and succeeds with style, winning two victories and the contest.
GM: Lao reaches into another pocket and brings out a folded piece of rice paper. He opens it and a large diamond and ruby spill out on to the table. You’ve got what you want? Now seems like a good time for a celebration drink, doesn’t it? Here’s a fate point if you agree to drink the poisoned champagne. You won the contest, but Lao’s playing dirty. This will re-frame what’s going on as a conflict.
Indy: Uh-oh. Well, it will certainly make the scene more interesting… “Bingo. You see, Lao, with a bit of persuasion even you can be an honest fellow.” I smile and jab the knife into the middle of the table and lift my champagne glass in a toast to Lao.
GM: He watches expectantly as you move the glass towards your lips.
Willie: I stand up, jostling Indy’s arm so he doesn’t drink the champagne. “Look at this! He put a hole in my dress from Paris!”
GM: He sees Indy putting the champagne glass down and snarls at Willie. “Sit down!” You’re still drinking, right? Otherwise you owe me two fate points. He forces a smile at you and lifts his glass. “To your health, Dr Jones.” He sips his champagne and watches you hopefully.
Indy: Sure, a deal’s a deal. I drink the champagne and reach for the cash.
They swap the poisoned champagne situation aspect for a poisoned aspect on Indy.
GM: Chen grins and puts a silver snuff bottle down next to the cash, gold and jewels. He tips the bottle over and a little white powder spills out of it.
Indy: “What’s that?”
GM: “A bonus, Dr Jones. That is poison. You just drank the rest of it.”
Indy: I examine my champagne glass and see a residue at the bottom of it. I swallow and feel sick, wondering if it’s fear or the poison already taking effect.
GM: It’s definitely the poison. Roll your Physique against a difficulty of Great.
Indy: Ulp. I get a Great, so for now I’m not taking any stress from it.
Exchange 1: Order is Indy, Willie, Chen & Kao, Lao.
GM: Your action in the conflict is first, what do you want to do?
Indy: I’m going to focus my resolve and try to overcome the poison, blinking my bleary eyes and so on in an effort to weaken its hold on me.
GM: Okay, create an advantage with Physique.
Indy: I succeed at Good. Shall we call it, Fighting the poison?
GM: Okay, that’s fine. You take an exchange to steel yourself. Willie, you’re next.
Willie: I hold my action for now.
GM: Okay, fine. The boys are holding for now as well. Lao smiles at you. “There is an antidote for this poison. You give me Nurhachi, I give you the antidote.” That’s a mental attack, Indy, he’s using his provoke to try and persuade you to hand over Nurhachi in exchange for the antidote. You can defend with Will.
They roll. They tie, but Lao spends the invoke on poisoned champagne to win. Indy takes 2 stress.
He fills his second stress box and the scene continues.
GM: You’re sweating and your hand is shaking, much to Willie’s dismay. “The poison works fast, Dr Jones. Where is Nurhachi?”
Indy: I finally reach into my pocket. Next to the cash, gold, jewels and poison I set down a beautiful small box made of gold and enamel.
Willie: “This Nurhachi’s a very small guy.”
Indy: “Inside are the remains of Nurhachi, the first Emperor of the Manchu Dynasty.”
GM: Lao opens the box carefully and stares reverently at the grey powder inside. Are you conceding the conflict? If you do, he gets the box AND the jewels AND the money, but he will hand over the antidote.
Exchange 2: Order is Indy, Willie, Chen & Kao, Lao.
Indy: Like hell I am. I’m spending a fate point at this point to activate my Allies Everywhere stunt. I’ve got an ally disguised as a waiter right here and he’s going to sneak up on Lao to help me resolve this conflict. I’m going to hold my actions until he’s in position. “Now, what about the antidote, Lao?” I ask, stalling for time as I watch my ally, Wu Han, move into position.
GM: “At last, I have the ashes of my sacred ancestor!”
Willie: I’ve got an action while Indy is holding. I say, “So what’s the big deal, let me see it…” I grab Lao’s arm and spill some of the ashes. This is a mental attack to make him go a bit nuts. He won’t notice Wu Han then, will he?”
They roll. Willie beats Lao by three shifts. He takes a minor consequence of Furious Anger and 1 stress.
GM: Stunned by the desecration of his ancestor, Lao grabs Willie by the wrist and twists her arm. “You fool”
This is a Create Advantage action to twist Wille’s arm. He rolls Fight and WIllie Athletics.
He succeeds and places an arm lock on Willie.
Exchange 3: Order is Indy, Willie, Chen & Kao, Lao.
Indy fails his roll to avoid taking stress from the Poison in his system and fills his second physical stress box.
Willie: “Ow! You’re hurting me, you miserable little hood!”
Indy: “Let go of her, Lao. And give me the antidote.” Wu Han is very nearly in position now. In fact, as he undoubtedly laughs evilly, he feels a pistol being jammed against his spine. I’m sort of using my action to help Wu Han approach in stealth, keeping Lao and his sons talking.
GM: Since it’s dramatic and he doesn’t see him coming, I’ll let Wu Han create the aspect of Pistol in your spine as an unopposed roll at the beginning of the exchange. Only one free invoke though. Lao freezes and lets go of Willie. Chen stops collecting the money and jewels.
Indy: I grin. “I like the service here.”
Willie: “Hey, he’s not a waiter!”
Indy: “No, Wu Han’s an old friend I brought along.” I turn to Lao. “So, the game’s not over. Put the antidote on the table, Lao.” I’m attacking him mentally with Provoke to scare him into doing what I want. I get a Good.
GM: Hmm, I got a Good too, so that’s a tie. You get a boost - Shall we…”
Indy: I burn the invoke on pistol in your spine. That’s two stress.
GM: He fills his second stress box. Lao carefully reaches into his pocket and puts a small glass vial of liquid next to the cash, gold, jewels, poison and sacred box.
Indy: I look relieved and reach for the antidote.
Willie: I can’t think of anything to do for my action.
GM: Then you hear a muffled report, and another! It turns out Chen had a silenced pistol tucked in his sling all along. You see him pointing it at you now. Wu Han groans and sways.
He rolls an attack by Chen on Wu Han. It’s a great result and the waiter rolls poorly so is killed outright.
GM: Kao Kan stands and grabs Wu-Han, easing the phoney waiter into the chair he just vacated. The muffled shooting didn’t attract any attention.
Indy: “Wu Han, listen to me -- I’m going to get you out of here.”
GM: “Not this… uhhh…time… my friend.” He smiles bravely. “I followed you on many adventures, but into the great Unknown Mystery, I go first, Indy…” He dies and slumps forward.
Indy: “Noooo!”
GM: “Don’t be sad, Dr Jones. You will soon join him.” It’s your action.
Exchange 4: Order is Indy, Willie, Chen & Kao, Lao.
GM: Can you roll Physique versus Great please?
Indy fails, taking two points of stress. He’s already filled his second box.
He takes Blurred Vision as a Minor consequence.
Indy: My gaze shifts from my dead friend to Lao’s sneering face. Then I see the murderous Chen giggling perversely. My anger is compounded by the poison boiling in my gut and my vision of Chen’s face blurs into a double image. I stand up unsteadily. Chen assumes I’m about to keel over from the poison, but I suddenly turn and grab a real waiter from another table. He holds a long skewer of roasted pigeons that he’s just set afire.
He spends a fate point to declare this situation detail, leaving him on 2.
Indy: I grab the skewer of pigeons flambee and hurl it across the table at Chen.
GM: That’s obviously an attack. Go ahead and roll… um, Shoot I guess?
Indy: I get Good.
GM: He rolls Average, so you succeed by two shifts.
Indy: I’ll invoke the flaming skewer aspect to do four shifts of damage. That takes him out.
GM: It does. I’m treating him and his brother as a mob for this, so as the skewer pierces Chen’s breast and he screams, the pigeons burning in front of his face, his brother tries to help him out and receives burns to the face and arms for his trouble. He takes one point of stress, leaving him with two needed to take him out.
GM: The other diners notice this and panic breaks out.
Indy: I reach for the vial in the confusion! “The antidote!”
GM: It’s not your action. Kao Kan grabs you from behind. Roll Fight.
Indy: I got a Great.
GM: Sigh. Okay, well he was trying to grab you in a sleeper hold but you succeed with style on your defence and create a boost. How about you pick him up and slam him on to the table, sending Nurhachi’s ashes spraying up into Lao Che’s face?
Indy: Hah ha, sounds good to me!
The GM grins evilly.
GM: Okay, so Lao looks horrified, with grey ashes smeared on his face and in his beard. But the antidote is sliding off the table and falling…
Willie: I’m keeping an eye on the jewels and making a grab for them as soon as Lao is distracted.
Exchange 5: Order is Indy, Willie, Kao, Lao.
Indy: I grab for the antidote as it falls!
GM: Okay, I’m going to apply active opposition from Lao’s henchmen, who are basically standing around not doing much the scene.
They roll. Indy fails.
GM: Oops, looks like your hand is brutally stomped by a henchman. The vial goes rolling away.
Willie: Dammit, now or never. I lunge for the jewels. Damn, I got a Poor.
GM: You go for the jewels but Kao Kan knocks them off as he lunges for Indy! Lao is gathering the money and so on.
Exchange 6: Order is Indy, Willie, Kao, Lao
Indy: I’m going on my hands and knees after the rolling vial.
GM: People keep kicking it. Roll Athletics against passive opposition of Great.
Indy: Good, dammit, almost had it. I don’t want to spend any fate points, so that’s it.
GM: You almost have it when Willie trips over you in her efforts to grab the jewels from the floor.
Indy: “Look out, I need that antidote!”
Willie: “Who cares, I need that diamond!”
Willie makes a Notice roll to find the diamond as her action and succeeds. The GM asks her to wait a moment.
GM: Gunfire explodes as Lao and the henchmen shoot at you. They’re pretty lousy shots though - Average. So shouldn’t be too hard to avoid them.
Both Willie and Indy succeed in avoiding the gunfire.
Exchange 7: Order is Indy, Willie, Kao, Lao
Indy: I don’t want to get shot, so I’m going to slide into cover behind a nearby fountain. That’s a create advantage action.
GM: Okay, I won’t make you roll unless you want to try for the extra free invoke. But roll Physique against Great please. The poison’s getting pretty awful.
Indy: I succeed by burning that resisting the poison free invoke. I’m maintaining my condition for now. I splash some water in my face and shake my head groggily, trying to keep an eye on the antidote.
GM: Willie, you finally see the diamond. An elegantly dressed woman is bending to pick it up.
Willie: “Excuse me, but I believe that’s my diamond.” I kick her in the butt and then go for the diamond.
GM: Okay, but she’s going to tackle you and resist your efforts. That’s Athletics versus the woman’s passive resistance of Fair.
Willie: The dice hate me. She tackles me and the diamond goes scattering away.
GM: The henchmen etc. fire at you again, Indy. They get Good.
Indy: I succeed with the invoke on my Behind a fountain aspect. But I need to start dealing with these guys.
Exchange 8: Order is Indy, Willie, Kao, Lao
Indy: I make a break for it. I run and dive on top of a serving cart, which hurtles on its wheels towards an unsuspecting mook. I crash into him from behind and send him flying.
GM: … head first into a row of ice buckets (offering a fate point). That takes him out but should make finding the antidote and diamond interesting.
Indy: Sigh. I guess three fate points would be better than two. I accept.
Willie: I punch the lady in the jaw and grab the diamond!
GM: Alas, the diamond is now camouflaged amidst hundreds of ice cubes, curse your luck (he gives Willie a fate point as well, for a total of four, since she is also inconvenienced by this dramatic complication started by Indy).
Willie: “Aw nuts!”
GM: BUT, the blue colour of the antidote vial makes it stick out MUCH more as it slides past your current position.
Willie: Fine! I grab that instead.
Indy: “Hey doll, don’t move!”
GM: Lao and his gunmen rush out to block the way. As Indy rolls past on his cart they open fire again.
They roll. Indy would be hit, but...
Indy: I’m diving off of the cart and behind a potted plant. (spends a fate point to invoke the aspect).
GM: Okay, it’s reasonable there’d be a big potted plant. I’ll let you have it.
Indy: Hey! Don’t go away, I need that!”
Willie: I smile meanly and slide the antidote into my dress, thumb my nose, and walk away.
Indy: If I wasn’t dying, I’d kill her…
Exchange 9: Order is Indy, Willie, Kao, Lao
Indy: I’m making for the giant dragon statue by the stage and grabbing the large sword from by the statue.
GM: Okay, the henchmen provide active opposition with their Shoot. Since they’re next to each other I’ll let you roll to create the advantage of hiding behind the statue AND arm yourself, but at a higher difficulty.
They roll. Indy just about succeeds! Willie doesn’t want to act, the henchmen, Lao and Kao open fire.
Indy manages to dodge the gunfire invoking the aspect of the statue.
Exchange 10 Order is Indy, Willie, Kao, Lao
Indy: I’m going to need some mobile cover here. I leap out and use the sword to cut down the giant gong. It’s metal, so it should be bullet resistant.
GM: Good thinking! No need to roll to create that advantage as nobody is really opposing you. The gong rolls and echoes as it crashes down the marble steps. You duck behind it as it gains momentum and rolls across the dance floor. The henchmen and Lao open fire.
They roll. The GM decides that the gong provides Indy with a base defence of Good.
To hit him, Lao, Kao and the henchmen will need to roll over the highest of Indy’s defence or Good.
GM: The gong rings loudly as bullets strike it, dimpling through to the inside but not penetrating all the way. Willie, you see the giant gong bearing down on you.
Exchange 11 Order is Indy, Willie, Kao, Lao
Indy: I’m going to grab Willie and drag her behind the gong. We head directly for the towering floor-to-ceiling window!
Willie: Since I want to be in the game for the rest of this story I won’t resist. I will however scream.
GM: Lao watches amazed! They try to get better firing positions. More henchmen come into the club and start firing machine guns.
Exchange 12 Order is Indy, Willie, Kao, Lao
Indy: The gong goes smashing through the window and we go flying after it. Fortunately, there are plenty of awnings hung outside to break our fall. We rip through them all and ultimately through the roof of a convertible Duesenberg parked outside.
GM: That’s awesome. But it’s going to cost a fate point.
Indy: Heh, I had a feeling it would.
Indy now has one fate point.
Scene 2: The Chase
GM: Okay let’s start a new scene. Lao and his men will be heading downstairs to give chase very soon, so you’d better get away. Um, who’s driving this car, Indy?
Indy: Oh, that would be… uhhh…
He looks at the table in front of him.
The GM has a round shortcake box that he uses to keep his poker chips and Fate dice.
Indy: Short Round?
GM: ...If you say so. What’s his response to your crash landing? I take it this is another one of your allies? That’ll cost your last fate point.
Indy: Yeah. If he sticks around for the rest of the game maybe my little brother could play him.
Indy now has NO fate points.
GM: So, Short Round says, “Wow! Holy smoke Crash landing!”
Indy: “Step on it, Short Round!”
GM: “Okey doke, Indy! Hold on to your potatoes!” The twelve-year-old Chinese kid turns his baseball cap bill-backwards and steps on the gas. The tires squeal as the car roars off.
Willie: “For crying out loud, a kid’s driving the car?”
Indy: “Relax, I’ve been giving him lessons.”
GM: As you race past the entrance to the nightclub, Lao and his men rush out and jump into two black sedans. The sedans screech off in pursuit of your car.
Indy: As Short Round eagerly swerves around a corner, I suddenly put my hand down the front of WIllie’s dress, looking for the antidote.
Willie: “Listen, we just met for crissake! I’m not that kind of girl!”
Indy: “Don’t get your hopes up -- where’s the antidote?” I find the vial and drink the stuff… unless you object Willie?
Willie: Nah, I don’t particularly want you to die. “You don’t look very good.”
Indy: “Poison never agrees with me. Pull a right, Short Round and head for the Wang Poo bridge!”
GM: (Raises an eyebrow) The Wang Poo bridge?
Indy: Yeah!
GM: Okay. The kid says, “Check! Gotcha!”
GM: Right, as you’re being pursued this is a classic Contest scenario. It’s a race between you and the two cars behind. I’ll deal with them using teamwork for the sake of simplicity. First exchange. The cars come tearing up behind you and gunfire blasts through the canvas top and rear window.
Indy: I grab a pistol out of my shoulder bag and try and shoot back. I guess we’re each trying to create a gunfire related advantage on the other? So Shoot versus Shoot for both of us?
GM: Sounds good to me.
They roll. The bad guys successfully create the advantage under heavy fire with one invoke.
Indy doesn’t achieve any results.
GM: Now the contest roll - Drive please, Short Round. We’ll assume he has average drive. Indy, you roll for him. You failed Indy so you don’t add +1 for teamwork on this one.
Indy: I get a Good.
GM: Great here. The first victory goes to Lao and his men. Now you’re going racing into a tunnel. Lights shine in your rear window and gunfire echoes in the tunnel.
Willie: “What are we going to do? Where are we going?!”
Indy: “The airport! No, look out, Short Round! Left, Left!” I lean over to grab the wheel and help the kid this time, since shooting isn’t doing much.
GM: Okay. Again, if you fail the roll you won’t add a teamwork bonus to his roll.
Indy rolls and creates an aspect of Two heads are better than one.
He then invokes that on the actual contest roll.
Indy: That’s more like it. Good! Superb, with the invoke.
GM: Even if Lao Che invokes his Heavy Fire aspect he can’t win, so you succeed with style and need one more victory point to win the contest! As you get out of the city you manage to gain a lead on the pursuing sedans and their gunshots become ineffective.
On the next exchange Indy does a bit more shooting and creates a relevant advantage.
Short Round gets a Great for the contest and Lao’s men Good.
Indy’s team wins a third victory point and the contest.
GM: You get to the airport with a slight lead on Lao’s men.
Indy: “You got the tickets, Short Round?”
GM: “Sure, Indy! You, me and Wu Han.”
Indy: “Wu Han’s not coming, Shorty.”
GM: “Don’t worry Indy, Short Round number one bodyguard now!”
Willie: “I’ll take the extra ticket.” I grab it from Indy. “Where’s the plane going, anyway?”
Indy: “Siam.”
Willie: “But I’m not dressed for Siam!”
GM: Okay, so you get to the airport and wheel around to the argo area. You have a few minutes’ lead on Lao Che but it looks like you’re going to be stopped by military police until Weber runs up and shouts that you’re all right and should be let through, as agreed.
Indy: “Thanks, Weber.”
GM: “Dr Jones, this is positively the last time our airline can hold a plane for you. Now you must hurry!” Short Round grabs a small bag out of the car. Weber and a stewardess take your tickets and rush you towards the airplane.Meanwhile the two sedans skid to a stop and Lao and Kao jump out with their henchmen. The military police advance suspiciously and, realising he’s outnumbered Lao instructs his men to stay back and to put away their weapons.
Willie: I follow Short Round up on to the plane.
Indy: I pause at the top of the steps to give Lao a cocky fairwell salute. “Nice try, Lao Che.”
GM: (Grins evilly and gets out a fate point) Ah, but Lao Che has his finger in every pie. Thus it makes sense that this plane is one of his! This goes wrong when you’re trapped on a plane belonging to your enemy and no escape…
Indy: (Looks at his empty fate point pile) Oh shit. I don’t have much of a choice.
GM: You slam the door closed and the approaching Lao Che smiles and then begins to laugh as the plane starts taxiing down the runway. Written on the door of the plane in bright red ink is “Lao Che Air Freight”.
GM: Okay, that wraps those scenes up! In the aftermath there’s a bit of accounting to do. Willie, you went after the gem at risk to yourself, which we’ll call a self compel on your “I want to be rich, dammit!” aspect. I’ll also give you a fate point because of the compel I just gave Indy, since it will also complicate your story.
Willie: Great!
GM: So, next time we’ll find out how you escape from a plummeting plane over the Himalayas with no parachutes…
Indy: Oh boy.
Willie: You said it.