conversations.from: system
conversations.value: The year is 1938. The United States is still struggling to climb out of the Great Depression, Europe is inching closer toward war, and throughout the world there are whispers that magic has entered the world. According to the rumors, angels and devils are walking the earth in the shadows, manipulating humans through promises of powerful rewards from other worlds.
  
  Magnus Blackwood was one of the most powerful men in the city, with a huge real estate empire built over the last decade. Some people claim he built his empire by taking advantage of others who lost their fortunes in the depression. Other more vicious rumors claim that Blackwood was one of those who had strange powers, granted to him by devils in exchange for unknown services. You crossed paths with Blackwood very briefly, some time back, and were struck by his powerful but slightly disturbing charisma – like he had an aura that surrounded him that influenced (or corrupted?) all those that were near him.
  
  You were shocked when you received a letter from Mr. Blackwood requesting that you visit him at his office tonight. You were surprised that he even remembered you, and had no idea why he would want to meet you. You arrived at the same time as a handful of others who had received similar letters, and when you entered his office was quiet and empty. Together you discovered Magnus Blackwood sitting at his desk, dead from a wound to the chest.
  
  You need to decide what to do, and quickly. Why did Blackwood want to see each of you? Are you now in danger from his killer? Will you be blamed for Blackwood’s murder? And who did kill him and why?
  
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  
  Instructions from the Narrator
  
  If you have questions for me or want to discuss a potential character before submitting it, please post to the thread in the Looking for Players forum. I won't reject submissions without having a good reason, but it may be easier to discuss ideas in the forum first to make sure they're a fit and not too similar to other characters.
  
  The character cards I have listed are suggestions, but feel free to rewrite them or write new ones from scratch. The only real restriction is that each character should have had some brief interaction with Magnus Blackwood in the past, and the background you write for the character should elaborate on that interaction as well as giving other biographical information on the character. I don't need pages and pages of background, but I need enough to fit the narrative to the characters. Again, if you have questions or want to discuss a character first, please post to the forum.
  
  I've listed the game speed as "Normal (2-3 scenes/week)", but keep in mind that each scene may have several challenges or other discussions that are necessary, so I'm expecting that people will generally be posting at least short entries every day or two. Please do not submit a character if you cannot keep to this schedule. If you are playing and will be away for a while, please let everyone know so that we are not waiting for you.
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Follow the instructions from your dream to reach "Lefty" in the city's abandoned pneumatic subway system.
conversations.prefix: Find Lefty:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Supposedly it will bring help in the event of danger.
conversations.prefix: Golden Ribbon (copy):
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Full of entries, including one for your scheduled meeting with Blackwood that was preempted by his untimely demise.
conversations.prefix: Appointment Book:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Supposedly it will protect the wearer from magical detection.
conversations.prefix: Ouroboros Necklace:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Supposedly it will bring help in the event of danger.
conversations.prefix: Golden Ribbon:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: I,who erewhile the happy Garden sung
  By one man's disobedience lost, now sing
  Recovered Paradise to all mankind,
  By one man's firm obedience fully tried
  Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled
  In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed,
  And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness 
  
  Et cetera.
conversations.prefix: Slightly bloodstained copy of Paradise Regained:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Try not to attract too much attention.
conversations.prefix: Lay Low:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: There's something *unusual* about you - maybe you've been somehow affected by magic, if it really exists? Odd but good things happen around you.
conversations.prefix: Touched:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: That bird seems pissed. It probably wouldn't be able to get around very well inside the hotel, though, so maybe it's not too hard to escape? Unless it's just trying to flush everyone out and the real danger is someone lying in wait in the hallway?
conversations.prefix: Get Out:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Dream. Agree to help Benny, or don't.
conversations.prefix: Joe's Dream:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Dream. Agree to help your lover, or don't.
conversations.prefix: Josephine's Dream:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Dream. Agree to help the mobster, or don't.
conversations.prefix: Lizzy's Dream:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Dream. Agree to help your wife, or don't.
conversations.prefix: Rafferty's Dream:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Dream. Agree to help Uncle Jerry, or don't.
conversations.prefix: Lou's Dream:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Dream. Agree to help Raffaele, or don't.
conversations.prefix: Jimmy's Dream:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Dream. Agree to help Charlie, or don't.
conversations.prefix: Arthur's Dream:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Your bank foreclosed on a store that had been owned by an immigrant family. Magnus Blackwood bought the property. As the papers were signed over to him from the crying owner, Blackwood looked you in the eye and told you "This is how the world works. One day you may have a bigger part than just handling the paperwork." You were both excited and chilled.
conversations.prefix: The Banker:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You worked for tips as a dancer in a seedy bar, when one day Magnus Blackwood just walked in. He probably could have bought the bar and everyone in it a million times over, but he showed no sign that he felt he was out of place. He met someone in a corner booth - you didn't see who - and then watched you dance for about ten minutes. On his way out, he stopped and spoke to you: "Yours is a very dangerous beauty. You are like Helen of Troy - much blood will be shed in your wake." You never knew what he meant.
conversations.prefix: The Dancer:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You met Magnus Blackwood at a ball on your eighteenth birthday. Your parents had sent you into the city from their manor upstate in hopes that you would land a wealthy husband to infuse some much-needed cash into the family. A friend of a friend introduced you to Blackwood. He hardly seemed to even notice your presence at the time, but later you ran into him in the hall and he pulled you aside. "These are not your people," he said. "They are beneath you. You will find your way to something greater." He then left you to try to figure out what that greater thing may be.
conversations.prefix: The Debutante:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You had a booth on the street, where you would read cards for passersby for five cents. One day Magnus Blackwood was walking by and stopped. He was with a group of other men who looked annoyed by the interruption, but asked for you to give his fortune. You tried making up something that sounded impressive - that's what you did - but he stopped you with a smile. "No, let me tell you your fortune instead. One day you will uncover a truth that will be deadly to those around you. You will need to choose whether it consumes you as well." He then handed you a nickel and departed.
conversations.prefix: The Fortune Teller:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You were working for a rich family with a mansion outside the city, overlooking the ocean. One evening you were dispatched to the guest quarters with a bottle of wine, and found Magnus Blackwood alone at the desk, writing in a journal. You delivered the bottle, apologized for the interruption, and turned to leave. Blackwood stopped you for a moment and said to you: "Your eyes - they see things that others will not. Be wary, though. Sometimes that's how the monsters will enter you." You half-ran from the room, shaken and worried, and took a new job the next week.
conversations.prefix: The Maid:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You were a thug working as a bouncer at an upscale nightclub. A fight between some drunk rich kids broke out one night and you had to bust a few heads. When you got things settled down, you saw that Magnus Blackwood and a woman had been sitting at a table near the fight. They got up to leave, and as they passed Blackwood stopped to talk to you for a moment. "You're good in a fight. Be careful, though. One day you'll fight something a lot worse than drunks in a bar." You've always wondered when that day would come, and what you would be fighting.
conversations.prefix: The Goon:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: The city is full of people, all of whom belong with someone else. One of them must belong with you.
conversations.prefix: Fall In Love:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Your editor had you covering a protest downtown. Unemployed veterans of the Great War felt they were being mistreated by the government they had served, living in tents and waiting in lines at soup kitchens for food. Magnus Blackwood was at the back of the crowd, watching from inside his automobile. You approached him to try to get a comment for your story, and he said "You are not yet writing the real story. Your words have more power than what your newspaper will print." Then he signaled for his driver to move on.
conversations.prefix: The Newspaperman:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Your job was to sell electric washing machines - new and fancy and only available to the wealthy. You had been sent to the home of Magnus Blackwood, and oddly he answered the door himself rather than send out a servant. You started in on your sales pitch, but he stopped you. "You are not really selling these washing machines," he said. "You are selling souls. Washing machines are just the first steps on the path." Blackwood did not buy a washing machine from you.
conversations.prefix: The Salesman:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: A friend with a lot of connections had you landed a job at one of the fanciest downtown hotels. One night you brought two dinners up to a room, and Magnus Blackwood answered the door. He took the tray from you and said "You do not yet see or understand the power you hold. Every night a hundred different people with secrets come and go from this place. Some of these secrets will stick to you." He then tipped you a half dollar and closed the door.
conversations.prefix: The Valet:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Mistakes were, at some point, made. You want to distance yourself from the person you were and the people you knew.
conversations.prefix: Run From the Past:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You've done something terrible, and now you're trying to make up for it.
conversations.prefix: Atone For Your Sins:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You want to be a name everyone knows, the one person who everyone wants at their party.
conversations.prefix: Get Ahead in Society:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: There isn't a lot of wealth in the world right now, but you want as much of it as possible to be in your pockets.
conversations.prefix: Money:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Someone did something bad to someone you cared about. You want to set things right.
conversations.prefix: Right a Wrong:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: These rumors of magic in the world are tantalizing to you. You'd do almost anything to get some of it for yourself.
conversations.prefix: Tap Into Power:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: More than anything, you want to learn what's going on. You may not like what you find, but you need to know the truth.
conversations.prefix: Uncover the Truth:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: There's something unpleasant that you need to do. You know it's not a good thing and it will hurt someone, but you can't let that stop you.
conversations.prefix: Wrong a Right:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You can run faster, jump farther, and punch harder than almost everyone you know.
conversations.prefix: Athletic:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: One flash of your winning smile and you can get almost anyone to do what you want.
conversations.prefix: Charming:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You're smart - if there's a puzzle that needs solving or plan to be devised, you're on it.
conversations.prefix: Clever:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You've been around a while and seen a lot. You aren't easily fooled, and you don't make a lot of bad decisions.
conversations.prefix: Wise:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You know a guy who knows a guy who can get you whatever you need.
conversations.prefix: Connections:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Everything always seems to go your way just when you need it most.
conversations.prefix: Lucky:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You may not be big on book learnin', but you know your way around the streets of the city.
conversations.prefix: Street Smarts:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You get in a lot of tough situations - maybe fights, maybe social or financial or something else - but always manage to come out alive.
conversations.prefix: Survivor:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You're not good at controlling your anger. Sometimes you lash out in ways that turn out to be counterproductive.
conversations.prefix: Angry:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You don't pay as much attention to some things as you should, and sometimes leave things undone.
conversations.prefix: Careless:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You're still new to being an adult in the city, and sometimes you're a little naive or unskilled.
conversations.prefix: Inexperienced:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: A lot of the time, things just don't go your way. Anything that can go wrong probably will.
conversations.prefix: Jinxed:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You have difficulty with other people. When you're in groups you don't function very well.
conversations.prefix: Loner:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Everything that's happening makes you feel like you're way over your head. You just want to curl up in a ball and hope it goes away.
conversations.prefix: Scared:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You've got all sorts of plans, but they don't always turn out that well, and almost never are in the best interest of anyone but you.
conversations.prefix: Schemer:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Someone is looking for you for something you did (or that they think you did). Maybe they're police, maybe they're criminals, maybe both.
conversations.prefix: Wanted:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You ought to find out more about each other and see if you can figure out why Blackwood would have invited you here. Or maybe find out something about his death. Or find out anything. Whatever you're doing, you should do it quickly.
conversations.prefix: Compose yourselves and find some clues:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You can't stay in Blackwood's office all night. Why would you want to, anyway? There's a corpse in there.
conversations.prefix: Leave, one way or another:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Possibly somewhat scandalous, but not obviously related to you in any way.
conversations.prefix: Love letters from Jack Collins to Helen Mayer:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Lefty is hidden somewhere underground. Supposedly you can reach him by just saying a strange phrase and following a light.
conversations.prefix: Find Lefty:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Lefty is appraising the group to see how much he can trust them. If they say the right things he might be inclined to provide more assistance.
conversations.prefix: Satisfy Lefty:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Snodgrass isn't really going to be satisfied, but if you say the right things he might at least be less unsatisfied. Or more confused. Or suspicious of someone else in addition to you.
conversations.prefix: Satisfy Snodgrass:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Councilman Isaacs seems a bit sharper than the police. (Especially Snodgrass.)
conversations.prefix: Impress Isaacs:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: Lefty's hoping you'll help him out, but it's up to you.
conversations.prefix: Decide on a Plan:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: It's a big city, but someone out there must have some idea who A. Healey is and where they might be found.
conversations.prefix: Investigate A. Healey:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You met Magnus at a craps table, in an underground casino that was strictly invitation only. You're a nobody, but your silver tongue convinced the doorman that you're a somebody. You didn't just speak the role though; hours of practising slight of hand techniques in your box sized tenement meant you could swindle Joe big bucks out of a dime or two. 
  
  Only problem was, Magnus Blackwood wasn't your average schmuck. Heck, the five years in sing sing taught you that.
conversations.prefix: The Hustler:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: It's not so much the money that matters to you, though obviously it helps. You love a scam, and can't find as good a hit as ripping someone off. You're a born hustler baby.
conversations.prefix: Thrill of  the chase:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You pay five dollars (gasp!) a month to receive the mysteries of magic in the mail.
  
  You know how to cast love spells, curses, blessings, and how to bring riches into your life.  You know how to interpret dreams, see the future, and walk the astral plane.
  
  Not really.  You just think you know these things.  Kiss your five dollars bye bye, pal.
conversations.prefix: Mailbox Mystic:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Your editor had you covering a protest downtown. Unemployed veterans of the Great War felt they were being mistreated by the government they had served, living in tents and waiting in lines at soup kitchens for food. Magnus Blackwood was at the back of the crowd, watching from inside his automobile. You approached him to try to get a comment for your story, and he said "You are not yet writing the real story. Your words have more power than what your newspaper will print." Then he signaled for his driver to move on.
conversations.prefix: The Newspaperman:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You work hard for the workers of America, active in many of the local movements to represent working class, immigrant, black and women workers. You're loud, abrasive, and have a fairly good track record for getting what the union wants.
conversations.prefix: The Union Organizer:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You can get people energized around a problem like no one else.
conversations.prefix: Charismatic:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You were working for a rich family with a mansion outside the city, overlooking the ocean. One evening you were dispatched to the guest quarters with a bottle of wine, and found Magnus Blackwood alone at the desk, writing in a journal. You delivered the bottle, apologized for the interruption, and turned to leave. Blackwood stopped you for a moment and said to you: "Your eyes - they see things that others will not. Be wary, though. Sometimes that's how the monsters will enter you." You half-ran from the room, shaken and worried, and took a new job the next week.
conversations.prefix: The Maid:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You're smart - if there's a puzzle that needs solving or plan to be devised, you're on it.
conversations.prefix: Clever:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Everything that's happening makes you feel like you're way over your head. You just want to curl up in a ball and hope it goes away.
conversations.prefix: Scared:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: The city is full of people, all of whom belong with someone else. One of them must belong with you.
conversations.prefix: Fall In Love:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: When you live in a city of sharks you need to have your wits about you. Trust your gut, it rarely leads you astray.
conversations.prefix: Intuition:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You are wealthy and many of your friends are wealthy.   You belong to at least three clubs that select only the richest of people in this city.
  
  You have played a few harmless tricks on people, using your money and power.  These tricks had benevolent results, happy endings intended and done.
  
  Some magnates aren't so nice.  You know about these people, and you know how they do it.
conversations.prefix: Experience with Wealth and Mischief:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: With such a pampered upbringing, you're not just used to getting what you want, you're used to taking it too.
conversations.prefix: Impulsive:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You have decided on an action.  Right or wrong, you will see it through.  
conversations.prefix: Determined:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You're quick on your toes, and have a talent for weaselling yourself out of the stickiest situations.
conversations.prefix: Quick Thinker:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: That which seems to be ours but does exhibit characteristics of faerie is not to be trusted.  Refuse a gift that seems to be your own lost friend, but only if his eyes are teeth now.
conversations.prefix: We Refuse the Strange:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You never had much choice about your sheltered life, and ended up repressing your truer nature.  Now, the more you do what you're not supposed to, the more you want to do it again.
conversations.prefix: Adventurous:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: You make a living out of slight of hand tricks, and see illusions just as that. As far as you're confused, magic is a hustle.
conversations.prefix: Sceptical:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: human
conversations.prefix: Wild:
conversations.from: gpt
conversations.value: You're a wizard with a newspaper archive. If you have a little time and a lot of coffee, you'll dig up a scoop in no time. It's all there, if you can find it.
conversations.prefix: Dirt Digger:
conversations.from: human
conversations.value: Fear is a complex emotion, it can make you run faster, react when there's a split-second between escape and capture, but it makes you lose your head, which could could end in losing your life.
conversations.prefix: Fear: