Back to my look at Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines. In the previous part, Mark obediently completed a favour for Isaac, Baron of Hollywood and encountered someone from his past among other things. Last time, Mark stood in front of the Asp Hole club.
Now he is inside it. Reader, do take note of the man with a sword sheathed on his back on the left.
Upstairs, Mark meets this silent person. He seems distant.
Or rather, confused.
We want to toy with your mind a little more but sure.
This is Ash Rivers, a Childe of Isaac.
If he did walk out here, he may get a few obsessed fans swarming around him at least.
The person with the sword on his back? No, Mark was distracted by the walking turtles.
In a nutshell, there are hunters who are poorly blending in the club, waiting to kill Ash. Ash is feeling suicidal (and can be killed by these hunters even if these hunters are imbeciles).
I guess owning a club does not make you the life of the party.
Ah... there is resentment between Isaac and Ash. Then again, being a vampire is not a perfect existence as it may seem to be.
There is a lot of resentment as the reader can tell.
Two options; lie or tell the truth. I usually pick truth so I will pick lie this time.
As expected, claiming to be of Isaac's employ will not bring this conversation anywhere.
Well, reader, let us recap. Mark is a kindhearted madman. So he would help Ash out.
Even if it means causing harm to Kine. In truth, I am taking this option because the alternative is an escort mission with Ash and for a vampire, Ash is a rather pathetic fighter.
Finding a disguise it is and unless the player did not pay attention while exploring the club...
There is a person that looks just like Ash in the club too!
One option uses blood while the other is an achievable Persuasion option. Both have the same results.
People are gullible when money is involved.
We only do that on Fear Factor.
Now to report back to Ash.
Based on how that hunter is attempting to blend in with a sword on his back, Ash will be fine here.
After Ash finishes walking down, he enters the bathroom with his doppelganger before switching clothes.
This is why you should never accept requests from strangers in clubs. You never know when it might end with a stake in your heart.
As the reader can tell, the hunter was probably not the brightest in his class. How will Mark overcome the guilt of harming an innocent Kine?
By dancing the night away with the locals!
See? Conscience cleared!
Now onto another building in the Hollywood club. Vesuvius. Slater recommended the place even after he got himself banned from it. It must be a nice place.
Ah... it is one of those places.
She seems nice. Also familiar...
Looks like she wants Mark to follow her to her private area. I wonder why...
Before Mark allows her to say her mind, there is a Seduction option available.
This can be repeated up to three times.
Well, Mark already handled one incompetent hunter so how tough is this other one? Also, the reader may recall a certain vampire blowing a kiss towards a repulsed Strauss in the intro of this game. This is that vampire again.
In many ways?
Now we get a name.
In summary, Velvet Velour or V.V.
She definitely knows Mark seeing as she was there when Mark almost got executed. However since then, Mark has learnt the art of Seduction.
Could she? It would be interesting to see a vampire with proper biological functions.
Hopefully it is an interesting read.
Well, Mark already handled the hunters (or rather hunter in Ash's club).
Ah... looks like there was one hiding in Vesuvius. Kinda stupid to hide your weapon in a club.
Looks like Velvet wants Mark to handle this matter. Since he is a kindhearted madman...
How grateful are we talking? Because I am hoping Mark gets more experience points!
Chastity, a dancer, Sin Bin, blonde and has a tattoo. Got it.
So this killing is to be done discreetly. Parameters understood.
Now for questions.
Regarding Hollywood.
Regarding Ash.
Regarding Isaac. Seems he is well-loved in his home turf.
More questions!
Sums up her cover job here nicely.
Now for a bit of dialogue that only Malkavians can access. Velvet's original name and identity.
Looks like there is a past she does not want to remember. Time to let her mourn Susan.
It is obvious what this place is.
Malkavian nicknames. Interesting little insights into a character.
Prince of Porn is more snappier.
Hmm... time to ask questions then.
Flynn happens to be the other merchant here. His stuff is not that good.
I guess he would have to have it all to call his place the Sin Bin.
Now for more questions.
A lot actually but Mark is limited to the questions displayed here.
Now asking about places in the Hollywood hub.
Classy... Next question.
Seeing how Velvet's a Toreador, being attractive is child's play to her.
Based on what Isaac said about a Gargoyle, there probably is someone glaring back rather than looking.
Now to ask him about Death Mask Productions.
Yes but there was no girl coming out of a well so Mark ought to be fine.
I should note that there was something wrong with Flynn's facial animations here with how it got locked into this lopsided smile.
Looks like Flynn needs a little taste of Malkavian madness.
Ah.. code phrases.
I guess even Flynn has his limits with how far he'd go to obtain products.
How... considerate of Flynn. Nevertheless Mark needs to find out more about DMP.
Here is the general area where Chastity can be found: the Sin Bin's peep show.
Now to get started with getting rid of the customers. Mark begins by lock-picking this cash machine.
Mark then takes the money.
Causing this horny man to leave the area since there is no more money to withdraw.
Next step is to unlock this door.
To get access to the manager's office.
Aside from the fancy watch, the object of interest here is the computer.
It becomes clear what Mark will do next.
Now this other horny man will not be able to spend money on the peepshow.
With the two gone, Mark then heads to the Employees Only section.
Inside with Chastity is another dancer.
Since Velvet does not want any witnesses, Mark has to trick her into leaving the room.
Malkavian madness ought to do the trick.
This part can be difficult for players without Obfuscate since Chastity generally detects the player as soon as they enter the dance area without Obfuscation.
Since Mark has Obfuscation and Voice of Bedlam, this part is rather easy.
Now to make sure she does not walk back to the dance area.
Drinking her blood should leave her dazed long enough to report back.
Which one to use?
Looks like she likes Mark since in for other player characters, V.V is a name she only permits her closest acquaintances to use.
That is not a lot of experience but having another vampire be indebted to Mark may be useful in the future.
See, even she gets it.
Now to end the conversation and come back to it later.
Later. One letter change would cause a certain voice actor to make an inadvertent cameo.
Screenplays... I should start making my own. Maybe using this game as inspiration.
Darn... Looks like someone beat me to it. Though in real life, there was a short lived TV show based on the Vampire games in the World of Darkness.
Masquerade breaking...
You know what, I think I am alright with not making a screenplay based on this setting. I do not want to get the attention of real vampires.
Mission parameters: Eliminate the Masquerade breaker, try to spare David Hatter and make sure the screenplay is destroyed.
So Mark needs some skills in Persuasion. Got it.
Interesting... Mark will get to it.
After calling up DMP. It is on the way after all.
Ah... what a coincidence. DMP is at the Luckee Star motel too.
Here is David Hatter.
Here is a fun little bit of conversation that comes up if the player comes across people dying in the motel. This happens twice for two quests.
What a shame... I was hoping to sleep in a motel at Hollywood. Now to ask about screenplays.
Hatter seems into it.
Welder of montage... Sounds fancier, sure, but writer is snappier and more direct.
Can I expect a Plan 9 from Outer Space then?
As long as it is not Twilight, your screenplay should be acceptable.
Now that is an interesting plot. If the show depicts vampires surviving in modern society while masking themselves from our eyes, it could be an interesting show. From that premise, more can be added on but the show has to keep focus on horror, not vampire action.
Good thing, V.V gave that tip for Persuasion.
That was easy. Now for his source.
Looks like Malkavian madness time.
Julius... lives under the pier... Why do I know that name...?
With that settled, it is time to check up on DMP. Room 2.
Looks like someone was not happy with DMP's work. Violently unhappy, I may add.
Here is a clue.
Looks like whatever attacked came here. On their hands. Weird.
Instead of investigating the DMP lead, it is time to pay a visit to an old friend.
In good old Santa Monica.
No comments:
Post a Comment