Babes in London: Act Two, Scene Four (Leyila’s House, Part 1: Gaining Entry)

SCENE 4A: INVESTIGATING LEYILA’S HOME

When PCs reach Leyila’s home, read or paraphrase the following:

Leyila’s family lives in a small, two-story house with a tiny front lawn. You can see two policemen standing on the steps near the front door. They’re not knocking, or trying to get in, but seem to be on guard. Two squad cars are pulled up out the front, but there is no one inside, either. The other policemen must either be inside the house, or around the back.

General information:

The Policemen Outside: The policemen are under strict orders not to let anyone in without authorization. No one wants the Press snooping around and giving out information that the police are not yet ready to release. One of police officers is inside with Mr. and Mrs. Andrews; the other is guarding the back door.

All the windows (on both the upper and lower floors) have been locked, as has the entrance to the coal cellar, and the external doors. PCs facing the house can see there is a narrow pathway down the right-hand side of the house but the entrance to the back yard is blocked by a locked gate. A brick wall, six-feet tall can be seen on the left-hand side and observant PCs (Air: Senses, TH 4) catch a glimpse of pink roses just visible on the other side.

PCs have a number of options at this point:


Approaching either Policeman: Constables Williams and Masters (at the front door) and Constable Petersen (at the back door) do not allow the PCs entry unless they can obtain authorization from the detective-in-charge, or unless PCs have already been granted permission to enter at Anika’s house in which case someone has already phoned ahead on their behalf. 

If PCs do not have the detective in charge’s business card, or authorization to assist in investigations: the constables do not allow PCs entry to the house. If one of the PCs masquerades as a messenger from the school or library, the group might (on a successful Interaction test TH 4) be granted an audience with the family inside, or, if they have already gained permission to enter the girls’ houses, they are recognized at the door and given access to the house ‘for a short time only Mr/Miss/Ms. …’.

Once, however, the policemen have been approached and have denied permission to enter, they are particularly vigilant regarding all attempts by the PCs to gain entry to the house (+2 TH to opposed Senses tests for anyone trying to avoid detection). The officers will call for back up, rather than confront intruders on their own, knowing that there is help 4 rounds away at all times. They will also notify the station and their colleagues at Anika’s house of the approach, and a squad car will be sent out to pick the PCs up for questioning—which will keep them at the station until 4 p.m. that afternoon, if they are caught.

If the PCs have a business card and have been granted permission to help in investigations: the constables call for authorization, which allows PCs entry to the house and access to Leyila’s parents.

If the PCs have a business card but have not been granted permission, or asked, to help in investigations: the constables call for authorization, which results in one of the PCs having to speak to the DIC in order to explain why they are interested. If the PC can convince the detective to either allow them to conduct their own investigation, or aid in police investigations, they will be allowed entry to Leyila’s house. This requires an Air (Trickery) or Air (Interaction) test with a base TH of 3. The following modifiers apply:

TH Modifier        Circumstance

-1                           PC was cooperative when contacted by police and is of a private investigator ,                             police or teaching background.
+1                          PC was cooperative when contacted by police and is of a background that 
                              is not policing, private investigation, teaching, criminal, or homeless
+2                          PC was cooperative when contacted by police and is of a criminal or homeless
                              background
+3                          PC was uncooperative (regardless of background).

If PCs have already gained access to Anika’s house in this way, they are recognized at the door and given access to the house ‘for a short time only Mr/Miss/Ms. …’. 

Attempting to sneak into the house unobserved: PCs have to make opposed Senses tests in order to reach the house unobserved. If they succeed, they are hidden down one of the two sides of the house. Breaking windows on the ground floor requires an opposed Senses test with a +2 difficulty to the TH (since it is a quiet neighbourhood and there are people inside), although they can still climb to the second floor (where they will still have to break a window to gain entry). Breaking a window to gain entry to the second floor only attracts a +3 penalty to the TH, but adds a +2 to the Climbing TH in order for the PC to avoid losing his or her grip and falling. 

Gaining entry to the house by ‘neutralizing’ the police officers on the door: Roll opposed Senses tests to approach either constable undetected, or without them suspecting an impending attack, then conduct combat as normal. Alternatively PCs can try to approach the constables openly and take them by surprise. This requires an opposed Trickery test for the PCs to get close enough to attack an unsuspecting officer.

POLICE CONSTABLES WILLIAMS, MASTERS & PETERSEN

See the ‘Cop’ entry in the Fireborn Gamemaster’s Handbook.

Once PCs are allowed entry to Leyila’s house, they are directed to the living room where a detective is interviewing the parents. If they have gained unauthorized entry to Leyila’s house they can begin their investigation in any room, but they must make Stealth tests opposed by an Earth (Senses) test to avoid being noticed by the detective and Leyila’s parents, who are in the lounge room.

NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.

Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.