T H E N The five mob families of Chicago lived in peace under Giovanni Carcone's rule. But there were those that wondered if the crown truly sat upon the right head. In a stunning coup d'etat, Rafal Kovali's bloody Christmas Massacre changed the kingdom forever... yet his killings didn't stop there. To secure his rule, he made swift work of eliminating any of the other families and potential enemies. LONG LIVE THE KOVALI. N O W Thirty years have passed since Chicago's underworld culling and Rafal Kovali still sits on the throne of bones. But whispers come from the dark corners of the city, with a group called the Faction on the rise. Comprisedd of those that survived, vengeance and violence run hand in hand... and there is no sweeter revenge than the death of a King. (CHARACTER DIRECTORY ) (NAVIGATION )
(BELOW DECK, HALLWAY) Out of the frying pan, into the fire. Those freed from the galley are attempting to navigate the hallway by torchlight when they realise the true gravity of their scene. The Heir, bloodied, appears before them. The Icarus easily imagines his condition has something to do with the corpse visible through an open door, but there’s no time for interrogation. The Crooked heads toward the main deck for a confrontation with the officer who trapped them, the Hot Shot, for once technically on the right side of the law as they walk upstairs, instead of taking the left.
The Heir may be looking for the Phoenix, but it’s the Consigliere he finds from the Lover’s pounding; enlisting the Icarus to once again test their skills with a lock. The Consigliere’s broken hand leaves them headed to find the King, while the rest attempt to find tools in the galley to break the chains.
The three in the billiard room have made light work of the window. the Shadow halfway out of it and judging the drop, as the Gambler and the Contractor finally manage to wedge the door open, with assistance from the Lover on the other side.
When the door to the staff bathroom is opened, there appears to be no one inside. It’s only once the Gambler investigates that the Forgotten calls out for the others to leave their hiding spots. None of the Kovali-affiliated note the Contractor’s presence by the doorway, and the Prospect isn’t particularly happy at owing even more.
(ENGINE ROOM) With the damage blocked as well as they’re able, to both human and machine, the four remaining in the engine room are trying to limit their exertion, while waiting on the Faithful’s return.
As the unlucky begin to lose consciousness, it’s a struggle to make out the Sacrificed freeing them. Just like him, they’ve put their trust in the wrong person.
♞ It’s all flesh and fleshed out and forgotten now ♞
(MAIN DECK, BRIDGE) The Faithful watches through the window as the Weapon approaches. From one nightmare to another, she’s not doing well with the company she chooses. There’s a ghoul in the room, with gun trained on the Captain, someone particularly obsolete when the yacht isn’t moving.
The Weapon steps out of the moonlight and opens the door, asks to speak to the Captain they can’t see. Much too casual for the tension in the room, but it’s all been a ruse. The Weapon knows fear that can’t be hidden. Gets well within reach before the ghoul is any wiser. The Faithful may be tied to a chair, but she’s not really dead. The pair of them taking out the threat. The Consigliere can shortly after be found at the end of a gun, until recognition hits. There may be a crisis but only if they advise it. Protocol versus damage control, the Weapon’s military training wins out, but the Consigliere wants to ensure the narrative. One call to port authorities, one call to someone else.
(MAIN DECK, EXTERIOR) Armed with the knowledge that their own colleagues are involved in the chaos, the Crooked returns to the main deck to confront the officer who had trapped them. As they quietly attempt to remove them from the scene, they find a gun to their head. Another officer has their finger on the trigger, and yet another moves from acting as the Messiah’s bodyguard to behaving as a threat.
Those nearest scatter, leaving only the Infiltrator and the Coward primed nearby. It is the King, who shakes their head.
Two more officers appear to take hostages on the edge of the crowd. While three more attempt to dissuade any sudden movements. The final ghoul stands by the gallows. The drama of the swinging corpse now missing from their plan, he gestures wildly to the bench it is now settled upon.
“People of Chicago, this is what your Mayor has wrought. This blood is on their hands. A victim to your own Police Chief. They are in the pockets of those we rally against. They are owned by the mobs! People of Chicago, I call on you to seek your own justice, for you will not find it with our corrupt system. You will not find it with those demons.”
Masks are placed over the faces of the Crooked and the Messiah, devils both, or so the story seems.
“Look upon their true faces and see them for what they are. Not your protectors, Chicago, but your enemy.”
Using their emphatic agreement as distraction, the Crooked throws an elbow to disarm their captor, but are met with failure.
In the crowd, it is the Performer and the Prospect who manage to knock an officer’s gun from their grip and across the deck. During the distraction, the Heir takes a shot from atop a bench, it heads straight for the Crooked, with whom he exchanged a look just prior. The Coward follows suit, grasping for the officer’s gun and using it to shoot the one holding the Messiah hostage. Blood covers the Mayor, as they yell for everybody to get down.
By the gallows, the Black Widow holds a knife to the throat of the talkative ghoul. He continues to wave his gun at those on deck, before dropping it and stepping forward to force the blade. With no intention of meeting the same fate, The unarmed ghoul drags the Paradox through the crowd, attempting to throw her overboard. As the Doctor struggles with them, the Mad Scientist tries to pull them back onboard. The Assassin using a chain from below deck to free the doctor of any moral dilemma, before the Shadow assists their favourite chemist.
The three remaining armed ghouls force through the crowd to the lifeboat, their hostages, the Hot Shot and the Phoenix, working to untie the boat. As the Phoenix slams a paddle into one of their skulls, the Hot Shot grabs their gun. Relying on the Cataclysmic, and the Infiltrator to make their shots as the Hot Shot finishes the job.
The Messiah begins interrogation of the officer shot by The Heir, before they watch another bullet prevent attempts to talk. The Coward calls it mercy, but the Crooked knows better, injury allegedly preventing them from making an arrest.
OOC INFORMATION
Shortly after, beams drench the deck in light, nothing obscured anymore. Members of the public threatened at gunpoint once more as they clamor for safety. The boat isn’t for them, but for injured members of the Kovali, and those most likely to be prevented from disembarking without complication. The King, the Phoenix, the Heir, the Coward, are all well away before the searchlights of the Chicago Police Marine Unit boats illuminate the scene.
Those remaining on board and under most scrutiny have several options to remain anonymous, but given the masks and the sheer chaos everyone is trying to escape, no deals need be made with the devil- unless that’s your prerogative.
Please tag all starters with bkevent04. We hope you’ve enjoyed our Hallowe’en event. I can only apologise for personal issues preventing the conclusion being reached sooner.
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“ You don’t need to learn the language of a snake in order to kill it with ease “
✚ AGE & DOB: Thirty-Six & March 23rd, 1983
✚ OCCUPATION: Illinois Senator District #3
✚ AFFILIATION: Unaffiliated
♛THE HISTORY♛
The announcement of the birth of Harrison and Loretta’s first child sent the media into the frenzy long before the little boy’s face had even been presented to the world. A high-profile entertainment lawyer and a former supermodel wasn’t necessarily a match that people were expecting, but it was a love story that could make even the most pessimistic of Chicagoans smile. Coming from old money, the Rockwells had been in the public eye even before the addition of the already-famous Loretta, the family heavily involved in community outreach and philanthropy that went back to the mid-eighteen hundreds and had continued through each turn of the century. When little Judd was born, it was as if the big Illinois city was promised another few decades of promise; the heir that would continue on the chain of good fortune.
He’d been set up to succeed, but it had become apparent from a young age that getting him to do so would take an incredible amount of effort. As an only child of two millionaires, Judd was given everything and anything he’d ever wanted except for the one thing he really needed: love and affection. Most of the childhood memories he can recall involved the various nannies that would come in and out of the house, and the time spent with his parents would largely be for appearance sake while they gallivanted around charity events and galas, posing for pictures and shaking hands with hundreds of people that simply stared in awe. An inflated ego was developed even before he reached puberty, and despite the many pleas for him to become more disciplined and presentable, Judd was far too concerned with indulging himself where his parents wouldn’t.
Going to college had always been on the docket, even with all of the suspensions he’d garnered in high school. Being a Rockwell meant that he had certain privileges that many others in his position wouldn’t, hence how he was admitted to the University of Chicago quickly upon applying. He decided to major in Political Science, something his father had influenced him to do so that he could follow a similar path and eventually go to law school. Nights of studying and doing classwork soon turned into partying and getting himself into illicit activities, and now that he was over eighteen, the public began to take notice. Chicago’s Resident Frat Boy, he soon came to be known as, drawing the attention of tabloids and magazines that used to report on his family and a positive light — he didn’t care much, though. In fact, he thrived off of the attention given to him by the general public, by the doors that would open for him simply because he was a Rockwell. Before long, he’d managed to graduate with an impressive GPA. How did he accomplish this? Well, none of his professors wanted to be that schmuck that had to deal with the fallout of failing a public figure — Harrison and Loretta Rockwell’s son, no less.
Law school didn’t seem incredibly pressing, hence the ‘gap year’ that consisted of Judd (for lack of a better word) fucking around. The drugs he used became harder, the parties lasted far longer, the girls began to cost money. Not only that, but Judd was becoming less and less careful of who he associated himself with, placing any sense of judgement on the back-burner for his own personal self-satisfaction — and it worked for him…until it didn’t. Only a few short days after he turned twenty-five, a sex tape was released of him and a very married famous actress, subsequently getting widespread media attention and pinning him as a sleazy, ne’er do well home-wrecker, further blemishing the Rockwell reputation. He’d gotten ridiculed in the press before, sure, but this was seemingly never ending and far more ruthless. It was then that Harrison finally put his foot down: either Judd would get his act together, or he would be removed from the will and cut off. Not only financially, but emotionally as well.
It was his own personal rock bottom; his family hated him, the public hated him, even he was starting to hate him. Years of trying to get his parents’ attention had proven successful, but in all the wrong ways. So, he agreed to his father’s terms and cleaned his act up. He enrolled himself in law school, working harder and more tirelessly than he’d ever had in his life. The partying and the drug abuse had been toned down to a minimum — a little coke at his desk would help more than it would harm, right? — and before long he’d graduated, passed the bar, and began working as a defense attorney at a highly respected firm that a family friend owned. It seemed that Judd had finally gotten his life on track, but gaining his father’s approval had become much more of a task in itself than he’d expected. So, he turned up his efforts to eleven: he ran food drives, volunteering at shelters, held charity events of his own, and public opinion began to turn in his favor. Some even suggested that he run for town council with the amount of good he’d been doing, and at first the thought made him laugh. Him? In politics? He’d roll his eyes in disbelief but behind closed doors, he felt the wheels turning…and turning…until he realized something. Why not?
Running for state senate with a record like his had proven to be difficult, but after finding himself a fiancee who supported his endeavors and maintained the image a sweetheart in the public eye, that was all that was left before Chicago finally learned to love Judd Rockwell. Maybe he wasn’t in love with the Socialitte, but the rest of the country did, and in the end wasn’t that what really mattered? In 2017 he was elected Senator of Illinois’ 3rd district, garnering him the pride of his parents as well as the city itself. For years, he maintained a clean-cut all-American image even despite some of his political adversaries trying to tear him down. He became untouchable.
Until his demons came back to haunt him. Deciding to have one little harmless night of fun with some trusted colleagues, he thought he was being extra careful despite the alcohol in his system, and the beautiful woman who wasn’t his fiancee on his arm. Spending the night in a jail cell with the threat of a DUI, Judd saw his life crashing down before his eyes all over again…until it didn’t. It all happened so fast and succinctly that it took Judd a while to realize that none of it was a coincidence. No information reached the tabloids; besides the Socialite dumping his ass for good, it seemed as if the entire drunk driving and soliciting ordeal had never happened.
Except, it did, and now the people in power within the seedy underbelly of Chicago know everything. Judd is being pulled in all directions, corrupted by his own demons and the knowledge held by others, wondering what the hell he’s going to have to do next to make sure his reputation stay squeaky clean; for his career, for his family, for himself. Only time will tell how long it is before he cracks, or until his dirty secrets are out for good. Either way, however, Judd Rockwell is starting to become pretty certain that no matter the eventual outcome, it won’t be pleasant for him.
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The evening is in full swing, with no hint of disaster (bar the cheese puffs running out). Although the festivities are inevitably dampened to some, the usual tensions apparent, the atmosphere is light. Who wouldn’t take the chance to forget for just one night, when money is paid in exchange.
The Charon sails the lake, skirting past the lights of the city. A spectacular sight as the passengers head toward a rejuvenated Navy Pier.
(MAIN DECK, INTERIOR) Guests are gathered to witness the messiah, DJ booth as their unorthodox stage, as they thank those in attendance. During the speech the crooked is subtly pulled away by one of their own to investigate a disturbance below deck. Shortly after, a murmur rises from those to the back of the crowd, nearest the deck. Dying to comfortable silence once the Messiah mentions preparations for a Hallowe’en display.
(BELOW DECK, HALLWAY) A series of masked patrons have traversed the hallways all evening, but none in such uniform procession as this, nor so heavily armed. One group of five to the left and the other to the right. In turn the ten bar nearly every door below deck.
Beyond the thresholds of those left, they find;
the consigliere, and the lover, with the phoenix in the ballroom.
the prospect, the forgotten, and the paradox, with the mad scientist in the crew bathrooms.
the shadow, the contractor, and the gambler, with the faithful in the billiards room.
Without fail, the operation manages to extricate the phoenix, the mad scientist, and the faithful, from their respective rooms. Before those doors are then locked with the remaining still inside.
Soon after, the crooked finds themselves thrown into a cage with wolves. As they gain their bearings, they discover they’re with the sacrificed and the hot-shot in the locked galley. Knives available for all the back-stabbings they desire.
(MAIN DECK, EXTERIOR) Scheduled to match the messiah’s speech, the infiltrator is waiting on deck for the icarus. Concealed by a bulkhead themselves, they don’t see the hasty retreat caused by the approach of the cataclysmic, who also misses as the icarus heads into a stairwell.
The remaining pair are at a stalemate until they hear applause to mark the end of sycophantic lullaby.
(MAIN DECK) the messiah invites the guests to the outside deck, so they might all witness a Hallowe’en treat.
the infiltrator, and the cataclysmic, head to join the coward at the front of the crowd. Expectantly viewing the body dangling from the gallows. It’s only when they are directed to look toward Navy Pier, that they realise. As the cataclysmic notes the costume, the mask, and the build of the asphyxiated corpse is that of the phoenix, a scream is heard from inside.
the performer heads toward the sound to find the black widow is there first, ushering away the scared bartender. In one of the stalls, awkwardly hunched, an overdosed corpse that could be identified as the mad scientist.
(BELOW DECK, HALLWAY) The group of ghouls have descended into the bowels of the ship or replaced masks to join with the crowd above, leaving the hallway clear for the assassin to note the suspicious chains on several doors. They can’t hear anything from the other side, but set about breaking into a bedroom. When the doctor finds them inside, they’re standing over a hacked corpse in a bed, easily believed to be the faithful. Estimating a time of death set days before, the doctor is leaving with the assassin when they’re set upon. Hoods over their heads before much damage can be done, they’re dragged down to the engine room.
(ENGINE ROOM) As soon as the assassin is freed, unhindered by the hood, they attack one of the four ghouls in the room. Distraction enough for the phoenix to join. the doctor, the mad scientist, and the faithful (unencumbered by their earlier costumes) attempt to assist. They are stilled by a gunshot and a spray of blood.
(MAIN DECK/BELOW DECK) Attempting to cut the body down from the gallows, the infiltrator slips as the yacht shudders to a halt. All on deck now aware this is not the light in the dark the messiah had planned. The fireworks display is lit on Navy Pier, igniting the sky as the Charon is plunged into darkness, chaos.
the heir, finally free of the king’s gaze, follows along with the weapon as the two navigate the main deck with only moonlight. They are followed downstairs by one of the ghouls.
Hearing their approach, the icarus works faster to pick the lock of the galley, slipping into the dark kitchen.
♞ An unholy jargon in the judgement seat ♞
(ENGINE ROOM) Three of the ghouls escape the engine room. The fourth is left with their captives. The water sealed door locked and barred to prevent escape. The blood accounted for by the wound from the phoenix’s brunt with a pistol. The bullet had grazed the mad scientist, rather unfortunately lodging in a piece of the engine. The fault had caused a safety shut-off, but not without fumes leaking from the tanks into the vacuum sealed engine room. Not long until those inside lose the remaining oxygen and their ability to attempt escape.
OOC INFORMATION
Those in the ballroom, the crew bathrooms, and the billiards room, are free (as a group) to write a resolution to the point of escape, or to leave it to us. Those in the engine room should work together to survive. And those scattered about the decks and the galley are free to find one another.
Please tag all starters with bkevent04. We hope you make it out alive.
✚ AGE & DOB: Thirty-Six & December 2nd, 1982
✚ OCCUPATION: Chicago Mayor
✚ AFFILIATION: Unaffiliated
♛THE HISTORY♛
Michael was born in early December in Washington D.C. His parents weren’t married but had been together for a while. His mother Catherine was the daughter of an Italian consigliere and his mistress, while his father Michael Sr was one of the money handlers for the mob. He was killed during a raid when he was 7.
It was just the two of them until Michael, or Mick, was almost 13, and Catherine remarried, and they moved to Chicago. The family grew with 2 sisters (Rory and Aisling), and 1 brother (Ronan) who is the youngest. Mick and Ronan are particularly close despite the age difference.
He struggled with anxiety but was still able to become an impressive student in school and played baseball, but decided to defer college so he could enlist in the Army where he became a counter-terrorism intelligence specialist. He served 2 tours in the Middle East and was starting his 3rd when his unit was in a firefight resulting in Mick receiving a severe wound to his chest that would see him well decorated and honorably discharged.
Returning home to Chicago, the rehab was long and he started to think of life after the Army and focused on school. He started focus on Political Science and intelligence, heading to the University of Chicago. It was here that he met The Consigliere, as his roommate. Two students just passing by in the days of classes but soon that did develop into a friendship. He was important to Mick and they seemed to have a lot in common, including keep parts of themselves walled up, even for those they cared about. They remained close as they moved through school, even as their paths were moving closer to a fork in the road so to speak. Mick was funny and popular, taking to debate and polisci better than even he could have guessed.
People approached him for communications careers or even in to public service to support his already hefty military service. That’s how he ended up working for the City Council at first and then moved to assistant to the chief of staff and deputy mayor. It was a bigger jump to decide he would run for Mayor himself. But he was likeable, a war hero and took a stance on cleaning up the city, rid it of all that was ruining it, “once and for all”.
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The Messiah | John Krasinski | Michael Liam Reardon | Jess
With the Visionary’s raids on both Kovali and Faction owned business, The Queen in custody, and the curfew finally ended- is there anything left to fear in Chicago?
It’s a perfect time to find out.
Money, it seems, can often dictate death; those guns for hire of the past, assassins no one can truly claim to have witnessed, even an exchange with the ferryman for your final journey.
In this case, the coins are for penance, redemption, or simply an easing of guilt. It’s not true of everyone on board.
The Messiah still tries to demand it; a response to the atrocities of late, all of the death and destruction. Paid tickets to a very special Hallowe’en masquerade, proceeds to the Taste of Chicago victims’ memorial.
A luxury yacht, the aptly named Charon, beckons in the harbour. Makeshift gallows creaking on deck.
(BEYOND THE VEIL) It’s said the presence of spirits makes it easier to predict what’s coming. Advantage taken by those who wish to plan a path for the future of Chicago.
All the death caused recently must be good for something.
Never one to shy from philanthropy, the King cuts a cheque for all the Kovali in attendance. It’s a night of masks after all, concealed identity, an easy excuse for the Faction to follow suit. What better way to congratulate the Crooked on their new regime than in person. Best regards to the Messiah, of course.
Topside there are stunning views of the Chicago River, dyed purple for Hallowe’en. A photographer is available for those who wish to test the gallows or simply record the evening. Inside, the bar is fully stocked, caterers providing an elegant but spooktacular buffet. In a change to the evening’s schedule, members of the Chicago Philharmonic will be providing music before the journey begins, to be replaced by a DJ set from the Prospect once under way.
The staircases and corridors of the yacht are decorated for the occasion, with care still to keep emergency exits clearly marked.
Below deck, there are various private rooms available for conversation or costume adjustment, including a more intimate dance hall with speakers relaying music from the upper deck.
The only areas out of bounds are the engine room and the galley.
♞ Moving through this tomb of vapor and perfume and fog-filled rooms ♞
OOC INFORMATION
Welcome to our fourth event here at blood kingdom, Bury Anchors! It will be a multi-part event taking place during Hallowe’en celebrations hosted by the Mayor.
Please tag all starters with bkevent04. And be sure to enjoy the relatively calm crossing...
