NationStates Jolt Archive

It's September of 1930, and prohibition is still in effect across the United States. Gang warfare rules supreme, and corruption has rotted all the way through the nation's justice system. The well-dressed g-man is an all too familiar image; in some cities, it's no longer safe to go out at night.

Enter Bert Scholtz, horse race handicapper extraordinaire. Some call the man a prodigy, others may cry nuisance. Regardless of personal opinion, the fact of the matter is, Scholtz is very good at what he does. He's so good, he's been taken under the wing of a prominent gang lieutenant, Gang Lieutenant A. Constantly pressured by his bosses to make more money, Scholtz has proven to be a very profitable investment for A. So profitable that he's become a vital part of this gangster's income.

On the other side of the fence is another gang lieutenant, who happens to be employed by the same boss. For whatever reason, these two gang officers have a distinct hatred for each other. Gang Lieutenant B despises A with unparalleled passion, however he can't directly make a move against him. Both men are apart of the same organization; if either one were to attack each other, there would be hell to pay from their leader. Naturally, B has hatched a diabolical plan to get around this. He takes Scholtz captive in the dead of night, knowing too well just how important he is to A's income. This is supposed to provoke A into action.

However, there is much more to this story than meets the eye. Scholtz has a sister, a beautiful young dame who is instantly alarmed when he goes missing. She immediately contracts a private eye, Harvey Nance, to get to the bottom of her brother's disappearance. If played out correctly, this story could be quite an epic. The question is, would anyone be interested in such a scenario?

The character possibilities are endless. I will be playing the part of the private eye, Harvey Nance, but don't be fooled. He will not be the central character or focus of the plot. This will be a group effort. Other characters available would be Bert Scholtz's sister, Gang lieutenant A, lieutenant B, Harvey Nance's partner, a police officer helping Nance, a hitman for one of the lieutenants, or any other ideas you may have.

The story will start with Scholtz's abduction, followed by his sister hiring Nance. It will take place in the fictional metropolis of Flynton, a city of which I will go into more detail about later. If there is anybody interested, strike up a quick character sheet or outline and post it in this thread. The main thread will be called "What Are the Odds?" and will go up as soon as I've got a cast to work with.

LOL, I'm good at playing spunky young dames with too much moxie for their own good...Let me think on it over night and if no one else wants the part I'm up for it!

23 Skidoo! and all that Jazz...

Cool beans! I figured the broad would be the last to go, but then what do I know? If I can get a pair of hard-nosed gangsters, I may just be able to start this tomorrow. Takers?

((would there be a place for a hard-boiled and well-meaning police detective / district attorney whose vigorous but ill-advised attempts to 'clean up the city' ultimately result in obstruction and annoyance to Nance / his police friend?))

((would there be a place for a hard-boiled and well-meaning police detective / district attorney whose vigorous but ill-advised attempts to 'clean up the city' ultimately result in obstruction and annoyance to Nance / his police friend?))

There sure would. Just jot down what you've got in mind and we'll toss it into the story.

I would like to be a runaround for lieutenant B....but in reality working as a kind of double agent/hit man for lieutenant A, if you think that could work.

There sure would. Just jot down what you've got in mind and we'll toss it into the story.

((I just have a few basic ideas. He'd have to be a fairly high officer in either the DA's office or the police department -- I don't particuarly care which -- with radical new ideas, a glittering record, and more courage than actual smarts. A pre-existing but adversarial relationship with Nance would be a key if he's to take part in this story; perhaps he could have Nance's license under suspension or review, or nurse a bitterness from a time when Nance outwitted him or made him look like a fool.

This fellow would be an efficient, honest person, but his excessive personality would frighten into submission rather than lead the police force. He could also become involved with the gang in this way, as I doubt either lieutenant would like the idea of a strong-man in a position of legal power.

His interpretation of the bill of rights and civil liberties would be somewhat loose in view of the gang crisis, but he could still badger Nance with 'official' ways of getting things done or by throwing up legal walls. In the end, his inability to delagate and somewhat excessive responses could elevate the situation in the city and actually hinder the reestablishment of law and order.

As an alternative to having a highly-placed personage in the government, he could be a local police chief or an assistant district attorney who assumes that a victory against the crime wave could lead to his promotion up the ladder or a more enticing resume to submit for elections to DA.

I haven't come up with a name yet, but once I know the exact role to be played, I'm sure I could come up with something appropriately film noire.))

American Fist, I've got an idea, but it's coming on a TG.

ill be a g-man

the outline will come latrer tonight

I would like to be a runaround for lieutenant B....but in reality working as a kind of double agent/hit man for lieutenant A, if you think that could work.

Well, the problem I seem to be having is that every character except the two gang leaders has been proposed or taken. And unfortunately enough, to make this story work we've got to have some gang leaders. I'd be perfectly willing to allow your idea if I can get some takers for the bigger parts. If I can't, it'll be kind of hard to allow your character when he doesn't have any bosses.

It's funny, because the gang leaders are usually always the first to go in roleplays like these. They don't have to follow any particular standard or ethnicity. They can be chinese (Flynton has a very well-developed chinatown), Italian, German, Russian, or just plain American. They can be ruthless, crafty, both, or neither. I'm totally flexible here.

((I just have a few basic ideas. He'd have to be a fairly high officer in either the DA's office or the police department -- I don't particuarly care which -- with radical new ideas, a glittering record, and more courage than actual smarts. A pre-existing but adversarial relationship with Nance would be a key if he's to take part in this story; perhaps he could have Nance's license under suspension or review, or nurse a bitterness from a time when Nance outwitted him or made him look like a fool.

This fellow would be an efficient, honest person, but his excessive personality would frighten into submission rather than lead the police force. He could also become involved with the gang in this way, as I doubt either lieutenant would like the idea of a strong-man in a position of legal power.

His interpretation of the bill of rights and civil liberties would be somewhat loose in view of the gang crisis, but he could still badger Nance with 'official' ways of getting things done or by throwing up legal walls. In the end, his inability to delagate and somewhat excessive responses could elevate the situation in the city and actually hinder the reestablishment of law and order.

As an alternative to having a highly-placed personage in the government, he could be a local police chief or an assistant district attorney who assumes that a victory against the crime wave could lead to his promotion up the ladder or a more enticing resume to submit for elections to DA.

I haven't come up with a name yet, but once I know the exact role to be played, I'm sure I could come up with something appropriately film noire.))

I'm going to go ahead and say it...I love it. I love your idea. The character is strong enough to play a major role in the story, but he's human. That's something I can appreciate...sometimes you can be hard-pressed to find a player whose characters have faults.

I'm fine with the whole thing. Approved. It's up to you whether you want him to be the DA or assistant DA, or a high-ranking police officer. Everything but police chief is fine...the chief himself is on the gangster's payroll, but even so, if your character were to be him, he'd probably just have Nance removed from his position.

The bad blood between Nance and your man would be preferred, although it's up to you whether you want it to be brought on by Nance upstaging your character or Nance's own outrageous actions. It would make sense to have my private eye suspended or under review as he does a lot of unorthodox things. In addition to being a smoker and a drunk, Nance frequents Flynton's brothels. He's also notoriously rude, a personality defect that is a major turnoff for most people. He's got no family and fewer friends. Kind of a surly old loner. He'll be in his mid-to-late-thirties.

LOL, I'm good at playing spunky young dames with too much moxie for their own good...Let me think on it over night and if no one else wants the part I'm up for it!

23 Skidoo! and all that Jazz...

Tanara, you're officially the sister of Bert Scholtz. I will be sending you some details about your brother through tg, but your character is definitely approved.

American Fist, I've got an idea, but it's coming on a TG.

Check your TG's.

Here you go:

Catherine Hardcastle (http://www.atddm.com/cat1.html)

Here you go:

Catherine Hardcastle (http://www.atddm.com/cat1.html)

Wow, that's terrific. This is going to be a fun little rp.

Here's the scoop. If I can't get two gangsters by the end of the night, I suppose I'll just make them NPC's. That means everyone interested, start putting down your character names. This thing is gonna happen.

I'm interested as well.

OK then. Here is my char.
Johnny 'The Shamble' Shaw is 31.
Red-haired with cold green eyes and a pale, freckled complexion.
His nickname comes from the ambling shuffle he was left with after surviving a bout of polio when he was 10.
The disease also seems to have stunted his growth, being a mere 5'3" tall.
Born into a poor Immigrant family from Scotland, he was taken under the wing of ? (lieutenant B) as a general runabout when he was about
15 years old, but soon discovered the merits of playing a double edged game and has become the unlikely hit man to ? (Lieutenant A) with no one suspecting him capable of harming a fly.
This small seemingly gentle man, is cool, calculating and unfeeling. Or so it seems to everyone who knows him.

There is one thing that makes him human...a secret love of Catherine
Hardcastle.
He fell for her the very first time he saw her galloping across the
Paddocks, shortly after her marriage.
He would do anything for her, even though she barely knows of his existence.

He carries a .33 Derringer with walnut stock somewhere about his person.
He also keeps a Browning Automatic rifle and a 10 gauge sawn off in a
secret compartment in his sport model, Ford custom coupe.

Hey all, I'm going to bring up something here before it happens in game and some one gets upset.

I fully indend to play my character as she is, a woman of the early part of the last century. That will probably - oh heck, no probably about it - include some terms and attitudes that are now of days racist and politically incorrect. I certainly won't make a big production of it, but some people might well get upset-

And No I won't apologise - it was a different time, cultural and social mores were different, segregation was in full flower, the KKK was still highly active in the rural south and else where, terms were used that would be offensive today.

On the Fairer Sex:

Women were treated differently and expected to, on the whole, act differently than they do today.

Catherine is an outrageous, unconventional woman by the standards of that day, She is not considered a lady, and she is not welcome in certain homes, and most churches. Men, when speaking among themselves would call her a dame, but never likely in public - and in business would always try and take advantage of her - at this time women are just now coming into business (business, not necessarily the workforce ) in any significant way and they faced an up hill battle which we modern folk can't really imagine. Remember as of 1930 women have had the right to vote for only 10 years

The mob didn't generally deal with women much differently than society as a whole, and Catherine is rather outside their mentality as well - she isn't the good little mother ( ie a mobsters wife or mother both of which were sacred, and all but never seen outside the home ), she's not a moll ( and molls were everything from mistresses to whores to mob groupies ).

Hey all, I'm going to bring up something here before it happens in game and some one gets upset.

I fully indend to play my character as she is, a woman of the early part of the last century. That will probably - oh heck, no probably about it - include some terms and attitudes that are now of days racist and politically incorrect. I certainly won't make a big production of it, but some people might well get upset-

And No I won't apologise - it was a different time, cultural and social mores were different, segregation was in full flower, the KKK was still highly active in the rural south and else where, terms were used that would be offensive today.

Same with my character. He's a hit man, but a professional, and one that always acts with courtesy in public, and despite some semi-tolernat views, he is not what people will call politically correct in this day and age.

Johnny "The Fist" O'Finnerty

Real Name: Unknown, but known by his nickname more than his false alias.
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 185 lbs.
Eyes: Pale Green
Hair: Brown, with red tint to it. Short.
Ethnicity: Irish-American, by way of New York City.

John arrived in Flynton on a job, and stayed because the bosses offered him better pay and toleration of his rules. He keeps his private life private, his professional life professional, and his social life amicable. Those that have had occasion to employ his services have never been disappointed with his cleanliness or responsiveness. He is hired when a person must go away, and never be seen or heard from again. He is good at what he does, adheres to a particular set of trade rules, and will never, ever, do a job on a public servant. John will only target a man's family if he chooses how to eliminate them. So far, nobody has asked what he employs to meet his ends, and his trips to slaughterhouses make people even less inclined to want to know.

John is a devout Catholic, and goes to Mass without fail every Sunday. He carries a a large briefcase, and has been spotted with multiple weapons, though most notable was a standard Federal issue side-arm, which John claims is the source of his trouble with cops and the reason he stays off their radar. He can put up a hell of a fight, but his business, and his life, depend upon the fact that he remain invisible to lawmen, and public scrutiny at large.

"Dry" Hank Wolf, as the papers have started calling him, is an assistant District Attorney with a chip on his shoulder and a very long list of successful prosecutions for a man in the closing years of his third decade. Short and thin, with an immaculately close shave and only the very start of hair loss, Wolf is seen (partially because of his genuine accomplishments, and partly because of his very successful self-promotion) as the greatest hope for a peaceful, ordered Flynton.

Born in a wealthy suburb of Flynton in the closing decade of the last century, Wolf was raised Episcopalian, though he seldom bothers to attend church any more. He was immediately recognized as an exceptionally bright child and spent most of his childhood away from home at prestigious boarding schools before attending law school at Columbia.

Wolf passed the bar in 1916 and opened a private practice. However, when American leapt headfirst into the Great War the next year, he joined the other hot-blooded young men and signed up. Assigned an emergency lieutenant's commission in the rapidly expanding army, Wolf’s unit was excessively delayed by training and did not arrive in France until 13 November 1918 -- two days after the armistice. Bitterly disappointed, Wolf spent a year policing the country before the Treaty of Versailles was finalized, then returned to Flynton and resigned his commission.

However, the desire to serve his country remained strong, and Wolf abandoned his profitable private practice after a few years and was soon prosecuting cases for the city. He is hated by defense attorneys, as he is often bullying both in and out of the court room. Wolf has the reputation of being utterly incorruptible, a trait unusual in bribery-laced Flynton.

Although he was well known both at Columbia and in the Army for enjoying an occasional drink, Wolf gave up the habit with the passage of the 18th Amendment. The law is paramount in his mind and it must always be enforced, regardless of personal opinions. Correspondingly, he has a low view of ‘vigilantes’ -- such as one Harvey Nance, with whom he has a complicated past -- who operate outside his personal control. Wolf has a love-hate relationship with the police department: many there hate his high-handed approach, but they also fear his personal strength and immense popularity with the public. Several (especially younger officers) look up to Wolf as a mentor, though in private he derides the police for 'botching my cases with shoddy investigations.'

Wolf has been feeling neglected recently, as the DA has refused to send any major gang-related cases his way; most of those he couldn’t take have been (in Wolf’s opinion) mishandled and ended with an acquittal. Wolf feels that the DA knows he plans to run himself next election and is unwilling to give his subordinate any more press coverage than the vast amount he acquires on his own. This merely makes him more determined to leverage his force of will and popularity into real power.

Flynton is a city entirely made-up by myself for the purpose of this roleplay (and possibly future ones). It is a a sprawling metropolis located on the Pacific Coast of the United States in the mountainous region of Washington. The city is located just on the bottom left corner of the state at the mouth of the Columbia River, hugging the Oregon border. It is home to roughly 1,500,000 people, an enormous population considering the youth of the west coast in comparison with the rest of the country.

http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/2405/13887762504368bdb41651bcs9.gif

It is often associated with two smaller towns nearby; Astoria on the other side of the river, in Oregon, and the farm town of Boyse (also fictional) to the Northeast of Flynton. One of Flynton's most apparent attributes is its ever-growing Chinatown. Situated directly on the coast with its own set of docks, Flynton's Chinatown is large, crowded, and overwhelmlingly poor. It is heavily dotted with opium dens, and there are almost always rumors of human trafficking abound (though nobody knows whether they're true or not). The buildings are very close to each other, the streets extremely narrow. Chinese banners and decorations hang in every road, along with clotheslines and shoes. Cars are seldom seen, as most of the Chinese are too poor to afford them, the alternative being human-pulled taxi carts.

Considered separate from the rest of the city, Chinatown has its own gangsters that tend to work on their own or by themselves. It can be a very dangerous place for whitefolk, especially the Chinese docks.

Outside of Chinatown, Flynton is a relatively nice city. The most pleasant area of the metropolis is situated on the Columbia river, and is collectively known as the Columbian Quarter (or the Riverside). The best restaurants, hotels, and businesses can be found in the Quarter, along with city hall, the DA's office, and other key government buildings. For the most part, crime tends to stay way from this area, although there are a few illegal business ventures here and there. Among them is a gangster-owned ferry boat where illegal card and craps games are played and a fancy nighttime club that turns into a speakeasy come midnight.

Where most of the illegal money is made is in Industrial Park, a small section of the city, but one where g-men and gangsters alike flourish. Here is where most of the city's brothels, speakeasies, prize-fighting rings, and gambling dens reside. The small stretch of docks at the west end of the Park is also where most of Flynton's illegal booze comes through. As Vancouver Island is so close by, mobsters have taken to shipping alcohol directly overseas, eliminating the need for breweries. Unfortunately, this method is how most gang bosses make their bread and butter.

I might have more city information coming later...right now I'm a little pressed for time and have to be going to work. However, tonight for sure if I've still got no gang bosses, I'll post their profiles and we'll get going on this roleplay. Everyone's characters look great! And Tanara, know worries about your character's views. Nance will be much the same (at least in terms of the Chinese).

Oh some of the most lovely country in the nation. Thanks for the map and such, makes every thing easier to visualize!

Yes thanks, the map is very helpful, especially as I am a Brit with only a limited knowledge of US geography, so hope I will be forgiven for any faux pas I might make.
And no worries on the pc front, it could make some things easier to handle.

Here's something to help all of us. Posted with AF's permission.

Area views and other info (http://www.atddm.com/wash.html)

Just so everyone knows, I'm almost done writing the gangster profiles. I'll post them and then we'll get started. Kulikovia, if you want to participate, you should probably get a char sheet up soon.

Here's something to help all of us. Posted with AF's permission.

Area views and other info (http://www.atddm.com/wash.html)

Thank you, this insight is very useful......and you are right about it being beautiful......breathtaking scenery!

I would like to take part as a gang assosiate...extra muscle/hitman....

Name: Vittorio "The Shadow" Battaglia
Age: 26
Height: 5'9
Weight: 176lbs
Hair: Black, clean shaven
Eyes: brown
Occupation: "Hired Help"
Weapons: Two nickel plated Colt.45's, a nickel plated.38 (Back up), piano wire, switch blade
Other info: Good with explosives, dresses very classy, smokes, drives a 1930's Packard Club Sedan (Silver and black)
Bio: Born and raised in Brooklyn New York Vic Battaglia grew up in the streets hustling, gambling and eliminating peoples "Problems", the cash was good, and the street credibility even better!. Over the years Vic went from a petty street hitman to a tough, skilled assasin who's services were often requested by MOB familys across the country. Vittorio had been invited to join the Mob by a number of Made Men but always declined with the outmost respect shown, Vic earned the nick name "The Shadow" because he was 'invisible' to a certian degree, 1 story stood out on a hit which he was suspected to have done near the beginning where the target was eliminated while under guard by close to sixty armed men, quietly and clean....the guards reported seeing only...Shadows. As the years past more and more bodys, no sounds, no traces, only..shadows and Vic's reputation throughout the crime underworld.

Vittorio is a shady, often serious but knows how to have a good time while enjoying a drink and a ciggerette. He is always watching over his shoulder and alert...

^^^^^

Hows that?

I hate to sounds picky, but I don't think that the 1911 or the 1911 A1 were being chromed by 1930 ( I don't think that any gun was ). I think that came later ,after WW2. I may have incorrect information however.

I think they could be nickel plated back then, but not Chromed@!

Ok, i will edit the bio...when does this start?

okay,

Just as an FYI (and a huge thank you to OD) from an authorative source - "Bumper chroming of hand guns was popular in the 30's and 40's but Colt never issued one. However they did offer nickel plating as a custom option on the Government Model. Bumper plating is: "It is the shiny chrome plating they use on automobiles, appliances, etc., different than the hard chrome plating being used on more modern firearms."

Is this gonna get going? i like the whole idea...it would be a shame if it didn't get off the ground.

Agreed, I hope it starts soon, I've been having a lot of fun delving into the 20's and 30's - some of the clothing I wouldn't put on my worst enemy, other stuff is just absolutely smashing!

I love the era, it's an amasing time period...

I say if the guy who started this don't come back someone else with experiance and the time host a new similar one...that is..just incase AF don't return and people start to loose interest....

When was he on last?

It's only been three days, and he was having to write up for a few NPCs as there was no-one to take on the roles of the two leaders.
I'm sure we can be patient for a little longer.

Ok cool

WOW THIS SOUNDS SO AWSOME. I LOVE the sound of this!

I live in New Zealand, i dont know much about 1930's US or what america is like (I've only left New Zealand once in my life and that was to Australia for 2 weeks) so i better not join BUT i cant wait for this to get started, so i can read it, it sounds great...:D

This appears to have died....DAMN IT!

Yes, it seems like it.
Poor guy prolly had some RL smack him in the face....
Why not give it over the weekend then re-start yourself?
It's a Bank Holiday in England on Monday, so after tomorrow won't be around myself till Tuesday.

I could see a restart say Mondayish, if he hasn't shown up by then.

Who will host it?

Sits back and waits to see who else would speak up on that subject.

I'd say I'd do it - people who know me know that I'm a decent GM - but I'd have to have a promise from each player - to play, not have me drag your charactrer along - ie act as if there is no game without me. I'd want the players to be willing to do their own thing - to act, not just react. To initiate conversations with other characters, to initiate actions without fearing that the GM is gonna throw a hissy fit.

But I'm gonna wait and see, and I DO HOPE that American Fist shows back up - this is his idea, his bagby, his game

and yeah Taqnaara and Tanara are one and the same person behind two different nations.

Why is this dead :(

To all who have posted a character or shown an interest in this RP - It's now Tuesday evening where I am. U.S. / CST and there has been no sightings of American Fist.

It saddens me to see such potentially good RPing go silently sinking, so

IF you are still interested I'll run a similar RP. ( some minor changes in location, and the use of some real life gangsters - ie Chicago, and Scar Face aka Big AL aka Al Capone...

IF you are still interested PLEASE POST IN THIS THREAD. I feel that I need a minimum of four dedicated players.

To all who have posted a character or shown an interest in this RP - It's now Tuesday evening where I am. U.S. / CST and there has been no sightings of American Fist.

It saddens me to see such potentially good RPing go silently sinking, so

IF you are still interested I'll run a similar RP. ( some minor changes in location, and the use of some real life gangsters - ie Chicago, and Scar Face aka Big AL aka Al Capone...

IF you are still interested PLEASE POST IN THIS THREAD. I feel that I need a minimum of four dedicated players.

KAtG signing in, and bringing The Fist!!

PA here....willing and able, though if you prefer, I could change my char..