Page 205 - World of Darkness

hangouts and looking to get lost in a haze of music, smoke Sales Clerk
and booze.
Description: These characters fit a wide range of de- Quote: “Let’s see… four stakes, a mallet and a mir-
scriptions depending on the local culture and the kind of ror. Wasn’t Halloween like, last month?”
club in question. They can range in age and appearance Background: They are the faceless masses that man
from teenage poseurs to middle-aged iconoclasts, from every counter at every store and institution across the
ostentatious goth attire to flannel shirts and jeans. world. Most are young men and women earning minimum
Storytelling Hints: Club-goers are people out look- wage and working long hours while going to school, or
ing for a good time, or at least a distraction from their trying to make ends meet with a second job. Frequently
troubles. They aren’t generally interested in long, deep sullen and sarcastic, these characters have seen all man-
conversations or answering detailed questions about the ner of strangeness while working the graveyard shift at
local nightlife. They’re often good sources of local gossip the local Mini-Mart.
relating to the club scene, and can provide useful infor- Description: Sales clerks come in a wide variety of
mation on local personalities, but quickly excuse them- shapes and sizes, largely depending on the kind of store or
selves after more than a couple of questions. institution at which they work. Late-night convenience
store clerks are usually young men or women with pasty
Abilities: skin and red-rimmed eyes. A car salesman might be artifi-
Carousing (dice pool 5) — Club-goers know how to cially tanned, with bleached-white teeth and an off-the-
party, and most are well-versed in the art of drinking the rack business suit.
night away. These characters are adept at dragging others Storytelling Hints: Sales clerks can be sullen and
along on their club-hopping escapades, often to the detri- sarcastic, distant and withdrawn, or outgoing chatterboxes
ment of their hangers-on. (See “Carousing,” p. 85.) eager to share the latest bizarre episode of their workaday
lives. Longtime clerks are often keen observers, able to
Homeless Guy tell a lot about the people who come into their stores just
by watching. Clerks can be a useful source of information
Quote: “Man, you wouldn’t believe some of the shit
I’ve seen out here at night. Let me have one of those with the right kind of motivation.
smokes and I’ll tell you about it.” Abilities:
Background: The homeless can be found in almost Awareness (dice pool 4) — Sales clerks spend a lot
every large city or town around the world, wandering the of time watching people and gauging their moods. They
streets and back alleys in search of a meal, a fix or a warm can often discern a great deal about a person’s intentions
place to sleep. Many times their disheveled appearance by observing what she wears and how she acts.
hides a sharp mind and the capabilities of a practiced con- Empathy (dice pool 5) — Successful clerks are adept
fidence man or thief, or a proud, good-hearted individual at reading a customer’s mood and manipulating it to make
who’s simply fallen on hard times. a sale.
Description: Dirty, tangled hair, cracked lips, raw
complexion. Most homeless people are thin and in poor Security Guard
health, and wear layers of dirty and ragged clothing. They
often carry their possessions in a trash bag or threadbare Quote: “Who’s there? Come on out where I can see
duffel bag. you!”
Storytelling Hints: Homeless people are often beg- Background: Often derided as “Barney Fifes” or “rent-
gars, looking for some money to feed their addictions or a-cops,” security guards are a ubiquitous presence at most
just their bellies. These individuals can be eager to per- medium or large institutions, from schools to warehouses
form a simple job in return for a handout, like posing as a to hospitals. Most times they’re poorly trained and paid
lookout or sharing information about the local area. In only minimum wage to walk a long, boring beat or to sit
some cases, however, these people are experienced con at a desk and stare at cameras all night long.
artists who try to swindle as much as they can out of the Description: Often middle-aged and overweight
gullible or overly compassionate. (many security guards are retired cops), with a sharply
pressed uniform. Security guards carry a large flashlight, a
Abilities: set of keys, and sometimes wear a radio. They are frequently
Awareness (dice pool 4) — Many homeless people unarmed, though some carry non-lethal weapons such as
have learned to be acutely aware of their environment pepper spray or a collapsible baton.
and are quick to take advantage of whatever opportuni- Storytelling Hints: Most security guards are tired,
ties fate tosses their way. grumpy and bored out of their minds. When confronted
Streetwise (dice pool 5) — Homeless people develop with signs of trouble they typically have one of two reac-
an intimate knowledge of who and what goes on in their tions: try to pawn off the problem on someone else (call-
territory, mostly as a matter of survival. With the right ing the cops or hunkering down in their golf cart and call-
incentive they can be persuaded to share what they’ve ing for backup), or charging headlong into the situation,
observed with others. eager for some action.

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Chapter 8- STORYTELLING