At Walter's urging, Leo stepped back away from the door.

Walter is suddenly struck by a very disquieting thought: whoever is inside must have heard Leo's knock. But they are still inside, still doing-- something, presumably nefarious.

He looks at the door, assessing its sturdiness and what his chance might be of shouldering or kicking his way inside.

PM

Rosalie quickly drew away from the door.  A slight frown appearing, she glanced down the hallway and quickly moved to the room next to Jackson's.  Waving Annabel over, she quietly explained.  "I think Uncle Leo is worried because he said Jackson sounded fearful on the phone.  That isn't like Jackson at all.  Why don't you try the room on the other side of Jackson's and see if anyone will answer.  If someone is in there, and it isn't Jackson, there are only going to be two ways for them to leave -- the door or the window."  Hoping that someone occupied the room and would answer, Rosalie rapped smartly on the door.


06:57, Today: Rosalie Elias rolled 90 using 1d100 with rolls of 90. Luck (80).

Stanley Bishop had gone through more than one door in his life. It was harder than it looked. That is why big cities required each floor of a building like this to have a fire axe along with the standpipe and hose. Bishop moved with certainty to grab the axe.

 Annabel looked a bit surprised at the revelation. "Oh dear, I didn't realize it was so grave a matter." She nodded in agreement. "Yes, of course, I'll see if anyone is there."

 Moving over to the other room, Annabel felt a bit nervous and hot being still bundled up. Removing her gloves and opening her coat, she gave a knock on the door to see if anyone was there.

Bishop was able to find the fire axe where he expected it, and when he had retrieved it, he found the women knocking at the adjacent doors.

Neither knock received an answer.

"Stan, are you heeled?" Walter murmurs, trying to determine whether the other man was carrying a pistol, "If you are, maybe I better lay on with the axe."

  Annabel sighed in frustration as her attempt failed to accomplish anything. "Well looks like no one is in," she said to Rosalie. "Maybe Dr. Elias should just go down and get the manager to unlock the door."

For curiosity's sake, Annabel tried the door on the off chance it might be open.

Everyone moved quickly to begin some kind of action.  Rosalie at least thought she’d heard some kind of noise coming from inside Jackson’s room, however Abraham heard nothing when he’d leaned in close.   There was no question about the oddity of their present situation and Abraham was beginning to take on some of the same apprehension hanging over the mysterious locked room.  ”The desk clerk will have a key.  That, ah, might be a bit much.  And if other means are required, there should be a fire escape, we could go up and see without damaging hotel property.”

"Bo, I'm always heeled." Bishop replied as he handed Walter the fire axe.

Bishop, now quite grim faced, drew two Colt 1903 pistols from the shoulder holsters under his coat. He seemed to stand taller now. The darkness which normally surrounded him was usually tinged with melancholy, now it was menacing.

Hearing the objections from some of the others, Bishop replied "They'll take a check."

"Bo take down the door." Bishop moved to angle where he could fire into the room if needed with striking Bo once his friend had smashed open the door. Raising his pistols, the former marine captain waited.

  Annabel gave a slight laugh. "And going outside in the bitter cold and climbing up many floors with a dirty fire escape isn't also a 'bit much' Mr. Hargrove?"

Annabel was convinced that her suggestion was sound. "Look we can tell the clerk that we are worried about him and want to make sure he is alright; just a father warring about his son."

 She was surprised to see Stanley and Bo deciding on physical force. Oh dear, it was going to make a frightful mess not to mention noise. She made sure to stay far out of the way.

"Naturally, one of these manly fellows who isn't bothered by a little dirt wouldn't object." He gestured toward Stanley and Walter, neglecting to put himself forward as an option out of concern that he might stumble while climbing and take a tumble over the railing.  "Certainly isn't breaking down a door with no overt evidence of foul play.  Suspicion, yes, I'm not without concern for my cousin."

Abraham gestured back toward the elevator.  "Why don't you and I go back and talk with the clerk about that key?"
This message was lightly edited by the player at 18:04, Tue 22 July 2014.

”Back up ladies.” Bishop added as he made sure everyone was clear. he knew the door was likely to splinter. More importantly, he did not want anyone to block his line of sight.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:17, Tue 22 July 2014.

OOC:
- If planning on using physical strength to force open the door, give me a d100 roll.
- If you're planning on using the fire axe, roll under 2x your Axe skill.

Bo hands his overcoat to Rosalie and hefts the fire axe, setting his feet and squaring his shoulders. He holds the blade about two inches from the doorknob, then pulls it up over his shoulder and strikes quickly, smashing out the knob, lockplate, and latch.

As the shattered door swings into the room, Walter steps back and to the side, clearing Stanley's line of fire.

Walter 'Bo' Brandon rolled 9 using 1d100 for Axe 20% x2.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:17, Wed 23 July 2014.

Bishop weapons at the ready moved slowly toward the door looking for his friend Jackson or any sign of danger. Bo had done a nice job on the door, now it was his turn. He had gone through his share of doors, sometimes it was nothing, other times it was like kicking over a hornet's nest. Bishop hoped he would find an empty room, and that Jack would spend the rest of the night bustin' his chops.

But he had long ago is was better to treat it like the latter.

"Jack it's Stan."

"Hit the deck!" Bishop said wanting to make sure his friend was out of the line of fire.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:08, Tue 22 July 2014.

Though she was a first-hand witness to Bo's competence, the solid swing of the ax and splintering wood was truly surprising.  As she hung back with the others, holding onto the overcoat that Bo had thrust at her, she tried to stay well out of the way.  Rosalie would have been lying if she'd said she wasn't impressed by Bo and Stan's way of taking charge.  Bo's brute strength and Stan's commanding tone made her inherently trust both of them a little more.  Though she probably would have chosen a more conventional solution, as Abraham and Annabel had suggested, she had to admire the way the men handled themselves. 

Abraham lifted a hand to shield himself from splintering wood and back-stepped a few paces down the hallway.  He still believed the two of them were overreacting to the conundrum of the locked door and mysterious silent occupants.   Whoever was inside hadn’t a clue the knockers were prepared to use force as a first resort.  For that matter, neither had Abraham.   He had no intention of spending a few nights in jail again for breaking and entering.  ”All right, no keys.”
This message was last edited by the player at 22:57, Tue 22 July 2014.

  Annabel looked at the scene and just shook her head, sighing. "Yes, Mr. Hargrove, I do believe it would be fruitless. The Elias clan are rather decisive are they not? Lord, what a mess, I think we better leave the housekeeper a rather big tip."

As Walter brought down the fire axe with ruthless efficiency, it ripped loudly from the door and the door swung into the room. Whether or not Stanley's call of warning to his friend was heeded ceased to be an immediate concern, as a black man in a shabby suit seemed to leap towards him as if he had been laying in wait, swinging what looked like a large machete. The only oddity about his appearance, save for the strange and barbaric looking weapon he bore, was a headpiece that he wore around his forehead with a wooden red nearly ovular piece hanging down the center.

OOC:
Stanley, give me a d100 roll please.
This message was last edited by the GM at 03:02, Wed 23 July 2014.

The man with the large blade slashed eagerly and madly at the Pinkerton, landing a blow and drawing blood from the man. Across the room, two more men drew in behind him, one white and one black, but both bearing similar machete looking blades.

OOC:

Laying wait in ambush, he had the first blow. Stan's roll on the Resistance Table for a chance to go first was insufficient to overcome the man's attack.

Stanley Bishop, give me a Dodge roll or take 6 points of damage.

COMBAT ORDER:

1. Keeper
   
2. Stanley, Annabel, Rosalie
   
3. Abraham, Walter, Leo

NEXT: STANLEY, ANNABEL, ROSALIE


This message was last edited by the GM at 04:22, Wed 23 July 2014.

20:18, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 62 using 1d100 with rolls of 62. dodge 74.

Bishop barely avoided the machete as his assailant leapt from the darkness. Stepping back into the hallway, Bishop hoped to lure the murderous negro into range of Bo' and that fire axe.

"He's not alone!!"

As he retreated from the deadly blade he pumped three shots into his madman.

Crack .. Crack .. Crack The three shots echoed throughout the hotel hallway.


20:15, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 16 using 1d100 with rolls of 16. attack 1.
20:19, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 5 using 1d8 with rolls of 5. damage 1.
20:15, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 38 using 1d100 with rolls of 38. attack 2.
20:19, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 5 using 1d8 with rolls of 5. damage 2.
20:16, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 26 using 1d100 with rolls of 26. attack 3.
20:19, Today: Stanley Bishop rolled 2 using 1d8 with rolls of 2. damage.


This message was last edited by the player at 03:43, Wed 23 July 2014.

Each of the Pinkerton's bullets found its mark, but with a freakish madness, the man did not cry out in pain, his face growing into a mask of twisted rage. Still, his body showed the effects of being bullet riddled. Nevertheless, the man seemed not to lose his resolve.

Rosalie started at Stanley's cry and jerked at the gunfire.  Walter's overcoat hit the ground and she fumbled with her purse, pulling a P08 Luger from the depths of the sequined clutch.  She might have not been a crack shot, but she damned well wasn't completely unprotected.


Using action to draw.