OOC:  We were just waiting to give Tommy a chance to chime in.

Thanks for your patience all!

"Vincent's right. We have to warn the others. The whole plan was based on the enemy not knowing who we are. But if Gavigan has some way of turning the tables we need warn Stan and Bo.".
He frowned, torn between indecision.

"But, we wont get a better shot at this joint.".
With determination in his eyes the reporter looked to Vincent.
"Which makes me think you and I stick together. You might think you are dispensable, but this aint your old world. More to the point, this isn't a question of leaving you behind. Its a question of time.". The reporter glanced at Rosalie.

"Vincent is right; this stuff is basically his job and we gotta trust him to do it well. He's probably safer than we would be rushing headlong into an ambush. But we'll get this place swept sooner if there are two of us.".

"Rosalie can get the warning call in to Avery using the call box outside right?". That would be safe enough."."Then if Vinny and I split up we should be able to get through this place quick and meet you out there?".
He grinned to Vincent.
"Besides, do you think either of us can persuade her to leave you here alone?

Rosalie at least one of us has to warn the others; I dont care who it is, and I do trust Vincent".

Suggest whoever posts next makes a decision (i'm happy to go with any scenario). Tommy strongly believes we have to warn the others AND we need to finish sweeping the museum, but I'm relaxed about how those dual objectives are achieved.

If Rosalie makes the call, we can always set up some communication like:
Failure to warn Avery (meaning we have to get to the docks quickly in person) means she stands in location X (which we can see from inside the building).
Successful warning of Avery (meaning we have time in the building) means she stands in location Y (until we flash her from a window to acknowledge).
Otherwise, she can always leave us a concealed note if something else comes up.

Moretti was quiet for a moment. "Tommy, I don't say this lightly. In these past few days you've become like a brother to me. You're one of only a few I would trust with the welfare of my own family. No one can question your courage. I'm truly thankful for your friendship, paisan."

He gestured to the paper he'd given the reporter. "Right now, the most important thing is to make sure that everyone is safe. Everyone that matters. I understand you don't think I'm someone who's disposable. And I appreciate that. But you and I both know you can find a dozen mooks just like me on the streets of New York on any given day." He gave a self depreciating grin. "Materia penales the city would be better off without."

"Leo, Rosalie, Bo, you. This thing can't go on without you. And the problem is this: If one of us rushes out, makes a phone call, and can't reach anyone, the next step is to find them at the docks. And if they're already facing something dangerous, it's better that whoever goes looking for them doesn't do it alone."

He looked over at Rosalie. "I know you can take care of yourself. I know you're not scared of il diavolo. It's one of the things I...admire about you. But if these Brotherhood people have followed the others and are ready to put a plan into motion, you shouldn't walk into the middle of something like that by yourself."

His gaze shifted between Rosalie and Cotton. "The more of us that are together, the better able we'll be to handle what those monsters try to throw at us."

"We've already succeeded here. We found a mountain of important information. Proof that Gavigan is the cattivo we suspected him to be. So go. Find the others. Get to the safe house. If we believe what we've read, the mirror could be used to hurt someone. It could be what Gavigan means to use in the ritual. So it needs to be taken care of. If it's here, I'll find it."

He shrugged. "If I run into trouble, so be it. It'll be okay, whatever happens."

"Thomas, the only flaw in your otherwise brilliant plan is that the call box outside goes directly to the police switchboard.  That's it's purpose and how they're all rigged in London.  We would have to use one of the telephones in this building, which means either risking being caught by the guard on his patrol, or talking him into it."

Her gaze flashed hard at Vincent.  "Moretti, you're a damned fool if you seriously think that you're expendable in this situation.  This is the third time you've said as much, and it's getting rather old.  If you were within reach, I'd slap some sense into that thick head of yours.  None of us are expendable, simply because we are all we've got.  There are no captains or soldiers.  This isn't the Black Hand or the Five Points Gang.  The bottom line is that you have skills and experience that the rest of us don't because of your background.  That doesn't make you expendable; that makes you valuable.  So quit being a bellend about the whole bloody thing.  If something happens to you, that means we're a lot less stronger than we were.  It could mean the difference between finding justice for Jackson and going home empty handed... or worse."

"You want to search the whole bloody building?  Fine.  But you're not doing it alone.  I'll leave the two of you at it and try to get word to Avery in the meanwhile.  If not here, then I'll take the car to the nearest pub."  Her lips pressed into a thin line and she glanced to the stairs.  "I'll try sneaking out before the guard goes on patrol again.  If I'm caught, don't do anything stupid.  Let me try to talk my way out of trouble before you go bashing anyone in the head.  Understood?"

The lingering part of him that was the youth that had survived innumerable street brawls wanted to argue the point further, to tell her how certain he felt that, if something were to happen to him, Joe Masseria, out of deference to Leonardo Elias, would likely send another, someone like Kavanaugh, to assist the family further. A second criminal with nigh identical skills.

But he didn't, yielding instead to his experience as a soldato, to his comprehension of the code of honor that drove many of the Morello family's actions. Rosalie was persona di rispetto. Like Leo. Like Stanley. Her decisions were to be acceded to. He nodded, his gaze going to the floor. "As you wish, Rosalie," he said, "È la tua parola."

Painfully aware that the debate had cost them precious time, he returned his attention to the chest he had opened, pulling back his sleeve and checking his watch as he did so.

Tommy found himself chuckling.
"Well that told you!".
Returning to the books he pulled them out one at a time to flick through the pages incase anything popped out as unusual, looking back to Rosalie.
"Ok, let me know if there is anything else you want me to carry.". She could judge better than he which manuscripts might be most valuable.

When they were satisfied he moved to the foot of the stairs to where the hidden button to slide open the door above lay.
"Ok, let's wrap this up. Vincent, let's take the rear storage room first before a sweep upstairs. See if we can't get this done quickly before the guard's next round.
Shall we aim to be back at the car with Rosalie in 20 minutes? If you are not there Rosalie we will head straight to the docks ourselves.".

Vincent found the small ornate chest standing next to a small stone jar.

"Provided we can get out of here without making too much noise.  I'm not exactly the most graceful person tonight," she muttered, thinking of her bungle with the flashlight.  She took a look at the books that Thomas had collected, but didn't see any reason to grab another over what he had.  They wouldn't know what was in any of them until they had a chance to study them.

Moretti grimaced at the contents of the chest, but wasted no time in collecting them for inspection later. He placed the twin daggers in one of his inner coat pockets, then added the other, more grotesque items, to one of the outer pockets.

Turning his attention to the jar, he opened it carefully and peered inside.

Vincent peers inside the small jar.

Moretti nodded in agreement with Cotton's suggestion of a quick sweep. "Let's cover as much ground as we possibly can."

Moretti closed the jar and delivered it to Rosalie. He couldn't be certain about the identity of the substance it contained, but instinct told him it was important.

He took a final glance at the collection of books, taking any single volume that the title of which snagged his attention.

When the small group ascended the stairs he was the last to make the climb. When they reached the top of the stairwell, he paused, studying the descent into the study, looking for the highest point on the steps that fell into shadow, a spot where someone who was familiar with the staircase wouldn't be prone to look.

Locating a spot that best fit his criteria, he removed the strip of scarf from his pocket. Carefully, he tied each end of the strip to the baluster on either side, making certain that the cloth was taut and positioned just above ankle level.

Once done, he studied his work momentarily, ensuring that it was as strong and concealed as possible, then joined the others in the storage room.

Rosalie tucked the jar into her satchel along with the scrolls and paused in the storage room.  "I'll try for the back," she said.  "Good luck with the search."  She reached for the door handle and winced as the hinged squeaked loudly.  Holding her breath, she peeked out into the corridor to see if the guard had heard.


20:11, Today: Rosalie Elias rolled 61 using 1d100 with rolls of 61.  Stealth (60).

Tommy found volumes in German, French, Russian, Spanish, Latin, and two in English. Of them, the ones that appeared to have seen the most use were the ones in English and the one in Latin. respectively titled G’harne Fragments, Ye Booke of Comunicacions with ye Angel Dzyon, and Liber Ivonis.

One of the English ones is a leather bound manuscript, in a medium folio, slightly damaged with some foxing and occasionally irregularly sized pages. No title or author is given on the cover but a frontispiece identifies it as Ye Booke of Comunicacions with ye Angel Dzyon. The manuscript contains text in archaic English and an unknown set of symbols as well as marginal notes in what appears to be Greek. This book is a loosely organized collection of what can be described, for lack of a better term, as séances between an unnamed medium and an “angelic spirit” identified in the text as Dzyon.

The next English volume is a slim, unadorned, pasteboard-bound work in that appears to be 128 pages in length. The title "G’harne Fragments" is printed on both the pasteboard cover (a pale cream, with black ink) and the spine, with the author’s name (Sir Amery Wendy-Smith) printed below the title. No publisher is listed nor is a date of publication given. The production quality and style suggests a small university press or that the author paid for publication himself; the finished product is of inexpensive materials. There are numerous illustrations depicting some sort of cipher or artificial language consisting of haphazardly arranged dots and a scattering of astronomical charts. A handwritten dedication on the title page says “Many thanks for your advice and aid, W-S.” Scattered throughout the text are a few passages underlined in meticulous pencil lines. This work provides a supposed translation of inscriptions first discovered by British explorer Sir Howard Windrop in a hitherto unknown ruined city in Africa, referred to as “G’harne” by the author. Expanding on Windrop’s earlier translation, Wendy-Smith, claims that the text contains the fragmentary records of a prehistoric, (perhaps even non-human) civilization.

The Latin work is a large vellum manuscript bound in brass-capped leather. The interior of the work (entitled Liber Ivonis) is in illuminated Latin, accompanied by copious marginal illustrations, miniatures, and decorated initials (most of which seem to consist of a rather fanciful toad or frog). The manuscript binding is in fair condition—some of the brass fittings have been lost, the inside cover has been gouged repeatedly (apparently to remove a book plate, the scraps of which remain, but are totally illegible), and there are recent small scorch marks on the rear cover. The manuscript interior is in excellent condition. The artwork within depicts many strange scenes, some of which are rather disturbing and unlike those found in a typical medieval work.

From what Tommy can recall of his Latin, it's hard to get much on a quick skim, but he can see that this work is a grimoire allegedly written by the magician Ivon “of Hyperborea.” It serves as both a grimoire and to provide an autobiographical account of the author’s life, from his time as an apprentice to his departure from Hyperborea. It will take much more study to get more than that.

OOC:

Tommy, given that you haven't read any of the group's other books, ALL of the books you can read will pop out as unusual.

Cotton nodded silently to Rosalie as she prepared to slip away. The clock was ticking and the sooner they could get the warning to the others the better. Behind him Vincent worked in deadly silence and slowing his breathing the reporter waited for the all clear from Rosalie. If the coast was clear he would hurry in to the storage room heading toward the stairs opposite to begin his sweep for he mirror.

Tommy will grab the books and slip them under a sheet or behind something in the storage area near the rear exit, with a view to collecting them on the way back out

OOC:

I'll need a Stealth Check from Vincent and Tommy.

Time Check:
15 minutes till next guard patrol

This message was last edited by the GM at 23:47, Mon 06 Feb 2017.

Moretti paused, watching to make certain that Rosalie was able to depart without difficulty, then followed Cotton to the room across the hall to search for the mirror.

12:13, Today: Vincent Moretti rolled 63 using 1d100 with rolls of 63.  Stealth - Stealth 80%

Counting to 10 to give Rosalie time to make her getaway Tommy began his search. In the darkness he swept the lower store room, heading toward the stairs upward. The darkness was their friend and yet for a moment she betrayed him as he stumbled over an unseen box. Catching himself from falling he swore and froze; would the guard hear?

18:38, Today: Thomas Cotton rolled 85 using 1d100 with rolls of 85.  Stealth .

Once they ascended and made sure to seal the secret entrance they had come from, Rosalie peeked out the door, but set her foot a bit more noisily than she might have liked.

They waited for the usual pattern of newspaper pages turning, but as she took a step too loud, there was a break in the pattern and a long pause. Thomas stumbling over a box added an additional noise, and there was the sound of a scooting back of a chair and footsteps echoing in a silent hall, the flashlight dancing along the corridor.

---

OOC:

I changed the narration a bit to suit the circumstances after Rosalie's failed Stealth roll, and Tommy's failed Stealth roll. Things like counting to ten, crossing the hallway, etc. didn't seem to make sense anymore in that context, so I have you all in the storage room.

What are you all doing now?
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:50, Tue 07 Feb 2017.

Rosalie stepped out into the hallway, walking with a purpose toward the guard, her mouth set in a slight frown.  "Excuse me?!  Are you the only one on duty tonight?  Someone left the back gate open again.  I hope that wasn't your responsibility this time.  Mister Gavigan asked me to come by to lock the safe in his office, because he forgot, and here I find the back gate hanging wide open and the back door ajar.  Do you even check those on your rounds?  Anyone could come waltzing in at any time and catch you unawares!  Do you realize how late it is?  I was on my way out to a very nice club, thinking I could pop in here for just a moment, and now have to waste my time dealing with this situation."  She sniffed, eyeing the guard as she closed in.  "Which one are you?"

OOC:

Give me a Persuasion roll, with Advantage.

Careful to remain out of sight, Moretti shouldered out of his coat and edged toward the door, the fingers of his right hand laced through his brass knuckles, the overcoat dangling loosely from his left.

Pbbbbbbbt.

22:38, Today: Rosalie Elias rolled 162 using 2d100 with rolls of 89,73.  Persuade (45) w/ Advantage.

Tommy winced as the muffled sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway. Before he could react Roaslie was moving forward, and all Tommy could do was fade into the shadows around him in an attempt to hide.

I presume we should await the guards reaction before we respond to the persuade roll

The guard seemed lost in the torrent of words that she unleashed, but he began to quickly catch on to the questions she was asking him. "Why yes, I am the only one on du'y tonight, miss. I don't know much about the gate bein' left open. That's not my charge, but the fella that leaves before me. I thought I 'eard somethin' outside, so I checked, but it weren't nothin'. Musta been when I left the back door unlocked. I'm mostly here just to make sure nothin's caught on fire, y'see. Not much in th' way of disturbances and the like.  If Mr. Gavigan sent you to lock up 'is safe, you best get to it then," he said, tilting his head towards Gavigan's office door.

"'e's not a patient man. Did you have a name, then? I'm s'pose ta keep a log of any irregularities. Lemme go get my ledger." He turned and moved back towards the post where he had been.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:47, Wed 08 Feb 2017.

As the guard spoke Tommy kept his breathing shallow, the shadows of the museum seeping into his surroundings. Tense, he glanced toward Vincent, listening to the guard speak.
Rosalie seemed to have the guard under control.
For now all he could do was hold his breath.

If the guard starts to walk back toward the main desk, as I envisage it we can silently shadow him at least back in to Gavigan's office (off the main corridor).
If the opportunity exists to accelerate and slip ahead of him (and pounce) then I'm sure we are interested in it. But am slightly unclear as to if that is realistic or if we would have no chance of such a thing because we are just that far behind them.