In reply to The Keeper (msg # 317):

Molly looked up at the tea and took it and was about to take a drink when she stopped.   "What is in it.  Did you put something in it?  You want me to be quiet? You can't quiet the press you know.  Not even with tea.  That's it.  I'll expose you all.  I'll ...I'll take pictures of the horrors that you did.  You can't shut me up.  The press shall speak.  The eyes know.  The eyes see all.  Even in the sleep they see.  You can't wash the blood off your hands so easily you know."

ooc:  last post for me until Tuesday.  Have a great weekend.

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 318):

Putting down the tray, Rashid rummaged around in the wet bar at one end of the room.

"It's just tea, miss. I can put some rum in the tea, I suppose."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:32, Sat 25 May 2013.

The Count shouldered the Lewis gun and returned to the door to the mansion:

"Inspector Darlington would you be so kind as to guide myself and Mr Falcon to the body of Mr Singh. We should also see if that Arab fellow who you interrogated is among the dead."

He turned to Mr Falcon;

That is of course if you don't mind. I hate leaving loose ends in such things."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 21:35, Fri 24 May 2013.

"I have no objections to being thorough Count.  However we should be aware that the police may arrive soon even though they were persuaded to stay away for some time." He walked back to the house.  "As well we may want to do another search of the house for further leads and clues."

With shaky hands, Cynthia gathers up the jewelry and one of the robes, as well any more written materials she can uncover. Frankly, she is not hurrying in finishing up down here ...

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 321):

"Blimey, let's go, gents! Nuff said, yeah?"

He led them to where Singh's body lay.

"Naow... My two mates what was 'ere, what 'appened ter 'em? I don't see 'em. My uvver two men, I sen' 'em back ter get da boats. 'Tis a damned terrible fight 'ere, innit?"

They were reminded of the two policemen (or were they?) that Darlington had left at the mansion to assist in the assault. Both seemed to have been killed by the things that now lay dead by the burning lorry.

Speaking of lorries, they found a second one resting in the shallow water by the bridge. This was the one that Singh had shot at as it was leaving the mansion to bring reinforcements to the front gate. The lorry was blown apart from inside, as if someone had lobbed a grenade in the rear. Torchlight showed that inside were two corpses, one still at the wheel and another in pieces in the rear bed.

There were several bodies lying around. Four they could find on the bank. One of them was Mr. Singh, dead of what looked like shrapnel or explosion.

Of Gavigan's brutish right-hand man, Tewfik, there was no sign. Still, there could be more bodies in the black river water, under the lillypads or between the rushes that poked out of the water.

There was the sound of chugging boat engines behind them, and the three boats that had been standing by at the far end of the small tidal island hove into view. Torchlight played along the shoreline.

"Ahoy! Is dare anyone dere?" It was Darragh, the n'ere do well Pikey friend of Dr. Weston.

Downstairs, Cynthia finished up gleaning what she could from Gavigan's workshop. Upstairs, the former prisoners (Ai'Yesha and Rashid) were either comforting a distraught-looking Molly, who seemed to have lapsed into a kind of fugue. Or were getting sloshed on the gin and fine whiskey at the bar (the sots that were freed from the cells in the priest hole down the other hidden stairs).

Moving to the shore the Count used his own torch to guide the boats in. He then returns to the main house to arrange the transport of their friends bodies to the boats. He also asks Mr Falcon to fire the rally flare so any stragglers will return to the house.

He continues to be cautious still believing that threats are still in the under-brush.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 325):

"Blimey! Count... What 'appened ter me men?"

As the boats were guided in, Darlington looked around and suddenly exclaimed, "Gawdon Bennet! What da 'ell? I thought I left what bastard Tewfik's body 'ere! Lawd above! I saw 'im, 'e was dead!"

In reply to Albert Darlington (msg # 326):

"I am deeply sorry Inspector but I believe they were both taken by those things at the house."

He moves to were the Inspector had indicated Tewfik's body had been.

The Count searched for drag marks or other indications the body was moved by others.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:47, Sat 25 May 2013.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 327):

He saw that, indeed, it looked like there was someone lying there on the bank for a while, bleeding. But he lacked the skill to determine where the man had gone.

Being a more experienced tracker, Darlington came over and examined the area using his torch.

"Lawd above! He was in bad shape when I left 'im, what wiv grievous wounds ter 'is 'ead, arm an' leg. In me experience anyone what so badly injured, 'ed be a goner. I don't know 'ow 'e survived, awer even if 'e survived."

"Look, there was anuvver person 'ere. 'E clearly dragged da body dis way. Damn curious, innit?"

They saw that someone, definitely another person, had dragged the body to the bridge, then a blood trail led over the bridge towards the gate. The Major would have had to pass by them in the lorry as he fatefully returned to the mansion but it was possible they could have hid just off the raised roadway in the weed-filled ditch. There was only one set of footprints plus drag marks in places, with no indication that Tewfik recovered enough to walk under his own power.

The Count studied the ground the Inspector had given;

"Well lets see if we can run these braggarts down. Mr Falcon the Lewis gun is yours, I believe you have more experience with these things."

The Count then followed the Inspector looking forward for their prey as they moved off.

JM followed the others looking about.  He used his time to carefully check the Lewis gun and make sure it was clean and would fire after being dropped when the two beasts had attacked.  "I'm ready Count.  We can not let this brute survive or we will surely hear from him later.  He will spin up some other brew of death and madness if we do not stop him dead."

CSM Jones and Perkins stood by the mansion. Perkins in particular looked visibly shaken, which was understandable. CSM Jones asked, "sir, are you wanting us to accompany you? What about the women? And the prisoners?" Perkins merely held his rifle loosely, staring at the darkness with unseeing eyes.

"Guard the door until we return. Keep everyone in the house and shoot anyone who looks trouble."

With that the Count began the hunt. He was concerned for Perkins but comforting his friend would have to wait.

Weapons at the ready, torches in hand, they swiftly moved down the gravel road towards the main gate. Every here and there were footprints and the occasional dark spots of dripping blood.

The road was a raised 1-lane causeway leading across the fiends from the retaining walls along the river to the gate. The footprints and blood trail was faint but led to the main gate. Both halves of that stout wood portal was blown open. Several dead bodies lay scattered about, defending cultists killed by Major Storm and his detachment. The Major had done his job well, all these corpses had bullet holes in them or were bayoneted to ensure they were dead.

It was there at the gateway onto the road the tracks petered out. To the left, the road dead-ended at another field. To the right, the gravel track led to the main road (also unpaved). Across the lane was a tall hedge lining the neighbouring field, the fields of al Misr were surrounded by a 10 foot brick wall.

The Count took a knee and indicated for the others to do the same. He then listened and tried to pick up the noise of a body being dragged and the exertion it would require from the dragger.

JM had been on enough hunts and even the odd patrol or two during the War when they had to defend their own airfields against local insurgents.  He took a knee and froze except for his head swiveling as he listened.

Tea...that wonderful restorative.  The drink that cures most ills, once again lived up to its reputation.  Molly took the tea and finally was coaxed into drinking some of it.  It seemed to calm her a bit and she patted the arm that was around her.  She didn't know whose arm it was around her but she patted it again for it looked human and wasn't totally covered in blood.

When people started to move, Molly got up and moved with them since she certainly didn't want to stay where she was.  Her eyes, however, kept shifting at every creak or rustle that she heard.

The Count ran across the road to the hedge and tried to pick up the trail again. If nothing is obvious in the under-brush he will do a quick pan of the field with his torch.

It was a gamble, but a slight one time was hopefully on their side.

JM moves off to the other side to try and help pick up the trail.

Darlington followed them, keeping to the middle of the road.

The dirt country lane curved between the high hedges or brick and stone walls segregating the farmland along the river.

From somewhere up ahead they could hear the hum of an approaching motor vehicle engine.

Back at the mansion, Bathony's men kept a watch. The men known to Darlington and the river rats who had provided them transport converged on the sprawling stone house, attracted by the red very pistol flare that JM had launched aloft to signal the all-clear and RV ("Rendez-Vous") prior to leaving.
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:40, Thu 30 May 2013.

"Count, if that is someone coming to investigate the gunfire and explosions we may want to get out of here."

"Or they could be reinforcements that could help in the search ? Is that likely inspector ?"

"Lets stop the car at the gates, Mr Falcon on the left and I on the right. Inspector if you wouldn't mind doing it in an official capacity ?"