The Count felt exposed especially in his current position with a potential enemy on the roof and between the door and relative safety. With no sign of the constables he indicated to Mr Falcon to move back to the door and he followed close by with his rifle pointed at the roof as he moved.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 118):

Pointing his rifle meant he had no hand free to point a light source, like, say, his torch.

Moving closer to the door, he saw what appeared to be something pale sticking out over the eve... a human hand? Whatever it was, it was pulled back out of sight.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 116):

Molly looked over the sketches and took whatever she could with her.  She had done her prioritizing in her mind as she looked over them, namely the dragon, the obelisk, the circles of cultists and then the mansion.  She stopped to look in more detail at the mansion to see if it could give any more clues to hidden passages but was distracted by the hearing of some noises on the roof.

Molly walked over to Cynthia and spoke softly.  "Did you hear that?  I think it's time that we got out of here."

JM stepped back inside the doorway, his pistol ready.  "There is something on the roof for sure, something big.  Did you find the constables outside Count?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 121):

The Count lowers his voice so that only Mr Falcon and CSM Jones can hear.

"I believe that whatever is on the roof is currently eating one of the poor bastards. I think we need to talk to the prisoners see if they know anything more about this place.

"Sergeant Jones could you guard the door and lets keep it locked."

He then moves over to the ex prisoners and asks:

"Gentlemen I was wondering if you could enlighten us on your time in captivity with this vile cult, where did they keep you and how did you arrive here ?"

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 122):

After Bathony made it safely inside, CSM closed and barred the door, post-haste. "Yes sir! Door secured."

The two freed prisoners looked up at Bathony, a little shell-shocked after their ordeal. Rashid finally spoke.

"Praise Allah, I knew you would save us! A thousand blessings upon you! We were kept in cells in a basement. The entrance is somewhere in the fireplace, on the right side, I think. We were taken here by van, then taken down via the stairwell. Many thanks, again."

The Count watched the men as they relayed their story.

"We are not out of the woods yet as the English say."

He handed one of the men the rifle he recovered.

"Though your salvation is now in your own hands. Stay close to the Sergeant I believe there is some kind of wild animal loose in the grounds."

He relayed the same warning up the stairs and added to stand away from the windows. The Count then followed Mr Falcon to examine the fireplace the prisoners had indicated. As they moved he asked Mr Falcon:

"Could it be some sort of tiger or lion I believe they climb to eat their prey?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:43, Tue 19 Feb 2013.

Upstairs, Molly was unable to detect any passages. The pencilled images were amateur in nature and blurry, clearly the work of a deranged mind.

The dragon seemed to be the typical cartoon sort one might see an armoured "Sir Galahad" poking with a lance or sword.

CSM Jones retrieved his own rifle, and JM was already armed, so Rashid took the offered weapon and held it with some conviction. "Thank you, may Allah bless you." CSM Jones and Rashid had no comment about what might possibly be on the roof but looked uneasily upwards, as if they could see through the ceiling, 1st floor and roof!

Cynthia leans in to Molly, "yes, I think that's a good idea. I don't expect we'll find anything but trouble up here. I wouldn't balk at filling the house with lantern oil and pitching a match on the way out. I'll tell the boys up here. You go ahead downstairs to alert the rest of the noise."

JM went immediately to the fire place to look for the entrance to the basement. While he was a bit separate from the others, he spoke quietly to the Count.  "It could be a lion or tiger but it couldn't leap up on top of the building with a carrying a full man.  I think we may be dealing with something obscene."

As they continued to look he turned to the former captives.  "Rashid, do you know how the mechanism works to get downstairs?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 126)

Molly nodded at Cynthia and tried to be quiet as she snuck back down to tell the guys what they heard.  She kept her prizes with her.

The Count merely nodded as Mr Falcon voiced his suspicion. He agreed that whatever out there was of an other worldly persuasion he just did not let on. His introduction of the wild animal was more to try and normalise their predicament in his own mind.

He ran his hand over the fireplace where the prisoners had suggested then he stopped and held out his hand trying to feel for a breeze.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:48, Sun 24 Feb 2013.

Mungo went searching for the guys and finally found the Count and John-Marc.  She walked up to them, even knowing that they were discussing something (like that stopped Mungo?) and grinned even though her eyes looked worried.  "There's something on the roof.  Cynthia sent me down here.  She's still upstairs with our two guys.  Don't expect Cynthia to stay there to long though.  She'd make a good reporter."

Mungo then held out her prizes.  "Found some stuff but don't have time to thoroughly look at it.  Figured I could take it with us and look at it back at your place Count.  Are we about ready to get out of here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Sat 23 Feb 2013.

Cynthia hurries down the hall into the rooms, visiting each man in turn and whispering, "There is something on the roof above us. We plan to retreat, downstairs and then from the house."

"It that was the case would it not be prudent to remain in the relative safely of the house. I think what ever it is has taken both the constables stationed outside and managed to return to the roof to eat them."

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 132):

Mungo gulped but nodded.  "On the other hand wouldn't now be a good time to go?  IF it is eating the others then perhaps it is distracted enough so that we could get away.  I can't imagine that this house will deter it for long if it wants to come inside."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 127):

Trying to get his bearings, Rashid replied, "ah, there is a door where the Count is searching on the left. I'm not sure how it's opened?"

Above them the beams creaked. A couple slate roof tiles were dislodged by... something, and clattered to the ground outside.

OOC: Make both an Idea and Spot Hidden roll.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:11, Sun 24 Feb 2013.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 134):

Mungo's head whipped around at the words "closed door".  TO a reporter, or snoopy female, closed doors were really an invitation.  They just had given the help the day off so Mungo thought it was only right that she go over to see if she could figure out how to open up the door.

"Oh.  Let me see.  I've been told that I have a way with doors."  Before she set to work she stopped and looked at the two.  "Since you haven't busted it down, I am to assume that you want the door left in one piece?"

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 135):

Checking the fireplace along with the Count, Molly found there were two hidden doors, one to each side! She pulled one fireplace stone forward on the left side, there was a click and a narrow crack revealed the outline of a door in the side brickwork. Surprisingly, there was another door like it on the right side. Molly remembered that some manors like this built in the era of Cromwell had secret chambers and tunnels built in. Some for escape and others, "Priest holes", to shelter clergy during times of religious persecution.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 136):

Molly pulled out the map of the house to see if it included any of the priests hole or hidden passageways.  Either way she knew that Mungo would go through it.

"Well lookie here.  You just never know what you might find in these old houses.  You have these things in your house also Count?"

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 137):

With Molly's help, Bathony finally got both doors open. Both opened into cramped passageways down. The left side was a little bigger and seemed newer in construction, and there was an electric light on somewhere below. The right side was dark and much more narrow.
This message was last updated by the GM at 21:29, Sun 24 Feb 2013.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 138):

Molly nodded to the Count.  "Thank you sir.  Couldn't have done it without your help."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:52, Sun 24 Feb 2013.

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 139):

The Count turned to Molly:

"No, my house is relativity new compared to this Manor. Left looks to be the most used should we proceeded ?"

He retrieved one of his revolvers from his pocket and moved down the tunnel.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:02, Mon 25 Feb 2013.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 140):

Molly turned to the others and motioned for them to follow.  Then she shut down that part of her brain that told her it was bad to follow and let Mungo come out.

"Oh course Count.  I'll just follow you. "

JM stepped back and allowed the agile and clever Molly to search for the door.  Even in the danger they faced some part of him admired her lithe form.  He smiled and gave her a small bow as she found two secret doors.

"With whatever we have on the roof I think a secret passage out of the house would be a timely find.  This thing could easily snatch us as we flee back to the boats or even break into the house and take us like little tidbits."  He peered into the two holes.  "The one on the left definitely looks more promising.  If we do use this as an escape route we need to signal to Singh and the others that we are escaping using the flares."