You step through the portal and into a blinding light, walking through the piercing glow for a few seconds before you find yourselves suddenly outside in pitch darkness. The cloudy sky blocks the sliver moon and a tenacious rain immediately drenches you. The air is cold and an icy wind bites at your now soaked flesh as you quickly realize your feet are already half submerged in soggy squishy peat and mud. It is difficult to see but you seem to be in the middle of a great plain of marshy flatland. Penny recognizes them immediately. You are on the moors in just about the worst conditions possible.

Simon looked around, then down at his feet, then at Penny. "So this is why you always carry an umbrella."

There seemed to be no where around them, just more cold and miserable bog. "I hope you know which way to go."

Penny flung out her arms and laughed, her smile happy and carefree for once in a long time. She did not care how wet or muddy she got. 'I'm home!' She luxuriated in the refreshing rain, tasted the sweet water in her mouth, shivered at the caress of the cold wind upon her skin, through all the layers of dress. It was weather to make you feel alive. She took a deep breath, savouring the rich, earthy smells of the peat and plants, all the life of the moor around her. The land, with bogs and mires and tors and all, as bleak as it was, was so beautiful. She'd always come here to get away from that bleak house she'd grown up in; the moor gave her a wondrous feeling of freedom. Actually being back here chased away all her fears. 'Indeed so, Father Simon. Welcome to Britain!' Even her Devonshire accent had grown a tad more noticeable, her 'r' stronger and her 's' more like 'z'.

At last, she raised her umbrella, erecting the canopy overhead and sheltering her eyes from the rain as she scanned both the horizon and the ground close by. 'Visibility is poor, and Dartmoor is a big place. We must find a tor – a large rocky outcrop of granite boulders. We might find shelter from the rain there, and I can get my bearings.'

'Walk only where I walk. There are bogs and mires here that will swallow whole ponies, and beds of moss grow over some. They might support your weight – for a time.' she warned, trying to stress the hazards of this wild landscape. 'Plus, there'll be monsters lurking about.'


OOC: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dartmoor

Dartmoor on a dark night:
http://www.bunkr.co.uk/find/wp.../dartmoor-night2.jpg

I wish I'd put some points in Survival when I had the chance.

Finding our way and avoiding hazards, Survival 21. Rolled a 20, thankfully. Did we arrive in the right season?
10:23, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 21 using 1d20+1. survival.

Do we need to make Fort saves against the weather? Unfortunately, Penny can't do anything about that.
10:25, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 2 using 1d20+1.  survival - weather.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:31, Tue 29 Sept 2015.

Well what a lovely home you have here Ian mutters dryly, looking miserable in the rain. Lead the way then good lady. Lily follows close behind and though she looks cold in the rain she handles it quite well and as you travel she is more surefooted then most of you though you're sure it has something to do with her native upbringing and being acclimated to the wilds, even if they are the wilds of America versus England. (ooc: i.e. she has crazy good survival ranks, lol).

Ian does less well and stumbles and slips and is forever falling and complaining, even putting a foot wrong here and there and starting to sink into the very bogs and mires Penny warned him of. Fortunately a close eye is kept on the man and he manages not to sink too deeply. Penny spots a tor not too far and you all trudge towards it, the only one having a happy time is Penny, though the cold is getting to her and she shivers uncontrollably. Continued exposure will likely wear on her and you are grateful for the hope of shelter, even if just for a little while. Castiel is nowhere to be seen but you hope he will find you soon enough. In the meantime the air is cold and biting but Penny knows it could be far colder. It feels like a nippy spring, perhaps you were put in the correct time after all.

ooc: So please roll a survival check the rest of you to see how well you do and go ahead and roll fort saves against the weather too, good idea Penny. Also, roll a spot everyone so that when you get the to the Tor you can perhaps find a direction to head.

09:12, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Spot.
09:11, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 7 using 1d20+5.  Fort Save.
09:11, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 16 using 1d20+10.  Survival.

Simon found his footing, easier than Ian but far less so than Lily. The cold and rain were another story. He began to shiver, pulling his arms up around his chest. By the time they reached to outcropping he had to work to keep his teeth from chattering. He could not stop his lips from turning blue. Despite this and the rain, his eyes did not fail him. He pointed toward the castle, "Our destination, yes?"

Jo's petite frame made it somewhat simple for her to tread along in Penny's footsteps, daintily hopping from one place to the next. She kept her eyes on the ground, and made sure she did exactly as she was told... she knew better than to not listen to the expert in these situations.

Seeing that Lily was doing well, she teased,

"Looks like we might have to help our more awkward companions next time, hmm?" she asked, laughing.


Fort: 21
Survival: 19
Spot: 17

Finally making up for my sissiness with the needle! :P

Penny laughed at Ian's comment. 'Ha! You should see it in winter!' She strode boldly across the moor, determined not to appear uncomfortable or cold. She tried to view it as "bracing". But as the cold started to bite, and bite hard, she had to admit to herself that she'd been too long away from the moor, that her prior expeditions had had good preparation, good weather or daylight, or the recklessness and vigor of youth. These really weren't the best conditions to be out on it; in fact, they were almost the worst. Frankly, with visibility so poor, they'd be lucky not to be swallowed by a bog, or worse.

As they walked, Penny kept up a running lecture to explain the local hazards, to ensure the hunters were adequately prepared, to stave off the cold and discomfort, and perhaps to show off her knowledge. The emphases in her accent seemed well adapted to the weather, harder sounds not stolen away by the wind. She explained the bogs and mires, and the "feather beds" or "quakers" of bright green sphagnum moss growing over them, giving the appearance of sturdy ground.

Though she had no clear direction or landmarks, and moving as much by instinct or a sixth sense as practical knowledge, Penny led the group on a careful path, skirting the bogs and mires and ordinary mud puddles. This was not always successful, though not through any fault of hers. She helped clumsy Ian out of a bog, managing to retain his shoe. Staring thoughtfully at the muddy water, Penny crouched and muttered a few words, her language unknown. She then gently placed one of the knives in the water, watching it sink slowly to the bottom. She was relieved. Rising, she regarded Ian. 'Next time, we can go to Scotland.'

At one point, she had the whole group halt and not make a sound or movement for a few tense minutes. When whatever it was had passed, she moved on again, without a word of explanation. Penny was reluctant to explain all that she knew of this place, fearing their judgement.

Penny spied the tor, a distinctive granite outcrop silhouetted against the cloudy night sky, trying to remember the tors after so many years. 'Our first landmark, anyway. If I don't recognise it, well, we might find a cave to shelter in, or else see another landmark or the lights of a village. Also keep an eye out for menhirs, standing stones.'


OOC: Oh, gee, good on me for thinking of it. :| Fort 16.
21:39, Yesterday: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+6. fort vs weather.
11:25, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18 using 1d20+9. spot.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:01, Wed 30 Sept 2015.

Simon did not know which was more irritating, being led about in this accursed weather or the fact that Penny seemed totally unbothered by it. "Best get moving then, I doubt we would survive a night in this without shelter."

Ian laughs at Penny's comment about Scotland and Lily gives a wicked, teasing chuckle at Josephine's remark. Indeed! But don't worry Ian, we can always carry you out if it comes to it she winks. He rolls his eyes and mutters something you can't quite catch but that doesn't seem to be accidental.

Soon you reach the tor and Penny gets her bearings. The driving rain and wind make it difficult to see but Simon does indeed seem to spot some lights in the distance. You can't tell from here but it could very well be a large house or manor as there aren't quite enough to be a village but there are enough that you doubt it is a simple dwelling. You judge from what little you can see it will take about an hour to reach it. Meanwhile there is a large, deep gash in the tor that would easily shelter all of you should you wish though it will be a bit wet and cramped and a fire is out of the question in these conditions. You can either stay and be squished and out of the elements or you can surge through and see how you fare...

Despite shivering Simon spoke up, "I vote we continue on. No fire would make for a terrible night."

Seeing the tor rise defiantly out of the moorland, Penny clambered up the granite boulders and grassy slopes, using her cane for support. The elevated rocky outcrop was at least drier than the rest of the land. 'Indeed not.' Seeing that Simon had spotted some lights, Penny followed his gaze and tried to identify them, as well as a path there and how long it would take. Where was she? 'It may look close, but it will take us an hour to get there. I can't even tell what time of night it is... Do any of you wish to rest a while before we set off again?' she asked Ian, Jo, Lily, and Simon.


OOC: Does Penny recognise the settlement/manor?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:34, Wed 30 Sept 2015.

Penny does recognize the area and judging by the general direction Simon has pointed her she realizes it is quite possibly her own home they are looking at.

In answer to your question Lily grins at Ian. I'm fine to press on, though I understand if Ian needs a break she gives him a wicked smile and he sighs, shaking his head. The poor man is covered in mud, peat and bits of vegetation for he has fallen numerous times. I can make it. I think. Just don't let me drown in one of your bloody mud puddles on the way he mutters. Now if you need a rest Miss Hartley, we'll be fine to oblige he adds almost hopefully to the blonde woman.

Simon caught onto the joke, "I think Ian needs a rest as well. I am good to continue, though."

"Nope!" Josephine brightly chirped, smiling, "Thanks for worrying about me, Ian. I'll be sure you're the first to know when I need a rest. I'm doing great, for now. Shall we continue?" she half-teased him, calling him on his words with a grin.

Simon couldn't help but laugh, "I think the girls are running rings around you, my man."

Ian looks a bit embarrassed and quickly stands up again, the epitome of health and vigor, or at least pretending to be. Let's get this bloody over with! he declares, already eager to get going.

ooc: Ok, presumably the next hour will be spent traveling to the house, we'll use the same rolls from before so no worries there. Ian, poor thing, will need some help and by the time you get there he will be a shivering wet mess and will have nearly sunken into several bogs multiple times. He will need close watching. As for the house itself, I will let Penny describe it to you considering her connection to it, that and she'll probably do a better job than me anyway!

There was no terrific flash of lightning to illuminate that grim and crumbling pile, but there might as well have been to Penny's eyes. The brief shaft of moonlight and the sheets of rain that swept over it were more than enough to limn the so hauntingly familiar lines. Those chimneys and gables, the overgrown grey stone walls, the late Tudor style that hearkened back to the Medieval. A nameless dread that crept before her since hearing Emma Bently's verdict now came crashing upon her with the full, horrible truth. For all her preparations, as far as she'd come on her own, it still hurt to come back.

Penny was, indeed, home.

'No, no, the ground ahead is quite treacherous.' Penny tried, the excuse sounding feeble to her ears, that she was simply delaying and prevaricating. She needed time. 'We should wait here until daylight... It will be safest for Ian. In fact, I think I know a decent cave around here we might wait out the rain in...' She'd climbed so many of the local tors, and the boulders had felt so familiar. Perhaps she hadn't climbed this tor before, but she would, in about ten years' time.


OOC: Sorry to delay, but I figure Penny will be reluctant.

I did some research. Here's a nice, ancient, history-filled overgrown manor of Dartmoor that's much like what I've pictured:

http://www.newsusauk.com/news/7965-country-manor-once-won-by-
sir-francis-drake-in-a-bet-in-1581-goes-on-sale-for-1-25m-and-
there-s-a-lordship-thrown-in.html

Sorry, RPOL wouldn't accept the full link.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:57, Fri 02 Oct 2015.

Simon looked t her like she was mad, "Penny, I am cold tired wet and hungry. I am exhausted actually. You may have the strength to continue on and climb to a cave, I do not. I will brave this treacherous..." he paused sensing something  he had overlooked a moment ago. "Now that I see it, your probably right. Perhaps there is a barn or similar building we might weather the night in?"

Despite Jo teasing Ian, she was quite fond of him, and she slipped over while the others spoke, and offered him a helping hand, or shoulder, depending on what he needed. She didn't want him slipping off and exhausting himself, so she worked quietly, chatting softly with him to keep his spirits up as well as they went.

'Better we rest then.' Penny said, nodding slightly to Simon as he relented, seeming to understand her reluctance. 'Even if just for an hour.'

Penny set off back down the slope of the tor, careful of the wet and slippery granite boulders, already smoothed by time. She began circling around the pile of rocks, away from the cleft that offered false promise of shelter, and making for cave entrance she knew lay lower down on the eastward side. The route was familiar, and coming back to her in ever-greater clarity. Of course, everything had seemed much bigger, when she had been so much smaller. 'Come, there's a cave down here, it should be dry enough and out of the wind.'

But when got to the promised spot, she found nothing, just a grassy slope and the expected orifice covered over by a fat round boulder. It had lain open before – in the future, when she'd found it. 'Help me lift this.' Penny begged, working her fingers around the boulder and trying to haul it out. She didn't have the strength to do it on her own though.

The boulder rolled out, with dirt and earthworms; Penny bade them leave the stone close by, as kind of door or windbreak. Revealing inside was a black hole, lead into the tor, down into the earth. 'Folk hid here from the Roundheads during the Civil War.' Penny noted. They weren't the only ones.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Fri 02 Oct 2015.

Simon helped push the rock aside. As the others filed in he waited and touched Penny's arm. He looked at her, conveying what he could of being with her and hoping to bolster her courage with his own. "Whatever it is, you won't be alone in facing it. I know you might prefer it that way, but you need us. We are here for you. We are your friends. You can trust us." He pulled away but added, "You know I will keep your confidence, if there is something you need to tell me."

Looking back and forth between Simon and Penny as Simon uttered his questionable words, Josephine chose to smile and play ignorant, and turned back towards Ian, busying herself suddenly, and ensuring she gave them room to speak in private.

'I know I can trust all of you. And I will – in good time.' Penny deferred, before crouching and venturing into the cave mouth, leading the others in. The cave was granite stones and compacted dirt, narrow and so low they had to walk stooped. 'Left next... You'll have to duck here.' She knew the way already, despite the utter darkness that swallowed them up. After all, this wasn't the first time she'd been down here, though it was the first time this cave had been visited by her. The inverted sense of déjà vu was overwhelming.

...The girl will sit sobbing on the grassy slope behind the tor, railing at all the injustices of the world, and of the home. It wasn't fair! She'd just had to get away from the house and from Father, though she knows now she will get a hiding for running off. The governess will not protect her. She's in no hurry to go back.

She looks around, across the moor which she's always found so beautiful and peaceful, so vast and free. Then she spots a shadow behind a boulder. More than a shadow, it is a hole. Curious, intrigued, in need of a distraction and defiance, she wipes away the tears and clambers across, peering behind the boulder – just enough room for a girl to slip behind and hide – and into the hole. It was too big to be a burrow. It is a cave! Head filled with adventure stories like Alice in Wonderland, the girl ventures inside, down the warm tunnel and deep into the earth...

'Wait here,' Penny said, stepping away from the group. With no fumbling in the dark, she pulled something off the wall. With a match from a waterproofed container, she lit the ancient torch, shedding warm orange light through out a decent-sized cave, dry bar a regular drip-drip and the distant howling of wind and rain. There were rounded rocks to sit on, though there were only ancient ashes in the firepit. On the other side, the cave narrowed again into another tunnel, leading still deeper into the earth. 'Come in, we can rest here.' Penny replaced the burning torch on its wrought-iron sconce, then placed her matches in a certain position beside the firepit.

...It is completely dark, as black as ink. She has lost touch of the walls and stumbles blindly through a great open space, all turned about and completely lost. Panic rises in her. What if she is hurt, what if never finds her way out? No one knows she is here. What if she is never found? She trips on a stone and falls, banging her knees on the hard stone floor. Sobbing again, she crawls now, afraid of sudden drops in the floor. Her hands pat across the ground, then alight upon a small box. Fumbling, desperate, she opens the box, but spills half the contents, but catches some. Matches! What were matches doing here? Wondering at this miracle, she lights one against the rough stone...

Penny sat herself on a boulder, hugging her knees, lost in memories of the future.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:50, Fri 02 Oct 2015.

Eventually Penny spoke up, though as usual she circled around the topics she found particularly personal. She was in lecture-mode. 'Now, you should know there are several types of common monsters we must watch out for here on the moor. Ghosts are quite common, of course, and good luck finding, salting, and burning the body of one who has drowned in the bog. And so there are also bog people. You see, the peat may preserve a body remarkably well – too well, in some cases. The ancient tribes would deposit the bodies of their dead in these bogs, or else use them for sacrifices and executions. Plus, there is always simple misadventure. They can be thousands of years of old, or even a few years. Some eventually find their way out of the bog again. Then there are the bogs themselves...'

'There is also the Headless Horseman, and, some say, headless horses. There are some witches, of course, bog hags who live out in the distant moor.'

'Then there are black dogs – portents of death and psychopomps that guide souls to the afterlifes, they may only be seen by the dying and the doomed. The demons capture them, torture and train them to become the hellhounds you are familiar with. Sometimes they let them run wild upon the moor again... Listen carefully to the howling wind, and you may the hear the dogs baying.'

'And then there are pixies.' Penny shuddered, and not for the cold. 'Pixies.'

Penny grimaced, listened to the distant rush of rain outside. There was no sign the rain would be letting up any time soon. 'Fortunately, on a night like this, I think they'll all be home in bed.'
This message was last edited by the player at 07:31, Sat 03 Oct 2015.

Simon watched Penny with a mixture of concern and angst. He knew there was something bothering her, and like a true stoic she refused to let anyone help her. He struggled, vacillating between keeping hims mouth shut and pushing her for answers. He decided on a middle road, a gentle nudge. "I get the impression you've been here before, this cave I mean. It was extraordinarily well concealed - by a master at concealing and only the person who hid it would be able to find it I assume." He studied her, hoping to get her to open up with gentle persuasion. "Is there anything we should know about it? Perhaps something only you would know?"

A nudge or invitation was what Penny wanted, a reminder that people cared and wanted to know. 'Perhaps.' she began, narrowing her eyes at Simon in consideration of how much to say. 'These tunnels have held many secrets in their time. A shelter in times of trouble, a place for certain religious practices. They go as far back into history as they do deep into the earth.' Penny pointed to the other dark tunnel, the one that led still deeper under the moor and into the granite bedrock. 'Down there, you will find the markings of a Celtic tin mine etched in the walls; the people here traded tin to the Phoenicians and Greeks, and later the Romans. Deeper still, you will find Stone Age cave paintings and idols of great antiquity... The entrance was sealed about a century ago, I estimate.'

'But remember, we are in the past. I will find the unsealed entrance in, oh, eight years' time. So I have been before, but not yet – if you follow my meaning. I will leave the entrance unsealed just so as we leave. Think on that: like the chicken and the egg, how was this cave first discovered? What fate guided me here?' she wondered, and for now she had no answers. Was it time or fate, God or the spirit of this place, or was it she herself, making her own destiny?

...The first match has burned all the way down to her fingers before she collects her wits. She is in a cave, a big cave! Lighting a second match, she finds her way to one of the torches. She pulls it down in the dark, then lights it with a third match. The sconce is too high up for her, so she leaves the torch propped between two boulders, and picks up the remaining matches. It is very good luck to find them. But how did they come to be here? Maybe someone else had visited this place and left them behind. For her?...

Penny had since shed her sopping coat and left her furled umbrella by the entrance, and she was slowly drying by the heat of the torches. The cave grew smoky, but most of the smoke drifted up out of the upward sloping cave. She led her friends through the process of deduction as Holmes would do with her; this time, she herself was the puzzle. 'You know we have come to the year of my birth. You have seen that I am intimately familiar with this land and its secrets. Some of you know my true name – Darkmoor – and may well link it to the dark moors outside. And did I not say I had come home when we arrived? Plus, you know I will come here again in only eight years. So what do you make of the manor outside?'

Simon was content to shiver and listen. He found a place to sit and try to be comfortable, which was difficult. Penny's answer made sense in a round about way. He for one was uncomfortable with what might happen if they inadvertently altered their own future. He kept himself in the "now" by focusing on Penny. He answered her question, "Though I am unfamiliar with them, it seems like what I expected from an English Manor house. Am I missing something?"

Penny sighed, sure she would have to say everything herself. 'It's name – that is Darkmoor Manor. The house I grew up in.'
This message was last edited by the player at 00:29, Sun 04 Oct 2015.

Simon moved a stone with his foot, "Is it haunted as well?"

Penny smiled, amused at Simon's simple question despite the anguish. 'Isn't every old manor house?'

Penny's revelations weren't exactly having the expected gasps of astonishment. She breathed out a sigh, deciding to explain. Though she'd wanted to keep these particulars of the case private, and had rather hoped they would never be an issue, she knew it could well be disastrous if her friends did not know something that might be vital. Secrets kept could hurt someone, as she'd seen in Lily's case. The truth was often the best and safest course of action. And, after all, Veracity was Penny's middle name. Well, actually, it was Verity, but she'd made a slight adjustment. Where else to tell this story but here, in this sacred cave buried in the past? 'Trust me, I meant no deception. Although I dreaded this possibility, I sincerely hoped otherwise. Home is the last place I wished to go. And it changes nothing. We are here to rescue Kate.'

'In that house, I expect we shall find Vortigern, the Right Honourable The Lord Darkmoor; Lord of the Manor; Baron of Dunmoreton, Coombe Tracey, and Hexbridge; Bearer of the Black Rock, et cetera, et cetera.' One could not miss the sarcasm on "Right Honourable", and the exaggerated list of formal titles showed how tiresome Penny found them. Hurriedly, quietly, unhappily, she added what seemed the least important part: 'And my father. We shall probably see myself as a baby, unless there are more secrets to my heritage than I expected.' That would be a very strange experience, Penny reflected, not certain how she would feel gazing upon her own infant self. As strange as laying the footsteps she would follow as a girl, she supposed. The shadows of time lay thickly about her.

She couldn't rightly recall the staff who had been around this long; most had eventually departed, citing better opportunities or disturbed feelings, and not mentioning problems with the Lord of the Manor. Penny went on, voice tightly restrained as she told the dreadful story. 'Emma Bently related to me a tale that once, long ago, perhaps before recorded history, the heads of two families pledged themselves to Belial, such that one who was mixed of both their bloodlines would form a living key to unlock his prison in Hell and thus release him fully into the world. One family was the Blaedens, the other the Darkmoors. Over the centuries both have produced more than their fair share of villains and scoundrels. And some few heroes.' she added quickly, recalling her dream. 'I, of course, am a Darkmoor. And Miss Kate Piper, it seems, is both.' She let that dreaded possibility sink in, that Kate was Belial's long sought-after key, whom he'd lured back in time so as to accelerate his escape. 'She may be my several-times' great granddaughter.'

Hotly, Penny insisted 'I swear to God I do not know what Belial intends at this place and time of my birth. Perhaps he means to preserve my current existence and so Kate's, or to steal me away far sooner. I expect my father will be involved in this wickedness; he has long wished to marry me off for a good match. I expect a King of Hell is good enough for him.' Penny stared at the rock floor, her eyes drilling down into Hell itself, quivering with held tension. She despised her father, that cold and hateful man who could never be pleased, who had no love for his own child, who cared only for how she could serve his interests. But she'd never thought he would stoop to this, selling her to a demon prince. She felt sick to her stomach, her skin crawling; her tainted bloodline felt like filth in her veins. These monstrous patriarchs would pervert her whole history, twist her to their own ends, interested only in what they could put in and take out of her. Only her anger and indignation sustained her. She would fight this with every inch of her being.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:55, Tue 06 Oct 2015.

Josephine, Ian is very grateful for your kindness, though he is a bit embarrassed to need it.

Ian and Lily listen intently, Lily commenting that she would very much like to see the Headless Horsemen, a look of excited curiosity on her face. Ian in particular looks sympathetic to Penny's plight and he looks like he wants to comfort her but is unable to do so with so many people about not to mention all the mud covering him. In the meantime as Penny uncovers the truth of matters you hear the wind outside start to howl and an eerie howl echos on the moors.

ooc: Go ahead and finish up conversation and decide how long you will stay. All night? A few hours? Then I'll move things along.

Jo kept tending to Ian. She can be delicate, but with him, she isn't being particularly gentle, ribbing him when she feels it would be beneficial for his ego. She works, using all of her talents, to make him feel not only taken care of, but also respected. She doesn't hold it against him that bogs aren't in his wheelhouse, just as she would expect him to respect her despite her relative lack of combat ability.

Though if he gets any more arrogant, she'll have to arm-wrestle his butt to the floor!

Sorry, Husband home so ROMANCE.

Simon had been about to ask Penny if it was haunted by ghosts or memories, but she answered him before he could ask. Instead he sat thoughtfully and finally responded, "Heroes and villains, so it seems to me that your not bound by any curse. You are free to make your own choices. Thus far you have chosen to be the hero, and I suspect you will continue. We are here for you, Penny."

Penny looked up at the black dog's howl, not disturbed but reassured. It wasn't coming for her. The black dog was safe, provided one did not see it. Besides, it was the Darkmoor coat-of-arms: black dog rampant to sinister. 'Thank you, Father. I am glad that all my friends are here with me. I don't think I could face this alone.' she admitted, relieved. These good, solid companions – Ian, with his courage; Simon, with his faith; Lily, with her strength – gave her the same qualities, qualities she wasn't sure she could find on her own, qualities she would need to meet Father again. Family was always where one was most vulnerable.

'I have a few things I would like to do here first, then we must decide our course of action. We could go directly to the Manor, but we will have not a clue what we are walking into. It could well be a nest of demons now. Fortunately, I still know the layout of the house and its secrets...'

'Or we could go on to the village of Dunmoreton, rest and refresh ourselves at the inn – which I hope is still The Cloven Hoof – enjoy a cream tea and hot pasties, and learn what we may of events at "thikky big house".' she said in the broad country Devon dialect, or rather, the "Deb'm mouth spaitch". 'It shall take us longer and further out of our way, but we shall go forewarned and thus forearmed.'

Penny caught herself, knowing what she was doing. 'Of course, in my reluctance and fear, I am biased toward caution and procrastination. I cannot consider this clearly. I shall step aside and let the rest of you decide our approach. I must rely on your clear heads.'

'Our other options are to call upon Castiel, as he wished to accompany us, and to summon Juliet. Her nose will confirm Kate's location, and I'm sure she will enjoy a run upon the moor.'
This message was last edited by the player at 12:25, Wed 07 Oct 2015.

Cream tea and hot pasties...? Ian murmurs wistfully. What of dry clothes and a strong drink? Not that I have an opinion either way of course! he adds quickly. We can all enjoy a run on the moor if you like, I'm up for it.

'Oh, dry clothes, of course. It depends, do we wish to call upon the manor as well-dressed, respectable folk, or as bedraggled and muddy vagrants in the night? We shan't get a warm welcome as we are, I fear.' Feeling herself too close to the case, Penny was standing aside and letting the others choose their approach, only supplying advice and information she knew.

Simon was worried. This was far afield of Penny's normal character. He had never seen her use caution or even suggest it. This made him nervous in turn. "What if...what if we wait and loose our opportunity?"

Penny's detours into idyllic Devonshire country life were arrested by Simon's words. 'That... is a very real possibility.' she agreed, chilled. 'But we have already gone back in time. There was some degree of inaccuracy in Emma Bently's location spell, and in Victoria's time travel spell. Kate may have been here only a matter of days, or perhaps weeks or months.' Penny shuddered to consider how long Kate might have been in Belial's clutches, what she might have had to endure. 'We suspect that whatever Belial shall do, he shall try it on the summer solstice, 21st of June. This should be April now, according to Emma. Time may no longer be of the essence.'

Simon nodded, "If this is April, then I believe your idea of going into town to gather intelligence is a good one." Having made his thoughts known he sat quietly so the others could have a say.

It is almost humorous to watch Ian's face fall at the suggestion they go tonight and then break into a relieved grin at the idea town is an option after all. Lily laughs openly at her friend but then the pair have always been close.

ooc: So I assume town then?

Should you decide to go to town the way will be tricky but Penny knows it thankfully. Ian is just as clumsy as before and by the time you get there he's half drowned and mud soaked. It appears the hour is late for the streets are quiet but there is an inn, quaint and cozy, that seems to be open at this late hour. The proprietor, a stout hard faced woman looks surprised to see your messy group but thankfully she does have rooms available and even some left over supper and tea and whiskey for those that desire it.

ooc: Ok, so if someone suddenly changes their mind about town go ahead and ignore all that. I will let Penny describe the town if desired. Let me know your basic plans for the night and if you wish to gather intelligence please roll accordingly :)

...Feeling afraid, Penny Ann wants to leave this strange cave now, but there are two dark tunnels leading away. She'd gotten so turned about in the dark that she does not know which one she'd come through. So she picks one: 'Eeny meeny miny mo...' With a lit match, she ventures into the tunnel. But the ground begins to slope downward, taking her deeper into the earth. This does not seem right at all. A warm wind picks up, blowing against her, making the flame of the match stretch out and point the other way. Hurriedly, Penny Ann turns and walks out, taking the other tunnel to the surface and choosing to take her chances at home. Dimly, she wonders if wind should really blow out of the ground like that...

...But she will come back to her secret hiding place, and even bring her dollies and hold tea parties there in the ancient meeting spot. But she is wise for a child of her years, and will not go down the strange dark tunnel that always lays behind her, though it might yawn occasionally like a slumbering giant. She is not ready for that, yet...

*

Once they'd settled on the decision to go into town, Penny left her companions to relax in the cave for several more minutes, while she took care of more personal business. 'I have some things to take care of. You may accompany me if you wish.' she offered graciously, but would remain silent and some steps ahead. Taking one of the torches, but not lighting it, Penny ventured into the second tunnel, the one that led deeper into the earth, winding and twisting deeper into the ancient and massive granite pluton that brooded vastly beneath all of Dartmoor, causing the marshlands above by refusing to transport away water. Penny could almost feel the crushing weight of stone hanging above her head, so dense and hard and heavy, it gravity exerting a pull on her, pulling her deeper into it. How deep under the ground was she now? How far had she gone into the heart of the earth?

*

...Later, Penelope comes back to her secret place, but now with her books on geology and history, and tries to identify the different types of stones and trace the history of the place, but the old writers know it only vaguely. Old and dusty journals in the manor library have told her more, but still only teasingly. Penelope, a serious-minded girl, wants to verify these things for herself. So when she sees that familiar yawning tunnel, this time she is ready. All prepared, Penelope walks down...

*

Penny walked in darkness, fingers tracing the shapes of the stone, trusting to the earth around her to guide her path and already knowing the way. After the upper area, which had likely been used as a hideout in the Civil War and for concealing Catholic priests and heretics, Penny cane to sections that dated back still further, to before recorded history. With her fingers, she traced chisel marks in the stone, which she presumed to be signs of Celtic tin mining in classical times. As she walked further down, she recalled the history of this land, going ever backwards in time, from medieval Devonshire to Dark Ages Dumnonia. The ancient Britons here had resisted invasion by the Normans, the Saxons, and the Romans, making peace yet somehow avoiding wholesale colonisation and development, suffering few forts, villas, and Roman towns, preserving trace the Brittonic language and the old ways. In all of England, Cornwall and Devon seemed to be home to the last of the ancient Britons. Before them, they were an obscure tribe, the Dumnones or Dumnonii, as the Romans named them – the Dubnoueni – the People of the Deep Valleys, or of the Dark Earth. And among them, the People of the Dark Moor, the hunters and druids, knowers of secrets and magic. But what had been remembered, and what had been lost?

At last Penny came to the end, the tunnel widening into a cavern, the granite above an oppressive weight. She was in the very womb of mother earth now. At last, Penny lit her torch again, mounting it in a stone hollow, dark-adapted eyes recoiling at the sudden burning glare, making all she saw loom wildly before her eyes. The walls were bedecked with cave paintings left by Stone Age peoples, crude sketches depicting dogs and deer and even woolly mammoths, and stick figures hunting them with spears and praying before even stranger things. As Penny moved her torch around, the light of the flames flickered over the images and the stone, making them seem to dance and run and jump as if alive. And among them were ancient idols and skulls, stone knives and fetishes, which folk of the future could only guess at.

*

...Penelope trembles in fear as she enters this deep place, seeing skulls and monsters and strange altars, all of it leaping out of childhood nightmares, moors ghost stories, and disturbing books in the library. She knows in her head she should leave. Yet her feet stay, in spite of herself. She is drawn to one idol in particular, one that radiates a calm and compassion. But why does she look so sad?...

*

Penny knelt before one, a large weirdly shaped figure, recognisable as a woman by its pregnant belly, wide hips, and bountiful breasts, like an ancient fertility goddess. Her face was matronly, firm, yet caring. This was Domnu, the spirit of the deep earth, the dark valleys, and the moor, the mother of the tribe. Solemnly muttering prayers in a tongue older than English or Latin, Penny drew one of her spare knives and pricked her thumb, squeezing drops of fresh red blood upon the granite altar. And though granite was impermeable, the blood was nevertheless swallowed up. The torch flickered in a breeze that should not be there, casting shadows and an approving aspect on the idol's face. Even through the shadows of time, the goddess knew her daughter. Penny left the knife on the altar, her sacrifice, her deposit for the future.

*

...The girl turns sharply, hearing a deathly moan behind her. A man stands there at the exit, short, skeletal, caked with mud, sopping wet, and stinking of the bog. His limbs are twisted and bent, his gait shambling, his head and jaw are half crushed. His skin is brown and leathery, his eyes black and hollow, yet his hair is strangely still red and fresh. A bog body! A dead thing walking. It had caught her scent out on the moor and crawled out of its bog, following the girl and the promise of pink tasty flesh.

Squealing in horror, Penelope steps back, trying to get away, but trips over a skull, landing near the altar. Her bottom lands heavily on hard stone, her elbow bangs on the corner, sending pins-and-needles shooting up her arm. Yet her hand falls on a knife, not a sharpened flint but modern steel. She has no time to wonder at this, for the bog body is upon her, looming terribly over her, twisted leathery arms and gnarled claws reaching for her throat. Yet, without intending it, her hand has closed around the hilt, and her arm moves up for the bog body, her aim fast and true. The flashing steel blade pierces the leathered skin with a hideous sound, and sinks into the shrivelled heart. Moaning in rage, fetid breath blasting the girl, it rears back, stealing the knife from her hands. It is dead, yet still it walks, and still comes for her.

She ducks under its blind swings and scrambles away again; knowing a small girl can easily get under a man's grasp. But Penelope can see no way around it to the exit. Her heart is pounding almost out of her chest, her breath is coming short and sharp, chills shoot up her back. Yet, despite her terror, a sudden courage comes upon her. She feels like Gwendolen, the ancient warrior queen, whom she'd been reading about. Scooping up a long bone – an animal's, she hopes – she hops onto the altar before the ancient mother goddess, knowing she has gained height on the bog body. She raises the bone club high, and when it approaches, she strikes, small arms lent great strength by her desperate fear and by the primal forces around her. The bone crushes the dead man's face, cracks the ancient skull beneath the leathered skin, before shattering into a thousand shards that explode about her.

Dropping the stub of bone, Penelope dives sideways, leaping off the altar as the living corpse trips over it, slamming heavily into the ancient granite surface. As it flails and moans and tries to find its feet, Penelope finds her dropped torch, and touches the fire to the corpse. It is full of methane. The corpse bursts into wild flames, struggling feebly, but very quickly dying once more, lying and burning steadily.

Stabbed, bludgeoned, burned. The ancient Celtic three-fold death. Because one had to kill them three times to be sure.

The light of the fire illuminates the whole cave, and bathes the stone idol in a warm golden glow. Lit from below, the aspect of its face turns to a smile, one of satisfaction, of love. It is not for the sacrifice, but the courage and wits of the girl before her.

Shocked, exhausted, covered in ash and mud, Penelope simply sits at the mother's feet, hugging her knees. She sobs out her horror, waits until the trembling stops, and eventually falls asleep, there amidst the bones and stones, warmed by a burning bog body, deep in the womb of mother earth. Her dreams are wracked by strange images, ancient rites, painted warrior women slaying monsters upon the moor under the moon. When she wakes, she will have no more fear. When she wakes, she will be reborn. When she wakes, she will be guardian of the moor.

*

The circle was complete, Penny reflected, placing the whole bone by the altar. She'd left for herself what she would need to survive, and to become something more. She had a short chuckle; she was indeed a self-made woman. But not made alone, she knew, considering the stone idol of Mother Domnu, and the dancing shadows cast on the cave wall, which seemed to her eyes to be generations of mothers and daughters and sisters, watching on. Queen Gwendolen she knew, who would guide a girl's hand in ten years' time, and a young woman's against the Ripper. Being back here, at the beginning of her, had renewed Penny's courage and strength, her love for her land and her faith in her heritage. This was older than Belial, and it would endure his corruption, would survive his assault. Penny was guardian of the moor, and Belial had made the foolish error of hiding on her land, on Domnu's own back.

The rain seemed to have let up somewhat as they set out back across the moor, skirting the manor estates. The wild, rugged moorland soon turned to green, wet fields and farmland. Penny was able to point some local landmarks, sadly noting for Simon the distant stony ruins of a church that had been a little too Catholic for Henry the Eighth during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Here and there were ancient, abandoned stone-walled cottages, and scattered about were stone circles, and menhirs bearing curious markings. Some were genuine, others Victorian-age follies. The family estates resembled a theme park at times, Penny reflected ruefully.

They could hardly see the village in the dark, though it seemed quintessentially, idyllic, rustic, and other such words. Nevertheless, returning was like a dream to Penny. Everything was similar but different, some buildings gone by her times, others changed, some the same. The small chapel of Saint Petroc's was reassuringly the same as it had been for centuries, a sturdy grey church, partially fortified and seemingly able to withstand an army, but of what? She pointed it out to Father Simon, privately eager to reassert her Christianity. She'd spent a lot of time in its peaceful sanctuary too, praying or simply reading, balancing the two halves of her faith, old and new. The chapel seemed a beacon of goodness in a dark land.

Entering the inn, Penny apologised to the innkeeper and explained that their coach had overturned on a rough road some distance away, and their horses had run off, forcing them to set off on foot across the moor. Penny's Devon accent thickened when speaking with the locals, showing herself to be a local girl, though she was hardly one of the farming folk. But for now she avoided any explanation of where they were from and where they were headed.

Happily settling back into country life, Penny explained the unique foods on offer, such as pasties and Groat's pudding, the scrumpy cider, and most importantly the Devonshire cream tea. This last was tea with milk, and scones with cream and strawberry jam in "the Devon method", though one could have butter if they were a barbarian. Of course, with the food all being cold, reheated, or no longer fresh, there was something missing.


OOC:
http://www.devonhistoricchurch...pford-spiney-st-mary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Petroc
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuisine_of_Devon
This message was last edited by the player at 04:14, Sat 10 Oct 2015.

ooc: Roll a bluff and also gather information should you wish to glean any info, otherwise just enjoy your repast! Funny thing is I have a tiny tiny tiny little jar of devonshire cream left over from a tea party I went to a few months ago. It's enough for maybe one scone so I haven't used it. I'll have to bust it out one of these days. Ha! I should keep it in my purse for scone emergencies!

Dry clothes are scrounged up for all who desire them though they are plain, poor fitting and musty smelling. You should be able to at least rinse and dry your previous attire though it won't necessarily be spotless in the morning. For a price the inkeep will do this for you. Ian looks eternally grateful for a roof over his head and a pint of beer and he keeps going on about how, 'isn't this nice? We're all dry now. Not that I couldn't have made it of course!' and other such justifications. If anyone is interested he will play a few games of cards with them. It seems to be about 12:30 a.m. so the inn is very quiet other then you lot safe for a couple of late drinkers and the proprietor. Fortunately she has rooms enough and Victoria was generous with the coin she gave you.

ooc: Sum up what you do that night and I'll move on to the next day when ready. Penny, feel free to let me know the best method for getting to your home whether it be on the moors again or if there is a better route.

Simon doesn't lie. He will not divulge any information, he will simply change subjects if necessary. He will try to get information about what might be happening in the Mannor House.

 09:10, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  Gather Info.

OOC: Months-old cream? Are you sure? :o

There ought to be a good road straight from the village to the manor, with tracks and trails around the farm and moorland for a more circuitous/hidden approach should we wish it.

'Oh, of course you could have.' Penny agreed with Ian, since men tended to need reassurance. 'Not even the Great Grimpen Mire would swallow a Scotsman.'

Penny paid well for the spare dry clothes, laundry services, meals, and rooms, eating deep into the supply of what 1860s currency they could scrounge in 1890. Penny found herself cast into Kate's role now, as a woman out of time (but she had always been thus). Fortunately, the difference in culture over three decades in the 1800s was not so great and life in the country had always moved much slower than in the towns and cities.

Forced to explain how an American, a Scotsman, an Indian, a reverend, and herself had come to walk into an inn like a badly mismatched joke, Penny fell back on an old cover story, explaining that she was a philanthropist who'd invited Father Simon over from "the colonies" to speak on missionary and charity work in the Americas, and so raise donations from the wealthy. She introduced herself as Penelope Creighton-Ward of the nearby city of Plymouth, and intimated that Ian Shaw was her manservant and Jo and Lily were Simon's native assistants. Simon seemed uncomfortable with the lie, of course, but he could still say he was doing God's work.

This led easily into making enquiries about Darkmoor Manor, who the current Lord of the Manor was, and discreetly what kind of reception they might get. Penny had long found the philanthropic busybody act was a good excuse for knocking on doors and sticking her nose into things. Although Penny was reluctant and fearful, and her body longed to rest after a hard, soggy, slog across the moor, she couldn't resist asking about the old family home.


OOC:
15:20, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 22 using 1d20+9. gather information.
15:19, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 21 using 1d20+5. bluff.

ooc: Lol! Supposedly it's ok. It's jarred and preserved? If you ever hear of a mysterious death on my part it could be cream related...

Ian seems pleased with Penny's reassurances and looks infinitely happier with dry clothes and a stiff drink.

As for Penny's story, the innkeep thankfully buys it easily and doesn't ask too many questions save for what America is like and such. She looks particularly fascinated by Lily who squirms a bit under her attentions but then she is something of an exotic figure in these parts. In response to the manor the innkeep makes a face. Oh I wouldn't be expecting too big of a welcome there good miss. Lord Vortigern Darkmoor may seem pleasant enough to most but I've heard tales from his house keeper, my friend, and apparently the man is about as cantankerous as you would expect someone that rich to be. He may put on a generous face for you though so perhaps you can skim a few coins off him. Be warned, he's had an awful lot of folk up at his manor of late. Lots of comings and goings, no idea what he's on about. Lots of rumors though I can tell you that. Perhaps he's havin wild parties with wild women, I wouldn't be surprised. Can't be natural to live in such a place without a woman. she shakes her head. Though that same housekeeper I told you about has been speakin on a wee babe these last couple months! An he claims its his! Says he has a wife somewheres who died in childbirth but then why has no one saw her? Mary, his housekeep, never did lay eyes on the woman. But then she knows better than to stick her nose where it don't belong. She minds her business my friend. she adds with a wagging finger.

Simon listened to the explanations and was intrigued by the tales of the man being without women and still having a wife and daughter (Penny). This begged many questions. Still warming himself by the fire he was trying to get an idea of how to approach her father. He might have to pretend to be in charge in order to get co-operation. Penny wouldn't like it, but it seemed like the best option to him.

'No?' Penny began, sounding surprised but not surprised at all, knowing her father's temper all too well. At least she could put paid to the rumours; wild parties would be too much like enjoying himself for him, and not enough like hard work. But the mysteries and lack of information about her mother concerned her deeply. How could it be such a secret? 'Oh, that's too bad. That poor cheeld. I'd feel sorry for the young maid'n, growing up without a mother.' Penny fretted, speaking quite from truth, slipping into a slightly most rustic accent so as not to seem too highborn around these parts. She'd been scanning the few late barflies for potential spies. 'Still, we must try all the more to bring God's word there, mustn't we, Father?'


OOC: General looking out for spies and reading the mood, Spot 19, Sense Motive 22.
21:52, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+9.  spot.
21:51, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 22 using 1d20+8.  sense motive.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Tue 13 Oct 2015.

Simon nodded solemnly, "Indeed my good guide."

'And a lot of house guests should make for excellent attendance at your lectures and sermons.' Penny went on optimistically.

As if remembering something, she asked again, her querying more intent than before 'Ah, do you happen to know of anyone named Ann at the house? I was given to understand she was a member of the family – Ann Darkmoor? By all accounts a good woman; she was recommended to me in Plymouth.' Penny was desperate to know about her lost mother.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:08, Wed 14 Oct 2015.

The woman frowns. Ann, Ann....hm. Actually come to think that sounds like it could be the man's wife. I think Mary mentioned an Annabelle or some such thing? Well if you've heard of her I suppose she does exist after all! Not that the child isn't proof enough of that I suppose, but then I always thought it was some lover he didn't want to wed and that's why nobody's met her. she shrugs. A pity she died if she was a good woman. Wonder how she ended up with the likes of him? Heh, that reminds me. Mary said there were several strange folk hangin about at the manor these days. Most of them seem normal enough but there is one whose been there longer than the rest. Poor thing just sits there, practically catatonic! Well, the few times she's seen her. Was stark afraid that Lord Darkmoor would strike her for peepin like she did for he keeps her in the tower and only attends to her himself! My guess is the girl init right in the head. Maybe she was dropped as a babe or somethin. He told Mary it was his sister, which I suppose I would have to believe. Probably doesn't want her in an asylum, nasty places those are.

As she heard the sad rumours of her mother, Penny's face was as still and as stiff as a statue's, though her teeth were clamped tight, her jaw set. She was still no closer to knowing. It was no surprise to her that even folk in the village didn't know their lord's family and doings, though it was normally a topic of much gossip. Father would rarely speak of family matters to others, only of business. He'd never even told her about her mother; not because of painful memories, Penny suspected, but simply disinterested in speaking to her about unproductive things. And Penny, to her shame, had never dared ask.

She was concerned to hear about the sick, catatonic woman. In this time, families of all classes with feeble-minded kin didn't – indeed, couldn't – hide them away. They still needed to go to church and other matters, and there was a duty and honour in bearing that burden. But Father would maunder darkly that such people were useless and happen to mention how ancient Romans, Greeks, or Norse would expose unwanted children to the elements. So, what did this revelation mean? A family secret, a forgotten aunt? He wouldn't pay for an asylum, most likely. Or was she one of these house guests? Penny dreaded that this was Kate herself, and was ever more desperate to find and free her.

'Well, thank you, goodwoman, and thank you for your kind hospitality at this late hour. We'll be away to bed soon.' she sent off the innkeeper, vaguely wondering if she knew her or a child in the future. She hadn't caught a name, nor could she place her face.

But her thoughts turned back to more personal remembrances. Penny poured herself a drink – hard cider, in fact – and downed it in a shot. After a long reflection, she asked her friends 'What do you think?'

Simon leaned in and whispered, "Your father sounds dark. I think the woman they speak of is likely Kate. We need to be about this in the morning."

Ian frowns at all of this and runs a hand through his hair, picking his words. Well, it likely could be Kate I'm also thinkin he looks at Penny to gauge her reaction. Though if she is catatonic perhaps it means she is unharmed. They could have done it to keep her docile perhaps, but then if she is the key they would have to keep her in one piece. We should rest while we can, heaven knows what awaits us he finishes darkly.

ooc: I'm thinking it's time to move on? If you're ready I will skip ahead to the actual manor. Penny, feel free to describe the route, any further details of the house and a general physical description of your father so I have it when I'm ready. Also go ahead and roll bluffs and sense motives everyone and get your stories straight so we can get this ball rolling :D

'It comes with the name.' Penelope Darkmoor said dryly in response to Simon's comment on her father.

'I agree, Kate is the most likely, though I dread to think what might have brought her to this. I know of no other possibility. Great Aunt Maureen was known to be a bit addle-headed, but she whiled away her days in Coombe Tracey.'

*

When they finally headed to their rooms, Penny found it difficult to get to sleep, though she told herself it was the lag in times between when they'd departed and when they'd arrived, several hours later in the day. Not her unending worries and fears for Kate, the secrets of her heritage, and how it what it meant for herself. In the small hours of the night, after the rain had let up, Penny wandered about the slumbering village, noting places she remembered, and oft looking toward the distant silhouette of Darkmoor Manor. She was going home.

*

The next morning, Penny showed the way to Darkmoor Manor, following a long and winding path out of the village, through the estates with its peculiar landmarks, toward the sprawling, crumbling, overgrown, granite-stoned manor-house. The house sat brooding upon the moor proper. Nevertheless, the moor was, as promised, a much lovelier place in the cool light of day, the golden rising sun casting it in bright greens and reds and browns and greys.

Penny had described her father, though she knew him as a middle-aged man, plain-featured but tall, strongly built, and imposing, with wild dark hair and beard. 'How shall we handle this? Knock at the front door with some story? Or sneak in through the secret entrance? I think I can find the old priest-hole or the cave tunnel to the wine cellar...'


OOC: I've given some descriptions above, though I'll reassemble them when we get there.

22:29, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+8.  sense motive.
22:29, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  bluff.

The moor in daylight:
http://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/__d...se-Thomas-Dobner.jpg
This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Thu 15 Oct 2015.

Simon thought a moment, "Why not both? The front entrance should be easy enough to find. You and Lily find the secret passages and the rest of us will approach the front. I'll allow Josephine to do the most of the talking on our behalf as I suspect she is much better at it than I."

Raising an eyebrow, Josephine looked annoyed,

"What, exactly, do you mean, father?" she asked, but after a second, her face crumbled into laughter, "I'm teasing. I'll try to help any way I can!" she laughed again, gently patting Simon on the shoulder (or trying to) to show him she had been teasing.

"Just let me know what I can do to help, and I'll fit myself in when possible." she looked positively excited to help. Probably the whole 'new-girl' thing, combined with her mother's exuberance.

Simon chuckled. "Well I think you would be much better at talking your way around things than I. You just have the personality for it."

He nodded at Penny, "Do you approve?"

Grinning at his words, Josephine nodded and turned to face Penny as well, her bright smile still on, and her hands sliding to her hips hopefully.

Penny was almost glad not to have to face her father directly; observing him from afar would give her time to take the measure of him and prepare herself. And there was the preservation of history to consider; what if Vortigern remembered her, and saw her in his growing daughter? Would that be why he would have so little to do with her upbringing? Penny didn't, couldn't, know, but could only act sensibly based on what she knew now. She nodded, still standing aside from decision making. It was also hard to deny Jo Hartley. 'If you think it best... But be firm. My father is a domineering man, with little time for priests and "do-gooders". You will likely be greeted by the butler – I'm not sure who that would be now – and he will likely try to turn you away, though the lord of the manor will ultimately do what is proper for his image.'

She looked to Ian and Lily, asking 'Ian, Lily, where will you go? It may be wisest to place all the Americans together,' she said of Simon, Lily, and Jo, 'And have Ian and I go alone. In case we are caught, there is little to connect us to you.'


OOC: I'll let Artemis decide the nature of the secret entrance.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Thu 15 Oct 2015.

Shrugging with a smile, Josephine hadn't lost her positivity,

"Every person, man or woman, have constants about them, even your father." she predicted, laughing, "I'm sure we'll at least be able to see eye to eye, and see what happens."

Truth be told, Josephine hadn't really been following what she was supposed to do until Father Simon had mentioned her name, so she was a bit lost, but she wouldn't admit that.

I suppose that is logical but if he calls me a squaw I'm going to have to put a fist to his nose Lily growls. It would seem she has had quite a few encounters with folk's preconceived notions of natives and is already defensive. But then I am supposedly a savage so perhaps he wouldn't be too surprised she grins wickedly.

Ian looks pleased to accompany Penny though he frowns. Alright, there is a good chance we could run into trouble. If that happens we'll be needing help. Give us...hm I'd say half an hour? If we haven't met up with you by then I'd say it would be time to come looking for us. We will try the tower first so start there if need be. Just keep them busy as long as you can! We should all meet back here within thirty minutes. If you haven't then it's time to be more aggressive I'd say. he finishes darkly.

Once final preparations are made both parties split.

Jo/Simon: The three of you make your way up the path to the front door, the whole place is incredibly impressive. There's nothing like it back home and in spite of your mission it's hard not to enjoy the antiquated beauty of the place. Once the knocker is used it is several moments before anyone answers and when they do it is a well dressed butler, just as Penny predicted. He is a thin, severe looking man and he looks at the three of you with slight surprise, especially at Lily for she would most definitely turn heads so far from home. Hm. May I be of some...assistance? he looks at Lily again with a mixture of curiosity and distaste. ooc: Ok! Time to roll bluff, diplomacy and sense motives! Oh, and start the charade of course :D

Penny: You lead Ian to the cellar that runs the length of the house. Your father calls it a basement now but you are certain it had more nefarious uses in the past for the cold stone always lent a more dungeonesque feel then merely a place to store food and supplies. There are multiple entrances due to the enormity of the place but one in particular has fallen into disuse and ignorance. You recall it as a child, a boarded up window overgrown with brush and foliage and on the other side a massive stack of firewood, one of many and enough to last the place for years. Fortunately the wood will be easy enough to crawl over, though you do risk the occasional splinter. Ian looks at the boarded up window and with a grunt pulls it off after a couple of mighty tugs. You suspect it is more a testament to his strength then the weakness of the actual wood. He looks slightly pleased with himself but quickly returns to the task at hand, offering to go first. ooc: Go ahead and make a hide and move silently check. I won't make you roll search if you are just going to start at the tower.

Simon stood by, letting Jo do the talking.

10:02, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 31 using 1d20+13.  Sense motive.
10:02, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 15 using 1d20+12.  Diplomacy.

At Jo's optimism, Penny could only slowly shake her head and mouth 'No.' It was impossible to explain just what kind of man he was, how little like a normal person he behaved, how heartless he could be. Some monsters hurt you. Some monsters killed you. Some eroded your very sense of being and purpose over your entire life. Like the bogs of the dark moor that could take a subtle hold on you, make it ever harder to get away, and drag you down into them, so slowly you might never notice anything wrong, until it was too late, and you'd drowned in the mire.

Stirred from her thoughts, Penny smiled thinly at Lily's promise. 'I'd like to see that.'

Constructed wholly of the local dark grey granite that formed the bedrock of the Dartmoor region, Darkmoor Manor was built in a late Tudor style that hearkened back to the Medieval, with the most recent construction being Gothic Revival, but parts seemed much older, dating back to the actual Middle Ages, such as the fortified tower. It stood up to three stories high in places, with an attic level bristling chimneys and gables. It lay sprawling over a low hill that emerged from the moor, with various wings and servants' quarters reaching out here and there like the tentacles of a landed octopus. The haphazard nature was why Penny had called it the "family pile", as many of these old houses were. Around it ran a wall, collapsed in parts. A close eye might discern a layout dating back to the Norman motte-and-bailey castle introduced after 1066, while a very close eye might discover the arrangement of a still-older Celtic hillfort with earth embankments and ditches. It had been around a long, long time.

It showed its age though, with hard granite cracked and crumbling in parts, bolted together with S-shaped anchor plates. Ivy and moss grew wild up the walls all over the manor. Much of it seemed rundown and neglected, being rather too large now than required by the few people who lived in it. The manorhouse had a quaint, antiquated beauty, but it was a bleak, beshadowed, and brooding one, looking for the world like one of the granite tors that erupted from the moor.

Thanks to the overgrown garden, the walls, and the various follies, Penny was able to lead Ian unseen into the manor grounds. The house and the layout rushed back to her as though she'd never left, but she felt bewildered and lost nevertheless. Everything was just a bit different from she remembered in the future. A greenhouse that had been neglected and shattered in her day was now intact and flourishing, while a gardener's shed she knew was missing, not yet built. A tree later blasted by lightning in a storm, stood whole and young.

So she was glad to find the entrance she had in mind, much as she remembered it. Penny smiled as Ian pulled off the boards, revealing the old window. 'Jolly good job. Now I know why these boards were loose... Of course, I was rather smaller when I first crawled through here.' Following Ian, she climbed in, easily recalling the procedure, delicately negotiating her skirts through the gap. Inside the dungeonesque basement, she took a moment to gain her bearings. The house had been rebuilt so many times over the centuries it could be almost as labyrinthine and disorientating as the Winchester Mystery House would be.


OOC: Hide 18, Move Silently 23
14:46, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  move silently.
14:46, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  hide.

Roughly what I had in mind, but somewhat bigger:
http://www.newsusauk.com/news/
7965-country-manor-once-won-by-
sir-francis-drake-in-a-bet-in-1581-
goes-on-sale-for-1-25m-and-
there-s-a-lordship-thrown-in.html
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Sat 17 Oct 2015.

Penny: You both crawl inside easy enough though it is a bit of a squeeze for the muscular Ian. You scramble over the pile of firewood and soon find yourselves in the rest of the basement, filled with piles of coal, wood, shelves of tools, parts, marked boxes and parcels, odds and ends that had no place elsewhere. Other sections of the massive place had stores of food, jars and preserves and other such sundries. The enormity of the place could be a treasure trove of hidden treasures but of course there is no time at present save to search for Kate.

You make it out of the basement easily for luckily no one seems to have needed anything and therefore you remain unseen for the time being. As you emerge from the back staircase and through the corridor to the main level Ian knocks a book off of a small table in an alcove, a favorite place for servants to rest for a cup of tea. It falls loudly and with a curse he runs for it, following you for likely places of cover. You both slip into a closet in time to hear a servant approaching in search of the sound, muttering at the book and someone's rudeness for not picking it up. The woman then clutches the tome and disappears around the corridor. Don't tell Lily about that Ian whispers with a grin. Otherwise I won't be able to tease her about knocking over that case of china.

Eventually you make it to the tower the innkeep mentioned though you can see there is a woman sitting outside the door, looking incredibly bored but still vigilant. She does not see you...

ooc: Feel free to describe the interior if you so desire! I'm enjoying your colorful descriptions! I swear I'm not lazy, I just figure you have a better picture of what things look like. And yeah...maybe I am just a little lazy after all ;P

Penny considered the basement stuffed full of bric-a-brac much of the house, especially disused portions, would be like this. Successive generations of lords, scions, and household staff had had a habit of hoarding one thing or another over the centuries, be it wealth, artworks, supplies, books, or grudges; Penny merely collected hats and spoons. The junk had always been difficult to get rid of. Sometimes she wondered if the house itself wanted to keep hold of what went into it.

She navigated the old family home with ease, stunned at the memories coming back to her, marveling at how little had changed in here. The same dark oak panelling in the finer sections, the same rough plastering in the servant's area. The same paintings of old lords glowering down from high places on the walls, amidst other adornments: their swords and axes, suits of armour, and hunting trophies. More occult and macabre items tended to be kept out of public view. One whole room was filled with deer antlers, and their skulls, the trophies of a Sir Richard Darkmoore, so many the walls bristled with them. Penny had always found that room rather creepy, afraid she might fall into their points or they would fall from the ceiling upon her, and all around the deer skulls' empty eyes seemed to stare accusingly into her. She'd never stayed long in there.

She knew all the hiding places too, and quickly beckoned Ian into the closet with her. Scandalous! With a mischievous thrill, Penny had to stifle a laugh; here she was, once again stealing about the house unseen, through hiding places and secret passages, still trying to avoid Father and the household staff. 'We'll say the ghost knocked it off.' she whispered back.

At last, they'd made it to the tower entrance, hardly believing her luck. So naturally there was a guard. From her hiding place, Penny observed the woman for a time: her dress, attitude, posture, and the finer details of her trade. A demon was one thing, but an innocent maid was quite another.


OOC: Sherlock Scan the guard: Investigate 18, Sense Motive 25, Spot 28
10:59, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18,25,28 using d20+17,d20+8,d20+9. Sherlock Scan: investigate, sense motive, spot.

Antler rooms are creepy:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pini...df794ff6aab1c41d.jpg

"Hello there, sir..." Josephine started off, inching forwards to draw within reach, a bright smile on her face,

"We're here, on behalf of the Church, to ask if we could speak with the owner of the household for but a minute." she asked, a slight accent to her words as she spoke. Seeing his look of distaste for Lily, she leaned in conspiratorially and laughed softly,

"Oh, don't mind her, sir, the native's been properly converted and understands the way of things now. Interestingly enough, once we gave her a chance, turns out she's one of the most capable women I've met!" she said playfully, leaning back again,

"Regardless, sir, we're trying to speak to the owner of the Manor, if possible. If you don't wish to let us in, we can always speak to the tax-keepers a bit more, see if we can't levy more support through other means, but I'm sure the owner of the home would prefer speaking to us directly, hmm?" she hinted, an implied tax-hike threat in there for good measure.



Diplomacy: 37

If possible (not sure if it is or not) she'd probably try to throw in a desire to be left to their own devices inside, but I'm not sure if diplomacy covers that or not.

Simon nodded and clutched at his Bible. "Might we trouble your master for a few moments of his time?"

The butler listens with an unsympathetic face though mention of tax keepers lends him a small sneer. He grudgingly lets you in though he informs you the master is busy and won't have much time if any. He leads you inside and into a formal sitting room, the furniture and decor very fine if antiquated and slightly dusty. Now, I must insist you stay here. The master has a great many business associates here at present and they do not need to be disturbed with your requests for money. And don't let the Indian touch anything! You may be convinced of her conversion but I've heard about their thieving ways. It would be most embarrassing for you if her base temptations took hold in such fine surroundings as this he sniffs. And then, without even giving you the chance to respond he sweeps out importantly. He certainly has a big head for a butler. As soon as he's gone Lily stands up, fuming. Oh why does this always happen with rich people!? she snaps. He thinks me a thief? Well I would hate to disappoint! She starts to look around for a small object to pocket, grumbling and ranting to herself all the while. ooc; If you are going to risk looking around make the appropriate rolls (hide, move silently) if you are going to run the diplomacy route then I shall move on.

Penny: ooc: Wow! That's way too many antlers!

You watch the woman and note her stance, the way she squares her shoulders and the watchful look in her eye. Her dress is simple and plain but she holds herself as though used to commanding others. Your guess is she is much more than she seems, and dangerous at that.

Simon stood with Lily and gently put his hand on her own. "Lily, Tho Shalt not Steal." He gently took the items back from her and and returned them to their place. "Make them respect you. Don't give into this temptation. Lets poke around and see what we can find."

09:23, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 14 using 1d20+12.  Investigate.
09:22, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Search.
09:22, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 18 using 1d20+9.  Listen.

Laughing softly, Josephine nodded at Lily's words, and shrugged,

"Taking from the rich and giving to the poor has been a time-honored tradition, you know Father." she explained with a grin, referencing old fables, "They wouldn't miss it, and I'd be willing to give Lily the benefit of the doubt, and say she would put it to good use." she said, shrugging again as her input had been said.

Turning around, she was glad to use her tongue to get what they needed, and not her hands, but if the others insisted, she wouldn't judge them. Their work, from what she'd heard in her short time, was difficult.

There was no sense putting a guard on the old tower unless there was something, or someone, there to guard. A humble maid in Darkmoor Manor would be quickly disabused of such pride and commanding airs, Penny noted, watching the guard. A demon, mostly likely. Was it their taint that had so disturbed her, years later?

Though Ian and herself might trap or defeat a single demon, there was a good chance she would raise the alarm, and Penny would not risk that while the Americans were making a distraction around the main hall. She wanted to do this quietly and discreetly for as long as possible.

And damn it, this was her home! Though loved and loathed in equal measure, this invasion of her sanctuary/prison rankled her. She'd walked these halls for eighteen years, and she knew their every inch and every secret. She ought to have the advantage in her own home, she ought to use that against those who dare hide in her own shadow.

Penny thought furiously. She'd climbed the old medieval tower often, loving the view and distance, and though they said it was dangerous, that had only made her more curious. Of course, there'd been no guard on the heavy oak door then, only a treacherous squeak of rusty hinges. A castle tower was meant to be impregnable, she knew, but that was before a manor house had grown up around it, before centuries of building rebuilding. There were hidden ways and places where rooves met windows.


OOC: Can Penny think of another way in, say by crossing the roof to a window? I thought I should roll, but d20 Modern doesn't specify a Knowledge (architecture) skill like D&D 3.x, but that includes it with engineering, so I rolled Knowledge (physical sciences) check, 15 (my Int score is +4).
15:50, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 14 using 1d20+5. physical sciences.

Alternatively, my Obscure Knowledge skill might be worthwhile: 15
15:53, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+13.  Obscure Knowledge.

Find Clues feat: If Penny passes within 5 ft of any useful clues, then she gets a free Search check, 15.
15:51, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+13. find clues: search.

ooc: Guys, I rolled your hide/move silently. Figured it would be faster. Forgive me if that was too forward of me but at least the dice roller smiled on me today.

Lily does look irritated at Simon's words and gives a thankful look at Josephine but at last concedes though she does grumble, You know since this is Penny's home I can just ask her if I might borrow a few things. That wouldn't be stealing technically she gives a wicked smile. Or perhaps I will just punch the wretch in the nose on the way out. I suppose that would be just as satisfying.

The search is moved forward quickly. Lily moves with incredible silence and grace. Sneaking is clearly her forte, well usually. Ian is forever telling about the china incident where she knocked over a whole shelf of the stuff trying to hide once. The place is massive, archaic and more than a little creepy. Lily looks exhilarated, commenting on the molding, the dramatic arches and ancient tapestries. An Indian in a British manor is quite an odd thing and she's enjoying the exotic experience. Unfortunately you don't yield much in your search though you do have an idea at least of how many people are here. As you tiptoe down a corridor you hear voices in what seems to be an arboretum though you can't make them out well. Lily takes a quick peek and informs you that there are seven men and one woman gathered together and it doesn't look like it is for a social occasion. They are well dressed so I don't think they are servants. These could be Belial's people she notes darkly. Suddenly you hear a voice coming from the other direction, sandwiching you between the arboretum of possible demons and the on comer. There is a window outside but you'll have to be quick....ooc: Roll a reflex save to see if you get out before you're seen or you can always try to reason with the person if you wish.

Penny: ooc: You absolutely can go outside and try it that way. It makes sense you would know the house perfectly so go for it! I just need a climb check...

Should you suggest the idea of a different tactic Ian will gladly agree though when he realizes it requires climbing he blanches. I'll admit, just two weeks ago I fell off a roof training Josephine. Teased me endlessly about it too. Just...don't let me break my fool neck will ya? I'm afraid I'm not coming across quite as rugged as I would like this trip. he makes a face.

Simon scrambled to the Window, but made sure Lily and Jo went first if they were going.

08:15, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Ref save.

'You fell off a roof?' Penny repeated in surprise. Well, clearly he wasn't hurt, bar a bruised pride. She smiled. 'Fear not, Mr Shaw, ruggedness is not actually a prerequisite in a gentleman... Well, there's enough ivy, rough stonework, and drainpipes around. We should be to find a safe way up. I've done it before.'

Though, once Penny had led the way outside into a secluded area and appropriate stretch of wall, she found that though she'd done it before, she'd been a much lighter girl, whom the ivy could better support. At the least the pipes were more sturdy now. With boots off and tied around her neck, she gingerly scaled the wall as best she could, feeling a giddy, girlish thrill at returning to youthful games.


OOC: Climb check? Curses! Uh, take 10 for 10? :)
21:02, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 5 using 1d20. climb.

ooc: Lol! Yeah, it looks like you can take 10 for both climb and balance, luckily for you. If the roof weren't so wide and ledgy you would be screwed but as it is you'll survive ;P

Ian listens with a face. Who says I want to be a gentleman? he winks suddenly. He goes behind you to make sure he can try to catch you if you fall and suddenly he laughs. I just want you to know I am refraining from looking up your skirt Miss Dreadful he says the formal name teasingly. It takes quite a bit of work and the climbing is slow as the roof is still damp from last night's rain but at last you reach the tower window which you know from experience does not have a lock on it. Your father was too cheap to install one and your ancestors never thought to need one in such a precarious place. Looking inward you see a woman lying on a small plain bed, her back to you, presumably sleeping. You can't tell yet if it is Kate or not for she has hair that grazes past her shoulders, most unlike Kate's short futuristic style.

ooc: Simon, just waiting on Jo's roll :D

'I hadn't thought to warn you.' Penny reflected absently, concentrating more on finding a good grip on the ivy. Well, the thought had crossed her mind, but she'd trusted Ian to be a gentleman. She noted how she'd not trusted Ian the last time they'd done this, and that one had turned out to be a shifter spy. 'Who says you aren't a gentleman already, Mr Shaw?' Working her toes into gaps in the old stone, and reflecting this could well be murder on her stockings, Penny hauled herself up toward the windowsill. 'Well, you might as well look upwards – discreetly. I'd rather not fall and hurt myself while you were looking politely away.'

Raising a leg, Penny paused, finding no footholds until she reached the first-floor window sill. Ah. She spoke coolly 'I shall require support upon my lower limbs, and I will hear not a word about it.' With the proverbial hand-up – somewhere – Penny got up to the sill, and from there to the gutter and slate tiles. It was a somewhat less difficult matter to creep across the damp slope to the side of the old tower.

She peered through the window, trying to discern the sleeper, who was surely the catatonic woman the innkeeper had spoken of. It didn't look like Kate, unless she'd been prisoner long enough for her bobbed hair to grow to her shoulders. And how long had that been?

Well, Penny had not climbed up here to turn back in caution. She gently eased the window open and climbed inside, trying not to wake the sleeper until she was in a better position to deal with her.


OOC: I'll take that 10 again. :( I really need some physical skills.
21:28, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  balance.

Look through the window, then slowly and hopefully quietly open it and climb inside.
21:33, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+9.  spot.
21:33, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  move silently.

Penny:
Ian helps you up with firm hands and impressively pulls himself up after you though you are ahead of him a bit. Once you climb inside you see the sleeper does not wake though you can see she is breathing and she sleeps fitfully, twitching and whimpering slightly. Upon closer inspection you see it is Kate after all and indeed her hair is an indicator that she's been here some time. Judging by hair length and what you know of it you would estimate a year or thereabouts. She looks healthy enough thankfully so perhaps she has not been abused at least. Ian slips in after you, hand ready to reach for his pistol though he looks surprised seeing Kate lying there. Still, this is not the most startling thing you spot for close to the bed on the other side of the woman is an empty cradle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:54, Thu 22 Oct 2015.

Stealing step by step across the chamber, Penny's face first rose in recognition of her dear friend then dropped in dismay at the state she was in. 'My God.' Penny whispered. Consumed with shock, her emotions froze, face tight with impending grief. She tried to observe, to analyse, to help her friend the best way she could. How long had it been? Not weeks, not months, but a year, at least. She seemed hale and whole, but those twitches and dream-muttering hinted at a nervous condition. What had terrors Kate endured in her long imprisonment? 'My God.'

She spotted the cradle, frowning, concerned. Where was the baby. Who was the baby? And whose baby? She was on the cusp of a revelation, a shocking secret, but her mind, always logical and observant, refused to take this last step, to put it all together, as if the discovery might break itself, as if thinking it might make it true.

'Keep watch at the window. Don't let her see your face. It was what the shifter was wearing when he kidnapped her.' Penny advised Ian, her words hushed, directing him to the window.

Penny sat herself gently on the side of the bed, trying not to disturb Kate. She brushed a lock of hair away from her face, hoping the light, caring touch might soothe her troubled sleep. Waking suddenly, laying eyes on faces not seen in a year or more, could be shocking, and if her captivity had been nightmarish... Penny's own eyes were growing damp and sore.

She took Kate's mobile phone from her purse, brushing through the touchscreen. She'd gotten a lot of practice on this the last couple of days, and had even rigged a way of recharging the batteries. She found the ringtone settings, and played the one Kate had set. A sound could be heard through sleep, and might remind Kate of her home-time; Penny hoped it would be relaxing, would bring her gently to wakefulness. Bells through time. A message bringing friends together. 'Kate?'

Jo/Simon: Lily moves ridiculously fast to the window and you get the impression for all her talk she is not eager to be caught trespassing in areas forbidden. Escape is doable but should Jo wish she can try to sweet talk whoever is coming around the corner. Should she wait and do so she will find it is the butler, looking most irritated to see her. Otherwise you can high tail it with the other two ;P

Penny: Ian looks crestfallen at mention of the shifter and he nods, looking guilty about the circumstances of her kidnapping. As you try to wake Kate it takes a few tries but after a bit she glassily opens her eyes, staring at you blankly. She says nothing, merely sits up in bed and blinks a few times. Whatever spell she is under is still intact it would seem. You do note that she glances to the empty cradle and starts to look concerned, staring at it as though in hopes it will suddenly not be empty. Ian watches with a frown and a glance to you and back to the cradle again but he says nothing. It may be time to call your angel friend he murmurs.

Penny's heart broke to see the blank look on Kate's face, the lack of recognition, and her anguish at the empty cradle. Surely it wasn't only grief and abuse that had extinguished Kate's spark of life, but a binding spell. 'I believe you're right.' she answered sadly, then hissed as loudly as she dared to the ceiling 'Castiel!'

You hear the soft sound of wings behind you and turn to see Castiel who immediately steps forward to examine Kate. He nods greeting to you and Ian but is already to the matters at hand. He kneels by her bed, touches her face with a frown and then turns to you in surprise. The darkness I warned you about Penny, during our unfortunate shower rendezvous, is gone. Ian arches a shrewd brow at mention of the shower meeting but holds silent. She still has a taint in her bloodline but it is not like before he shakes his head. Something is missing...why is there a cradle here? He then turns to look at you and falls silent. I see. Well perhaps it is best we obtain official answers from Kate. Do you wish me to awaken her from her stupor?

Penny paid no mind to their shower encounter. 'Gone? I had thought you were referring to our bloodline. I've been told we are related...' Penny trailed off. She was still maddeningly bound to linear time, still hoping the other possibility would not be true. 'Yes, please lift this curse.' she urged the angel.

Seeing Lily bail, Josephine did the exact same thing, following her as quietly as she could.

Penny: I believe I am... he replies with a scrutinizing frown. You recall I mentioned your own darkness? It's all starting to make sense, but perhaps I should wait until my theories are confirmed. He then turns to Kate and puts two fingers to her forehead, concentrating. A moment later her eyes flicker in recognition and it is as though you've truly wakened her now.

Kate: You see Penny, Castiel and Ian all standing about though Ian is trying to keep his distance it seems. You feel foggy, disoriented and confused. Something tugs at your memory, a baby? You glance to your left and see an empty cradle, for some reason this upsets you. To your surprise you feel long hair brush your shoulders. What is going on here?!

Josephine/Simon: Fortunately you all are able to move with impressive speed though Lily is gone so fast you almost gape. You find yourselves in a courtyard, still within the manor walls, a beautiful square courtyard with plants, bushes, benches, all manner of tranquil settings. Across the square you can see another part of the manor with windows and a set of double doors leading to another area of the house. Lily ducks into some bushes and hisses, Well that went poorly. At least we know how many possible demons there are now, provided there aren't more lurking around here. That's a lot to take on at once. What do we do about that stupid butler? We can always go back where he left us, have Jo lie or something. Or we can keep sneaking I suppose but if we're caught I think we're in some trouble. Thoughts?

"I've never been good at sneaking." He looked at the girls. "I think we should go back to the parlor for now. Wait until we are invited to the the head of household. I will say some prayers and try to get a feel for them. If they are demons, we may be in for a fight."

Not hearing another word, Penny sat beside Kate on the bed, laying an arm around her in support. She waited anxiously for Kate to recover and speak, almost shaking with grief held tight.

Shaking her head, Jo didn't like the sound of that,

"That seems like we're leaving too much up to chance. I say we find what we're looking for, on our own terms, and then get the heck out of dodge." she said, hoping the others would agree.

Simon looked a bit incredulous but was not going to disagree. he had already mentioned his lack of finesse with being sneaky, but it was a sound plan all the same.

Kate took in her surroundings trying to dig her way out of the annoying fog that still clouded the edges of her mind. "What the hell..." she muttered her voice hoarse from lack of use. Penny's arm around her shoulder was comforting but she could not ignore the panic she felt when she saw the empty cradle. Her eyes flicked to each person in the room looking for the obvious thing that was missing. "Where is the baby?" she asked softly, her gaze landing uncertainly back on the cradle.

There had been a baby. Yesterday? Last week? What day was it? Kate ran a hand through her much longer hair. Clearly some time had passed. Things were different. Off. If only she could remember. "What the hell happened to me?" she repeated looking to Penny in confusion.

Her stupor lifted, a shadow seemed to pass from Kate's eyes, showing recognition and a familiar gleam at last. Penny felt immense relief, but also renewed grief at what Kate might have lost. The baby. She put her other arm around Kate in a gentle, caring hug, her movements so easy and familiar. 'I'm here.' Penny murmured. Parting, it was a while before she responded, turning her question back 'Perhaps, first, you could tell me what you know?' She needed to know Kate's side of the story, before she dared put it all together.

Seeing Simon's look, Josephine's mouth shot open in worry, and she extended an apologetic hand,

"I'm so sorry father!" she said, touching his arm gently, "I didn't mean the big H word... I just meant we should get out when we have what we need." she said, hoping that his look wasn't because her words were offensive to him. She didn't know if 'heck' was a curse-word for the religious man, but she wanted to be safe.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:20, Wed 28 Oct 2015.

Simon gave Josephine a gentle smile. "It was not your language that gave me pause. I am...very bad...at being sneaky. I am as bad at it as Lily is good at it." He thought a moment, "But I am not opposed to your plan. Our job here was to be a distraction while Penny found Kate. I trust Penny will do her part, I just don't want her to get caught because we did not do ours."

Jo's look instantly melted into a smile,

"Oh thank..." she paused, "Thank goodness!" she said, clear relief flooding her face. His explanation made sense to her, so she just nodded in response.

"Let's get moving then, shall we?"

Simon/Jo: Lily's face blooms into a massive smile at Simon's compliment on her sneakiness and she laughs at Josephine's worry about offensive language. I am forever cutting myself off mid curse thanks to this man she puts an affectionate hand on the back of his neck and winks at him. He'll make a decent woman out of me if he has his way. In the meantime I think we should come up with an emergency plan. That stupid butler knows I am an Indian that you 'rescued' right? What's to say the stress of my new surroundings didn't make my savage side run amok? I say if we get caught you let me take the blame and claim to have been pursuing me when I panicked and then we got lost. It's easy to believe in a place like this. I think Josephine will have to be the one to tell the tale though. Simon's too good to lie and I'm hit and miss at it.

Penny/Kate: Her memory will start to reassert itself in a moment.Castiel informs all of you, watching the woman expectantly. Ian watches her warily, still wanting to know if he's out of trouble with her yet after the shifter's use of his form to trick her. ooc: I'm going to fill Kate in on some details, so more to come soon enough :)

Simon shrugged, "It sounds plausible. Just don't blame me when it is my fault we get blamed."

"It's like a bad dream," Kate murmured accepting Penny's comforting hug. The memories were returning, all to clear and with them they brought many emotions. She struggled to find the words to explain and it was a long while before she spoke.

"The shifter brought me to Belial," she began with a glance at Ian. "We have been here this whole time. The baby... she choked on her words, "is mine." The tears streamed down her face and she brushed them away angrily. "She's mine," Kate repeated firmly. She went on to explain that her ex fiancee was the father. This was confirmed by Belial himself who seemed to have a great interest in the baby. "It was never about me. Only the baby matters to him. They have not hurt me, even when I tried to fight back. They wouldn't risk the baby. They kept me under that spell because I escaped a few times."

Extracting herself from Penny's hug she crossed the room to the cradle. "They took her away a few days ago." There were so many holes... missing days, weeks, months. Kate sighed in frustration. "And that's all I know."

'Oh, Kate, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry...' Penny sobbed, hugging Kate tight, as if her words and touch could quell the pain, and knowing there was no way it could. She watched Kate walk to the cradle, her blue eyes moist, on the verge of tears. 'Do you... do you know if there are other mothers here? Other babies?' she begged.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:36, Thu 29 Oct 2015.

Simon/Jo: It will be alright. I suppose we didn't come here just to sit on our hands so we may as well give it a try. If things get bad though you two run. I expect I will be alright she adds darkly and Simon you realize she is referring to her other self. ooc: Go ahead and roll another hide/ move silently. I will keep the same search rolls from before though so no worries there.

Penny/Kate: It is Castiel who answers. I doubt it Penny. I think we both know who the infant is. I suspect that Kate's former fiance was a Darkmoor and I doubt it was happenstance you two ended up together. You Kate, I believe you are a Blaeden. I think the darkness I felt within you before was your unborn child. Her combined blood hidden within your own dark Blaeden line concentrated the taint. he looks at Penny and explains. I have been studying since our last encounter. I've learned a great deal about both families though this is not the time or place to discuss it.

Smacks forehead.
09:12, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 11 using 1d20+1.  Move Silently.
09:11, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 14 using 1d20+1.  hide.

Penny was honestly surprised, her mouth open but speechless. She'd thought Dalton to be a common cad, a regret for Kate, best forgotten about. She'd paid him no mind. She'd never considered him as a part of Belial's scheme, that he could be one of the two families – a Darkmoor. So, he was her— the baby's father. With shock, dismayed at the scandal, Penny realised that she— the baby had been born out of wedlock, before quickly burying the notion and what it suggested about Kate. She came from a different time, less fettered by social mores. Penny had thought she'd unravelled the whole dreadful tale, but she'd still been surprised. She'd looked into the past, not the future.

'Castiel said we were related...' Penny rose, facing Kate, eyes filled with hope and tears. 'Kate, do you know where we are? ...This is Darkmoor Manor, Devon, my family home. I grew up here, my whole life... The year is 1863. I was born on the 21st of February – two months ago...' Penny trailed off, still fearful to make the inevitable conclusion, expecting Kate to disprove it. She needed to hear it from Kate.

19 and 24

"February twenty first, 1863." Kate muttered looking at Penny as if seeing her for the first time. She was feeling almost back to her old self. Enough to understand what Castiel had been implying. "How is that even possible?"

A few steps brought Kate closer to Penny and she raised a hand cautiously as if to brush her dear friends cheek. And in that moment Kate knew the truth. How could she have missed it before? While there was little resemblance to Kate, Penny clearly was her fathers daughter. The strawberry blonde hair and the clear blue eyes were some of his strongest features.

Kate's hand began to tremble and she covered her mouth in shock. "It's you," she said simply as fresh tears sprang to her eyes. She wanted badly to pull Penny into a hug, to hold her daughter again, even if it wasn't the same as holding the baby. Instead she waited giving Penny time and space to come to terms with this new information and what it meant for them.

As fearful and surprised as she had been, the actual revelation came not as a shock, but as a simple confirmation of what she already knew in her heart. It was a relief, even, a joy. Ultimately, it felt right, like she'd known it all along. 'It's me – mother.' she murmured, a tear rolling down her cheek, moving forward to embrace her dear friend, now her dear mother. Penny hugged Kate tight, crying in happiness at what they'd gained together and grief at what they'd lost apart. It felt like they held each other for the whole 150 years that separated them.

At last, when Penny found her voice again, she laughed softly. 'Penelope Piper, what a name that is.'
This message was lightly edited by the player at 08:26, Fri 30 Oct 2015.

Penny/Kate: The two men watch the pair of you with a respectful silence, Ian in particular looking shocked though wisely keeping his mouth closed. Castiel finds himself the one to break it. I'm sorry to break up the reunion but we should be going. There is a guard outside and she's already gone for reinforcements I believe.

Jo/Simon: You explore more of the great house, Jo and Lily as silent as ghosts but Simon is somewhat less so. At one point he even jostles a shelf as you slip past and a servant comes to investigate the noise but thankfully you are able to stay hidden and Lily gives him a reassuring smile. Eventually you hear what seems to be screams, coming from down the hall. It is impossible to say who is making them other than a woman.

Simon whispered, "We should investigate, it could be Kate."

So much of this felt right; Penny had always felt herself to have been born before her time, and she couldn't have been more correct. But though she held her long-lost mother in her arms, solid and real and not a faceless dream, it was still almost impossible to believe. Her mother was now a few years younger than herself, and she'd appeared out of a veritable Gordian Knot in time. Was this the true history, as it had been all along, or had Belial warped their pasts to his own ends? Under the joy, Penny seethed with grief and anger at what he'd robbed from the both of them. A mother of her daughter, a daughter of her mother, and he'd used Kate most vilely. And Penny had exchanged one cruel and absent father for another. What's more, this meant that Penny herself was the child born of both bloodlines, the key to his prison. She vowed not to be so used.

Penny shot an aggrieved look at Castiel, not wishing to be disturbed at such a time, wanting to return to a few peaceful moments with her new mother, but she knew he was right. But there was more. 'We must find— the baby.'

Shaking her head, Jo didn't like that,

"We stay clear, and investigate, but we can't charge in. We're not here to fight anyone, or interrupt torture, we're here for..." pausing, she whispered to Lily,

"Erm, what are we here for again?" fully prepared to turn and add Lily's answer to her words.

Simon put his palm against his forehead, "Penny and Ian are searching out missing Kate. We were suppose to providing distraction for them. Now we are wandering around looking for an unknown something."

"Well then lead on!" she said, waving her arm for Simon to lead the way, "Gotta find this unknown something, and quick!"

Kate held Penny tight trying hard to gain control of her emotions. Castiel's interruption was unwelcome but couldn't be ignored. She forced herself to let Penny go.
"I don't think we can bring the baby," Kate tried to keep her composure but mentioning the infant brought a fresh wave of tears. She had never personally studied time travel but she'd seen enough movies, TV shows, and a documentary  to know that adult Penny and baby Penny could not exist together in the same timeline. Their incident with Mrs. Bentley was proof enough of what a little tampering could do to the future. "If I took her with me your past would unravel. You as you are would cease to exist."

Not that the thought hadn't crossed Kate's mind. No doubt Penny would have had a much better life growing up with her mother in 2013. No memories of her harsh upbringing or the horrors she'd seen as a hunter. But time was a tricky thing and no matter what they chose Kate knew their lives would always be shadowed by Belial. He'd gone to great trouble to have Penny created, sooner or later he would come for her daughter in this time line or the next.

Kate turned to Castiel her eyes pleading as if to say is there no way we can fix this?

Penny's breath caught in her throat, shocked by the possibility. But what choices did she have? She could almost feel history solidifying around her, trapping her like an insect caught in gleaming amber. She shook her head, refusing to think of herself, even while she had to. 'Belial has already tampered with my past once – who's to say he will not do so again? I know I weathered my father's abuses, and escaped with my heart and independence intact,' Perhaps the shrine to Domnu she'd found and led herself to, the separate destiny she'd earned, had played a part in that, had ensured her freedom? 'But what if this time around he draws the net tighter around me? What if I become some demoniac, wholly his puppet and plaything?' Penny shuddered, as if she could feel the cold taint creep over her even now.

'Besides, I cannot leave the baby here, knowing the unhappy childhood that awaits,' She reached out a hand to Kate's. 'Nor would I leave a child without her mother, or a mother without her child.' She might not grow up in such finery, this gilded cage, but she was sure she would be happier and more rounded with a mother like Kate.

'I would erase myself before I let either happen.' Penny vowed.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:11, Sat 31 Oct 2015.

Kate was felt as if her heart were breaking in two. She wanted to keep both the baby and Penny. What kind of mother would she be to leave the baby to such a horrible fate? It made her sick to even think about it. But at the same time she didn't want to loose Penny. Though who was to say that would happen? Everything she'd learned about time travel came from fiction.

Holding tight to Penny's hand she turned to Castiel. "What are our options?"

Jo/Simon: Presumably you head out to investigate the scream? If not, then Lily will go by herself as she's the curious type.

Should you follow the screams they lead you down a hallway and into an open indoor arboretum filled with exotic flowers and plants, the sunlight streaming through the glass walls and ceiling. It is large, beautiful and warm. What catches your attention though is two men slitting the throat of what appears to be a maid. She gurgles and twitches as she starts to die messily, the men looking on coldly. Thus far they have not seen you and if you wish to stay hidden you can stay back, though a more hardy plan of action is always available.

Kate/Penny: Castiel listens with a sober face. They are limited. I honestly don't even know if the child is still within these walls. Belial may have sent her elsewhere to keep her hidden. If you were to take her it would completely change the timeline and it has already been tampered with far more then it should have been. And I will not allow you to erase yourself Penny. Me neither Ian chimes in with a scolding look. I suspect his reasons for all of this was to get you ready to be his key at the right time but that doesn't mean he will be able to control who you turn out to be, as is obviously the case. He can try to tamper all he wants but you still have your own mind no matter what your past.

Seeing the murder, Simon draws his pistol, attempting to defend the poor woman being murdered.  He takes aim at the one doing the cutting and fired.

Nominate the knife man as "target" for +2
08:58, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 28 using 1d20+10.  Pistol attack.
Additional +1 if w/in 30' for a 29.

Kate listened to Castiel carefully. It was true she hadn't seen the baby in three days, she could be gone. But they knew she'd return eventually. Penny grew up here after all. "Belial has a lot to answer for," Kate's voice was sharp with anger.

"You know this accidental trip into the past was going to be my last job. I was going to give up hunting, get married, have kids..." she shrugged at the irony. "We can't change what's happened. But I refuse to accept that this is the way it's supposed to be. Belial has tampered with the timeline. We can't be messing up what's already been destroyed. Penny was meant to be with me in 2013. A woman truly ahead of her time. I understand if that can't happen. But isn't there a way we can ensure she has a better life? Have a little talk with Darkmoor? Find someone to watch out for her and protect her from his abuse? A guardian angel? She looked at Castiel pleadingly. "I'll never forgive myself if I leave her to this fate."

Josephine saw Simon draw his pistol, and she froze, watching the horror unfold in front of her. She hadn't expected the priest to respond to murder with murder, she had expected him to turn the other cheek, but she wouldn't be able to stop him, not this late anyhow...

'I— the infant must be here, or must return here at some point. My earliest memories are of this house, I suppose I was four or five years old. Those surely cannot be changed... And the baby will need to be fed. They kept Kate here for that, but without her they will need a wet nurse.' Penny explained. She remembered a succession of nannies and governesses, many gray-faced women for whom she was little more than a job, but some had cared for her, offering her glimpses of light, though they'd not lasted long in Father's employ. Eventually, when the she could take care of herself, it had no longer been cost-effective to have someone care for her.

In a disgusted tone over simmering rage, Penny muttered 'Belial. He tried to cheat history and bring his plot to escape forward over a century. As if an immortal could not wait. And he succeeded...' This violation of her past, her very being, and her mother and friend was too much to bear. She felt as hollowed out and ruined as one of the Ripper's victims, all in her heart and soul and behind her in her shadow and past, filled with something vile and loathsome she couldn't wait to be rid of.

Unable to stand, Penny sat down again on the bed, her hands in her lap and staring at the floor, and through, into the rest of the house and her memories. 'Growing up in this house, my childhood was unhappy and restricted. My father – well, Vortigern Darkmoor – was a cold, cruel, and loveless man... But it could have been worse, I suppose. Abject poverty, worse abuses – some should count me fortunate and privileged, and I was. I had an education, some measure of freedom. I should be relieved my father was content to ignore me much of the time.'

'If a child may be said to rebel against their parents, then I rebelled by trying to be a nice, decent, unselfish person. To have a heart where my father had none. I fought against his strictures by being independent. And I found my own happiness, out on the moor and in the village and alone in my books. Penny sighed. 'I have my own mind and a good heart now, but there were times...' She trailed off, dispelling those dark thoughts, her anger and bitterness at growing up in a house without love, listening to Father's endless bile with darkness all around. What else could she have become? Darkmoors certainly had some bad habits and had produced some scoundrels. 'But please, do not worry for me: I survived and turned out a good person, I believe.'

'But what if, in this coming iteration of history, Belial has me tormented and corrupted further, if he fills my head with a demon? Then I shall have no choice in the matter. I am Belial's chosen key, to his cage in the Pit. He has made me, he must also shape me. How, I do not know, but I dread to think.' Penny shivered, then was resolute. 'And I would rather die or be erased than become the instrument of his escape.' she vowed.

'Castiel. Your eyes can pierce the veil of time. Can you possibly guarantee that my history will not be altered further? That the baby will be as safe as I was? Can you?' she pressed, feeling sure that he could not possibly, not after what had already happened.

'And Kate– I don't care for myself, but I simply cannot separate you from your child, deprive you of motherhood.' Penny was pained. She wanted to do the right thing by Kate – still her friend, as well as everything else – yet this cruel trick of Belial's left them with no good options. She'd tried to argue and reason her way through this, which was all that she had, but the paradox yielded no solution. Nothing seemed to resolve the issue and still guarantee the course of history. She needed a third option.

Then she remembered the results of her last excursion through time, all those identical suitcases lined up in her hotel room. 'My luggage! I have duplicates from 1890 and 2013. Surely the same will happen if we relocate the child? Two of them, two of the babe. History could stand two of us, surely?'
This message was last edited by the player at 13:00, Tue 03 Nov 2015.

Jo/Simon: Simon's bullet grazes the killer's arm and he looks up in surprise, hissing in pain. You both notice that there is an almost electric flicker from the wound and Lily draws her own weapon with satisfaction. A demon. Or at least something just as unnatural. The bullet wouldn't do that otherwise. Come! she readies for a battle. In the meantime the demons both turn, looking furious and ready for a fight...ooc: Ok, surprise round is over go ahead and roll init. and your first attack and damage. I will tell you right now their AC is 20 so you know if you hit or not, makes it faster for everyone. There are plenty of places to try to take cover though with demons that will only be somewhat useful.

Penny/Kate: At Penny's mention of turning out to be a good person, Ian puts a reassuring hand on her shoulder and smiles. I can vouch for that Meanwhile Cas listens to your concerns. I do not think he could change you at this point. In fact, I think this has always been part of your history, you have just been ignorant of it. I cannot see everything but it all makes sense. He doesn't need you to be twisted and evil. He only needs you to be of the two bloodlines. The taint on your blood need not assert itself on your spirit, it is the flesh he will need to be the key. That said I cannot pretend to know the extent of his plans. As for the baby...that is a dangerous idea though I can understand the temptation. You must understand I don't even know where she is...

ooc: Ok, so my original plan was to leave the baby but Kate has in no uncertain terms asked me to keep it and I can see Penny agrees, lol. I do want my players to be happy and if it is feasible I don't want to be unfair and just say no. So....I need to wrap my head around this as time travel can be such a pain. So in taking the child Penny's history would be completely changed, raised by Kate and not at Darkmoor manor and therefore have nothing in common with her past. Heck, she would probably have an American accent! Technically she is American, at least by her parents ;P Anywho, she would be taken back to 1890 for the time being and babysat by Victoria and only be a minor part of the story. Then, the Penny we know would still exist as a paradox of sorts, out of time in a way as her timeline had been erased but she still survives in this new one? Something kind of similar happened in Fringe actually. Just making sure I understand everything. Now, keep in mind that though this is all feasible, Penny's timeline change WILL result in the deaths of innocent people. It's just the consequence of changing things. You can either do it anyway and face the consequences or you can consider your options and come to the conclusion that it simply must be the way it is. OR I thought about perhaps having Kate come often and visit her throughout her childhood, meeting in the cave on the moors when she is a little girl and old enough to be away from her governess and father and though it would only be periodic at least they would both have some semblance of a relationship with only minor impact on the timeline. Thoughts?
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:35, Tue 03 Nov 2015.

09:15, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 4 using 1d20+1.  initiative.
11:25, Yesterday: Father Simon Cole rolled 18 using 1d20+1.  initiative.

Simon, realizing his pistol will only be of limited use in his own hands, hands it to Josephine. "I need cover to exorcise them, please."

Simon takes out a small book and begins speaking in Latin.

Casting Improved Exorcism

Taking the weapon with a look of disgust, Josephine stepped away, and leveled it forward.

"This isn't going to be effective, is it Lily?"

"Two of you? Is that possible?"  It was an interesting idea but Kate was still concerned. In the end there was no sure way of telling what would happen. It was all speculation. The question was if it was worth the risk. We're it her choice to make alone the answer would be yes. Her arms ached to hold her baby again. But she would not risk Penny's life to have it.

Penny nodded in grim understanding of Belial's plot, noting 'Of course. That vile fiend would no doubt rather corrupt and violate a grown woman, and have her conscious of the crime...' Penny did not doubt that Belial had further plans for her, not merely using her as the so-called key, not merely sacrificing her life. She could only dread what.

She looked to Kate, saying 'Why not? Twins are commonplace – this pair shall only be separated by 150 years. I believe I have proved it with my luggage, after that debacle with Father Simon and Western Union. Leastwise, the bags and suitcases still sit in my hotel room.' Penny explained, but even she was not convinced. Some might disagree, but she was not an old bag, and she had a soul. 'Well, maybe.'

Defeated, Penny waved to Castiel, a gesture of surrender. 'Well, I have argued my case and proposed what I can in defence of my existence and what I believe to be right. But I cannot see the whole tapestry of fate. I have saved many lives, and slain many monsters. After a century and a half, I do not know all that will come of my life. The happiness of two women may not outweigh all those lives, but it should not have been put in the balance in the first place... So I must bow to God's wishes, and what He has fated for us.'

But Penny had one last card to play. 'But if the question is still open... History has already taken its course. I propose we let it continue. We may not know the web of time, but we mortals can only ever act in good faith, based on what we know, to do what we believe is right at any one moment. I believe that is what God expects of us. For everything else, let events proceed as they will. What has happened, has happened; whatever will be, will be.'

She rose, with fresh vigour and determination. 'Now, forget time and fate and ourselves. We have a simple task before us: there is an innocent baby in the hands of demons. We must ensure that she is safe, if nothing else. Now, given the quality of roads around here in the 1860s, a baby's need for regular feeding and sleep, I do not believe they have taken her far.'

Jo/Simon: Lily grins at Jo's question and starts to fire her own weapon. Absolutely! These have all been blessed by the men of letters. They are quite effective. She demonstrates by grazing one in the arm, causing the same sizzling affect as before. ooc: Ok, so I need an attack roll and damage (if it hits) from Jo and a concentration check from Simon if he's going to try to exorcise them.

Penny/Kate: Keep in mind that two of you is twice the chance for Belial to use you as a key Cas warns. I don't like this. But I suppose for now we should concentrate on getting out of here in one piece and then argue about the future after. Just as he finishes speaking the door bursts open and several people rush in, six men and two women. Demons are your guess and they look none too pleased to see you all. ooc: They are going to attack so go ahead and roll your first round if you're interested :D

Penny spun toward the door as the demons burst in – ah, yes, them – all thought of history and fate chased from her mind, just as previously she'd neglected to consider these lesser fiends. She reacted instantly, whipping her revolver from her purse, and filled with fresh outrage. This violation of her past, her heritage, and her home had to be avenged. 'Not in my house!' she screamed, firing the gun into the first demon.


OOC: Initiative 19
14:20, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+2.  initiative.

Dodge: +1 dodge AC vs first to come for Penny

Move: draw gun
Standard: shoot it
Point Blank Shot: +1 attack, +1 damage

Attack 19, damage 7
14:25, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 12 using 1d20+9.  attack - pistol, PBS+1.
14:29, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 2d6.  action point.
14:26, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 2d4+2.  damage.

I'll drop an attack point on the attack just for the sake of drama.

09:25, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 22 using 1d20+4.  same.
09:25, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  same.
09:25, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  same.
09:25, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 12 using 1d20+4.  Concentration check.

I don't know exactly how to do this, but I rolled 1d20 and got a 13. Is that good?

Penny/Kate: Penny's shot hits the first demon who stumbles in surprise, especially seeing that he can be hurt. Ian follows suit and Castiel moves to protect Kate, no doubt fearing she is still too out of it to fight back, though Kate, that is not the case, however you seem to be unarmed at the moment. Ian rectifies that a second later by tossing you a pistol with a grin. The demons rush inside all at once and soon the room is an uproar of activity. Cas immediately takes out an angel blade from the folds of his trench coat and stabs one in the side, badly wounding him. Don't kill the women! Remember! The others are fair game one of the women orders. Suddenly Penny and Kate can both feel an invisible grip on their bodies as though someone were pinning them still. You struggle to fight...ooc: Please roll a will save both of you.

Jo/Simon: Ooc: Since it looks like you didn't add your modifier yes, it is good. The DC for these guys is 19 so if you attack and get a 19 you automatically hit.

Simon, unfortunately the ruckus is making concentrating difficult and though your focus is starting to improve it is not good enough at the moment to do any good. Jo's shot hits true though her foe is still raging and Lily misses this second time. Sensing that the priest is a threat, one of them hones his attacks on Simon. You feel a squeezing sensation around your heart and it beats wildly as you start to feel dizzy and gasp for control...Jo, you feel yourself suddenly flung back as though struck by an unseen force. An incredibly strong unseen force...ooc: Please roll a fort save Simon. If you want to continue your attempts next round go ahead and roll a couple more concentration checks though keep in mind failing your fort save will negate any concentration attempts at the moment. Jo, please roll a reflex save to see how much damage you take from being flung. Next round please!

11:29, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 18 using 1d20+4.
11:29, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  concentration check.
11:28, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 23 using 1d20+5.  Fort Save.

Redoubling his efforts, Simon continued to recite the litany.

Reflex 8, ouch! Am I still alive?

'Unhand me!' Penny struggled wildly against the demon's unholy grip, summoning her outrage to give her strength of body and mind. But it was that same outrage that weakened her; all the shocks and fears of the last few minutes had combined to break her will.


OOC: Will 16. I don't know which way that could go, so I don't have anything more.
15:10, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+8. will.

Penny/Kate: Penny is pinned fast and seeing for the moment she is subdued the demons move in on Castiel and Ian who are in quite a wild battle. Ian gets a shot off into the stomach of one of the women but she hurls him backward into the wall, hard. Meanwhile Castiel starts to take a pounding from two of them who have ganged up on him but he quickly slashes one across the belly, causing them to drop to their knees in shock.

Jo/Simon: Jo crashes into a pillar painfully, though it is no mortal wound fortunately. Lily fires off another round, grazing one in the arm though she suddenly stiffens in pain, gasping as though being squeezed by an unseen hand. Simon manages to shake off the demon's affects but his concentration on his exorcism is just barely off the mark. The demons though, sensing the sudden danger they are in of being exorcised start to head away from you, backing toward the hallway, ready to run in an instant.

Her arms pinned to her sides and her legs to the ground with unnatural force, Penny found herself bound and immobile, terrifyingly vulnerable to the demons, flushed with the humiliation and indignation of it. 'You dare attack me and mine, in my house, on my land?' she hissed in outrage. Now she mastered her anger and fear, muttering words of dark magic and fingers twitching through eldritch signs. 'By all the black dogs of the moor, you will rue this! Release the hounds!' she bayed, as a distinct dog was heard to howl.


OOC: Summon Juliet.
22:14, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+6. concentration.

Gasping in pain at the sudden shock, Josephine pulled herself up to her hands and knees, and forced another breath back into her chest, forcing her diaphragm to take a few more,

"Simo...Simon..." she asked, forcing the words through the pain, "Do we let them go?" she asked, standing unsteadily, and leveling the gun on the retreating figures once more.



My action is to wait for his words, and then act on them. He says 'no', she fires. He says 'yes', she holds the ammunition

Rolled a natural 20/20 for the shot if he says no! Ruh roh! Lily's gonna be jealous again :P
This message was last edited by the player at 14:41, Tue 24 Nov 2015.

Simon pressed the advantage, holding his cross up for them to see.

13:19, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 11 using 1d20+4.  #3.
13:19, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  #2.
13:19, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  Concentration.

Though it is too difficult for him still.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:20, Tue 24 Nov 2015.

Kate catches the pistol Ian tossed but growls in frustration when her arms are pinned and she's unable to use it. "Damn," she mutters watching helplessly as the others fight on.

Jo/Simon: Seeing Simon raise his cross and continue his attempts at exorcism Lily turns and grins at Jo. In my book that means shoot she orders. Once Jo does she fires a beautiful shot right through one demon's torso. Lily looks surprised and impressed, and though it doesn't kill him he's not looking well and seeing her as a more vital threat now he stumbles back and starts to outright run, quickly followed by his companion who Lily shoots at and misses, shattering a very expensive looking glass case. She stops herself mid curse with a sheepish glance at the priest. After them! Can't have them ratting on us! she leaps into the room and after the pair bidding you to follow. They are fast though and it will be difficult to keep up...ooc: Nice shot Jo :) Go ahead and roll spot and constitution checks guys, to see if you can outrun them and also find them in the corridors.

Kate/Penny:
Everything is chaos then. There is a sudden growling in the room as Juliet appears instantly, though she is still invisible of course. The demons immediately react, trying to attack the beast which they appear to be able to see. One hurls the bed at her but it breaks into pieces as she presumably dodges, leaping at the demon and messily clawing into his flesh. Meanwhile another still attacks Ian who is slammed into the ceiling and then dropped roughly to the floor. Poor man is not doing well. Castiel takes advantage of the confusion and presses his two fingers against a demon's forehead, causing a white light to erupt from his eyes and mouth before a second later he falls down dead. Two of the demons start to run from the room. Everything is a mess. Luckily the arrival of Juliet has distracted the demons enough that you are both suddenly freed. Apparently a hell hound makes it difficult to concentrate.

10:05, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 0 using 1d20-1.  con.
10:05, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 19 using 1d20+5.  spot.

Spot 17
Con 10

Freed from the demon's accursed grip, Penny swung her gun arm up again, sending two shots roaring at the demon hurling Ian around. While the demons feared to strike her and Kate, they were, to some extent, safe, but she had to protect Ian.


OOC: Point Blank Shot: +1 attack, +1 damage
1st attack: attack 14, boosted to 18 with an AP; damage 7
2nd attack: attack 8, assume that's a miss
15:27, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 14 using 1d20+9. attack - pistol, PBS+1.
15:29, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 4 using 2d6. action point.
15:30, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 2d4+2. damage - pistol, PBS +2.
15:30, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 8 using 1d20+4. second attack - pistol, PBS +1.

Jo/Simon: Simon is winded as the chase begins and a horrid stitch in his side prevents him from following long though his sharp eyes spot their path easily. Josephine and Lily rush after and though one demon is so fast there is no hope of catching him, the other stumbles and you manage to catch up. Lily tackles his feet and he goes sprawling, both of them sliding across the floor. Shoot him! she hisses, landing with a painful grunt.

Penny: Your first shot grazes the demon's shoulder and he yelps in surprise before turning around and telekinetically flinging you across the room. Ian stumbles into a hands and knees position, and tries to shoot but he fumbles and the gun drops several feet away from him. (poor guy rolled a 1)...Meanwhile Juliet seems to be wreaking havoc but the demons are eluding her for the moment though they aren't very effective in their attacks either, no doubt due to trying so hard not to be torn apart. Castiel wounds another demon with his angel blade but at the moment the only one being harmed is Penny, who lands roughly against a bookshelf. ooc: Roll a reflex save please, dc 15 for 1/2 damage if you succeed. Otherwise take 10 damage

Bracing herself for impact, Penny smacked into the bookshelf, falling roughly to the floor amidst several tomes splayed open like breakfast kippers. But she quickly recovered, rising, brushing her skirts down, and cursing under her breath. She needed a better tactic than a shoot-out in the tower, but what?

Penny levelled her pistol at the magic-wielding demon, scrutinising its movements before snapping off a shot. She wanted to get the measure of her foe more than wounding it, at least at this stage. Which way would it jump?


OOC: Reflex 18, success, 5 damage
19:22, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18 using 1d20+5.  reflex.

Dodge: +1 dodge Defence vs nearest demon
Defensive Martial Arts: +1 dodge Defence vs nearest demon
Point Blank Shot: +1 attack, +1 damage

Move: Exploit Weakness, 23 vs DC 15, use Int on attack rolls versus that demon chucking Penny around

Attack: attack 13, damage 7 @ that demon
19:33, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 13 using 1d20+11. attack - pistol, PBS+1, EW.
19:40, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 2d4+2. pistol damage, PBS +1. (I picked the wrong reason for this; the roller says "crossbow")

Chasing with Lily, Josephine grinned as they ran, glad to be running with her friend. As Lily threw herself at the demon, she pulled the gun, and fired quickly, doing as she was asked,

"Of course you'd ask me to shoot, now that you know I'm a master marksman!" she teased, flashing a grin Lily's way as she set her stance...

Attack roll 22

Simon became winded and propped himself against a wall, trying to catch his breath.

Relieved to have the use of her arms again Kate raised her borrowed pistol and fired at the demon nearest the door. She was hoping to clear the way and then set up cover to keep anyone else from getting in.



OOC: I wasn't sure what type of pistol she was using so I just rolled my normal stats for damage. Let me know if it's different or feel free to modify as needed.
Attack: 21
Damage: 7

Penny/Kate: Penny's shot misses but when the demon retaliates by trying to hurl a lamp at you he misses. Meanwhile Kate's shot hits true, grazing her target across the side, the sizzle and crackle apparent that she's hit her man. Juliet is doing quite well and has finished off another foe with Castiel's help and Ian finally hits his own target though he is tossed across the room violently for his troubles. He is quite ragged looking by now. Fortunately another demon has quit the room in fear, Juliet really is making quite a mess.

Jo/Simon: Lily laughs at your comment, the smile out of place considering she's wrestling with a demon and fortunately your shot hits him in the thigh, wounding him enough that he decides to cooperate. I'll help you get out of here if you but spare me! he gasps, eyeing the pistol with fear. He is still healthy enough to cause trouble but it would seem between nearly being exorcised and seeing there is indeed a weapon that can hurt him, he's willing to try to barter.

Simon, breath caught, moved to catch up with the ladies.

Stepping up, her attitude kicking in a bit, inspired by Lily, Josephine placed a boot on the demon's chest,

"That's not all you're going to do for us, but it'll do for now." she said confidently, aiming the gun down at his face.

With that, she saw Simon approaching from behind her, and tilted her head towards the demon,

"He's willing to cooperate, so long as we spare him. Which we're going to do." she said flatly, so Simon understood their current position.

Simon gave a shrugged, "If you insist."

He looked about, "We need to regroup soon."

Kate took aim and fired again glad to see that they seemed to be outnumbering the demons.

OOC:
attack:23 (14+9)
damage:7

Ducking the thrown lamp, which shattered explosively on the bookshelf behind her, Penny surged forward across the chamber, lowering her pistol and raising her enchanted ash-wood cane. The enemy ranks had thinned, and she had the measure of her foe now. Put a left-handed soul in a right-handed body, and it would jump, clumsily, to the left. And that was the side of the head she swung the heavy iron head of the cane for.


OOC:
Charge @ that demon, +2 attack, -2 AC
Dodge: +1 dodge Defense vs that demon
Defensive Martial Arts: +1 dodge Defense vs melee attacks

Attack with cane: attack 30, damage 4
20:06, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 30 using 1d20+12. cane attack: charge +2.
20:21, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 4 using 1d6+1. damage.

Agile Riposte: if he swings and misses Penny, she gets a free AoO. Attack 16, damage 3.
20:26, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+12. AoO?
20:26, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 3 using 1d6+1. damage.

Simon/Jo: Lily grins at Jo's new confidence and then turns back to the demon. You are going to take us to wherever they are holding Kate. I'm sure that's where the others must be too. And if we are caught the first thing I'll do is put a bullet in your brain. Understand? he nods shakily and soon you are moving quickly through the halls. The other demon is still on the loose, no doubt warning the others of your presence. Time is a factor and you find yourselves at a run, racing up the stairs towards the tower. Behind you can hear shouts of pursuit so you assume that the word is out but you stay focused on your goal. As you head towards the tower door at the top of the stairs you hear gunshots, crashing furniture, growling and barking and what's more you see a couple of demons rushing down past you, ignoring you in their haste to escape. It is an absolute mess.

Kate/Penny: Kate's shot rings true but you feel a force trying to knock the gun from your hand...ooc: Make a general strength check please

Penny meanwhile hits her foe though it is a minor injury at best. In return he backhands you across the jaw so hard it is an effort not to cry out and he smirks smugly at you. During all this Castiel has unfortunately dropped his angel blade though he is scrambling to pick it up as a demon makes a grab for it. Ian shoots the demon in the back before he can though, for once looking like he has a temporary handle on things at least. Juliet is tearing into her victim, spraying blood everywhere. ooc: take 11 damage please Penny

With jaw and head wrenched around by the force of the blow, Penny began to have second thoughts about engaging this demon in melee. She also regretted being so distracted by the matter of Kate and the baby that they'd neglected to try to escape out the window or draw a devil's trap behind the door. Well, what was done was done, they had to fight their way out now.

She settled into a duelist's stance, presenting herself side-on to the demon, with her guard up and ready to retaliate at exposed openings. Then Penny struck at the demon's right arm – a weak, exploratory attack, to test and open up defences. It did just that, and she quickly reversed, delivering another, harder blow for the neck or head.


OOC:
Dodge: +1 dodge Defense vs that demon
Defensive Martial Arts: +1 dodge Defense vs melee attacks
Combat Expertise: -2 attack, +2 dodge Defense

Full attack with cane: attack 16, damage 5; attack 7, miss.
11:03, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+8. cane attack 1: expertise -2.
11:03, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 5 using 1d6+1. damage.
11:03, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 1d20+3. cane attack 2: expertise -2.

Agile Riposte: if he swings and misses Penny (Defense 21), she gets a free AoO. Attack 22, damage 6.
11:11, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 22 using 1d20+8. Riposte AoO.
11:11, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 1d6+1. damage.

(My Defense scores in my bio-lines were out of date, reading 16 instead of 17. I've corrected them now.)

Kate could feel the unseen force trying to pull the gun from her hand and fought to hold onto it.

ooc: Strength 11 pretty sure I lost it but rolled attack just in case. Not that it's any better :D Attack 10 Damage:10

Simon followed...

Sorry still busy

Seeing the fight break out, Josephine first made sure that Lily still had their prisoner handled, and then she ran forward, grabbing at Castiel's blade and sliding it to the angel. She wasn't entirely comfortable with who he was, but he seemed to be on their side, and was fighting their enemies, so she was certainly going to help him if she could. She guessed from his fighting style that he looked like he was better at fighting than she was!


I don't know how flanking, etc works, but in addition to throwing him his weapon, if possible, she'll position to give Cas flanking bonuses/help, etc

Simon was caught unaware by the fight, and is unable to do much but watch.

ooc: Slept crappy and have a day ahead of me. So if I screwed up on anything I apologize.

Lily passes the prisoner to Simon, instructing you to keep your gun trained on him and then proceeds to rush in after Jo.

Jo manages to get the blade to Cas, who immediately puts it to good use, stabbing a nearby demon with it in the shoulder. Meanwhile though, Jo's efforts are rewarded with a fist straight to the nose by another attacker. It hurts terribly and you can feel blood running down your face and for a moment you are dizzied.

Meanwhile Lily and Ian struggle to help, both of them flung across the room by their opponents, Lily even smashes into the window and almost goes through it but her back hits the sill enough to prevent her. Her green eyes look somewhat panicked at the realization of what nearly happened. During this, Juliet very much notices the woman's presence and the invisible hell hound can be heard rushing toward the Indian, growling and barking... ooc: Penny, you will need another concentration check please. Castiel would give her the same reaction but you did so well with your first summoning that it was not a factor :)

Kate, your gun is ripped from your hands as though by an unseen force and slides across the room. You can feel the demon trying to immobilize you again...

Penny: You unfortunately miss, though just barely but the demon takes full advantage by punching you hard in the ribs. There will certainly be bruises in the next hour or so, if you live that long of course. Belial may want you alive but this fellow doesn't seem to care if you're beaten up a bit first. Hopefully he doesn't become forgetful of his orders.

Simon felt no responsibility to keep the demon alive, since his promise had been noncommittal at best. He pushed the creature into a chair or onto the floor. With more time and less distraction he began the litany of exorcism again.

"What in the hell!?" Jo cursed, grabbing at her face. That had hurt! Still, Jo had grown up in a bar, and she'd be damned if she let somebody punch her without retribution!

Reaching for the closest object she could find, she launched into an attack on her attacker, swinging back at them like the true daughter of a bar-owner!

'Juliet! Stop!' Penny barked across the room, her word and will firm as stone, before the hellhound could harass Lily any further. 'Focus on the demons! ...That one! Attack and hold! Bring it down!' she ordered, pointing to the nearest and hoping desperately Juliet would obey to such a fine degree. If Juliet could wrestle down the demon for her, she could perhaps purge it from the body. At the least, the hellhound could be kept busy with a demonic chew-toy, rather than going for Lily.

For the distraction, Penny received a shuddering blow to the ribs, but she was made of sterner stuff than the average upper-class lady. She'd learned to fight in the streets of London, trained by the best and the worst, and now she was on her home ground: her house, her moor. She turned a stony eye back on the demon, and felt as though her arms had the strength of the granite bedrock.

She swept the cane downwards, walloping the heavy iron knob into the demon's leg, driving it toward the wall and narrowing its range of movement. Then she raised her cane high and level, and thrust it forward with all her might, staving the demon in the face, so hard it left an impression of the devil's trap etched in the knob.

Instantly, she was back in a guarding stance, ready and waiting for the demon to react, or die.


OOC: Concentration 26 to keep Juliet in line, success.
14:32, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 26 using 1d20+6. concentration.

Dodge: +1 dodge Defense vs that demon
Defensive Martial Arts: +1 dodge Defense vs melee attacks
Combat Expertise: -1 attack, +1 dodge Defense
So a total Defense 20 versus my opponent.

Full attack with cane:
1st: attack 29, rolled a 20, critical confirm 27; damage 7, crit damage 13, for total damage 20
2nd: attack 25, rolled a 20, critical confirm 12; damage 2, crit damage 11

14:48, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 29 using 1d20+9. cane attack 1: expertise -1.
14:48, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 27 using 1d20+9. critical confirm.
14:50, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 1d6+1. cane damage 1.
14:50, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 13 using 2d6+2. cane critical damage 1.

14:48, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 25 using 1d20+5. cane attack 2: expertise -1.
14:48, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 12 using 1d20+5. critical confirm.
14:51, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 2 using 1d6+1. cane damage 2.
14:52, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 11 using 2d6+2. cane critical damage 2.
(cane attack 2 has the wrong bonus in the diceroller, it's corrected here)

Agile Riposte: if he swings and misses Penny (Defense 20), she gets a free AoO.
Attack 22, rolled a 20, critical confirm 21; damage 6, crit damage 4, for total damage 7
14:58, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 29 using 1d20+9. riposte AoO.
14:58, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 21 using 1d20+9. critical confirm.
14:58, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 3 using 1d6+1. cane AoO damage.
14:58, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 4 using 2d6+2. cane AoO crit damage.

ooc: So I'm going to say for simplicity's sake that Lily will loan Simon an extra gun so that no one is disarmed. She always carries extra so it makes sense, therefore everyone has a weapon, well except Kate who had hers knocked away.


Simon: As soon as it is clear you mean to start the exorcism, the demon opens his mouth and spews forth his black smoke which rushes away, leaving a gasping man on the floor, miraculously still alive, albeit weak and trembling. It is rare for a meatsuit (as the demons call it) to be left in such good condition that they are able to survive once the demon exits.

Penny: Fortunately Juliet is quick to obey and Lily looks relieved, giving you a grateful nod. Your hits are incredibly precise and though he barely manages to dodge the worst of one, it still hits him squarely and as he lunges at you and misses you finish with the blow to his face. He is so weakened by all he has been through he quickly decides to quit the room, or at least try to. His retreat gives you another chance to attack.

Meanwhile Lily has recovered and is rushing to Jo's side to help her and Ian slips out to try to follow those who are running. Juliet has a demon woman's leg in her jaws and most of the demons are trying to leave, even Kate's now that he's seen the dire straits he is in.

Simon knelt in front of the man, "Are you alright? I am a priest, I have just witnessed the demon leaving you. Tell me what you remember."

Growling, Josephine grabbed a table-leg nearby, and swung with all of her might at her attacker. She'd teach this demon a thing or two about bar-fights!

13 attack roll. Or not, haha

Still, its about sending a message!

Dodging the blow, she struck the demon again, but the coward seized the opportunity to flee. Blast! The demon still had some fight, and some life, left in him. Taking a moment to gauge the situation in the bedroom was under control Penny ran out after it and Ian, intending to finish the job. She had to thin their number while she had the chance, and eliminate this one with its great psychokinetic power; a demon slain today was a demon avoided tonight. Furthermore, after the thumping she'd taken from it, she had to get her own back, to make them fear her.

Hurrying down the dizzying winding stairs, she emerged in the hall, where the demons scurried away like the vermin they were. Sighting the back of her chosen demon, Penny spared a moment to aim her pistol, leading his motion, before squeezing off a shot.


OOC: Sadly, I can't make another AoO against the demon as he flees. So Penny will pursue and shoot it.
Dodge: +1 dodge Defense vs that demon
Defensive Martial Arts: +1 dodge Defense vs melee attacks

Point Blank Shot: +1 attack, +1 damage within 30 feet, I assume.
Attack 20, damage 6 @ that demon
19:08, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20 using 1d20+11. attack - pistol, PBS+1, EW.
19:08, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 2d4+2. damage - pistol, PBS +1.

Jo: Unfortunately you miss and the demon flings you backward as it starts to run, hurling you across the room with an unseen power. ooc: Roll reflex.

Penny: Your shot hits true and hits him squarely in the back. He goes down instantly though should you examine him he is only unconscious, not dead yet. Something you could easily remedy now that he is out. In the meantime Juliet follows the remaining few demons out and you can hear her growls and barks echo in the halls. So much for sneaking. You will also note that Simon is in the hall, talking to a bewildered and weakened man.

Simon: The man listens with a look of hope upon hearing you are a priest. Priest? Please father, do not judge me, I had no control! I couldn't stop him! he shudders in memory. I don't know how long I've been taken, but I think it's been months. I've been here, keeping guard mostly. Still, sometimes I would go to down and...but I wasn't in control I tell you! he begins to sob.

Simon was gentle, "I understand, but you must still confess."

Crap. Failed

Flying across the room from an unseen power, Josephine gasped in pain as her back struck the wall, and she had the wind knocked out of her. After a split-second of gasping, she rolled to her stomach, lifting herself with her hands,

"I'm going to say its last call for him..." she mumbled to herself, holding her ribs. Seeing that the demon was leaving, Josephine stayed in place, slowly standing, not wanting another shot like that, as it could potentially take her out if she wasn't careful.

Kate lunged for her lost gun and once it's retrieved will move out into the hall. Things seemed mostly under control so she followed after Penny.

Seeing the demon shot down, and feeling grimly satisfied at her victory, Penny turned and hurried back up the stairs to the tower bedroom. They could exorcise or purge the fallen demons later, but it sounded very much like things were not fully in hand back in the tower. She was glad to see Kate safe and well on the way, saying to her 'Let's get Jo and Lily, then find the baby. Have you seen Castiel?'

On the way, she took a shot at the demon that had been assaulting Josephine.


OOC: Returning to the tower bedroom, shoot at the demon that was attacking Jo.

Point Blank Shot: +1 attack, +1 damage
Precise Shot: no -4 penalty on ranged attacks into melee

Attack 12, damage 6
19:51, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 12 using 1d20+9.  attack - pistol, PBS+1.
19:52, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 2d4+2.  damage - pistol, PBS +1.

ooc: Sorry, I forgot to mention Lily and Cas. Cas will have gone after the others with Ian and once she's sure Jo is alright, Lily will likely do the same unless you are inclined to need her.

Simon: The man shakily confesses to having robbed and murdered a few folks outside of town whilst under the demon's control. Mostly simple folk no one would miss. He seems very broken up about it too.

Penny/Kate/Jo: Penny's shot misses and the demon continues his escape, hopefully to be caught by the rest of your group as they reach the bottom of the stairs. You can hear Juliet still chasing her quarry from below.

Suddenly you all hear a man's voice and as you look up Belial is standing by the door, having suddenly appeared. Jo, you have no idea who he is, just a non-descript looking man in his forties. You won't find the baby. he says with an amused look. Though it is lovely to see you again Penny. his grin widens.

Simon gives him the blessing of redemption and tells him, "If it were me, I would go and re-devote my life to Christ. Go to the Church and pray. Live for Him." He lets the man leave and goes to look for the others.

Glancing at Belial, and then back towards Penny, Josephine raised an eyebrow, and gestured, standing up,

"Who is this idiot?" she asked, obviously unimpressed, "Can I punch him too?" she asked, and although she didn't feel impressed by the new man's presence, she knew better than running forward with fists up without asking for guidance first.

Her face paling in horror and shock, Penny looked towards the door and that familiar, hated voice. No! Swallowing deeply, she steeled herself for this encounter with her most dreadful foe, though her heart was beating fast for a fight, and her senses were taking in all information. 'You may, but I don't think you can.' she answered Josephine quietly, somehow finding a moment to correct her grammar. 'Jo, this is Belial, Prince of Darkness. Belial, this is Jo. And I believe you've already met Kate.' she handled introductions, ever polite and courteous, though it was through almost gritted teeth. She was stealing time to think, desperately, on how to escape this fiend. Step 1, keep him talking, until the others returned.

'The pleasure is all yours, I'm sure, Mister Belial... It seems we have much to talk about. Shall we relocate to the drawing room, and discuss this over tea and scones?'

Swallowing, despite her attempt to appear brave, Josephine's face visibly paled at Penny's description of him.

Prince of Evil? she thought inwardly, swallowing uncomfortably again. Did she just call Satan "an idiot"?!

Nearly cursing at herself, Josephine instead recognized a threat bigger than herself, and shut her mouth. It was the best thing she could do here, instead of digging a deeper grave... or tunnel to hell, as it may be.

Kate kept her gun trained on Belial ready to pull the trigger. She knew that firing would only anger and risk his wrath but the temptation was almost irresistible. She glared icily at the Prince of Darkness while Penny made her introductions. "Where is she?" Three simple words and it was clear she didn't intend to go anywhere without an answer.

ooc: I skimmed through a few things, I don't believe that Simon has actually met Belial correct?

Simon: You head back upstairs after the man thanks you and leaves hastily. You've already seen Lily, Ian and Cas race after the other demons but to your surprise as you approach the tower there is a man standing in the doorway with sandy blond hair and a smug look on his face. Should you go closer you'll see Kate, Penny and Jo, all looking quite upset.

Jo/Kate/Penny: Belial listens to Penny's request of tea and scones with amusement. Yes, I always prefer civilized communication when possible. he nods with a smirk. At Kate's request he smiles charmingly, well, if he weren't one of the most powerful demons in existence. She's been taken elsewhere my dear, though you can assure she's well looked after. As you can see she turns out perfectly well he gestures to the current Penny with a hand. Now, won't you two and your charming hellcat here join me? Or would you rather make a pitiful attempt at attacking me and embarrass yourselves? It is clear he is using the term hellcat to refer to Jo and he seems to think her insulting him is funny.

Simon decides this is not the time for his interference and finds a corner to hide behind.

Nominating Blond man as target for Shadow Hunter bonus.

09:31, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 21 using 1d20+3.  Hide.

Penny touched Kate on the shoulder, trying to reassure her friend, her mother. 'The hellcat has other uses.' Stiffly, wound as tight as a steel spring, Penny moved to face Jo. She stood close, her face drawn and pale with fear and loathing of Belial the Unworthy. 'Jo, please, go to the kitchen and fetch the makings for tea, and scones or biscuits. She paused.  'Down the hall, turn left, up the stairs, second right, down again, third left and no further, and you'll find the kitchens.' That should get Jo out of the way. No one deserved to encounter such a monster, not least a rookie hunter.

She turned back to the object of her nightmares, and spoke in a voice cracking like ice. 'Now, while the maid prepares refreshments, let us retire to the drawing room.' Manners, courtesy, protocol, all these things could be used as a shield. One could get bogged down in such details as easily as in the mires on the moor outside.

Penny led her hated guest out into the hall and to the drawing room, a dark brown affair over-decorated with Darkmoor history. The head of a great stag glared down upon with glass eyes, seemingly resentful of its fate. Penny perched herself on a certain chair, gestured Kate to sit near her, then directed Belial to another. She was playing hostess here. More importantly, this was her house, her land, and she was in charge here, even over the Prince of Darkness. She had to tell herself that, to act it out, to maintain some control. 'I would have to check the family records to find the last time we had a prince as guest in this house, but I'm afraid I cannot say we are honoured. Let us get straight to business. I believe it is time for you to explain yourself, sir.'
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Tue 15 Dec 2015.

"But... I...!" as Penny continued, Josephine's eyes, filled with hatred, flicked towards Belial,

"Fine. I'll be back in a minute. Save the punching of him in the face for when I get back!" she spit, turning in a huff, and storming out, grabbing Simon on the way by the shoulder, and tugging him along (Assuming he allows her to, of course).

Once out of reach, she whispers to him (if he followed),

"They want me making biscuits with something called strich-ine, or something similar? Wanted you to bless the tea as well. Can you do that?" she asked, raising an eyebrow towards him.

Simon's eyes went large, "They want you to poison the food?" He turned  back for a moment and then continued with Josephine toward the kitchen. "I can bless the water you make the tea with, turning it into holy water, which I gather is what they want."

Raising her eyebrows, Josephine's eyes immediately turned with her lips into a smile,

"They do? Excellent!" she said, glad to do exactly that for them, "See? I knew Penny had a plan!" she said, her pace quickening now that she realized she hadn't just been thrown to the side for no good reason.

With that, she took off into the kitchen with the Father, ready to go make some food!

Penny/Kate: Belial sits with grace, the corners of his lips twitching in amusement. You know I always did prefer this age to the others I've encountered. People were so well mannered back then don't you agree Kate? He says her name with a smile, sounding as though she were an old friend other than the means to his freedom, but then he did presumably see her quite often during the last nine months. Now, what is there to explain that you don't already know? I've kept Kate in the best of care during her pregnancy and the baby even more so. You should be thanking me if anything. I even saw to it you grew up in a fine house like this one. On top of all this I have not killed your friends in spite of the havoc they are wreaking on this place. The many you call father is most displeased about that I'm sure he gives a little smirk. I have been the soul of generosity my dear. As I said, you should be thanking me.

Jo/Simon: ooc: I'll let you guys take a 20 on preparations. Since Jo works at a bar I'm sure she's handled food before too, so I'll give you that too :) While I'm thinking of it though, are you going to poison all of them or just one portion for Belial? I should probably know that before I move on. Lol, I keep thinking of Kronk in the Emperor's New Groove when he was serving the poison. Hilarious scene!

Simon nodded, "Strychnine is rat poison. It might be easier to dissolve in the tea. Blessing the water will take less time than boiling the kettle. Let me suggest scones, easier to make and we are in Britain after all." Then he shrugged, "My parents are bakers."

He thought about it, "Strychnine has a distinct smell, we need to mask it but not overtly so." He continued after a short pause, "Also we should be careful and only poison the one cup. Perhaps separate trays, serving the demon as a show of respect?"

"Alright, I don't mind, whatever we gotta do. Your call, Father." she said in reply, nodding. She'd prepared food, and certainly drinks, her entire life. Covering up the smell wouldn't even be slightly difficult for her. In fact, she delighted in doing exactly that.

"So, after he start dying, I get to punch him first. Deal?" she teased the preacher, knowing he'd probably be uncomfortable with her words. She hoped he'd understand it was just banter to pass the time as they cooked.

Kate followed Penny to the drawing room and though she kept her weapon in hand she does lower it. Clearly Penny had something in mind and attacking Belial outright was not a good idea. She'd already tried a few times during her captivity and it hadn't ended well. Now without the baby protecting her it would be a death wish.

His words were all to familiar to Kate. Many time's he'd suggested he'd been doing her a favor. And to that she responded in her usual way of crossing her arms and glaring silently. If looks could kill he would be drawing his last breath.

If a look could be said to shoot daggers, then Penny might have slain Belial outright with the force of her cold anger and hatred. 'I should thank you for growing up in a cold and loveless household? For the vile use and captivity of my friend? For stealing a child from her mother? Generosity had nothing to do with it. You sought only to bring forward the union of the two accursed bloodlines of Blaeden and Darkmoor, the forging of the key to your cage... I must say, you seem to have remarkable liberties for one supposedly bound within the Pit. It's as if you hardly need a key at all.' Penny probed. 'So what, exactly, do you need me for?'

Smiling Simon returned the quip, "Step into it, use your back and turn your hips. That is where the power comes from."

Kate/Penny: Belial seems unconcerned with Penny's accusations, merely smirking. Yes well, children never do appreciate what they have. Perhaps one day you will realize how well you had it he shrugs. As for my powers, this meatsuit I am possessing has made things considerably easier, but only a shadow of myself is free from the pit. Once you release me properly then I will obtain an actual body, flesh and blood of my own, not some borrowed puppet. his eyes gleam at the thought. Even Lucifer never will have that. Unfortunately you will be obliterated in the process and your flesh will become one of many sacrificed for my own but don't dwell on that my dear he chuckles.

Simon/Jo: As you finish up preparations Ian bursts in, gun drawn and then looks relieved upon seeing you. He looks absolutely awful, covered in blood and limping badly but he is upright at least. There you are! It's a nightmare out there! Every demon in this bloody place is after us! And you're making TEA?! he gasps.

Opening her mouth in a teasing smile, Josephine responded to Simon,

"Ooh, I like the little edge you bring, Father! Very tasteful!" she teased back, laughing at their little quips. So far everybody she'd met had turned out super nice, and she was really enjoying their company so far.

Hearing Ian burst in, Jo nearly dropped the tray with food and drinks, and only caught it by sheer luck, and a quick hand,

"Ian! Goodness, we're speaking with..." after a split second of explaining, she realized that it was ridiculous, "Well, now, we're umm, sort of having tea with a prince of hell or something like that." she swallowed, looking guilty as if she herself was behind it all or something equally silly.

Shaking his head he said, "It was penny's idea." As if that was all the explanation needed.

'I won't.' Penny answered curtly. This was interesting: was it the possessed victim himself that enabled Belial to have such liberty, or did Belial's unintended freedom merely grant him the power to seize the poor unfortunate's body? Would destroying the body then send him back to Hell? And if Belial were to have a body of his own, could he be killed outright? In any case, she would be in no position to make use of the fact, but her allies might. She gestured vaguely towards Belial's form. 'So, who is this unfortunate? Should I be welcoming him to tea too? And why, if I may ask, is his flesh not sufficient?' And what is your obsession with flesh? she wondered, scrutinising the demon prince, in appearance, manner, and reactions.


OOC: Sherlock Scan @ Belial: Investigate 20, Sense Motive 24, Spot 26
15:21, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20,24,26 using d20+17,d20+8,d20+9. Sherlock Scan: investigate, sense motive, spot.

Penny/Kate: Belial chuckles. Oh I wouldn't be too concerned with him. He's a member of the Blaeden family, I need someone of Blaeden or Darkmoor blood in order to survive outside my prison. Hence you shall come in quite useful my dear, but you've some time left until I'm ready for you. In the meantime I think I've been quite magnanimous. I've given you quite a free reign to this point. I'm even willing to let you walk out of here right now, companions and all. I may as well let you enjoy your last few months of life.
Jo/Simon: Ian listens, eyes bulging. What!? At a time like this!? Does she know her bloody hell hound is eyeing Lily like she's a piece of mutton? Well, if I could see the bloody thing that is! And Lily is about to lose control and Cas is making a huge mess and all these wretched demons are making an even bigger one! If it's tea that she wants get it to her on the double! Tell her to control her hound while she's at it! he snaps. See if she can't get Belial to call off his men too. If she's having ruddy tea with him they  must at least be pretending to be civil. It's worth a try. Do you think she needs help? Because we could bring the whole party in to her if you like. Devil dog and all.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:29, Thu 17 Dec 2015.

Simon smirked, "You don't understand. We are making this tea with holy water and strychnine. It is a surprise for our demon friend."

Ian blinks, startled, and then a smirk crosses his bruised face. Well I sure hope it works! It will either do its job or he will be mighty riled by the time she's done with him. Maybe it's you all who need the help after all...

'Indeed?' Penny raised an eyebrow, and commented flatly 'How kind... Well, perhaps when the tea arrives, you allow me a moment to contact my allies and, ah, call off the dogs, at it were?' She could still hear the howls, and hoped Juliet was playing merry hell with the demons – the hounds so did love to tear apart their oppressors. If her companions had the fiends on the run and were slaughtering them, then Penny was content to let them, so as to thin their numbers and scatter them. Still, she hoped they were yet safe and well.

She noted the growing wear and exhaustion in Belial's Blaeden body, in comparison to when they'd first met, some ten or more subjective months ago for him, at least. Though he was well accustomed to the body, there was a pronounced lean to the right, and a tiredness in the face and eyes. He was losing control, the body decaying, but slowly. He was confident in his posture, though, a confidence borne of arrogance. 'I take it that you mean to claim me as a host, is that it? Well, you will find me ill-fitting, I assure you.'
This message was last edited by the player at 23:48, Thu 17 Dec 2015.

Trying to follow Ian's words about the hell hound, problems, and the bad stuff going on, Josephine realized that this was one of those situations, like in the bar, where it was better to look pretty and be very enthusiastic, rather than contributing anything herself,

She did exactly that, just batting her eyelashes at both of the men until they told her to get a move on, as she was quite excited about holy-poisoning a devil!

Penny/Kate: At Penny's request he gives a nod. Of course, of course, though if you make too much trouble for me you can consider your friends lives forfeit. I don't have to be this generous you know. As for you being my host, no, I'm afraid a woman's body does not suit my particular tastes. My flesh must come from either a Blaeden or Darkmoor and it will take a lot of it to create my body. You will simply be the sealing agent, binding the two bloodlines together and solidifying my new form. There won't be anything left of you, but no one would recognize your body once it has become part of mine. Don't trouble yourself there. He sounds as though he's half amused and half reassuring you at the same time.

ooc: Momentarily tea will arrive and you can react accordingly to that when the time comes in case I'm not available to post.

Jo/Simon: By now the tea is done and if Simon wishes he may accompany Jo to deliver it, or he can hang back with Ian.

Simon has no choice. Now that Josephine knows that there is a demon/devil in the other room, he doesn't exactly have much of a choice in following her back or not :P

Belial's plot was stranger and more grotesque than Penny had anticipated, and this gave her rather less options for evading. Shifting uncomfortably, disturbed to her heart and soul, Penny tried to comment in a casual manner 'I believe I've heard this before – Shelley's Frankenstein. And exactly how many bodies do you need? Would you be a Frankenstein's Monster, some ghastly homunculus, a freak-show exhibit? I really do not see the appeal.' She could hear Jo approaching with the poisoned tea; when she arrived, she could work what exactly she had planned. For now, if she could draw out more information, get Belial to reveal what he intended, then they might work out more of his scheme.

Belial chuckles. No. Nothing so simplistic as that. The flesh will be transformed perfectly. My new body will be flawless. A pity you won't be around to see it. By now Jo and Simon (unless vehemently against the idea) arrive with the tea. It looks surprisingly nice considering the rush but then Jo does work in a bar and you realize likely arranges food quite often. Belial glances at the pair with an unworried smirk and then away as though they aren't worth a second look.

'Ah, but I suppose you need me alive until that time, however?' Penny inquired, probing for some clue as to what Belial needed, and how she might foil it. 'I've noticed your demons trying not to kill me, though they are pushing their luck in trying to hurt me, I must say. I advise you order them simply to flee. After all, accidents will happen. My premature death would be quite inconvenient, wouldn't it?' Penny pushed, feeling emboldened, a cocky air overcoming her fear. She rubbed her shoulder and the bruises received from being hurled into the bookshelf, quite meaningfully.  Her importance to Belial's shocking scheme gave her some degree of safety, one she might exploit.

She noticed Jo arrive with the tea-set. 'Ah, excellent. One must always have tea, no matter the circumstance. Hold a moment.' She rose, approaching her allies, announcing 'Mister Belial has promised safe passage for all of us away from here at the conclusion of our meeting. I must, ah, call off the dogs. Where are the others?' For those who were starting to know her well, Penny was putting on her slightly larger-than-life, excessively courteous air to mask her discomfort and fear. She certainly wasn't happy to be meeting Belial, but she was trying to use this moment. For what, however, she wasn't yet certain.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:40, Wed 06 Jan 2016.

Belial makes a face at your words. Yes, I'm afraid some of my subjects are a bit...hasty. I do need you as unspoiled as possible but I cannot control the passions of underlings. Your safety would be more guaranteed if you stopped trying to interfere my dear he informs you matter of factly. That said, I suppose I have ways of dealing with the situation if you are ever harmed to excess. I would just prefer not to, so don't think yourself safe if you try to use death to escape me. I have connections you know he chuckles.

At your questions of the others he waits patiently for Jo or Simon to answer, ever the polite host.

'Oh, so do I,' Penny promised, and there came an answering howl from the moor. So, suicide was not necessarily an escape, but she might get away with having her corpse burned to ashes and her soul hidden far away from his reach. Blood and flesh were Belial's interest, hopefully he did not desire her soul too.

ooc: If Simon wants to bow out and stay in the kitchen with Ian that's fine with me, though you can always roll a listen check to see how much you overhear. Otherwise you can join Jo, I care not a whit what you decide :) I suppose the issue of Simon being absent for the holidays is moot considering how friggin long I've taken to post. Sorry again guys!

Belial smirks at Penny's words, not in the least bit intimidated. He glances at the tea and then back at Jo. It would be rude not to offer you refreshment as well young lady. Won't you have a cup? he arches an eyebrow at Jo. I am sure there is enough for everyone.

Meanwhile in the distance you hear a woman's scream though it sounds animalistic, angry and panicked rather than the typical damsel in distress. You're willing to bet it's Lily.

"I'm not a coward. I prefer a real drink." Jo said in reply, knowing that he was testing, but also knowing that if she was smooth enough, she'd be able to insult him and keep herself out of it.

Calling his bravery/masculinity into question worked on others, why not a devil or whatever he was?

Blast! If Juliet was devouring Lily, she'd never hear the end of it! Daring to risk leaving Jo and Kate alone with Belial, however briefly, Penny quickly hurried to the nearest window, throwing it open. She leaned out, trying to spy her companions over the manor and meandering estate. Spotting the invisible hellhound was a more difficult matter. She called out a command to bring the hellhound to heel, and called for her friends to return. She hoped Castiel, Ian, Lily, Simon would safely regroup and return. She could not do this without them.

Returning to the drawing room, Penny faced Belial. 'There, I have called off my forces. I expect you shall follow suit?'

Seeing the tea set, it wasn't hard to determine that the teacup on a separate tray was the poisoned chalice for Belial. Penny was mildly annoyed; it was rather obvious. 'Tea is a real drink, Miss Hartley. Now, please, serve us.'

Regarding the object of her hatred, Penny continued 'Now I shall present our own demands. First, you will give us the baby.' Penny's tone admitted no doubt, no fear, only absolute insistence and certainty.


OOC: Calling off Juliet:
17:27, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 23 using 1d20+6. concentration.

Simon heard what had to be Lily screaming and decided that was where he needed to be. He went looking for beloved Lily.

Belial seems amused by Jo's snide remark and gives a chuckle. Indeed, I am generally prefer stronger fare myself, however when in Rome as they say... he gives a polite nod to Penny. Besides, the Darkmoor's have impeccable taste, I'm sure even your picky tongue would appreciate it. However, never let it be said I was forceful. he shrugs. ooc: Let me know Jo, if and when you officially 'serve' the tea.

Penny, you unfortunately don't spy anyone out the window though you do sense that Juliet has heard you and is on her way. In response to your request Belial simply snaps his fingers and gives you a level look. You're not sure what this has accomplished but you have a feeling he has kept his side of things. Upon hearing your demands he actually laughs. The baby? Out of the question. I've already had to manipulate the timeline as it is. You would destroy the world in your stupidity woman. Besides, she is far from here at the moment. You may as well cut your losses and leave while I still feel like letting you. That could change you know he adds with an arched brow.

Simon: Ian also hears Lily and you both rush down the corridor in search of her. You note that the halls seem to have periodic bodies strewn about as though exploded by something from the inside. Meanwhile you catch sight of Lily after a minute or so, seated on a couch with Castiel at her side, bleeding heavily and looking furious. He is bent next to her, examining her wounds. You hear a snippet of, I don't know who I'm going to kill first, the dog or Penny!!

Simon stopped short seeing Lily's sad condition. "What has happened here?"

I'll tell you! she snaps, starting to get up but then groaning and slumping back again. You can see her eyes are smokey gray, indicating her other half has taken control. That blasted hell hound is what! Penny just lets the cursed thing loose and forgets that she has it out for me! Well, us actually she nods to Cas who you note is also looking on the tattered side though less so than Lily. We could kill it of course but she has come in handy for Penny before and I have a feeling it wouldn't go over well. This is the last time though I tell you! I'm done being chewed on! she fumes. What about you? Did you notice the demons? They just exploded! Amusingly, despite the fact that the other side of the woman is in control she clearly has some temperaments that are identical to the Lily you know. Try as she does to hide it, they have more in common than she would like to admit.

Simon nodded, "I will have a word with our detective companion. How did the demons come to explode?"

Josephine 'hmmphd' to herself, and immediately served the tea to everybody. While she was annoyed at Penny's attitude, she knew that her sticking to the story was important, so she did her part: ever the trooper for the team.

She even threw in a tiny little curtsy with the hand-outs, playing the role of the 'serving wench' the best she could, given the circumstances.

'You mean you have already perverted the timeline horrendously. And you will destroy the world in your own stupidity too. After all, we have both us seen the future, and it is presently a future without you in it. So what does one more change matter? My own experiments show that temporal duplication would be the most likely outcome of such a removal, and it behoves you as well to have a second queen on the board, so to speak.' Penny explained, trying to make Belial doubt the effectiveness of his perverting of history. It was all she had, right now. Most of all, she had to try to get the baby back for Kate; if she did not at least try, if she gave up on the child, she could never rest easily. She went on teasingly 'So much could still happen. Perhaps I will be adopted out, or stolen away by the washerwoman, and infant mortality rates are so tragic... Besides, you can hardly hide me in my own past. Wherever you place me, I will know.'

She waited for Jo to pour the tea, regretting that she'd not been able to choose the tea and supervise the preparation herself. These Americans had no art for it. She was also aggrieved to use the good family china on the Prince of Darkness. 'Here, I'll be mother.' Penny seized the teapot and set about performing a note-perfect traditional English tea ceremony. 'Milk?' Penny had milk herself, and Belial would have the rat poison, of course. After the milk, she poured the tea into each teacup, using the tea strainer. 'Sugar, anyone? One lump or two?' With the tea finished, Penny served the teacups on their saucers, mindful of which was which, passing the poisoned cup to Belial.


OOC: Try to persuade/confuse Belial: Bluff 11, didn't think so.
20:22, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 11 using 1d20+5. bluff.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be_mother
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...om#British_style_tea

ooc: Dang tea was a complicated affair! I go to a little tea place run by this wonderful woman who makes everything herself. I suppose it's a smidge americanized but it's the BEST! She has about thirty types of tea or hot cocoa too. Everyone gets their own individual pot in different designs with really delicate cups and saucers and tiny spoons, etc. Then she has a sorbet to begin then an 8 finger sandwich course with soup and each sandwich is different and exotic and every time you go everything is different so she's always coming up with new flavors. Then, after your sandwich course you get a dessert course with 4-5 mini desserts, all different and complex and of course handmade. Scones fresh from the over with cream or flavored cinnamon butters, etc, and of course the scones are always different too. Last time I had an apple cinnamon scone, Bavarian cream mini tartlett with phyllo dough, chocolate fudge with mint fudge on top, and something else I forget. Gosh I love that place. And everything is decorated in vintage art deco and Victorian designs. Sorry, you got me talking about food. Food is kind of my life.
http://s3-media4.fl.yelpcdn.co...FPkGK09S8XncwQ/o.jpg

Penny/Kate/Jo: You can argue until you're blue in the face my dear, it will not change anything. Firstly, as you say it is presently a future without me. That will change I assure you. Second, your duplication may not work so well as you think. Time travel is more complex then you can possibly fathom. And third, I can easily remedy your knowledge of your past. I could erase your memory right here. It would certainly make things simpler don't you agree? Though your knowledge doesn't concern me. I've guards enough to prevent you from any success. He pauses then to take his tea and the tense moment interrupts conversation. With completely knowing eyes he looks straight at you unblinkingly as he drains the cup and puts it down on the chair next to him. Still meeting your gaze he barely winces and then with a sigh shakes his head. Admittedly that does sting a bit. Were I any less than I am I would be in quite some discomfort. As it is though, I did warn you not to be foolish. Now you pay the price. He turns to Jo with a small smile, almost apologetic. I am sorry for this my dear. You are so pretty. But I need the other two unspoiled if possible, and well...you did make the tea. Don't worry, I'll leave your lovely face alone. With that he suddenly raises a finger and Jo is lifted from the air, hovering a foot from the ground. Then, horribly her limbs snap and fracture as though being pulled and pushed by unseen hands. Her shoulders are dislocated, her elbows crack, her knees fracture until she looks like a limp marionette that has been battered and destroyed. Her feet turn the wrong way, all in a terrible cacophony of broken bones. The pain is incredible, though thus far she seems to be alive, if shock doesn't overtake her. He lets her drop to the floor in a literal broken heap. He turns to Penny, showing his true coldness for the first time, his face a blank mask of callousness and cruelty. It sends a shiver down your spine. I have given you a generous offer. Leave now and don't make trouble and I will let your companions live. I don't think you realize just how easy it would be for me to do otherwise. This is your last chance.

Simon: Lily shakes her head. I don't know. It just suddenly happened. Castiel nods at this. I suspect it was Belial. Only he would have that kind of power. We need to find him now. Do you know where he is? There is a frantic urgency in his voice.

Simon jerked a thumb and with a wry grin said, "Having tea with Penny. The tea is poisoned. I don't know if it will work, but I figured my presence would just make that less likely. What do you think?"

Gasping for breath as she is suddenly, and violently, tossed to the floor, Josephine's sudden screams of agony can be heard echoing all down the halls. She writhes in place on the floor, unable to move at all more than a pained quiver, her entirety of self simply overcome with the sudden and unexpected destruction of her entire body.

"P..pl..." she tries to sob out, but she can't even form words, lying there in agony.

14 rolled, I do believe (though not sure what mods to add
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Thu 07 Jan 2016.

'NO!' Penny screamed, leaping to her feet as Belial turned on Jo, seizing her. Her heart, her breath, long-stopped during the tense moment of the tea, thudded back into frantic motion, pounding against her ribs with terror. Then stopped again at what she witnessed. 'No, stop, please, it was my idea! I served it! Hurt me if you must!' she pleaded, but there was no reasoning or pleading with such a fiend. Desperate, she considered her weapons – one bullet in her gun, a teapot of boiling water – but there was nothing that could hurt, let alone stop, such a monster, nothing that would't provoke him to even worse retaliations. She could do nothing but stare in horror as Belial inflicted monstrous cruelties upon poor Jo, her own body aching in sympathy. And worst, she felt so completely responsible, for putting the girl up to it, her cunning defeated in the face of such brute force.

When it was over, at last, Penny swiftly crossed the floor to tend to Jo. She had no more words for Belial, no possible response to that. Her brief glance at him showed eyes red with tears and grey with horror, and a contempt for the creature that became a steely gleam of defiance, a promise of justice and of revenge. She scooped her hands under Jo's broken, shattered body, lifted her up with not a care for the weight, and waited for Kate to accompany her out.

Simon: Before they can answer you hear terrible screams coming from down the hall, your guess is where you just left. Considering they are feminine, things with Belial must not have gone well. Immediately Ian, Lily and Cas rush towards the scene. Assuming you follow you will soon come upon the rest of them. Jo is looking horribly mangled, all her joints sticking at unnatural angles and swelling badly. It is as though someone's broken all of her limbs and then some. Penny has lifted her and is looking incredibly upset.

Penny/Kate/Jo: Jo barely is conscious, which is unfortunate as the torture would at least be spared had she passed out. Clearly in shock, the poor woman shakes and whimpers in Penny's arms. Despite her light weight she is heavy and it will be an effort to carry her long. I know it was your idea he says flatly. Let this be a lesson for you. Defiance will only cost you those you care about. You wonder why I am so generous as to let you all leave intact? Because every one of these people is a tool I can use to keep you in order. Remember that. With that he turns and walks away. By now the others have rushed upon the scene and Lily, seeing Belial leaving and Jo's mangled body, starts to rush at the man but Castiel firmly yanks her back at which point they grapple a bit. Her eyes are smoky gray and she looks completely enraged. He's too strong! Cas growls.

Entering the room behind the others he sees Jo and immediately dropped down beside her and tried to aid her.

09:21, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 23 using 1d20+10.  Treat Injury.

'No, Lily.' Penny murmured, as pale as a ghost with shock and dismay. 'Please,' she begged to Simon and Castiel, 'Help her.'

Kate gasped in horror. Seeing Jo crumpled in a broken heap brought a nausiating wave of guilt. She'd spent enough time with Belial to know the plan probably wasn't going to work and yet her own selfish desire to find the baby had stopped her from objecting. Now Jo was paying the price.

"I would like a word in private," she demanded as Belial turned to leave. "I will meet you out front," she said to the others. Her voice was firm and unafraid despite the recent events.  If allowed she will follow Belial out of the room.

Simon is able to stabilize Jo and treats her shock though it will take some doing to set her limbs again. Castiel nods at the request to heal her and places two fingers on her forehead, concentrating. He suddenly staggers though, nearly passing out himself and you realize he is more wounded than you realized, the effort draining what was left of his energy. Swearing, Lily grips him by the arm and hoists him upright easily for she is still the nephilim for the moment. Forgive me, healing is not something I've been able to figure out yet she sighs at her friend with an apologetic look. Perhaps Castiel could teach me one day.

At Kate's demand of an audience with Belial he smirks but allows her to follow, both of them quitting the room, the door closing behind them. ooc: While they are doing that, feel free to roll searches for anything you can set Jo's bones with.

With the healing kicking in, a little tiny bit of the edge was taken off, but Jo was honestly not sure if it was better than just dying off, and ending the horrific feelings she had gone through. Still, she was still herself, even if in horrific pain...

"I think..." she coughed out painfully, struggling to speak, "...I think I got him." she managed to squeak out, a weak laugh following that. Then, she broke into a pained cough, and winced, scrunching her eyes shut with the additional pain she felt.

And with that last attempt at a joke, her energy was spent, and she just did her best to be mentally 'somewhere else', so she wouldn't feel the agony. Theoretically that was a good idea, but it wasn't working quite so well in practice...

First the Priest made a search for splints in the room. If he must he will take a chair apart to do this.

09:05, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Search for Splint.

Simon was ill prepared for healing a comrade. He knelt beside Josephine, taking his rosary in hand, "Oh Father God, I beseech Thee for the knowledge to heal this woman, Your child. Let Your power pass through me and let You receive all the Glory and Honor. In Your Son Jesus' name..."

He put his hands on her head, having faith that God would answer his prayer.

Rules say must be 4th level to switch out spells - boooo! However you can get spells by inspiration, which I am hoping for here.

Penny started in alarm as Kate stepped out with Belial, but it was too late to react and stop her. Penny was so thoroughly defeated there was little she could do or say right now anyway.

As the weight of Jo's broken form grew too much, Penny helped her down onto a couch with Simon and Castiel's aid, since Belial was not driving them out of the house immediately after all. Producing her medical kit, she gave Jo some laudanum for the pain – laudanum, or tincture of opium, contained an impressive dose of morphine and other goodies. Unfortunately, she could do little else, given the great amount of injury. Every bone in every limb broken or fractured in many places, the joints dislocated. It was ghastly, like a victim of an inquisitor's torture chamber.

More familiar with the house, Penny easily found some serviceable splints, by taking apart a couch and pulling out the slats.


OOC:
20:14, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 31 using 1d20+13. search.
20:14, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 10 using 1d20+2. treat injury.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:00, Wed 13 Jan 2016.

ooc: I'm going to have to do a bit more research on the gaining spells by inspiration as it is a tad vague in the class description. More on that to come.

Between Simon and Penny's efforts, Jo is splinted on her major joints, which hurts immensely. She will need to be carried as straight as possible so you will have to try to fashion something in order to leave with her. In the meantime Juliet has returned, leaving bloody pawprints on the floor as the invisible hound makes her way to her master. Lily immediately glares at the beast, seemingly able to see her judging by the way her face darkens. She pats Jo comfortingly but at the same time looks ready to tear the beast apart if need be.

ooc: Concentration check from Penny for Juliet please. Sorry not much is happening, just have to hash out the spell with Simon and finish up Kate's conversation. Thanks!

PM

'The chaise longue. It's light, we can use it as a stretcher.' Penny suggested, pointing to the light, flat couch she'd already placed Jo on. 'I always wondered how it came to be in the inn. They did say it came from the big house.' she murmured absently, still in shock at what had happened.

Sensing the hellhound return, Penny relaxed a little, and called it to heel. She was reluctant to dismiss Juliet however, even if Castiel and Lily were present. She felt strangely safer and reassured with the hellhound present to protect them, still seeing the old black dog of the moor. But she did not forget that Juliet's obedience was to the forces of Hell, and she could not rely on her protection.


OOC:
19:44, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 14 using 1d20+6.  concentration.

ooc: Ok, so I had Kate's conversation with Belial in private and she's about done so I'm going to move things along to the inn soon. I figure if it's alright with everyone that Simon can heal her there just because Belial wants you out and it's considerably less demony there, though of course you're free to decide. Any final plans before leaving Penny's home? Just want to give you a shot before we progress. I'm basically ready when everyone else is.

It would be more powerful if the healing happened here.

Simon felt God's presence and he lay hands on Josephine, his palms on her head and his thumbs meeting at the bridge of her nose. He held her, letting the warmth pass through him and into her.

09:02, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 10 using 2d8+1.  CMW Healing.

Perhaps it was not enough to heal her completely, but it should handle the worse of her injuries. As the warmth faded from his fingers he sat back on his heals, "To God be the glory."

He nodded at Penny's suggestion and helped Josephine onto the chase lounge. "I have done all I can here. What she needs is a hospital, rest, and a good dose of my mother's chicken soup I think."

'Let's go back to the inn then.' Penny agreed, her words hesitant and shaken. 'She may rest there, at least.' She was too shocked, too defeated, to offer anything more. Even searching for the kidnapped child, her younger self, seemed an impossible dream right now. How could they possibly fight against Belial's monstrous power and casual cruelty? What hope did they have of stopping him?


OOC: I don't have anything, and I don't think Penny has either.

Between Ian and Simon, Jo is carried and you are able to make your way back to the inn, mostly in silence. Kate has emerged from her meeting with Belial looking upset but thankfully unscathed. Even Castiel looks uncomfortable with what has transpired, at a loss for what to say.

Eventually you make it to the inn and the plump woman looks shocked at Jo's state, though thankfully she's at least stabilized for the moment. She frets and exclaims but gives you rooms should you wish them, though she demands to know what happened. By now it is afternoon and evening is only a few hours away. Lily has also returned to her natural state, though she looks somewhat worse for the wear now that her wounds have more pull on her. She doesn't seem too bothered by them though, instead worried about her friend.

Ian has a quiet word with the innkeeper and she shows you to a private sitting room, providing you with tea and privacy at last. If desired, a cot is placed in the corner for Jo to lie on should she wish to be involved in the conversation, otherwise there is a room with a bed at her disposal. Simon's healing has helped enough along with Penny's medications that the pain is bearable but you must take care when you move not to make things worse. The nearest hospital is miles off but a doctor has been summoned and should be here within an hour or so. Ian is the first to break the silence of what to do next. Well I think we can all admit that went horribly. Any idea what our next move is?

Simon sighed heavily, "We've rescued Kate, our main objective. We have information we did not and time to plan. I think we would be best to return to our own time while we still have the opportunity."

"If that involves moving..." Jo's voice croaked out, still in horrific pain, "Then I vote against it." she said, contributing what she could.

If the choice were between "warping between dimensions" and "going to a hospital", Jo's vote was known!

As Kate returned from her meeting with Belial, Penny looked to her with concern, dreading what more might have transpired. But she would wait until Kate was ready to speak of it, trusting her. But what as, as a friend or as a mother? Did this revelation ultimately change anything about their friendship?

Making their way out of the empty, blood-spattered house, now the site of another nightmare for Penny, she was glad to be leaving again. But a deep regret remained, a sense of great defeat. Jo was so badly injured she would surely be crippled for the rest of her life, unless Castiel's divine magic could fully restore her. Kate had been a prisoner, a whole year of her life and her newborn child stolen. They'd lost the chance to get her back. And Penny's whole past had been twisted to suit Belial's ends, her fate to have her body used for Belial's sick purposes. This felt like a defeat in every way.

After returning to the inn, Penny spun a rambling tale about being accosted by thugs and ruffians, who'd badly assaulted poor Jo. It was plausible but obviously false and evasive; Penny was too shaken to even lie properly, though it was obvious something of the kind had happened.

Penny ordered the stiffest drink she could bear, the potent local cider known as scrumpy, on the theory that it might calm her taut nerves. She downed a hefty swig, then sat staring morosely at the glass. 'The roads are too long and too hard to even transport Jo to the Royal Albert Hospital in Devonport. Trekking back to the time portal on the moor will be even harder.' she agreed with Kate. 'Let us wait for the doctor, recover from our wounds, then see if Castiel might... improve your condition.' she suggested hesitantly, glancing across at Kate, and regretting it. She couldn't understand how Jo retained her spirit, after all this; Penny felt as broken in mind and soul as Jo's body.

After sipping her scrumpy again, Penny looked up at Simon. 'Until then... Will you baptise me, Father? I would like it to be at dear Saint Petroc's, while we are here.' The village chapel had always been one of her sanctuaries while growing up, and it felt appropriate that she be baptised there, here at her home and on her land. 'I doubt the demons would have bothered. I may have been ineligible for communion all this time.'


OOC: A quite appropriate failure there.
15:03, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 1d20+5. bluff.

Simon said, "Baptized?" but really just to himself. He looked at Lily, to get her permission to be alone with Penny. If given he will stand and offer his elbow to Penny.

Penny took Simon's arm as she rose – being thrown into a bookshelf a couple of times had left some aches, though not nearly as many as Jo's. But she looked across to Kate, saying 'Maybe my mother should be present as well?'

Simon now looked worried, "Penny are you sure you are alright?" He allowed his crucifix to brush against her, just in case she had been possessed while alone with Biliel.

Penny barely noticed the cold touch of the metal. 'No, I'm not sure.' she sighed wearily, pained. 'We have been used so appallingly. I can no longer be certain of anything – not my past, not my identity, not even my body. Belial has corrupted it all.'

Looking around the group, and especially at Kate, she explained, trembling with anxiety. 'You should all know what we discovered back there... I told you yesterday of the tale that, in ancient times, two patriarchs made a pact with Belial, that the child of their two bloodlines, the Blaedens and the Darkmoors, would be the living key to his prison. Belial has now finally brought them together, though not in the way I had predicted.'

'Kate it seems is distantly of the Blaedens, her husband Dalton of the Darkmoors.' She hid the delicate matter of being out of wedlock, quite normal in the future but scandalous in this day and age. Logically, Penny should not care, but logic had little to do with it. Penny had moved around the table to place a supporting hand on Kate's shoulder, gazing down at Kate's eyes for permission to go on. 'She... had a child.' she admitted hesitantly, unable to go further for now. But the pose was a classic of Victorian portraiture, of the child standing behind the seated parent.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:22, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

ooc: I'm going to let you two do your conversation, so no interruptions on my part there. However, I will post for Kate and Jo.

Lily easily gives Simon permission to be alone, looking amused by his need to ask all the time.

Meanwhile, as the pair are off discussing whatever it is they are discussing, Castiel looks at Jo's broken form regretfully. It is clear something is on his mind and as the silence eats away Ian finally breaks it. What is it!? You obviously have something on your bloody mind he takes a swig of scotch and shakes his head. Cas looks surprised that he was so transparent but gives a hesitant nod. Well....I was thinking there may be a way for me to heal enough to revive Josephine. But it would be....risky. And it would require Kate's help. he arches an eyebrow at the woman.

Kate had been silent for most of the trip to the inn. Her mind clearly on her conversation with Belial. But Penny's pause in her explanation brought her to the present and she looked back at her apologetically. "I did have a baby," she confessed taking up where Penny left off. A tear trickled down her cheek but she otherwise kept her composure. "He took her from me and plans to keep her here to be raised in this timeline." Her words sounded strange, as if someone else were saying them. "We won't be able to save the baby," the tears fell faster. "But we will save the woman she becomes." Kate's voice was firm and she reached out and clasped Penny's hand reassuringly. She would not let him get his hands on her daughter again.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:02, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

Struggling to pay attention, Jo saw Ian take a swig of scotch, and she looks longingly at it,

"S..seeing as I... I'm a..about to di..die, at l..least share?" she asked, her voice meek and pitiful as she wished for some scotch to maybe lower the pain she was feeling, just a bit.

If offered any, Jo would, of course, take full advantage, but at this point, she was just trying to keep her mind sharp, so she didn't fade away into darkness with no guarantee that she'd come out of it.

'I, I wanted to rescue her, for you. If only you could have touched her, held her again with a clear mind, if even for one last time. I'm sorry, mother. I tried, but what happened to Jo...' Eyes red and moist, Penny shuddered with grief but otherwise remained firm, endeavouring to display classic stiff-upper-lip composure. At some point, she would completely break down in tears, but in private, with onlu her new-found family. 'I'm so sorry.'

She sat beside Kate, and let her clasp her hand. She had nothing she could say, but dark thoughts simmered in her mind, about how she might deny Belial her flesh, cheat him of her life.

"It will be alright," Kate sushed Penny. Her heart ached with grief but she wouldn't burden Penny with more worries. "It just wasn't meant to be, we are together now and that's what counts." She glanced apologetically to the others in the room. There were many gaps that would need to be filled later but now wasn't the time. "What can be done to help Jo?" she looked to the others but kept hold of Penny's hand.

"Sc...scotch!" Josephine croaked out, trying her best to sound cheerful, but not at all feeling it.

Still, if they were looking for ideas....!

Penny nodded slowly, but had nothing more to say. Belial had broken her pride, her hope, her whole sense of self. It would take time for her to recover and regain her wits, if she ever did.

But she could start somewhere – at home. 'We are in Devon. Wouldn't you rather have some Plymouth Gin, or the local scrumpy cider?' she offered, indicating her own glass, which she had almost emptied. 'Or some more laudanum?'

She watched Castiel and his words with Ian, asking eventually 'Well, how can we heal Miss Hartley? Or grant you the power to heal her? Whatever you need, I will give... I know I am responsible for her condition, I just make amends.' Penny drew herself upright, trying to display her resolve.

Simon was happy to step back and let the others discuss this. He watched, waiting for when he might be needed.

Wincing at the need to speak again, Jo tried her best,

"All of... the above?" she tried hopefully, attempting to smile, but even that brought pain, so she settled for a horrific looking half-smile that didn't exactly accomplish what she'd been trying to manage.

She hoped to God she didn't have to explain that she wasn't able to serve herself the drink.

Ian looks sheepish at Jo's request, having neglected to offer it before. At Penny's suggestion of alternatives he makes a face. Never send gin to do scotch's job he pours a generous serving at which point Lily seamlessly takes it from him and helps Jo to drink. The revelation at Penny's heritage takes both of them by surprise though they understand the severity of emotions and wisely stay silent on the matter.

Meanwhile Castiel, still looking poorly, leans heavily on the table as he explains his request. You must forgive my inability. Normally I am...stronger. But as I've told Penny before, I am not completely here in my form, being split between now and the future, and therefore I am more susceptible to fatigue and pain. I will need to regenerate if I am to heal Josephine. Or...we could have Lily attempt it but that might be even more dangerous. Untrained as she is... Lily turns in confusion. What are you talking about? The angel gives her a long look and then shakes his head. Nevermind. I will attempt it, if someone is willing...I will need to touch a human's soul. It is a very sensitive procedure, if I make the slightest mistake you will die. Messily.

As promised, without hesitation, Penny offered herself. 'You may use mine – if you can still find one.' she added, her words bitter at the demonic taint. 'Belial told me death is no escape from his schemes, insinuating that if I am killed, I will be restored to life. So, my life is safest to risk at this juncture, no one else's.'

"If..." Jo struggled, in between sips of the drink Lily offered, "If you can see... see that I'm not... dying, I will wait." she said flatly.

She was in agonizing pain, but there was NO way she was about the be the reason somebody exploded, or died, or anything of that sort. She was a stubborn one, and this was one position she was not about to change, shattered bones or not.

Turning to face Penny, Jo tried to be as gentle as possible, knowing that the woman was in a horrible place emotionally,

"One mistake... not two. L..Let's keep it that way, yea?"

She then helped herself to a generous position of "drink absolutely as much as Lily will allow me to ease this god-awful pain".

Penny prepared another dose of laudanum for Jo, and carefully administered it. In Penny, Jo had encountered a woman equally as stubborn. 'I was the one who put you up to poisoning Belial. I should bear the consequences.' she said, trying to sound resolute, but feeling as fragile as fine china inside.

She went on, sounding almost calm. 'And, furthermore, if I should die and stay dead, then you must keep my body from Belial's clutches. It is the only way to foil his schemes. I will not have my flesh become the stitching in some horrific new body for him, like some Frankenstein's Monster...' she shuddered. 'Please sink my remains into the Great Grimpen Mire where none may ever find them, and have Juliet carry my soul to Avalon in the Otherworld. There I shall seek sanctuary in King Arthur's Court, before I move on up to Heaven.'

She eyed Castiel appraisingly, noting his weakness and propensity for making a mistake. 'But first we should wait until Mister Castiel is well enough to try.'

"Not a chance," Kate said firmly at Penny's offer. "We already lost one Penny today, I'm not loosing another. It will be me. Clearly as far as Kate was concerned it wasn't open for argument.

Josephine didn't say anything, staying focused on the pain killing, or rather, growing unfocused, but she was firm in her decision. Nobody was going to chance death to hurry up her healing. That was just silly in her mind. She wasn't important! She didn't come before anybody else!

She just hoped they didn't force her to punch them. She had a feeling that would hurt more than it would be worth.

Simon spoke gently, "Penny, if you are unbaptized, I suspect that will strike you from the list of possible candidates. I won't allow Lily to make such a risk while I am present. I think I am best for this anyway. Castiel, please use what you need of me."

Castiel blinks in surprise as the list of volunteers grows. You are all very brave he nods. As for Penny's soul, it would suffice even without baptism. A soul is pure energy and I only need a little of it. Now you only need choose who will do this. Cast lots if you need to, or we can abandon it altogether if you desire, though Josephine's recovery will be long. he looks over all of you wearily.

I'm for drawin straws as they say Ian nods approvingly. You can put me in the runnin too. Meanwhile Lily looks frustrated at Simon. I'm perfectly capable of taking the risk Simon. Why is it you forbid me from this but I cannot do the same to you? Do you think that's fair? Either we're both in or we're both out she folds her arms angrily.

ooc: If you go the drawing straws route then everyone involved roll a d20 and the highest number wins so to speak. A pity they didn't have rock paper scissors then ;P

Simon lifted a brow at the hot headed object of his affection, "Lily, for once will you just let me be chivalrous?"

10:11, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 2 using 1d20.  Drawing Straws or casting lots.

Weary and defeated, Penny declined to argue her case further, merely nodding her assent to the proposal to draw straws. She didn't even have the strength to argue on Lily's behalf. She found a set of cards, shuffled them thoroughly, called the order of suits, and drew her own, finding a lowly six of clubs. Fate would keep her alive for some time to come, it seemed.


OOC: I figured cards would be an easy in-universe means for drawing straws.
14:33, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 1d20.

"Let me remind you..." Josephine struggled, figuring Castiel was the weak point she could attack, "I do not agree to this... and Castiel: if you do this against my will, I will turn my back on what you know and believe, for the remainder of my life. This I promise you." she said harshly, narrowing her eyes at him.

Unfortunately, narrowing her eyes pinched her skin, and brought a wince to her face, which then brought a spasm to her neck muscles, pinched as they were, and she was wracked with pain momentarily before it subsided.

"Don't we have anything stronger to give her?" Josephine's objection was noted but ignored as Kate drew her own card. "Seven," she muttered glad at least to have drawn higher than Penny and Simon.

OOC: casting lots (or whatever it is we are doing :D) 7

Lily gives Simon a half smile and pats his cheek. You can be chivalrous by opening doors for me or something, not risking your life. The offer has not gone unappreciated though she adds with a laugh.

Hearing Jo's protests Castiel nods. Very well, it is your choice. I will not force you. If it helps though, I have done this before with success.

Lily turns to Jo with a scowl. Look you, even if you wait for your body to heal on its own you will be lame for the rest of your life, is that what you want? I trust Castiel and so should you. If you weren't already broken I'd wring your neck until you changed your mind. We all know the risks and I'm sure he wouldn't have suggested it unless he was confident he could do it. she turns to Cas suddenly. You are confident aren't you? He nods slowly. Mostly. Uh....good enough. Anyway, let us help you with this. I demand it! she finishes. With that she dramatically snatches a card off the deck, eager to see the number and then lets out a vicious curse. A TWO?! All that and I get a stupid TWO?! AAAAAAARG! she balls it up and hurls it across the room. She turns to Simon, pouting. Well at least I suppose you can be pleased now.

Ian laughs and takes his own card. A king. With a grin he holds it up for all to see. Alright missy. You've got your donor as soon as you come to your senses. I wouldn't worry about me. We Scots have hardier souls than most he winks with a grin.

Simon turned over a 10. He said a prayer for Ian.

Lily was terrifying, that much was for sure. Jo was quickly trying to think of a good retort...

...and then she promptly passed into unconsciousness with a bout of pain, from a back spasm... if it could even be called a "back" anymore.

With a sharp intake of breath, Penny was shocked to see that the highest card had been drawn by Ian. But then, there were no good candidates for what had been proposed, bar one. 'I still feel it ought to be me...' she murmured. She had considered palming a queen off as her own, but had little skill at such sleight of hand. 'And Ian, I do wish you'd stop this habit of offering up your soul. You have a good one, and should not risk it lightly.'

"I wish we could just find someone we didnt like very much..."  Kate muttered. She was relieved that it wasn't going to be Penny but was not happy that anyone should have to take the risk.

Ian gives Penny a roguish grin in response. Yes, well I only offer it up to women who deserve it. At least this time if something goes wrong I'll only die. Right Cas? he arches an unsure eyebrow at the angel who looks uncomfortable. Probably.... Ian blinks and takes another swallow of scotch.

Seeing Jo is out, Lily takes action. Alright she's not fit to make decisions anymore so I'm going to make them for her. She can take it out on me if she likes but that is that. Castiel, please do what you can and try not to kill anybody. Ian, if you are having second thoughts I will gladly take over Ian quickly holds up a hand of protest. Hey! I said I am fine with it! he scowls. Now let's get this over with shall we? he sets his drink down and rubs his hands together. Cas looks at Jo's form uncertainly, no doubt recalling her threats but Lily is having no hesitation from him, grabbing him and turning him toward Ian. The Scot looks a bit nervous but steels himself as Cas instructs him to have a seat, undo his shirt and hold perfectly still.

Looking exhausted, Castiel rolls up a sleeve, moves a chair next to Ian and with great concentration and slowness he sinks his hand into the man's bare chest, passing through it without resistance though Ian's face indicates that whatever he is doing is quite painful though he manages to keep still. A white glow emanates from where Castiel's arm is buried and after a long tense moment it spreads over the room in increasing brightness until finally Cas is able to remove his arm and Ian slumps over in his chair looking exhausted and pained.

Castiel though, looks more renewed than you've yet seen him and for a few moments his eyes flicker a brilliant glowing blue before setting back to his usual appearance. He will need to rest he states before then turning to the unconscious Jo and placing two fingers on her forehead. Her body stiffens and you hear several cracks as her bones are forced back into place, all bruising and swelling fading away until the blonde woman is simply lying peacefully as though she were never broken. Her eyelids flutter as she awakens.

Simon speaks just loud enough to b be heard. "Praise be to the Most High."

Slowly pulling herself upright, Josephine was hesitant, as she half expected to feel pain at every shift, but when she realized what had been done, and she saw Ian's limp body, her eyes flicked into a raging anger immediately, and she approached Castiel, a finger extended accusingly towards him,

"Castiel!" she said aloud, obviously not a question. When she drew closer to him, about to unleash the fury, she paused, taking him in with her gaze, flickering up and down his figure. He, as an Angel, probably had absolutely no idea what was flashing through her mind, but it gave her pause. After a split-second of hesitation, she waved her finger, and wasn't sure how to finish what she had been about to say, instead looking quite silly, standing there, absorbed in Cas's attractive aura.

"I'm still mad..." she whispered, glancing downwards, not at all sounding like she was able to hold a grudge.

'And I'm not allowed to even die, apparently. I do wish you'd reconsider.' Penny persisted, concerned for Ian's safety during this perilous rite. 'Perhaps there is something else we might try, druidic magic powered by the land...' she continued to bargain, but had nothing concrete to suggest.

Before Ian readied himself for Castiel's procedure, Penny clasped his hand, afraid she might not see him alive again. She sat and watched, her concern and fear turned to aghast astonishment at what transpired. 'My god.' she murmured, an oath as much as a prayer, and finished her scrumpy. 'My god.'

Penny ensured Ian was comfortable, placing a pillow under his head, then checked over the sleeping Josephine to see the procedure had been completely successful. Seeing her whole and well restored some small measure of hope and spirit to Penny herself. She was back fretting over Ian when Jo awoke. 'Please, don't be mad at Castiel. We all agreed to this, and you cannot say what others should not sacrifice. Rather, blame me for what happened, it was because of me you were hurt. It should have been me...'

Turning on Penny, Josephine narrowed her eyes, but she didn't say anything. Josephine knew how to hold a grudge, and she knew it didn't involve her shooting off her mouth right at the moment. Penny was arrogant. Arrogant, prideful, and thought she was better than the rest of them, evidenced by her own words. Still, it wasn't yet Jo's place to say, so she instead turned back towards Castiel, stealing another glance while she thought she could get away with it. She hadn't seen such a clean, powerful man in her lifetime at the bar, and he intrigued her quite a bit.

If you're going to be angry at anyone it should be me Lily announces, noticing Josephine's glances toward the Englishwoman. It was I who chose to move forward and I who take the responsibility. I bullied Castiel into making the attempt and I would do it again in an instant. Being a hunter is a risky business Jo. You know that by now all too well. All of us are ready to die at any moment. We would much rather do it saving a friend then at the hands of a demon. she finishes flatly.

Smiling, her practiced look, Josephine nodded her head,

"Of course, Lily." she said simply, turning away and gathering her things so she'd be ready to go, as some of them had fallen around the room. Otherwise, she kept her expression hidden, and her face elsewhere. She didn't feel like crushing the lack of logic her friends were using would be very effective at this exact moment, so she chose to bide her time instead.

Kate could understand why Josephine would be upset at the risk they had taken but she felt it would pass. Any of them would have done it for any other member of the group and she felt a certain closeness with her companions knowing that. She hoped Jo would feel the same after she had time to reflect. "What's done is done. There's no going back to change it so lets not focus on it. Jo is better and in one piece and we're all together again. Win, win in my book." Kate pushed all thoughts of her lost baby to the back of her mind and managed a faint smile.

Yes, it is wonderful to see you again Kate Lily grins. Castiel nods, looking stronger than you've ever seen him though he glances at Ian apologetically. Ian should be stable enough soon to travel. I think our business is done here. I won't be able to linger much longer anyway. Will you all be alright?

ooc: Basically I'm about ready to move on if you guys are. Let me know if there's anything else you plan to do in the past and then your plans for when you return and I will start a new chapter from there.

Simon nodded, "I would prefer safer ground. I would much prefer our own time, but I will submit to the group's decision."

He nodded to Penny, "Baptism, I have not forgotten. I will discuss the matter with you in private and if you still want, I will indeed perform the ceremony for you."

Penny squeezed Kate's hand in sympathy, surely knowing what went through her mother's mind, though she couldn't share her positive outlook. Though they were reunited, though they'd survived and completed their mission, they had still suffered a terrible loss. One was still missing – her infant self. Fate would forever keep them apart then. And now, Penny vowed, not even Hell could part them.

'I believe we shall.' she answered Castiel. 'Belial said we may leave unmolested. Though his word is worthless, it seems in his best interests to honour it. He thinks us beaten.' And Penny was, beaten and despairing, yet a small spark of defiance remained in the darkness, an ember that might yet be rekindled, given some light.

Penny looked to Father Simon. 'Yes, thank you. I would prefer it to be here in Dunmoreton and at St Petroc's, at this time, while we have this opportunity, strange and fraught as it is. Wherever my infant self is now, this is where and when the baptism should have been performed. I hope this will shield her from demonic influence. And this is my home.' she said, resolved. She glanced through the window, to where Darkmoor Manor brooded on the hill against a glowering sky. Her home. Now she knew the truth of her heritage, the reason for the taint she'd felt growing up, she could begin to cleanse it, and herself. 'While Mister Shaw and Miss Hartley rest, shall we go? I hope old Vicar Worsnop is there.'

Simon nodded again. "I am not Anglican, but I doubt that will matter much as it were. Come, much to discuss."