In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 134):

Three minutes later, the manager came back.

"Can you sign the visitor's book please?" she asked. "Regulations and all that."

Once Josie had done that, she was led upstairs and shown to one of the dormitories, consisting of ten bunks (five pairs) and a separate bathroom. The beds were unmade and a bunch of luggage was placed around the room. Sitting on chairs by the window were Michael and Johanna Keenan.

Marie Schlussel had described them as "a handsome blonde man and brunette woman", but at the moment, the man looked anything but handsome - he had a few days' worth of beard growth and looked visibly highly stressed, dragging at a cigarette. His wife looked similar, without the facial hair.

After sign and counter-sign was exchanged, Michael told Josie to close the door.

"Thank God you're here," he said.

In reply to Control (msg # 135):

"You're perfectly welcome." Josie said, smiling. "How are you doing?" She added, noticing how stressed they both were.

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 136):

"Not great. Caught a rather bad cold from the rain-soaked border crossing," Michael said. "I'm over the worst of it, but I've not been able to find a razor and I can't go out without risking arrest. Then again, looking like a homeless person might help. Or not."

He smiled slightly and then put the cigarette out in a nearby ashtray.

"Well, we can't stick around here too long. What's your plan for getting us out of the country?"

In reply to Control (msg # 137):

"You're right. Might make you less recognizable." Josie smiled. Now, as for the plan- what had the plan been?

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 138):

OOC: There's a truck driver coming to smuggling them out of the country, but you need to get them to Karlovy Vary first.

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 138):

"First I've got to get you to Karlovy Vary." Josie told them.

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 140):

"Well, that's a good starting point," Johanna said in a slightly Polish accent. "I think we'll need some train tickets or something. Or a bus ticket. And a change of clothes, because we're not exactly going to be inconspicuous looking like this.

Michael handed Josie a sheet of paper from his pocket. "Our clothing sizes."

In reply to Control (msg # 141):

"Thank you." Josie said, and looked down at the piece of paper, looking closely at the sizes before tucking it into her skirt pocket. "I'll check to see if there is a bus or train heading to Karlovy Vary."

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 142):

Josie recalled there were probably quite a few, but she would need to find a train and/or bus timetable. There might be one downstairs.

In reply to Control (msg # 143):

Josie excused herself from the room and went downstairs to see if there was a timetable for the train. Or one for a bus.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:42, Tue 13 June 2023.

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 144):

Josie managed to find a timetable for Czechoslovak State Railways. It was in Czech of course, but she managed to find that there were several daily trains from Ostrava to Karlovy Vary via Prague. Including a through carriage all the way from Moscow.

But it was a through sleeper carriage and those weren't the kind of things you could just walk on. Especially in a country where ID might well be required to buy a long-distance ticket.

She would have to be more subtle in getting them onto the train.

In reply to Control (msg # 145):

Josie went back upstairs and let them know about her findings, and handed them the timetable.

"We're going to have to be careful, with the train. Disguising you two would probably help." She said to them. "We can't let anyone recognize you."

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 146):

"Well, you'll need to get some clothes from somewhere," Johanna remarked. "We didn't exactly bring a wardrobe with us."

There was the sound of a vehicle pulling outside.

OOC: Listen roll please.

Josie rolled 11 using 1d12.

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 148):

Josie doesn't hear much more than that... as it's followed by a loud set of expletives from Michael.

In reply to Control (msg # 149):

Josie raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?" She had never heard a man swear that much.

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 150):

"The cops are here!" Michael yelled and started to head towards the window to jump out.

Josie gasped. Okay, she thought. Above all else, do not panic.

"You're right, we have to get out of here, but won't they hear it if we jump from the window?"

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 152):

OOC: Charisma roll please.

Josie Graceston rolled 5 using 1d12. Charisma.

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 154):

Michael stopped... and then stepped back from the window.

"I'd probably break my legs as well..." he said. "You're right, not a good idea."

"Is there a back entrance? We could get out that way." Josie asked, trying not to pace back and forth.

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 156):

"Yes," Johanna said. There's a fire exit that goes into the garden. You'd need to climb the fence to get out if the gate's not open though."

She grabbed her panicking husband and started to pull him towards the door.

"Alright." Josie said. "Let's go, and fast." Josie went and opened the door, looking out to see if anyone was there, and then beckoned to Johanna and Michael to follow her.

Then she let Johanna take the lead, given she didn't know where the back door was.

In reply to Josie Graceston (msg # 158):

OOC: Luck roll, please.