Colin: Good luck using that puny pig sticker. The thing hisses. It manages to avoid many of your swipes, but two of them catch it squarely in the chest, making it snarl at you. Unfortunately this time it makes contact with the baton and smashes you in the ribs twice with such strength it nearly takes your breath away. As you stagger back, you suddenly see a figure running towards you both. It is a middle aged fellow, tall and trim in a black coat. His dark hair and short beard mark him as foreign and when he speaks he has a light Italian accent. That will never work! He'll take you apart before you can even think of killing him. Use this! He suddenly tosses you a rather savage looking dagger, taking care to toss it at your feet lest you get stuck with it trying to catch it. While he does this, he draws a knife of his own and cautiously starts to approach. It is clear he's not much of a fighter. The creature looks displeased at this sudden turn of events and you can see him calculating whether or not to run.

ooc: Just roll for one round this time so you can declare intentions, etc.

John and Kimi:

Alright it is settled. I will have Lily show you to your quarters and in the morning start tailing Ian, the both of you. Lily should come as well just in case. If she's sharp to you just ignore her. She's got a temper if you hadn't noticed. The more you ignore it the more she calms down. Or you can just let Kimi here handle it. She's been friends with her for awhile and she can keep her civil most of the time. He gives a grin. I will require your weapons for the night so that I can have them improved upon. They will be ready by morning. However, I will loan you something for the night. If people are being murdered and hidden in walls it's obviously not a good idea to go unarmed.... He trails off sadly.

ooc: Ok, go ahead and finish up here. Let me know what you want to do for the rest of the night and that morning. Then I'll try and join you up on one of the other threads.

Colin took little time to formulate a plan. The two thumps he had taken hurt like the morning after a wake and he didn't even have fun the day before. He gave a quick glance at the newcomer then to the knife he had thrown at Colin's feet. He waited until the monster darted his eyes towards the stranger. When he did, Colin gave a wide grin at the opportunity and dove for the knife at his feet.

He tucked as his body contacted the ground, tumbling over his shoulder and clutching the knife in one hand. His other hand, tucked closed to his body, grabbed the foot of the monster and used it as leverage to pull through the rest of the roll. Colin sprang up as his feet came under him, whirling the dagger over hand. He twisted it into a reverse grip and used his now free hand to add extra power to the blow.

---

23:02, Today: Colin Browne rolled 9 using 2d4+1 with rolls of 4,4. Knife dmg + Streetfighting.
23:01, Today: Colin Browne rolled 18 using 1d20+8. Attack with special knife.
22:59, Today: Colin Browne rolled 29 using 1d20+12. Tumble through.

In reply to John Westbrook (msg # 65):

John nodded reaching into his coat and producing both revolvers and holding them out by the handle towards the older man. "Heah yeh are sir." After he had received his backup weapon John followed the Indian woman to the room he would be staying in. Once alone John removed his hat and cost as he pulled a flask from his pocket. He opened the flask and took a large gulp. He never slept well anymore but it was harder when sober. He also took a pipe and lit that as he sat alone a dark look over his face until eventually he fell asleep. He woke in the morning and after a quick trip to the washroom he donned his jacket and hat and went to retrieve his guns.

When John and Lily left, Kimi remained.  "Most honorable one, I have words that I would speak.  I do not believe that Ian is foul in our mission.  I am suspecting he is perhaps being blamed.  Do you know Nikolas well?"

Colin: pm

Kimi: Westbrook gives a nod at your conclusion. Yes, I will admit I am loathe to suspect Ian as well. That is why I need proof before I go off and detain him. As for Nicholas, he is fairly new to us, though he comes highly reccomended from one of our sister branches. If he is involved in a scheme I hope it only goes as far as him and not any of the other  branches. There are already too few that I trust as it it. Still, I cannot afford to ignore accusations about Ian. Please be sure to study him with an open mind and look for anything suspicious. Do not confront him with this information and try to stay as hidden from him as possible.

John: The next morning you find it quite easy to find your guns as Lily knocks on your door with them in hand and a tray of food in the other. I trust you slept well? She gives you an unreadable look but her face doesn't have any anger in it for once.

Kimi bowed her head, and back away and then left Westbrook's presence.

In reply to Artemis (msg # 69):

"Well enough." John replied as he took the revolvers from her replacing them in his holsters.

Kimi returned to her room, she would rest with the hours left to her, and then resume her mission in the morning.

(Upon awakening, Kimi would find her way to where ever Ian can be found)

Colin: You manage to slice him across the lower abdomen. It is not in itself a killing blow, but you are shocked to see a flicker of energy as it makes contact with the flesh through the man's uniform. The creature gives a great shriek of pain as though incredibly surprised. Whatever this weapon is, it is effective. He swings at you but you are still nimble enough to dodge. Thinking better of the situation, the thing starts to run. ooc: You get an attack of opportunity

Lily informs John of exactly what was done to his weapons. They have been enhanced. They should be useful against most monsters now, save for the most powerful ones of course. There are always exceptions. Still, you should be considerably better equipped now that you have the right tools. She looks quite proud of the accomplishment, though she admits she had little to do with it.

Kimi/John: The two of you, along with Lily head towards the Tailor's shop in hopes of finding Ian there. He will likely either be there or at the tailor's house, but it is closer to try there first.

ooc: I'm going to lead you to thread 1.3 now and post for you there.

Colin blinked a few times at the light that emerged from wound. He stumbled back a few steps. Nothing he had seen had made that kind of reaction before. Nothing. He realized too late that the creature was fleeing. He lashed out halfheartedly. He was confused, in pain, and still needed to address the new comer. He whispered nearly inaudibly to himself, "Next time, boyo, we'll dance a little longer."

He didn't bother giving chase. Once he was sure the damnable monster was gone, he took a long swing from his hip flask.

Are you alright? The Italian takes a look at you, concern on his face. You may as well keep that. It knows your face now. I have a feeling you will need it. He gestures to the knife. Well....I really shouldn't linger. You take care young man. He looks a bit abashed, as though perhaps he shouldn't have been so open with you, not that he really has been other than giving you the knife. He quickly starts to walk away looking very stiff and uncomfortable. Clearly he is not supposed to be talking with you.

Colin cocked his head and started after the man, glancing at the knife. "Hey fella! Jus' what da hell is going on. Hey!" He then realized that he was likely not going to get anywhere by trying to talking to the man. That part was obviously over. Instead, he slipped the knife the the mystery man had thrown him into his jacket. He picked up his other knife in the street and made his way back to follow the Italian. Once he found an area of the city the man lived in, he could find him.

---

Take 10 on Hide[Tailing] and Move Silently checks for the Italian.
22 and 24 respectively.

You appear to do a good job of keeping hidden for the man does not seem to notice you. He does look around suspiciously in an attempt to prevent being followed, but if he sees you he does not act like it. He goes into a fairly deserted part of town. Mostly old warehouses and unkempt buildings. He takes out a key and disappears into a particularly large warehouse that looks to have seen better days. It is likely abandoned and you can't help but wonder why he is going here of all places.

Colin sniffed the air. It smelled foul here. He didn't like the whole situation. Still, the mystery man with the Italian accent. Making sure that he was not seen, Colin continued to follow the man into the abandoned warehouse. His mind flashed to the possibility that he was headed into a trap. After all, the man had simply appeared and given Colin a knife that solved his monster problem, the left without so much a farewell as a nervous goodbye.

The man needed to be followed.

Colin:

Unfortunately the door is locked. The lowest windows are boarded too, though there is a metal ladder on the side of the building that gives you access to the second story windows, which are still intact for the most part. You could also try picking the lock.

Colin backed up and looked up at the top of the building. He needed to get up there. If this place was a secret hideout or sanctuary of some kind, it would have defenses on the doors. Everyone seemed to forget the roof though. He made his way around the building, shielding his eyes from the rain when he had to look up. Maybe the fire exits and stairs were still intact somewhere. If not, there was alway that second story window he saw with a ladder.

You look around for some time, but it looks like these people are careful. Even the roof is locked, though there is a lot of stray wood and debris around. It would be possible to try to break down the door should you wish. While you are busy accessing ladders and fire escapes in your attempts to break in, you do notice through the windows that there is a small lantern glowing from within. It is unaccompanied and sits on a wooden crate in the middle of the room. You find this to be odd. It's as if someone is expected and the light has been left out for them. You also see no sign of the Italian from any of the windows.

ooc: If you choose to break down the door on the roof I will let you take a 20 on it.

Colin rubbed the back of his neck and cursed the rain for not letting him light up a cigarette. He mulled over the place for a moment before deciding that maybe the easiest thing to do would be to simply knock. The Italian seemed to know his way around monsters and that was scary enough. Combined with the fact that Colin was in unfamiliar territory and needed to get inside quick, a simple knock on the door might suffice.

You wait awhile and at first it seems that no one is there. Surprisingly though, a tall thin red headed man answers, looking at you suspiciously. This is private property. What do you want? He sounds on edge, but he is a well groomed man and nicely dressed. Not the type you would expect to see in an abandoned warehouse.

Colin grinned and leaned to try and peer past the man. "Just lookin' for someone. Italian fellow, may have dropped this near me," he said as he pulled out the newly acquired monster slaying knife. "Man ran off without so much as a good-bye. He might want his property back." Colin figured that the man would either be baffled at his knowledge or jump to the attack immediately. He was really hoping it was the former. Colin didn't want to kill someone that was also fighting the good fight.

The man's face in unreadable for a moment and then he quickly shakes his head. Well he's not here right now. He only stopped in for a moment and then went out the back. I can give it back to him next time I see him. He holds his hand out for the blade, though it is clear he is quite on edge about you and a fight could break out any moment.

Colin gave the man a hard stare before cocking an eyebrow."I'd prefer to give it to him,mate. How do I know if you're on the level?" , Colin said with an internal chuckle. An Irishman looking for an Italian in a abandoned warehouse and he was worried if the guy inside was honest or not. He gave a sly smile at the man before twirling the knife away.

The man does not look amused. You know, it's not polite to assume someone is a liar when you've only just met them. He says bluntly. If you would rather, you can come back in the morning. I'll make sure I tell him you are coming and he can meet you here to retrieve his knife. Surely that would satisfy you? He arches a disapproving eyebrow as if he truly finds you impertinent, though there is a lingering curiosity you can detect as well.


ooc: Woo! Ladyhawke quote right there! ;P