Kate smiled, "alright if you tell me everything you know we'll let you go." She waited patiently.

"Wow! what happened to you?" She asked when father Simon arrived on the scene. He looked awful. "This one was nice enough to offer some information if we spare him." Really she had no intention of letting him go and hoped Simon would go along until they got the information needed.

He gave Kate a smile, through it all his spirits remained high. "Oh you know, one of their kind tried to devour my soul. Lily was there to stop it, thank God." He nodded, "Get what you can and then we will send him along."

The demon looks frantic. You must swear it to me he insists. Both of you! he looks at Simon for confirmation. The interesting thing is that with the devil's trap blocking the path. The only way to get through to Kate is to exorcise them, that or risk stepping into the trap with them and putting yourself in the clutches of angry demons...Meanwhile the other demons in the trap seem eager to place a deal as well.

ooc: If you are going to bluff then roll such please :D

Simon smiled broadly, but remains silent. He has no intention of lying, figuring they would see right through it anyway.

"Don't pay attention to him. He'll do as I ask," Kate assured. She prayed that Simon kept his mouth shut. "I swear if you tell me everything I will not exorcise you guys. The lie came easily and if Simon had a problem with it he could do the exorcism himself making her lie a truth.

ooc: bluff 27 (20+7)
This message was last edited by the player at 05:36, Fri 27 Feb 2015.

One of the demons seems wary but the other two believe Kate and quickly agree to her terms. It was Belial who sent us, after he had Westbrook replaced! We were supposed to sabotage any resistance and report back on your efforts against us. We've been trying to find the scrolls you took to raise up the rest of his army but so far it has eluded us one of them admits.

"And is Westbrook still alive?" Kate asked trying to sound uninterested.

The demon shakes his head. No. He couldn't be allowed to live. His head is buried in Victoria's garden, not that she is aware of it he adds drily. He looks worried to have confessed this, as though afraid it will hurt his chances of being released.

Simon chimed in, "That is what preoccupied the maid. She was afraid I had found the evidence."

A little late for secrets now I suppose he notes bitterly. You may as well know, you can't win. Look how easily we overtook your base. If the others have the same fate we do then half your men are dead. What can you possibly hope to accomplish? If you value your lives I would leave the city and never come back. You can't stop Belial anyway you may as well enjoy the time you have left.

Simon just shook his head, "Your kind have been saying that since Adam's fall and yet humanity remains. You know I think you are all afraid of us. If you were so confident in your victory then why try and take us anyway? I will take half a company of the Men of Letters over ten companies of your kind."

Kate frowned, unhappy at the news that Westbrook was truly dead. "I'm not concerned about Belial. If he's dumb enough to entrust you guys to carry out his plan he's sure to loose." She smiled at Simon, "We can go ahead and exorcise them whenever you're ready."

Simon smiled and began the Rite. He was happy with Kate and would of course take her confession later.

The demons naturally are unhappy about this news and they threaten you quite vehemently, swearing to crawl out of the pit and wreak their revenge. As you are finishing up Lily joins you looking on edge. Good to see you're safe Kate she nods. I've cleared two halls so we have some maneuverability at least. We need to find Victoria and the others. This is serious business, half our company will be lost at this rate. she looks angry. These people were my friends. Belial will pay for this.

ooc: If you decide to look for the others please roll a search check

Simon looked at Lily sadly, "It seems likely that we have lost Westerbrook. Perhaps we should confirm by searching his office?"

10:42, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 14 using 1d20+5. Search.

She gives a start at this and looks sad. I see she murmurs. A-alright. She is visibly shaken. Along the way you find scores of slumped over dead, all within the devil's traps. Others must have taken to exorcising the demons as well. Dozens of frightened members crowd the hallways looking upset and panicked. Seeing Lily they rush up to her for guidance as she is one of the higher ranking members of the organization. She gently informs them to gather in the great room and wait for her or Victoria. And someone go and investigate Victoria's garden. There's supposed to be something there we weren't meant to see. she adds. They rush to obey, happy to have some direction.

ooc: I'm just giving Kate a chance to post and the others to move along a bit farther before you catch up to them, for timing's sake ;P

Alright, to Westbrook's it is then. she looks determined. Along the way you find dozens of the dead, slumped in the devil's circles and what's worse many of the living are clearly grieving over their lost friends. With every death Lily's face grows more pinched and her jaw is set with anger and grief. Someone will be paying for this...

When you make it to Westbrook's office you find it unlocked and Lily draws her pistol before entering first at her insistence. The room itself looks to be in perfect order though Lily points out a carpet on the ground that is a bit tussed. Looks like someone's been down the passage she points out. It's for emergencies, I'm sure whatever Westbrook is now, he must have discovered it too. she turns to both of you. This is not your fight. What he did is personal and who knows what is waiting for us on the other side. I think you should stay here, find Victoria, help the others. They could use the comfort of a priest right now. Her tone is firm and surprisingly cold yet her green eyes blaze with fury in spite of the calmness of her voice. This is not the explosive woman you've come to know but almost a different woman entirely. You don't sense you are in danger from her but there is something chilling just the same.

He nodded, knowing he was too injured to go with her. It made him sick, but he knew she was strong and could take care of herself. "Don't take any unnecessary risks, please."

Then he went to give comfort to those who remained alive.

"I'm going," Kate said equally as firm. "Even if it's only for back up," she added sympathetically. Clearly Lily was upset and though she didn't know the woman well it would be a shame if something bad happened to Simon's new girlfriend. "I will stay out of the way."

Lily doesn't answer Simon but gives him a twitch of a smile and then turns to enter the trap door motioning for Kate to follow. Fine, but if things get bad you run understand?

Simon: As you head back to comfort the others you find they are most grateful to see you. Many of them are distraught and grieved and they gather to you instinctively. You end up in the great room where Lily instructed everyone to join and it is full of about fifty members or so, quite a blow from what there should be. As you do your best to soothe the others eventually you see Victoria come in holding a box covered in dirt. Her hands are shaking and she looks to be in intense shock.

Kate: You crouch in the long tunnel which is dark but remarkably tidy as the entire thing is made of stone and other than a great deal of dust it is unoffensive. Lily lights the way with matches, her face set and intense. She winces as though in pain and you gather from the way she rubs her forehead from time to time she has a headache. You should know something Kate she says flatly as she leads the way carefully. My head is buzzing and when my head is buzzing I sometimes black out and when I sometimes black out...things die. I don't know if it will happen again, I'm trying to fight it. Just...be wary of me. This is why I didn't want you to come. she winces again. I don't know what happens or how just that whatever opposed me is dead. You may be fine I don't see you as a threat but just in case...

Kate produced a flashlight from her pocket and flicked it on. "I'll keep out of the way," she assured Lily. She was thinking it would have been nice if the woman had informed her of her black out killing sprees before they were crammed together in the tunnel.

Simon goes about providing what comfort he is able. He listens mostly as he finds people are unburdened by telling their troubles. Victoria brought in a strange and dirty box. Simon knew what was inside without even asking. He sat the box on a table. "Don't look, Victoria." He opened the box...

Kate: Lily swears in shock at the flashlight then covers her mouth in horror for a split second before relaxing again. Oh that's right he's not here You realize she is talking about Simon. What is that? I need to get one.

Suddenly you are interrupted by the sounds of a struggle overhead. You sure you're ready for this? I don't know what's up there.

Simon: Too late she chokes with a whimper. You've never seen the woman like this, absolutely broken. As you open the box you are not surprised to see it is Westbrook's head, messily severed as though it had been torn off rather than cut. His eyes are still open and he looks to have been there for a few days at least. Victoria sinks to her knees, shaking. Meanwhile the other members of the group start to gather towards you asking what is the matter and what is in the box.

Simon closed the box and held up his hands, indicating the others should give he and Victoria room. He went down, kneeling in front of her. He put his arms around her to try and comfort her. He spoke so that only she could hear him, "It was a good death. They could not possess him so they sought to lay claim to his soul by burying him in an unconsecrated grave. We will rectify that. We will and his soul will rest. You must be strong now, the others will look to you for leadership. It will be difficult, but God never gives us more than we can handle. Lean on your friends, we are here for you."

Victoria hugs you back tightly and wipes at the tears running down her face. After a long moment she nods shakily. T-thank you father. For everything. she stands then and avoids looking at the box, instead headed towards the center of the room. She addresses everyone. Alright, it looks like we've been hit hard. We need to document everyone who died and double check all wards and traps. This place must be secure again. Everyone will be tested thoroughly, the whole gamut. Everything from ghouls to shifters, you name it. We will document this too and have three witnesses sign that they saw the test performed. We will need to start gathering the bodies for burning. She gives out assignments, no nonsense again as she commands the survivors. She then approaches you again. When the bodies are ready it might be nice if you could read the last rites to them, though I understand if you are tired. You don't look well. Perhaps you should head to the infirmary, it will be some time before we're ready for you. she sighs.