ooc: Pending upon further details....

Penny/Kate:

You head back to the hotel room in order to rent out the rooms for your plan. Fortunately there are plenty available and the desk attendant buys your explanations easily enough. Upon hearing your name though he gives a start and informs you that a parcel has been held for your return. I was hoping you would come back for it he looks triumphant. It's a bit heavy but I think you can manage. He hands you a finely wrapped package in a round hat box. It weighs roughly 10 or 11 pounds and has a heavily perfumed smell. There is a neat little card with elegant handwriting that reads," A token of apology for any troubles caused to you. Best opened in private- B"

Wherever and whenever you decide to open it you will find inside to your horror, Mrs. Bently's severed head. The box has been lined heavily to prevent stink and the head has been drained of blood to prevent a mess. Very thoughtful actually.

Penny was surprised at the parcel; she wasn't expecting anything. 'I haven't ordered any hats...' With a sense of unease, she thanked the clerk and, as the noted suggested, waited until they were in the privacy of their room before opening it. But first, Penny applied Holmes's method, scrutinising every part of the parcel before opening it and potentially ruining the evidence. She examined the packaging, both paper and string; the hat box itself; the perfumed aroma (no doubt to conceal the contents...); the card and handwriting. It was all high quality, no expense spared.

"B" could stand for "Belial", but also "Bently". Emma Bently was, so far as she knew, still dead, but she could have sent this before her demise. A witch's hex bag in the mail would be a cunning attack. She doubted Richard Bently would go to such effort, but his wife certainly would. As would Belial.

Her examinations had already filled her with dread as to what might be contained within, but she opened it and peered inside. 'Ah.' she said, swallowing her disgust at the severed head of Emma Bently. 'Well, she always wanted to get ahead in the world...'

Wrinkling her nose against the smell of decay, Penny reached in and lifted out the head so she could examine it more closely: the cut marks, the degree of decay and rigor mortis. 'The head has been drained of blood to prevent leakage. How considerate. We should be glad this did not also wait 123 years for delivery.'


OOC: Sherlock-scanning the package and head for clues: Search 22, Investigate 17
11:46, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 17 using 1d20+13. investigate.
11:47, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 22 using 1d20+10. search.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:20, Fri 19 Dec 2014.

From what you can tell it has been about two days since the severing of the head judging by decomposition, which fortunately is quite minor at this point. The hat box is for a man's hat judging by the design and masculinity of the lining. The handwriting is meticulous and also masculine, though there are aggressive slants to it calling to mind great passion and ambition on the writer's hand. This was likely prepared by Belial himself, which is surprising that he would take so direct a part in so messy a thing. The sever marks indicate her head was neatly sliced by a very sharp blade. It only took one slice to remove it, indicating a well practiced hand, yet you would venture that this is what killed the woman judging by the uneven cut that seem to show she struggled a bit during the ordeal. You can't help but wonder Belial's interest in you to kill one of his own agents in order to apologize for her trying to kill you. Whether he knows of her deceit you are unsure.

"Oh yuck!," Kate took an involuntary step back as Penny lifted Mrs. Bentley's head out of the box. She'd seen worse in their line of work obviously but she still didn't enjoy it. "I don't suppose we could put the soul back in just her head?" She peered over Penny's shoulder as her friend examined the head. "Well at least our job is half done! All we need is the rest of her."

As she made her examinations of box and head, Penny coolly reported all her findings to Kate, illustrating her method of observation and inductive reasoning. It all fitted what Castiel and Death had told them. 'I imagine the hat box was selected simply because it was readily available to a gentleman. Sending me a hat box for a woman's hat would have been less suspicious, but—' and she tapped her hard men's bowler hat, 'Not unreasonable.'

'So, all the signs point to Belial himself. But why? If he wished to apologise, I would have preferred flowers. Surely he does not think we would appreciate Mrs Bently's head on a platter. So, I believe this was a threat as much as anything. Now, did he kill his own minion for her disobedience or for threatening us?' She was uncomfortable with Belial's interest in the pair of them. Maybe her loathing of the demon's advances had coloured her own reaction to Simon's admission, but there was still no call for his.

With a grimace of distaste, she regarded Emma Bently's head, her sightless eyes, the face contorted in terror and agony. They'd been deadly foes trying to kill each other not long ago, but Penny gained no satisfaction from this. She was growing sick inside, and gently placed the head back in its container and replaced the lid with a shudder.

'If only we could, but Death said the body must be complete, so we have a task ahead of us finding the rest. Still, can we do without the hands? I wonder if we can use this opportunity to gain some insurance over Emma Bently and her powers. Well, as Death suggested, we should bind the assembled corpse before resurrection.'


OOC: Was there an address for the sender?
This message was last edited by the player at 03:46, Fri 19 Dec 2014.

ooc: No, but should you inquire the desk attendant said that a Mr. Richard Bently left the package and said if you wished to discuss the contents you could meet him at his tailor's shop... Let me know when you're ready to continue with your meetings at headquarters. I will skim through most of them but Westbrook we'll slow down for. If I'm not mistaken the plan was to briefly mention what transpired and see if anyone takes the hook? Let me know if there's anything else you want to cover in those interviews.

Penny opened a window to let in some fresh air and let out any lingering smell. Excusing herself, she went downstairs to the lobby to make some further inquiries. She came back up bearing her luggage, which had recently been delivered via Western Union. As Cole had suggested, she'd stopped there to collect her belongings — the same belongings delivered again 123 years hence. Of course, this now left her with temporal duplicates of many items, and the paradox of Western Union now being unable to deliver them to her the first time around. Goodness, what would Castiel say to that?

It was actually a small experiment in temporal engineering. What would happen to her possessions? What would become of her memories? Would she still have had that argument with Cole if she'd not received that insulting note then? She hoped the outcome, whatever it would be, would give her some insight into the much greater change to history, with her supposed death and Belial's victory. She figured that was a much more significant issue for time and history to unravel than the fate of her luggage.

Nearly arranging her duplicated things side-by-side for comparison, Penny reported to Kate 'Curiously, it was Richard Bently who delivered his own wife's head. I wonder if he knew? The hat box may well have come from his shop. Well, we have an invitation to meet him at his store to talk about it. He may be able to provide us with the rest of his wife's remains.'

'First, we must conceal this head somewhere safe... Western Union. They have proven reliable in any era. Let them hold it and send it back in a day or two.' She began transferring the gruesome contents to one of her own hat boxes so no-one got suspicious.

'Then, next, back to the Men of Letters headquarters to meet with Westbrook and begin rooting out our spy.'


OOC: I think that's it. Kate can make any adjustments or addition.

"Belial is a real peach," Kate muttered moving closer to examine the note. "I wonder what game he's playing," she mused as Penny placed the head in a different box. "We should be careful at Mr. Bentley's, in case it's some stupid trap. Maybe leave word at the front that we were headed there in case we run into trouble."

'Quite. I may have to dine with him after all, with a gift like this...' Penny commented coldly, holding back a shudder at dealing with the Worthless One.

'Oh, indeed. Richard Bently is an unknown quantity — where do his loyalties lie? I cannot think he holds much love for his wife. But does he serve the Hand of Baal, or Belial? He may help us or hinder us.'

ooc: Ok, so it sounds like Bently will wait until after finding the spy correct? Also, I have no idea what will happen with the Western Union paradox. I can think on it a bit but if you have a suggestion I'm all ears. Time travel really gives me a headache sometimes. The route I'm going is kind of like in the movie Frequency, where the person who caused the changes has memories of both outcomes but like I said, open to suggestions.

Penny/Kate: Leaving the package and retrieving your things goes easily enough. Soon you are back at headquarters and making your rounds. Your interviews with Ian and Frederick go well and if you give your room number to Victoria she will dutifully jot it down. They all seem genuinely intrigued and concerned about your adventures, though it is hard to say if they are perhaps exceptional liars. Soon you find yourselves at Mr. Westbrook's door and he admits you in surprise. I heard you were back he nods approvingly. Victoria was supposed to brief me but I suppose this is even better. I trust your time in the future was...eventful? Though I must say I'm surprised to see you back Miss Kate.

OOC: Sure, one thing at a time. There are enough hanging plot strands, I'd like to close one or two. No worries on the time travel. :)


Beginning to feel her adventurous attire was perhaps more at place in the future after all, Penny changed back into a conventional dress and a women's fedora before setting out with Kate. With a few errands, they were soon back at the Men of Letters' lair, where Penny spoke enthusiastically about her time-travelling adventures and dropped the necessary clues for her plot.

'Good afternoon. Yes, I felt it better if we reported to you directly.' Penny said to Westbrook, stepping into his office and taking a seat when offered. 'Oh, indeed. Very eventful. The demons were most persistent, I scarcely had time to explore.' She waited for Kate to answer Westbrook before she supplied 'We learned that the situation with Belial may be worse than we expected. Miss Piper has come back to aid us in our struggle.' Did Westbrook even know about the plot to resurrect Emma Bently? If he was a traitor or a monster, then they could not let on about their plans. 'But first, how have the Men of Letters fared in out absence?'

As they spoke, Penny observed Westbrook closely, noting the details of his dress and grooming, his habits and patterns of speech. In particular, she looked out for his nervous habit with his father's pocket watch. She compared all she observed and deduced to what she recalled of the man from their first meeting. Goodness, had it only been a few days ago?


OOC: Running the Sherlock Scan on Westbrook: Investigate 20, Sense Motive 13, Spot 19.
20:11, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20,13,19 using d20+13,d20+7,d20+9. sherlock scan: investigate, sense motive, spot.

Westbrook seems calm, collected and does not touch his pocket watch in the least. We fare well enough. Lily and the priest have managed to get some valuable intelligence on undercover demons here and there. They've been brought in for questioning and we are gleaning some results. I'm sure we'll get things sorted out in the end. Though I must confess, I feel that Victoria has been a bit strained as of late. Have you noticed her acting oddly at all?

Seeing that Penny had changed Kate asked to borrow a dress so she wouldn't draw so much attention.

Mr. Westbrooks surprise to see her brought a smile to her face. "1890 was just too fun to stay away," she figured it was best to leave out the real reason they'd come back  since they didn't know if Westbrook was good or bad. She added "I was attacked on the other side of the portal. Like Penny said things are worse than we thought. I'll be here to help until it's over."

Westbrook was perhaps characteristically reserved, but where he displayed signs of stress and preoccupation with worry before, he was surprisingly calm now, though the situation had hardly improved. There was still the matter of the untouched pocket watch. Penny needed to push him a little for his habit to be revealed, or to confirm him for a fraud. She frowned. 'Yes, in fact. She is naturally rather agitated by the idea of spies and monsters within the Men of Letters. It's quite understandable — we've found our own clues that your organisation is lousy with enemy agents. Doesn't this concern you?' she pressed critically, trying to put Westbrook on the defensive. It was under stress and deception that people were said to reveal their tells.

Naturally it concerns me, but I have a handle on it. You really think me not attuned enough that I wouldn't have my own suspects? he arches an eyebrow. Victoria has been...erratic. Considering our history I hope she is not as I fear, but evil runs deeper than any of us know. I cannot trust even her. Ian and Lily too. Who else but my most trusted members would have the access to infiltrate so deeply? There are wards, protections. Who else could have surpassed them?

ooc: Roll a sense motive

OOC: It's late, so I'll just roll and run. Sense Motive 19.
00:00, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+7. sense motive.

"It looks like it's hard to trust much of anyone here," Kate muttered upon hearing Westbrooks suspicions of Victoria. Honestly she didn't trust either of them.

ooc: Sense motive 24

ooc: You do sense that the man may be trying to throw you off track, but it is hard to say for certain. Hopefully Penny's little plan will be revealing...

Indeed he sighs. But I've been keeping tabs on Victoria. She has been trying to throw suspicion on me for some reason and I don't know if it is because she genuinely is confused or if she is a traitor herself. I even allowed her to see one of my agents in order to throw her off in hopes she would reveal her hand later. It is a difficult situation I'm afraid. You should take care of who you believe.

We did find it a little suspicious that she was so eager to send me back to my own time. And that there were demons waiting to kill me on the other side. It was mostly the truth and she didn't want Westbrook to know that they suspected him as well.

'Who indeed?' Penny mused. That was twice now John Westbrook had tried to shift suspicion onto Victoria Green, but was it deflection or did he truly suspect her? Each accused the other; it was too much of a coincidence. Surely they couldn't both be innocent? The Men of Letters would be better off with both of them out of the way for a while.

'Yes, the timing was too close to be coincidental. The demons had to have known we were coming through. Whether they knew I would be there too, we shall never know.'

'Ah, "considering your history"? How did you come to know Miss Green? What can you tell us of her?' Penny inquired; she'd heard Victoria's story and wondered if they might give different accounts. How could she draw one of them out?

ooc: It's been a while since I posted her story, so if there are any inconsistencies it is MY mistake, not his, lol

John proceeds to easily explain that he was a Union soldier in the war, and ended up staying in Louisiana when all was done. There, he met a former slave woman and her young daughter, eventually taking the woman as his lover and taking in the child when her mother died several years later. She was raised in Hoodoo, her family had practiced it for generations and you will be hard pressed to find a better practitioner. She also has clairvoyance as I'm sure you have noticed, though she cannot always control it. I can't help but wonder if this didn't provide some kind of opening for something to take over. I don't want to believe she could have betrayed me willingly. Of course, all is just speculation at this point. he adds.

John Westbrook's account tallied with what she'd learned from Victoria Green; she found no lie or discrepancy there. If one of them was a shapeshifter or possessing entity, then they had access to the victim's memories. She had to seek more subtle clues. 'Yet you suspect her.' Penny continued digging, pushing him, trying to break his calm. 'You fear her. You set your spies and your agents on her. Clearly she was more than a negress servant to you. You have been like a father to her, yet you do not trust her. Why? What is this fear fathers have of their children?' she pressed, on the attack, putting her own familial frustrations into her words.


OOC: I'm not sure what to roll. Intimidate? I got a 6.
14:46, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 1d20+3. intimidate.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 06:51, Tue 30 Dec 2014.

Kate held back and let Penny question Westbrook. She was obviously a better reader of people and was taking the conversation in a certain direction. It was hard to know who to trust. Hadn't Cas been in touch with Victoria? Did that mean they could trust her? She wished they'd thought to ask him more details on what to expect.

Westbrook looks irritated at the question but maintains his calm for the most part. I do not want to take any chances, even amongst someone as important to me as Victoria, but she has been spreading rumors about me and I cannot ignore that. Either she truly thinks me corrupted or she is corrupted herself. Either way, I need to set things to right without inadvertently lending credence to her accusations. If you hadn't noticed, this place is a hotbed of betrayal as it is. he shakes his head. If she is possessed, it must be a very powerful entity indeed or it couldn't get past our wards. If it is a shifter we would have known by now as I've seen her handling silver many times and if it pains her I've not seen it. If she has been turned against me then of course there would be no test for it I'm afraid. I need proof against her though before I do anything. If my Victoria is still there somewhere I will not harm her.

Mild irritation?! Could nothing break the man? Penny sighed, apparently defeated. 'Thank you for making your position clear; I had to be certain of your feelings in this. I shall investigate Miss Green as closely as I am able.'

Then she asked 'Oh, do you have the time, sir? Errands, you know.' Did he still have his father's blasted pocket watch?

She looked across to Kate, to see if she had anything to add, then addressed Westbrook. 'Was there anything else you wished to discuss? ...Ah, if you need to communicate privately, we can be reached at the New York Hotel, room 102.'
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 03:03, Thu 01 Jan 2015.

"For now we can assume trust no one but you?" Kate asked innocently. "You should keep in mind that someone may be spreading rumors to turn you guys against each other. After all what better way to weaken you?""

Westbrook seems satisfied with your words and nods in appreciation that you will watch Victoria. At the question of the time he shakes his head. There should be a clock or two about though on your way out he offers. And yes Miss Piper, that is a good idea. It could be just an attempt to create chaos and unrest or there could very well be real threats amongst us. Until we know which I would take care who you trust. He seems to note the room number with interest and bids you both a kind goodnight.

'Yes, indeed. We must be very careful who we trust... Good day to you, sir.' Penny farewelled formally, then glided out the door with Kate, trying to move away from Westbrook's office as quickly as decorum and discretion allowed.

Once they were safely away and in a secluded area, Penny confided in Kate. 'Well, one thing is clear: that is not John Westbrook.' She sighed, then explained her reasoning. 'When we first met, Westbrook had a nervous habit of compulsively checking and handling an old silver pocket watch, well maintained. I guessed it to be his father's, and that Westbrook still sought his approval. He confirmed as much when I demonstrated my observational skills for him.'

'Yet now, when his organisation is in even more dire peril, his daughter has turned against him, and I confront him on the issue of fathers, he doesn't even touch his pocket watch. He cannot even tell us the time, so I doubt he has it at all. He must be some kind of shapeshifter, one unaffected by silver and holy water. Perhaps a ghoul...'


Does Penny know of an appropriate creature? Ghouls would fit.
11:22, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 26 using 1d20+9. arcane lore.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Thu 01 Jan 2015.

"Oh you're good!" Kate was impressed with Penny's observations. "That probably means we should be ready," she added since they'd laid the bait with their room number. "I wish we were back in 2013. I could google it." she added in response to Penny's musings as to what had take Mr. Westbrooks place.

'Oh, indeed, I learned many things through that "Google".' Penny agreed; Kate could almost hear the quotation marks. Penny had taken to the computer and the Internet quite quickly, but it had been rather like teaching one's great grandmother to surf the net — which wasn't far off, in fact. Penny sighed in relief, satisfied with her small victory, her confidence buoyed. 'Well, I needed a solid victory in this case. All else has been frustration and uncertainty thus far. Finally we have made a gain on our own terms.'

'But what now? Should we confront him with this, inform Victoria of our theory, or gather more evidence to confirm and identify the monster? The substitution could only have happened in the last day or two, and the real Westbrook may be held captive somewhere... Or should we let our plan at the hotel play out first? The ersatz Mr Westbrook may not be the only spy here, and I should like to eliminate them all first.'

"It would probably be a good idea to figure out what has taken Westbrook's place before we take action. Lucky we can probably kill two birds with one stone. We can research at the hotel and let your plan play out to see if he takes the bait."

'Yes, and whether he is still alive.' Penny agreed. 'Shall we inform Victoria? It may ease her worries to confirm that that is not her John Westbrook, and she may begin to guard the Men of Letters against him. But if she confronts him early, then we may ruin any opportunity we have to feed him false information.' Penny's skills were in observation, reading clues and the signs of people's actions. She was less adept in reading their hearts and minds, however, and she knew it. So she turned to Kate, surely more experienced and empathic. 'What do you make of her? Could she maintain the pretense?'

"Victoria seems pretty level headed but I think to be safe we probably shouldn't give her solid evidence just yet. Maybe we should tell her that we met with him and that we'd like to look into it deeper before making any accusations." Kate didn't like the idea of not telling  the whole truth but in the end it was for the better. Ignorance was bliss and Victoria was safer if she didn't know the whole truth just yet. "Honestly it's tempting to walk in and kill fake Wesbrook right now. But I don't think it's the right time. I get the feeling Victoria might think it was and that would muck up our plans.

'Okay. Let us just mention that we share her suspicions, and shall look into it deeper, as you say. Victoria can then act more confidently while we try to work out a means of killing our imposter.'

ooc: Moving things along, I'm assuming you want to fill Victoria in then? If I'm wrong let me know. She will be relieved upon hearing she is not the only one with suspicions and should you tell her that he's trying to throw blame her way she will look furious. She seems content to let you ferret things out further but she plans on safeguarding as much as she can without tipping her hand, indicating she would rather remove him from power sooner rather than later as his dealings are undermining the Men's attempts.

Also, what exactly are your plans for the hotel? Do rounds and see which rooms may or may not be hit? And if they are do you have plans to deal with it or are you just going to brawl it out? Just planning ahead...

OOC: First, we'll drop any more clues we need to around the MoL base.  Then we collect the guards Victoria offered us and return to the hotel. We'll make sure the maid is cancelled for each room we rented.

In each of the decoy rooms we'll place obvious anti-demon measures: a devil's trap in front of the door, a line of salt at the windows and doorway. They should spot and disable these fairly easily. As an old trick, Penny will also conceal a small piece of tape or string and putty between door and frame, so if the door is opened, the tape/string will be removed and we can know if anyone came in. If the door isn't forced, that is.

Penny and Kate will take one room (which they haven't told anyone about) for themselves and defend it against demons as best they can. Much more subtle and resilient defenses.

The MoL guards lent by Victoria can stay in a nearby room (because we can't possibly have men and women staying together!) in shouting distance from ours. They can defend it as they see fit. They shouldn't know which room Penny and Kate are in. The guards also don't know about our decoy rooms, but should think Penny and Kate are in one of them. Basically, we're tricking them too.

Hopefully we got a few rooms on the same floor, so if one is hit in a very noisy fashion, Penny & Kate and the guards will hear, investigate, and come in behind the demons. If the demons hit one on another floor, then eh.

Whatever happens, in the morning, Penny will investigate which rooms were tampered with / invaded.

We'll spend our spare time in research into what kind of monster "Westbrook" might be.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:11, Tue 06 Jan 2015.

ooc: Very nicely planned! Alright then! You are fortunate and able to get the rooms all on the same floor and you have three guards recruited, also on the same floor. Victoria can loan you any books you may need to scour, in the meantime the hour grows late...

So go ahead and roll a research check. Also, a listen check would be necessary as well.

OOC: A bit late now, so just the rolls:
22:50, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 28 using 1d20+9. research.
22:50, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+9. listen.

"Should we take turns keeping watch?" They'd been pretty thorough in setting up the extra rooms. It would be hard to miss an intruder.


research:12 listen:14

After setting up their defences and elaborate deceptions, Penny settled in for the night, wearing a dressing gown over numerous other layers of sleepware. She'd settled into the armchair with a good book, but the books she had available were grimoires and occult histories.

'Yes, that would be a good idea. We shall have to remain alert through the night until this business is settled. Ah, I have little pills if you need them...' Thankfully, she didn't take them out. 'It's a pity we did not have time to rig up a little bell to ring when the demons enter. Or some sort of effigy of myself at the window for them to shoot at, Holmes would love it.'

ooc: Good thing Penny got good rolls!

In your research Kate comes up with little but Penny is more fruitful. You've heard that some demons can take other forms but surely the wards in the men of letters would prevent that? What does pique your interest though is information about alphas, the firstborn of each race of monsters. Supposedly they are less susceptible to the weaknesses of their offspring, which would make it easy to pass any tests they were given. An alpha shifter would be an intriguing possibility.

Around two in the morning Penny hears the sound of one of the doors down the hall opening. Judging by your position it is likely the room you set for Westbrook.

A shifter could certainly take Westbrook's form and even gain access to his memories; however, their vulnerability to silver meant the impostor would surely have been exposed by Victoria's test. That depended, of course, on how thorough she had been. With enough cunning, a sheath of human skin? Lacking the silver weakness, a firstborn shapeshifter was an intriguing possibility, but so rare and unlikely, Penny wanted to discount it. Now, a ghoul could also have acquired Westbrook's form and perhaps even memories, albeit only be devouring his corpse. They were also unaffected by silver and holy water. Penny needed more testing, more clues.

Hearing sounds in the hall, Penny put down her book, rose and crossed to the bed she and Kate were necessarily sharing. She stirred Kate awake, then padded towards the door, stealthy in her slippers. The pistol and knife weighed down the pockets of her dressing gown. She listened intently, hearing a door opening in the vicinity of the one set for Westbrook — naturally. She spied through the door's spyhole and the keyhole, before she would risk opening it and peering out into the hall.


OOC: And now my rolls are bad.

Move Silently 11. Maybe slippers give a bonus? :)
12:02, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 11 using 1d20+4. move silently.

Listening at the door and peeking out, Spot 12 and Listen 25
12:02, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 12 using 1d20+9. spot.
12:02, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 25 using 1d20+9. listen.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:07, Fri 09 Jan 2015.

ooc: Lol! You're lucky, I rolled a natural 1 ;P

You don't see anything because whoever it was is already in the room, but you do hear the sounds of someone searching through drawers and such, trying to be quiet and failing. Should you decide to pursue the matter you can creep towards the door and they won't seem to hear you. If and when you go towards the door you will find it open just a crack.

ooc: You will need to roll a hide if you want to investigate, though the almost closed door will offer some bonus.

OOC: Are our sturdy Men of Letters alerted or involved yet?

Ooc: not at first but as the rummaging continues you see one poke his head out suspiciously. Feel free to recruit aid ;) thanks for the reminder, still waking up I'm afraid

Kate got out of bed and silently followed Penny, also armed with a knife and her gun which she'd kept close on the night stand. Since Penny was in the already in the lead Kate remained a few steps behind, her weapon up ready to cover if needed.


17:38, Today: Kate Piper rolled 17 using 1d20+4. listen.
17:38, Today: Kate Piper rolled 28 using 1d20+12. Hide.
17:37, Today: Kate Piper rolled 26 using 1d20+9. move silently.

Slipping her enchanted cane out of the umbrella stand by the door, Penny stole out into the corridor, advancing toward Number 102. She also pulled her gun from her pocket, but would prefer the quieter weapon if it came to a brawl. Best not wake the guests and find herself disbarred from the New York Hotel.

Spying the Letters man peer out of the door, Penny gave some quick hand signals, gesturing Kate forward to cover the door — she seemed so much more quiet on her feet on the hotel floorboards — while she directed the Men of Letters to come out and take their positions. One would accompany Kate and herself, and the two others would wait in the corridor outside, serving as back-up and lookouts.


OOC: With rolls like that, Kate can take point. :)
12:01, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+4. hide.

Kate slid silently past Penny moving to the door and taking a quick peek to see who was inside.

The men are quick to obey, readying their weapons and keeping on guard. In the meantime as you look through the door you see to your shock it is Frederick! The red haired man of letters who helped you so much your first few days here. He doesn't appear to notice you yet but he is quickly searching the room, clearly stressed and muttering curses to himself.

"It's Fredrick" Kate mouthed to Penny before she nudged the door open with her foot. "Looking for something?" she asked letting the door swing wide enough open to reveal herself, Penny and the man of letters.

Frederick! Victoria had named him as one she could trust. Penny had mentioned to Frederick they were in Room 303, yet here he was in 102. Westbrook must have sent him as a dupe in his place. So much for catching the villain in the act. Slipping into the room, she trained her gun on the spy, saying after Kate 'May we help you, sir?' because manners were essential, especially when you were pointing a gun at someone.

Frederick looks shocked and stands up quickly, hands raised. It's not what it looks like! he says in a rush, eying the gun nervously. Westbrook sent me to find some case? He says that Victoria may be compromised and that she will try to sneak the case from you and that if I get to it first he can keep it safe! He looks genuinely worried. I didn't want to believe it of her, but I figured I couldn't take the chance. But I can't find it! Did she already get it from you?

Frederick surrendered, but Penny kept her gun trained on him. She nodded the other Man of Letters over to Frederick. 'Johnson, please apply the usual tests: silver, holy water, a light in the eyes. Kate, do you have your smart telephone handy? The camera function should reveal a gleam in the eyes or a glamer of disguise.' she said while Frederick stammered through this story.

Aha! So it was the soul, not the head. The false Westbrook had to be working for Belial, trying to prevent Mrs Bently's resurrection. Penny raised an eyebrow, intrigued. 'Indeed? And why not just ask us for the case?'

Kate pulled out her phone and brought up the camera. "Smile," she said with a grin as she snapped a quick picture. Even if the test proved Fredrick was himself and not a demon or shifter he would have a difficult time proving he could be trusted. But at least they were sure about Wesbrook now.

Frederick is obedient as the men perform the tests, though he looks bewildered at Kate's camera phone. He passes every one with flying colors and judging by his manner he seems to be genuine. I asked Westbrook that but he said Victoria had convinced you that HE was the one under suspicion. Honestly I don't know what to believe. He proved to me he wasn't a shifter or a demon though, so what else could it be? I would love it if he were wrong. Victoria and I have been friends a long time. he shakes his head. What is in the case that is so blamed important anyway? He wouldn't tell me.

'Believe me, you would not wish to know.' Penny deflected the question, her tone dark to throw Frederick off his suspicions. She was distracted, considering the implications of this development and how to handle matters now. 'Oh, there are many things that can pass such tests. Ghouls, for example, or a fey glamer... But I have interviewed Mr Westbrook and am perfectly satisfied on the question of his humanity.' Which was to say she knew he wasn't human at all. Hopefully reassuring Frederick would keep him safe until they could deal with Westbrook.

Frederick listens with a frown. So what should I tell Westbrook then? I assume you will take him the case yourselves now that you know his worries about Victoria?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:23, Fri 16 Jan 2015.

OOC: Actually, I meant to persuade Frederick that Westbrook was a-okay (for now). Penny didn't lie exactly, but implied that she believed Westbrook was human. Which do you wish to go with?

ooc: My apologies! I have fixed it now :)

"We will bring Westbrook the case once we are sure its safe. The contents are very dangerous and the less people know of it the better." Kate added to Penny's explanation.

'Wait. We have a perfect opportunity here, to deliver the case to the safety of the Men of Letters headquarters under the demon's noses. They will not be watching him, if he is discreet. That is, of course, if young Master Frederick feels up to the challenge?' she eyed the man appraisingly, challenging him to this mission. His courage would provide an excellent cover. 'Wait here. I'll go fetch the case.' Penny turned, winked at Kate, then stepped out.

She would return with a case — her own temporally duplicated suitcase, emptied of its contents. After all, Kate had concealed the one containing Mrs Bently's soul within her own backpack, so no one else had seen it. This would make a fine substitute. 'It's very old, given where it's been, so you must be very careful. And on no accounts can it be opened, lest what is inside escape into the world. Be sure to tell Westbrook that. Do not open it.' She set it down on the floor, halfway to Frederick.


OOC:
16:01, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 4 using 1d20+3. bluff.
16:03, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 2 using 1d6. action point.
Total Bluff check 6. Oh, FFS. Let's hope Frederick is pretty well convinced by us now.

Frederick looks most approving of the plan and eyes the suitcase with awe. Hard to believe that such an ordinary thing could hold such evil, whatever that may be. he breathes. I assure you I shall not fail. I am only sorry that I did not ask you for it sooner but I did not know if I could trust you or not. he apologizes. He lifts it and looks surprised at its lightness. Well, I suppose I shouldn't tarry. Thank you for your cooperation ladies. He nods to the hunters Victoria recommended, clearly they are friendly with each other, and then hurries off in his best attempt at secrecy. As he leaves one of the hunters eyes you with a frown. Is that all then? Anything else you'll be needing?

ooc: You are just lucky that Frederick rolled really crappy ;P

"Smooth idea," Kate grinned as Fredrick disappeared with the case. "That should buy us some time."

'Godspeed!' Penny wished Frederick as he hurried off with the decoy suitcase, feeling immensely satisfied with her own cunning.

'It should,' Penny agreed with Kate. She was about to say more when she recalled the hunters' presence. Best not speak too much of the Westbrook situation. 'Not right now, no, thank you. We shall wait out of the remainder of the night, and see what other nocturnal visitors we might have. We are, of course, staying down the hall.' It was impossible to conceal their location from the men now, but as they hadn't tried to murder them thus far, they seemed dependable. 'Good evening, gentlemen. Thanks for your support.' she farewelled, closing up the decoy room and returning to bed with Kate.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:35, Wed 21 Jan 2015.

The rest of the night passes easily enough. It would seem that Westbrook is the only traitor from what you can tell. This is relieving as perhaps you will only have one man to overthrow.

ooc: Let me know of anything else you plan to do that night and your plans for the morning as well. I'm sure that Kitty will want to speak to Penny on Ripper matters so I'm trying to line everyone up accordingly.

OOC: Sorry, long day of teaching. I can't think of anything specific to do, so I'm fine with moving on. Penny will try to speak to Victoria to report what she believes about Westbrook.

Victoria listens with concern but almost looks relieved. I'm glad to hear you share my concern. I was beginning to think I was the only one who saw anything amiss. Whoever he is, he has a twisted tongue to turn Frederick against me she looks sad. That soul is not safe the way it is. I can find the rest of Mrs. Bently's body for you. I think the sooner you reunite her soul the better. In the meantime while I look into it, we have a new recruit who is interested in speaking with you. Her sister is one of the Ripper victims and we found out some disturbing information last night. Perhaps Kate can assist Father Simon while you speak with Miss Kelly?

"Yeah I'm thinking waking Mrs. Bentley sooner than later would be a good idea." Kate agreed. She'd never brought someone back to life before. Would the head reattach or would she carry it around tucked under her arm...

"I'm up for helping Simon if he needs it" Kate agreed. "How much do they know?" She asked.

Penny was only to happy to explain her reasoning and conclusions for Victoria's benefit, feeling really quite proud of her deduction and her cunning plan. However, she stopped short of explaining the extent of the hotel ruse to Victoria – especially since she'd been a part of it, and it might yet have its uses.

'I agree, the safest place for Emma Bently's soul is inside Emma Bently.' Penny agreed, then wondered at the peculiarity of the sentence. 'She can protect herself adequately from there and no longer be our problem. However, I should like to get something over her first, some leverage or binding that will prevent her from turning against us, or a way we can deal with her afterwards.'

'Furthermore, I should like to eliminate this threat inside your organisation, sooner rather than later. We cannot take the risk that this false Westbrook will turn more of your agents against us and disrupt our efforts. On the other hand, we might feed him and thus Belial false information and lure them into traps...' Penny suggested, before facing Victoria and placing her hand on her shoulder, to show she cared. It was peculiar to deal with a black woman so, though only through her own unfamiliarity. Miss Green had quelled any preconceived notions she had. 'Victoria, without Westbrook, you are in command of the Men of Letters. I shall leave how to deal with this impostor up to you. But, if you wish to use him, you may need to set aside your discomfort and try to convince him that you accept him... I understand that this may be difficult.'

'Kelly?' Penny repeated, growing pale. She was taken aback by the mention of the Ripper – after her visit to the future, and all the things she'd seen, she realised she'd not seriously thought of the case for some time. No nightmares, no gruesome memories. Now it all came back, a bloody room in Spitalfields, a face hacked beyond all recognition. The Ripper had wished to utterly erase that woman's identity, so Penny had done all she could to know Mary Jane Kelly as a person. But she'd told so many stories of her life, had adopted so many identities, to so many unreliable witnesses and acquaintances, Penny could not be certain of any of it. But it seemed Mary really did have a sister. Here was a connection to the genuine woman, able to confirm at least some of it. And now she was afraid. 'Yes, yes, of course.' Penny said quietly, unthinkingly, inwardly feeling such trepidation at meeting this Miss Kelly. What could she possibly say about her sister's unspeakably horrific fate?

I-I don't know if I can bring myself to use him. I would much rather overthrow him and find out if the real John is still alive somewhere. I doubt he would believe me if I tried working with him now. The only reason I'm still alive is because I've taken measures to protect myself. Even then I don't know how long I can do so. In the meantime I will come up with something to keep Emma in line. I should have her location and the protection hopefully within a few hours. In the meantime watch yourself. This imposter knows we are on to him and he's not going to sit still for us. I have a safehouse of sorts, a large brownstone on the upper West side. she scribbles down an address. If things get too dangerous or you just need a private place you can be certain of, you are welcome to stay there. I may be headed there myself before long. I think the only way to overthrow Westbrook is to reveal him for what he is, whatever that may be. The more witnesses the better. Who knows who else he's turned against me.

At your reaction to Miss Kelly Victoria grows sympathetic. She is eager to speak to you but I understand if you're not up for it. Otherwise I imagine she is somewhere about her room. she gives you quick directions and then turns to Kate. Simon knows very little of your news. He has stumbled across information of his own. Perhaps you could enlighten him but I suggest you take care of who may hear you. He should be about someplace.

ooc: I'm trying to line things up here so go ahead and finish up and then if you wish Penny, I will have Kitty post on here for the time being, hopefully in response to your seeking her out. Kate can go to the other thread to look for Simon.

"It may be a good idea for you to make yourself scarce until we can figure out what to do with the fake westbrook," Kate suggested to Victoria. "If we can play dumb a little longer he may lead us to the real Westbrook, or at least to who is behind all this." She was glad to hear there was a safe house. This place no longer felt safe. "I'll be sure to track Simon down," she added.

Kate nodded at the other two and suggested to Penny they meet back at the hotel or the safe house later that day. Not that she actually knew how to find the address Victoria had written down.

'Yes, thank you.' Penny memorised the address of the safe-house, understanding it would be a good place to base themselves while the hotel was too well known and the Men of Letters base unsafe. 'Yes, you should take care yourself. The impostor will seek to discredit and dispose of you the first opportunity to gets. But if you leave, the impostor will say you have fled and put about all the stories he likes. Then you shall entirely lose control of the organisation.'

'Well, when you are ready to move against him, let me know. I have an idea to expose him – well, half an idea. We only need to provoke the beast into revealing itself before others.'

'Well, in any case, we have until Belial decides to peek inside my suitcase and realises we duped Frederick and the false Westbrook.'

Penny agreed to meet Kate again in the base or at the hotel if all seemed safe, or the safe-house if it didn't. She checked a map, and showed Kate how to hail a hansom cab to take her to an address behind the safe-house. Taking a back way in would conceal its location if she was followed. She farewelled Kate and Victoria, and set off to find the sister of Mary Jane Kelly.


OOC: Ready to move on and meet Kitty. Please let me know if there's anything I should say about the Ripper and Mary Kelly's murder. (I read the Wikipedia article.)

I would dearly love to hear any ideas you may have. In the meantime I'm wondering if brute force and a barrage of testing wouldn't be my only option. Or perhaps put a tail on the man, see where he leads us, if he ever left his wretched office she sighs. Well, take care. Meet up with me this evening. I can meet at the safehouse just in case there are prying ears. Good luck.

ooc: Ok, so Penny presumably knocks on Kitty's door, so I will tell the player to post here. If you have an opening introduction or anything feel free to post it Penny. Kate, head on over to the crossroads thread and you should be able to find Simon easily enough so you can start conversation as ready. We're almost where I want to be, phew! :D As for the ripper, I trust your eye for detail that you will do a fine job. As far as Penny knows, the details of the case will be knowledge enough. Wikipedia should serve nicely :)

The next morning, Kitty woke up, bathed, dressed, and had just finished eating the food left for her when she heard a knock at her chamber door - opening the door, she beheld a young woman she had not met before.

"Oh!  Hello, my name is Kitty - I am new here.  Pray, come in..."

She stood aside to allow the other woman a chance to enter, if she pleased.

Lurking behind the door, Penny was a bit surprised when it was actually opened. 'Oh. Good morning. I've only been here a few days myself – I'm Penny Dreadful. Um, please, call me Penny.' she introduced, embarrassed at saying out loud the pseudonym she'd picked for herself. It wasn't so amusing when you said it aloud and had to explain the joke.

Hesitant, uncertain, she finally stepped inside Kitty Kelly's room, gazing around. She didn't see the tidy, well-appointed room in the Men of Letters base. Rather, she saw a squalid, blood-soaked single room at the back of Dorset Street over a year before. Finally, she looked at Kitty, scrutinising her face and wondering if there was a family resemblance to Mary. She'd never seen Mary's face; almost nothing had remained of it. She couldn't shake that mutilated mass. 'I— I trust Miss Green or someone has told you about me?' This was the most delicate and difficult part of a case, breaking the news to loved ones, even if this was some time after the fact.

Kitty allowed the oddly-dressed, oddly-named young woman in; she seemed a bit ill at ease, so Kitty wished she could at least offer her some tea.

"There is still some tea in the pot, if I can make you a cup?  I wish I had more to offer you, but I am only just finishing breakfast myself.  Are you...are you the one who slew the Ripper?"

'Uh, yes, please.' Penny accepted, thinking more tea might calm her nerves. At Kitty's question, Penny hesitated, remembering her knife plunging in and out of that man. 'Yes, I did.' She didn't want to talk about it immediately, not killing the Ripper, not Mary's bloody murder. She looked to Kitty, saying hopefully 'I was told you were Mary Kelly's sister — can you please tell me about her? In the investigation, I was able to learn so little about her as a person. But after what he did, I felt obliged to know and remember her.' As a living woman, not a bloody mass.

She could feel her heart clench at the thought, but Kitty knew it was better to talk about it than hold everything in.  She poured the young woman some tea and brought it over to her, handing her the cup.

"Here you are.  Yes, Mary was my sister, my elder sister, elder by seven years.  I was only 9 when she left home, and she was so tall and dark-haired and pretty.  She was also very strong-willed and opinionated, and would not be dominated by our parents - which is why she ended up leaving.  She wrote a couple of letters to me, at first, but after a while my letters to her were unanswered, and I found out she'd moved on and not told anyone where.  It wasn't until I left home myself, and found out what life was like for a young woman without opportunity, what she was most likely doing - and when I finally found out where she was, and went find her, it was too late.  It broke my heart, knowing I would never see her again, and knowing from the papers what that monster did to her.  But to find out that my own father was complicit her death...I felt anger like I've never felt before, not even against the Ripper."

"For a while I fantasized that I would track down the Ripper myself and get my vengeance - but of course, this was only a foolish dream, but it upset me greatly that he seemed to get away with his murders scott free.  But when I heard that you had killed him, well it was a shock at first, but I must say I felt much better about the whole thing than I had in months, as if a weight has come off my shoulders."

She wondered if she should confess that the focus of her revenge now lay on her own father - what would people think?  What would her new employers think?  She decided against saying anything, at least for the moment.

"Would you mind very much telling me how it happened?  I've seen it happen in my mind so often, I would like to compare how my vision of his demise compares with his real death.  If that sounds like a morbid obsession, I confess, it was...but I feel it is nearly over with now."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:15, Thu 29 Jan 2015.

Gently taking the teacup, Penny sipped and listened to Kitty's account of her sister. It began to settle the varied accounts of her life before Whitechapel, and the conflicting reports of her appearance. Dark-haired... They'd called her "Black Mary", but also "Ginger" and "Fair Emma". Penny had later discovered a collection of old wigs...

Then Penny heard something so shocking she almost dropped her teacup. When Kitty had finished, Penny didn't answer her question, but said instead 'I... I beg your pardon – your father? Complicit?' That was a new twist, and Penny trembled to think that everything last time might have been wrong, that the Ripper case might have to be reopened... 'No, no, it was a solitary maniac. He was protected, but acted alone and of his own accord. There was no one else that I could find...' she denied.

Now it was Kitty's turn to be surprised: she had assumed they would have told Penny what happened at the crossroads.

"I'm sorry, I just assumed they filled you in - we went to the crossroads last night, Father Cole, lily, and myself, and raised a demon.  They forced it into a devil's trap and made it talk about the Ripper and my father: I don't know exactly how much you can trust what a demon has to say, but she clearly implicated my father for trading my sister's life for his own gain with some demonic order, or another - and somehow the Ripper was part of all that as well, an instrument of some sort.  So you see, you not only avenged my sister, but you stopped this horrible demon cult from using the Ripper to kill other victims for their purposes."

'Demons lie fluently.' Penny said, but remained troubled by the news, reminding her of the differences of the Mary Kelly case. '...Your sister's murder was very different to the others. The other women were in the 40s, and were slain on the streets. Mary Kelly was much younger, and attacked in her room. The pattern of wounds was so similar, we naturally connected them. But they were so much more... extensive. I believed the killer had the time and privacy to go so much further... But this changes things...' Penny trailed off, considering the implications she dare not voice. There had been other savage murders of prostitutes in the area, there had been other murderous maniacs prowling the streets of Whitechapel, like the Torso Killer with a penchant for leaving bodies and arms scattered about London sans heads and legs. And there had been monsters of a more supernatural kind. Had the Ripper killed to order? Had she killed the wrong Ripper?
This message was last edited by the player at 06:59, Thu 29 Jan 2015.

Kitty nodded, feeling slightly anxious about the subject matter; her sister's murder always was a touchy subject.

"Yes, younger by age, but...her lifestyle, shall we say...it ages one, prematurely.  So, she might have looked older than her real age - but if the demon spoke true none of that matters: she was chosen specifically because of my father and not because she fit some kind of pattern.  Believe me, I am thankful that you have disposed the world of this monster - yet, the monster who unleashed that monster on my sister remains alive, glorying in his ill-gotten gains, no doubt, and not caring a brass farthing if his own family finds out his business.  If I were to see him in the streets of London now, knowing what I now know....I am not sure what I would do."

Gingerly, Penny rested a reassuring hand on Kitty's shoulder. At least, she hoped it was reassuring. She had her own bitter memories of fathers, and hoped to impart her own strengths. She waited a time, setting her words in order 'He is still your father, and I have found, all too often, that one cannot fight off family.' she sighed. 'They assail you your weakest point: the heart. It is difficult to overcome the feelings you may have had, or wish you had, for a parent after a betrayal. You can love them and hate them and mourn who they never were, all at once. I am sorry.'

Penny sensed that Kitty was much like her sister Mary, from the stories told about her. Strong-willed, clever, talented, meant for so much more than the lives fate and family had given them. 'But I trust you would watch and learn, hold yourself back. Stalk your prey. Make yourself strong and safe before you confront him.'

Kitty twitched a bit when Penny put her hand on her - she was not used to people touching her without a prior agreement, but in this case she was grateful: it felt reassuring.

"Thank you, I shall remain cautious.  I am in no way prepared to confront my father over all of this, not yet.  I'd like some kind of independent confirmation of what the demon said; they are hardly a trustworthy source of information.  And, honestly, I am still trying to come to terms with everything that has happened recently.  I feel over my head.  You've all been very nice, but I am also a stranger in a strange land.  It may take me some time to catch up to the rest of you.  But...I do thank you for the kindness you've shown me, and for what you did to avenge my sister."

Penny removed her hand, replying 'I only recently became involved with the Men of Letters myself, meeting them here several days ago. It was not long before that I arrived in New York, having sailed from Britain.' She turned a small smile. 'So, you see, we are two British women abroad in a strange land.'

'Of course.' she murmured in acknowledgement. 'Was there anything you wished to know, about Mary or how she died?'
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 06:48, Thu 05 Feb 2015.

Kitty thought long an hard about Penny's last question before she answered.

"I have mostly very fond memories of Mary from when I was a child; I think I would rather keep those memories in my heart, rather than learn the awful truth about her last moments - it was hard enough reading the details in the paper.  I wish to know nothing more about the specifics - but thank you for asking.  The Ripper's death brings me some closure, and some closure is better than none."

"By the way, Penny, are you from London?  Technically, I am Welsh - Dw i'n dod o Carmarthenshire."

'Ah, yes, of course...' Penny agreed, ashamed of herself for raising the ghastly topic, but she'd had to offer. She paused a while to consider her words before she went on. 'But you may not have read that she died very quickly, perhaps painlessly, when asleep or drunk. Not, not in agony... I— thought you'd want to know. It was a small comfort.' She felt Kitty might want to know, given how much she herself had dreaded to consider that the victim might have conscious during the mutilations. To determine that she had not had been a small relief, though it did nothing to lessen the horror of what had followed. For her part, with eyes wide open, Penny stared hard at the floor, and through it, to the vision of Mary Kelly turned inside out. She'd close her eyes, but then she'd only see it with all the more dreadful clarity. How could she ever get that sight out of her mind?

Kitty's question came as a welcome change of topic. 'Ah, no. I moved to London, but I'm originally from Devonshire, near Dartmoor and Mummerset... Ah, Carmarthenshire. But your family came from Limerick in Ireland?' Penny asked, remembering Joseph Barnett's account. She intrigued to learn more about the woman who so haunted her. 'So her stories were true. I had a devil of a time confirming Mary's background... Do you have a picture of her? Might I look at it?' she asked, suddenly hopeful. If she could just put a face to Mary Kelly, the face that the Ripper had hacked off, she might know her own peace.

"It is true, my family is now based in Limerick, but they are originally from Wales.  It would seem that part of my father's 'deal' involved him moving up the ladder in coal operations, from foreman to exporter, and that meant a move when I was very young.  All of my siblings were born in Carmarthenshire, it was one of several points the newspaper got wrong."

"And thank you for telling me that she died painlessly...I have often fretted about that, especially considering the grisly newspaper accounts.  Is it a small comfort, as you say, but small comfort is better than none."

She went over to her large bag and rummaged around, before finally producing an old photograph of a woman holding a rabbit, with a boy and a girl beside her.  She held it out to Penny.

"This is the only picture I have of her - she gave it to me.  That is our mother, and Mary, when she was just a girl.  The boy is our eldest brother, David.  Obviously, I had not been born yet."



This message was last edited by the player at 13:17, Fri 06 Feb 2015.

Penny gratefully took the photograph, holding it very carefully. She peered closely at the black-and-white portrait, surprised to hear it was of Mary Kelly as a girl. That just made it all the sadder, to know that this smiling girl would grow up to have such an impoverished life, and die so young in such horrific circumstances. It hardly helped put a face to the woman as an adult. 'Thank you.' she said, passing the photograph back. Still, it seemed an idyllic family scene; Penny could not recall any such photographs of the Darkmoors, who hardly needed to be rendered in black-and-white to seem dour and gray. 'And the rabbit?' she asked with a little amusement.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:25, Sat 07 Feb 2015.

"My brother David's pet, before I was born.  Apparently he named her 'Bunny', which goes to show you the depth of his creativity..."

Perhaps that was a bit unfair, but of all her siblings her brother David was most like their father: a strict Roman Catholic with a dour, downcast Calvinist outlook and Puritanical attitudes.  She had no doubts that once 'Bunny' ceased being an amusement in that house she went straight into the pot, and probably without protest from her brother.  Mary, on the other hand, like herself, would have bewailed the unfairness of it all.  Still, she begrudged her brother all the time he spent with sister, which was a lot more than she'd gotten.

"You can already see she was tall for her age, and her hair was dark - that's why I nicknamed her 'Blackbird', although when she was born her hair was more like mine."

'In London, she was known as Black Mary or Dark Mary, though her landlord reckoned it was for her temper when in drink. Others knew her as Ginger or Fair Emma, suggesting a redhead or a blonde. It was most confusing. At first, I thought the witnesses were mistaken or were describing different people, but I found a collection of old wigs. I believe she'd maintained a number of identities with which to ply her trade. She could have had quite a talent on the stage...' Penny recalled, regretting the young woman's ruined life.

Kitty nodded, and showed the ghost of a smile.

"I remember, Mary liked to sing and dance.  She wasn't much of a dancer, but she had a lovely voice.  Our parents frown upon such 'antics', of course, and so she was never encouraged to pursue her gifts.  I think she might have enjoyed working on stage; I only wish someone had given her the chance."

'Yes, her friends and neighbours said she sang often – Irish songs, mainly. She was singing "A Violet I Plucked from Mother's Grave When a Boy." before...' Penny left it unsaid.

She was intrigued by the family's frowning upon dance and song. 'Oh? There was tell that she had a family member working in the theatre in London, but I could not locate anyone connected to her.'

"A cousin, on my mother's side - I think that is initially why Mary ran off to London in the first place, to contact this person and maybe share in the same life as she had.  I don't recall her name, I was young and had never met her."

'Oh.' Penny didn't have more to say, and began to feel a little discomforted to sit too long talking to someone she'd only just met. It did seem as though they knew someone in common, from opposite sides of her life. 'I think I hear someone outside, maybe they wish to visit... Was there anything else you wished to know? Did you still wish to, ah, hear how the Ripper died?' Penny didn't really want to tell the grisly, traumatic tale, but if it would bring Kitty closure, she would do. It might even bring herself some peace.

"Actually...I would like to hear about how you dispatched that monster.  However did you find him, and, please forgive me for asking, but how are you sure that it was he?"

Penny thought of those cold, glaring eyes looming over her, that flashing dagger in his hand, and shuddered. 'I'm sure.' she answered firmly. Falteringly, Penny began to explain the course of her investigation in brief dry detail, of how she'd been brought in by the police when they feared an occult or supernatural connection – Sherlock Holmes had recommended her to them. She'd gone over the police investigation with a fine-toothed comb, re-examining notes, evidence, and records of interviews with witnesses and suspects, then repeated much of it herself, seeking out the witnesses again to clarify points or see how their stories had changed. She undid the police bungling; eliminated the liars and attention-seekers who given false accounts; ferreted out the shameless reporters who'd sent fraudulent "Jack the Ripper" letters to drum up newspaper sales; exposed those who attempted to pin the crimes on the Jews to cause outrage; and uncovered how mortuary staff had stolen organs from the already opened corpses to sell as specimens. It was, she said, a complete mess, and she could not acquire specific evidence to lead directly to a suspect. She could find no trace of an occult or supernatural element, but remained on the case and determined to catch the killer.

Thus, working with only the credible remaining evidence, Penny began to construct an outline of the killer, in personality and appearance, in habits and motives, a psychological profile many years before it would be formally invented. She supposed the killer was a British man in his 40s, plain of appearance so he passed unnoticed and with light brown hair that might appear dark, fair, or ginger depending on the light. He was upper-middle-classed, but enjoyed slumming amongst the lower classes of Whitechapel, perhaps in a sense of self-loathing. He threw on a shabby old coat and hat to pass as one of them, but the folk there could tell easily he was not one of them. He set out on his excursions at the end of the working week, on a Friday or Saturday night, giving himself the weekend to recover.

He lacked normal human emotions and empathy, and was a rampant misogynist who used women for his own pleasure, which took a very dark and twisted turn. He'd likely lost the function of his "male organ" via syphilis or other sexually transmitted disease, blamed the prostitutes for his condition, and transferred his desires to a knife of similar size. He'd probably begun to harm prostitutes in increasingly violent ways, escalating to slashing, murder, and mutilation. The pathologists had agreed he lacked any skill at surgery or even butchery, despite press reports and rumours. Penny likened the cuts to a botched and mangled school dissection, which was probably what the killer had had in mind – a desire to see inside whilst defacing the outside. The killer had probably enjoyed a school dissection when young, and attended numerous public dissections.

'And with that, all that remained was to set a trap...'


OOC: Okay, I made all that up from skimming the Wikipedia pages, taking everything as true-ish, and using some amateur profiling. My navigation history is looking disturbing now.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:32, Sun 08 Feb 2015.

Kitty listened with rapt attention - if the death of her sister had not been involved she would have loved reading about this in the serials.

"You set up a trap?"

'Of course. I could not track down the Ripper directly, so I proposed instead to, ah, catch the villain red-handed...' Penny's investigation throughout the month of October, 1888, had had her working closely with the prostitutes who plied the Whitechapel and Spitalfields area, many of whom were equally determined to see the Ripper, the Torso Killer, and other predators stopped. Furthermore, Penny could earn the women's trust when the police had so dismally failed, and the young suffragist had been generous and respectful, treating them with the utmost professional courtesy.

Penny circulated a list of the Ripper's likely distinguishing traits amongst the women, so they could keep watch for him. Then, every Friday and Saturday night, she lay in wait in Whitechapel. With utmost dignity, she'd lurked in squalid alleys listening to uncomfortable noises. Bravely, Penny had initially proposed disguising herself as a prostitute, a plan that the ladies Molly and Beth had carefully steered her away from lest she have to follow through. Instead, a network on informants was organised to quickly reach her and a squad of constables with news. This network was based around the poor 40-year-old women the Ripper particularly preyed upon.

All that remained was to wait.

And wait. All through October and into November, the Ripper didn't strike again, breaking his habit. He may have been put off by the intense press interest or had somehow spied Penny's operation. Perhaps he'd been killed or incarcerated on some other matter. It almost seemed to be over, the squad of constables dried up.

Then came Mary Kelly's murder – on a Thursday night, in Spitalfields, within her own room rather than an alley. Penny was certain the killer was the same man, and that he'd only changed his routine in response to Penny's surveillance. So she widened her net and continued her watch.

'Then, the next weekend, Saturday the 17th, he was on the prowl again...'
This message was last edited by the player at 06:03, Tue 10 Feb 2015.

Kitty shuddered at the thought.

"I remember reading how my sister was the only one attacked in her room, and there was no sign of forced entry - he must have either followed her, and found her door unattended, or managed to get himself invited in.  So you think he discovered that you were on to him, then?  He was a clever predator, then...or else imbued by whatever supernatural augmentations given to him by these demons.  So, the 17th..."

'Actually, Mary had lost her key. And broken her window. She would reach through the window past a coat she used as a curtain to unlatch the door. It was easy for an onlooker to work out.' Penny corrected, recalling the details of the crime scene. 'After interviewing witnesses and resolving the small matter of the kitten in the nighttime, I determined that she had entertained her last client of the day, sang for a time, then readied for bed. The killer entered her room shortly thereafter and caught her unawares, laying in bed.'

'He did not seem especially intelligent, nor gifted with supernatural ability. There may have been a tip off, or someone inadvertently let slip our plans. I scarcely had the chance to interrogate him... For my part, I am truly sorry that I failed Mary by not being able to catch him in time.' Penny ended regretfully.


OOC: more later
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 05:42, Fri 13 Feb 2015.

'So, on the 17th – or, rather, the small hours of the 18th – the Ripper was on the prowl again. For three nights, I had been lying in wait in a small room in Whitechapel. As you can imagine, I had very little sleep and so relied on small amounts of cocaine to keep me alert and energised. I had to be ready and at my peak when I confronted the Ripper. I was tense, anxious, not at all knowing what I would be facing. I still half-expected a demon or other monster. And all I could do was wait and pace that little room, listening to every noise outside.' Telling her story, Penny was just as tense. It had been ages since she'd told anyone.

'All night, my spies, my own Baker Street Irregulars, had come to me with reports of gentlemen fitting the descriptions and list of mannerisms I'd compiled. Naturally, there were many, and most false, but I had to investigate each and every sighting, so I was often stepping out. It did little to help me relax.'

'Finally, there came a quite credible report. A suspect had approached my own Sweet Beth, a fellow she did not at all like the looks of. She was able to stall him for a time and sent Molly to fetch me. By the time we got back, he'd hustled her into an alley...' She breathed out hard through her teeth, feeling again the fear and dread she'd felt then. She spoke faster, with shorter sentences, as she remembered her tale as if it happening again. 'I sent Molly to fetch the police or even the McGee gang, and made pursuit. Inside, Beth and he were struggling; he'd forced her to the ground, drew his blade. I remember it caught no light; it was dull, still encrusted in blood. I ran in, desperate to stop him before he cut Beth's throat.'

'I'd learned from the locals that a half-brick in a sock can be a devastating weapon, and whirling mine overhead, hit him right in the back. He dropped Beth, turned on me, his knife in his hand. He laughed, said he'd have the both of us. We duelled terribly across that alley, knife to umbrella, fist and nail. Just as he killed, he favoured slashing attacks, slower and more obvious than thrusting, so I was often able to hook his wrist with my brolly, but he would never give up his knife. He was no greater fighter, but manic in his strength and savagery. Beth recovered and snatched up my half-brick, and bravely slammed it down on the back of his head. It was only enough to stun him. I noted he seemed surprised, that the women he preyed upon were fighting back. He shoved Beth to the ground, then turned and fled into the back alleys. And I gave chase.' Penny said grimly, reminded of her own determination to see the Ripper stopped.

"My goodness!", exclaimed Kitty, "What a story!  You were so brave!"

She knew what it was like to be in 'Sweet Beth's position; no matter how desperate, she never went out at night in either Edinburgh or Manchester without her trusty blade.  She'd fought off men before, but they all ran like rabbits the moment she drew a weapon and defended herself: she never had to face anything like Ripper, or any demon for that matter, she couldn't imagine what it was like.

The story kept her glued to her seat.

"Whatever happened next?"

'Well, I'd lost precious seconds seeing to Beth, and despite his age and weight, the killer soon outpaced me. When I lost sight of him in the winding back alleys, I tracked him by the sound of his footsteps, his prints on the dirt ground, a sighting by a worker, the scurrying of rats. A broken window. He'd hidden in a workshop, closed for the night. The Ripper had spent his evenings prior to his murders scouting out the neighbourhood, noting where people were, what they were doing, avenues by which he might escape and places to conceal himself. I knew he was inside, waiting and ready.'

'I stepped in. It was dark inside, of course, and quiet. London seemed a world away. The place was full of tools and machines, sharp things. I hunted him about that place. Every bump and creak and scrape of a rusty blade seemed to be the killer lurking. Then,when I found him – he jumped upon me.' She shuddered, feeling so tense and cold as her memories reached their most traumatic point. 'I was on the ground, he was over me, holding me down, drawing his knife. I remember his eyes most of all, so cold they seemed dead. He said he wouldn't kill me quick like the other women, no. He would take me apart alive. Rather than cut my throat, he seized my neck and strangled me to stop me screaming. I couldn't cry out, I couldn't breath.' Absently, Penny rubbed her throat, still feeling the crushing weight, the blackness descending.

'Then he slashed his knife across my belly, left to right as was his style. I heard a rip—' Penny indicated a line across her stomach, then laughed, short, shallow, and empty of humour. 'It was my dress. I wore a protective corset underneath for just that reason. My protections would not last long, as he tried to tear my clothes from me. I struggled desperately to keep him from cutting me.'

'But I knew his movements then, and had two hands free. Fighting against suffocation, against him, against my own terror and weakness, at last – I seized the knife. I would never let it go. I pitted all my strength against him, turning that blade. What else could I do, but fight or die? So slowly, inch by painful inch, I turned it about and— The blade slid into his belly. I felt hot blood run down my hands. I twisted it, in him, out of his hands. I had the knife, the hilt was so slippery with his blood, I squeezed it so tight my arm felt as though it would burst.'

'Murderous and vengeful, even in death, he put his hands, like claws, around my throat, to strangle and throttle and slam my head against the wooden floor. I couldn't breath, I couldn't see, I couldn't even think. All I knew was that I had to save myself. All I knew was the knife. I stabbed, I cut, I slashed, I dragged the knife across and opened him up as he did all those women. I must have been like a savage animal as I ripped him and tore him open, tore him apart. At some point, I got him in the heart. At some point he must have died, but those eyes, those eyes remained cold and dead. I had to keep attacking. He had a dead's man grip upon my throat, until I cut his hands. I kept cutting him. I— I don't know when I stopped. I don't think I could.' Penny breathed in and out, shuddering with the horror of what she'd been through, what she'd survived, what she'd done.

She couldn't hold herself up any more. Penny doubled over, placing her face in her hands to cover her eyes before tears spilled out. Then she told Kitty what she'd dared tell no one else. Perhaps only Kitty could and would understand. 'And— and I enjoyed it. I enjoyed it, ripping that fiend apart. Soaked in his blood, I felt what he did. I felt sick. I felt ecstatic. Vengeance for what he'd tried to do to me, and Beth, for what he'd done to Mary Ann and Annie and Elizabeth and Catherine and Mary Jane and for everyone else. It felt right, so help me God. Is that wrong?' she begged for Kitty to tell her and make her feel well again.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:10, Sat 14 Feb 2015.

Kitty could contain herself no longer, and reached over to embrace the sobbing young woman - she who had done so much to rid the world of a true evil, but even now felt guilt at having done so.  What man would feel so inclined?  It was not fair, and she would have none of it.

"Miss...", she could not bring herself to call her Miss Dreadful, "...Penny, hush now, you have done the world a great service, and a great service to me and the other family members who lost a loved one due to that monster.  I have to say...I would have enjoyed it as much as you, perhaps even more.  I expect I shall feel that way if and when I finally confront my father.  But I will not feel bad for letting my heart feel what it will, and nor should you.  Society would keep us as pretty tame little birds, good only to look at and hear in song: but we know that only some women have safe, fancy cages; the rest of us must fend for ourselves in an ugly, brutal, indifferent world, and we must do what we have to in order to get by.  And if someone wishes to judge us or our actions in this context, let them, for I for one will stand tall and proud and trumpet my accomplishments to their faces.  If the police hadn't been corrupt or mindless bunglers, they would have caught the man; instead, it took a very brave woman to not only stop him but make sure he would cause no further harm.  You are a hero, Penny, if anyone you should be on the front page of the Times or the Examiner, not this Holmes fellow."

She stroked Penny's hair, as she would for a younger sister in distress.

"If there was any person in the world who deserved what he got, besides my father I mean, it was that monster - and you did it, Penny.  You should be proud.  Please, be of good cheer, who knows how many woman will remain alive today, thanks to you?"

After a time, Penny recovered some of her composure, looking up from her hands with red-rimmed eyes. She spoke haltingly 'Thank you... Yes, I know... I know in my head that it is normal to feel this way, that I did what anyone would in such circumstances, given the chance... But it is hard to live with the memories, of what I witnessed, what I experienced, and what I did. To know that we are all capable of such darkness if driven to extremes. That I could be a predator too.' she admitted to herself, feeling good to release that burden, for a time anyway. Penny sighed loudly. 'I suppose the difference is that we feel remorse. A monster does not.' She patted Kitty on the shoulder. 'Thank you for your kind words.'

Eventually, she resumed her account, the aftermath. 'Well, the next thing I remember clearly is when, Beth and Molly arrived with the McGee gang – Mick McGee owed me a favour after I got him acquitted of the murder of Clubber Jimmy, on account of Jimmy already being dead. His boys hauled the corpse and other remains off me and got the knife out of my hand while Beth apparently stopped me screaming. Eventually we were able to get the police in, they hosed the blood off me, and I was sent home to recover my wits... It is remarkable how things just... go back to normal.'

'Well, over the next few days I was able to trace the man's identity... I have never said to outsiders, but you of all people deserve to know. His name was James Richard Upton, a minor but influential civil servant, largely fitting my hypothesised description and habits. He was entirely human, too, not a demon or vampire or anything else. It seems true evil still lies in the hearts of men... He was also a member of the Diogenes Club and thus had, on occasion, had tea or discussed the weather with various leading members of the police force, government, and the press. He'd made a point of doing so. A subtly manipulative man, all it took was a word in the ear of such men to send the police investigation along a certain path, to whip up media interest, to blame the Jews, or whatever else he fancied. He'd probably learned of my plan the same way. "Jack the Ripper" was a name he devised, in jest it seemed. He wanted to be famous.'

'Well, imagine the scandal if this were to get out. An MP having tea with the Ripper! It could bring down the government. Terribly inconvenient. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the investigation soon dried up. There were no clues to his crimes at his home, and we had only the body, the knife, prostitutes and street thugs as witnesses, and my word as to what had happened. Of course, they knew my word was good, but...' She chewed her lips, filled with regret, cursing her tactical choices. 'There was talk that I had perhaps taken too much cocaine during the time I lay in wait, that I had been in a mania, suffering hallucinations and paranoid delusions. I should be lucky they did not accuse me of being the Ripper!'

'But ultimately the police, in their wisdom, decided Upton had been murdered for his valuables, and McGee furnished a body. And the Ripper never struck again.' She snorted in derision. Penny was clearly bitter about the whole sorry business, being ignored and belittled, being denied her triumph and reputation for all her hard work and traumatic experience. She could have been the most celebrated detective in history. But she was too much a loyal daughter of the Empire to bring it all down, not for mere fame. She accepted her fate and made her sacrifice with the dignity of an Englishwoman. 'I should make it clear that no one actively covered it up, or lied, or concealed the truth. Only that they could not even consider it, could not look further.'

'My only hope was that in time, even in a hundred years or so, the evidence would come to light and my work would be known. And that that nasty and pathetic creature would be forgotten, that he would not get his fame. But... I have only recently returned from the future, and Jack the Ripper is the most famous killer in history, the subject of hundreds of books and moving pictures, all speculating as to his identity. And the truth and I are long forgotten.' Penny sighed. After everything, she couldn't even muster the outrage.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:33, Tue 17 Feb 2015.

Kitty wasn't sure which alarmed her more, the baldfaced corruption of the Metropolitan Police Department, or the fact that Penny believed that she had traveled into the future.  Well, perhaps she had: since joining up with these new friends all sorts of possibilities have since emerged that she would have considered deranged not very long ago.  She could not help but wonder what the future was like.

"You have been...to the future?  How?  And what was it like?"

And what she really wanted to know: was she avenged on her father, and his evil cabal of power?

And there was a welcome change of topic. 'Yes, via a magical portal.' Penny managed to say without sounding like a maniac. 'Miss Kate Piper hails from the 2013. We sought to bring her home, but had to return on some pressing business.'

'The future is... I am not too sure how to describe it, as it at once both very different and very similar. I would characterise it as rude and crude, with very low standards of decency, yet also much more open-minded and accepting. Women have the vote and all the freedoms of a man, though the fight to improve attitudes continues. People are generally intellectually and philosophically advanced, yet dangerously retrograde ideas flourish. There is still war and anarchist bombings, and the industry began in our time continues to poison the world, but they have such marvellous inventions. Disease is low and people know great health, but the food is so rich they grow fat and ill. It is... different. I could spend years exploring and learning.'

'You do not believe me, do you? As well you shouldn't. You should speak to Miss Piper and ask to see her amazing portable "smart" telephone.'

As you continue your conversation you are interrupted by the sounds of screams down the hall and many more shouts added to the din.

"2013!!???!  But that is incredible!  However - "

The sounds of screaming from down the hall interrupted Kitty's response.

"Dear God, that does not sound good at all!  We'd better see what is going on!"

She reached for the blessed revolver they had given her and made ready to go down the hall.

'Oh no,' Penny started at the sounds of screaming, suddenly taken back to a dingy street in Whitehall... She checked her weapons – revolver, knife, and cane – had the presence of mind to finish her tea, then hurried off after Kitty, dreading what they might find outside. Were the Men of Letters finally under attack?

As you enter the hallway you move down the corridor a ways and see six men and women seemingly trapped in one of the devil's traps that are scattered throughout the headquarters. They look furious and squirm in the crowded space uncomfortably. Shouts down the hall in the opposite direction reveal similar circumstances...

'My word!' Penny exclaimed as she gazed upon the people crowded so close together, soon spotting the devil's trap beneath their feet and deducing what had happened. Demons had infiltrated the Men of Letters' very headquarters, they'd come and gone freely, somehow finding a way to bypass the traps that suddenly no longer protected them. She could almost laugh. But there were so many of them. Her initial estimation had been correct: the organisation was indeed lousy with spies and corrupted members.

'Kitty! Please stand guard, make sure no-one comes to release them! If they do, throw this into the circle.' She pressed a small cloth bag into Kitty's hands, then started hurrying down the corridor to the next set of curses and the likely location of another trap. She had to see the full extent of this, appraise the situation, and work out what in hell was going on.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:49, Tue 24 Feb 2015.

"Ok!"

She had no idea what the bag was, or what was inside, but she stood ready to do as instructed.

She walked a little closer to the group of six so she could examine them.

"What, are you a bunch of demons too?  You lot breed like rats..."

Kitty: You receive glowers in response and a woman speaks. Let us go or when I get out I'll wear your guts for a necklaceshe growls.

Penny: As you investigate the pandemonium you see it is indeed widespread. Some of the demons catch you by surprise as they had seemed so pleasant in your short dealings with them. You soon run across Ian who looks more serious than you've yet seen him and yet somewhat unsurprised. Ah, I see you've discovered the mess we're in too he notes. It was Kate's doing. She noticed the devil's traps had been tampered with. We went about fixing them but had no idea it would end up like this he shakes his head. I've been trying to clear the corridors, exorcise as many as I could. I was just about to start in this area. Have you seen Kate?

She was glad to see Ian was not one of the demons - she hadn't thought he was, but it would seem one never knew.

"I have not, but I have just seen Penny - she went that way down the corridor", she pointed in the direction Penny ran.  "Is there anything I can do to assist?  Its rather like catching a bunch of rats, isn't it?"

OOC: Kitty, I think you mixed up our responses. :p I'll adapt.

Seeing another bundle of demons trapped and struggling in a magic circle,  and fair blocking up the corridor,  Penny turned about and hurried back to where she had left Kitty. She seemed new to this world,  and Penny didn't want to leave her at the mercy of the demons should they escape. She felt obliged to protect her after their earlier conversation, and what they shared via Mary.

Returning,  she found Kitty speaking to Ian.  Initially relieved,  she grew apprehensive. With this many demons infiltrating the base, she couldn't trust anyone. Those not in circles were merely those lucky enough not to walk into one before the rest. Everyone needed to be retested.  And where was the false Westbrook? 'More like catching flies on fly paper,  I would say. Should we keep some to interrogate or should we expel all of them to clear the corridors? And we need to find Mr Westbrook.'

ooc: No worries! :D

Ian looks relieved that you are both safe and he nods quickly at the suggestions Penny gives. Well to navigate safely we'll need to clear most of them though I do want to leave a few for questioning. We should also flush out anyone who hasn't stepped across one and see if they are a danger or not. It could be that some simply haven't been through the halls yet and seeing all this they would avoid it as long as possible. Perhaps we can convince everyone to prove themselves that way he suggests. Westbrook is a top priority. I say we head there as soon as the way is clear. I don't suppose you know how to do exorcisms yet? he arches an eyebrow at Penny.

ooc: I'm hoping to combine the threads soon and have the others join you so bear with me ;)

A ghost of a smile passed across Penny's face, dangerous and delighted. 'No, but I have the next best thing in mind.' She retrieved the small bag from Kitty; about half a fist in size, it was made of old cloth daubed with a red sigil, and felt like it contained bones, powder, a twig, leaves, and other strange detritus. This spell hadn't been used for over a hundred years, and then only by the witch who'd devised it, one Scottish hag named Rowena. Penny had had only some historical knowledge of her and limited information about the spell, not enough to reconstruct it. It wasn't until she browsed some witchcraft lore on the Internet in 2013 that she'd been able to recreate it, though not to its full effect.

'Catch!' Penny called to the captive demons, tossing the hexbag into the devil's trap. 'Depurgare!' The demons soon felt their insides begin to twist and writhe, as their possessed vessels began to reject their foul corruption. The purgative spell allowed the body itself to expel the demon, surely a more natural and healthy cure. They gasped and groaned, clutched their bellies and fell to their knees, and finally began to vomit up a thick, black slime.

'Sadly, I could not manage the secondary aspect that would leave them bound and dead in this form. They'll seep through the floor and back to the Pit as usual. In the future, we may try catching them in buckets... Now, let us expel those in our path, capture those who remain for questioning, and make our to Mr Westbrook.'


OOC: Using Depurgare, my new witchcraft-themed Exorcism variant, Concentration 16, beats DC 15.
11:04, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+3. concentration.
I've described what should happen, though feel free to cut back if it gets interrupted, Artemis.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:30, Thu 26 Feb 2015.

"Goodness", exclaimed kitty upon seeing what happened to the demons - or rather, the demon-possessed people, "I can see that I have a lot to learn!"

What the bloody he- he suddenly remembers his manners. What in blazes was that?! he demands. Kitty may find it surprising that he is seemingly in the dark as to what just occurred. When the air clears a bit remind me to ask you how you did that he shakes his head looking at Penny as though impressed. Unfortunately the vessels seem to be already dead as they fall lifeless to the ground. Ian looks sad. How many are we going to lose when this is all over? he mutters. Come on, we'd best hurry.

ooc: Please roll a concentration check to see how easily you exorcise the devil's traps you run across. Both of you please roll spot and listen checks as well.

'Fear not, it may be a witch's hex-bag, but it is white magic. A powerful cleansing spell, largely comprising rock salt, holly berry, and hellebore. Ancient purgatives for driving out filth. A kind of metaphysical laxative, if you will.' Penny explained, retrieving her hex-bag from amidst the prone corpses and puddles like black tar that were seeping rapidly through the floorboards and into the earth below. Back to Hell they would go. 'It dates back to the last century, but I was only able to complete it in the 21st.' Penny inspected the hex-bag. She was so very pleased it had worked on her first try too. It required further development, of course, and the demons needed to be confined close to the hex-bag for it to take effect, but it gave her a very useful weapon in the fight against them.

She looked mournfully upon the mass of corpses left behind. 'Sadly, demons kill their host bodies the first chance they get, to prevent them talking after they leave, but mostly out of spite. There's little we can do for them.' Penny explained, mostly for Kitty's benefit. She pocketed her hex-bag, then set off again with Ian and Kitty.


OOC: Listen 21, Spot 27
Find Clues feat: if Penny passes with 5 ft of a clue, she gets a free Search check, Search 20
10:23, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20 using 1d20+12. find clues: search.
10:23, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 21 using 1d20+9. listen.
10:23, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 27 using 1d20+9. spot.

Concentration 12, I needed to bump up my skill here now. Weirdly, only Tough Heroes have it as a class skill.
10:24, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 12 using 1d20+3. concentration.

"Do you travel through time often", Kitty asked, genuinely intrigued.  She was very curious about what might be like.  Kitty often felt as if she were not at home in her own time an place - perhaps she were better off going into the past - or the distant future.

"I would be very interested in trying that some day..."

On the way, Penny answered 'No, I scarcely knew it as more than a science fiction writer's fancy until very recently, when Miss Piper came to us. I only went the one time, there and back again for but a day. I highly recommend a trip through time, to see the marvels of the future, but beware – some people will get so dreadfully upset...' Penny warned. Hesitantly, a little guiltily, she admitted 'I wasn't exactly supposed to accompany Miss Piper back, you see. My curiosity and fears for her safety got the better of me. But, after we were immediately accosted by demons, I must say I do not regret it.'
This message was last edited by the player at 02:31, Mon 02 Mar 2015.

Between Penny and Ian the way is cleared with minimal difficulties though Penny is getting a bit fatigued from all the exorcising and it is taking longer to send the demons where they belong. As you go you notice that judging by the numbers you are seeing theoretically at least half of the faculty seem to have been compromised. Quite jarring indeed. As they seem to be dead after you are through with them, this will mean dramatically decreased numbers amongst your ranks.

By now you are closing in on Westbrook's room which you unfortunately find to be empty. Penny does manage to spot a wrinkle in the carpet that looks a bit...odd. Should you investigate you will find it leads to a trap door. Since you are already underground this comes as a surprise but as you take a closer look it seems to be a narrow tunnel just large enough for a man to squirm through. To your surprise it is paved in stone, clearly someone built this on purpose. Perhaps Westbrook thought it wise to have an escape route in order.

The depurgare spell itself was relatively easy, but the force of will necessary to enact it was quite taxing. After the first lot of bound fiends, Penny found each successive devil's-trap-full increasingly wearying. More than once, she had to lean against the wall and stop her head from spinning darkly.

Yet she still burst quickly into Westbrook's office, her spirits buoyed by the thrill of the hunt. 'Mr Westbrook?' she began, ready to begin some bluff about not knowing his identity, but she supposed they were well past that now, especially since the would-be Mt Westbrook was absent.

Spying the wrinkle in the carpet, she quickly lifted it up with her cane. 'A second stain?' she wondered, thinking of one of Holmes and Watson's old cases. Instead, pulling the whole thing up, 'A secret passage! This must be how the demons infiltrated the base, bypassing the protections. Let us see where it leads and where the villain has gone. Come! The game is afoot!' Slimmer than a man, Penny dropped down into the whole, and drew her pistol, ready for the chase.

"Who is this Mr. Westbrook?  He seems to have had his own office, an with a trap door no less..."

Westbrook is...was the leader of this chapter of the Men of Letters. I don't know if he's still alive anymore he says sadly. Victoria thinks he has been replaced and I'm inclined to agree with her. He...was a good man. He then follows Penny, though it is harder for him. It is a small tunnel and though you don't have to crawl you can't exactly stand either. Instead you are hunched as you make your way through the tunnel. Ian has more difficulty but he manages alright. The tunnel is dark but Ian produces a book of matches and is able to mostly light your way with them. The tunnel is simple, a straight shot about few hundred yards or so. It seems to be clean albeit a bit dusty and you can see that someone has passed through here recently. Likely Westbrook himself. At the end of the tunnel is a ladder going up and should you follow it you will find yourselves emerging into a basement of sorts, the morning light peeking through the small windows. You appear to be in a house.

'I'm afraid I've come to the same conclusion.' Penny said in a low voice back to Ian and Kitty as she negotiated the tunnel. 'The one calling himself Westbrook now has quite different habits, and ran afoul of a ruse I had prepared. I've informed Victoria, but hoped to keep the creature itself in the dark until we could identify, expose, and confront it... But it hardly matters now, I imagine.' Penny reflected, given the scale of demonic infiltration glimpsed outside. Westbrook could well be possessed by a demon himself at this point.

As she advanced, Penny studied the scuffed footprints in the dust and ran a finger along the wall, for all the world like a matron inspecting a house. 'Strange, I spied no dust on him before. He can't have used this tunnel regularly. He's certainly come this way recently, however: the footprints are his size, in one direction.'

At last they came to the end of the tunnel, and a ladder. At this point, Penny regretted going back to wearing a dress today, since Mr Shaw was directly behind her and they had no room to change places. 'I trust you to be a gentleman, Mr Shaw.' Penny said with certainty, hefting the hem of her skirt over her shoes and starting to climb the ladder. And what if he did peek into her lacy secrets...?

Quelling her impure thoughts, Penny scaled the ladder, emerging through another trapdoor and into a basement. She drew her pistol again and kept watch while the others ascended.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:04, Fri 06 Mar 2015.

ooc: Lol! I love it! Lacy secrets!

Kitty, you do note that Ian is a gentleman and does not look up Penny's skirts, though he does give a chuckle at the woman's instructions. As you enter the basement you see it is full of dusty crates and shelves though there is little of interest. Mostly jars of preserves, tins of food and various odds and ends. Should you venture up the stairs a bit you hear the sounds of voices a few rooms off, though it is hard to tell what they are saying...

ooc: If you wish to proceed please roll a move silently check and a hide for good measure

Before she ventured up the stairs, Penny scanned the dusty floor for footprints, noting size, number, and placement, as well as traces of sigils and magic circles. How many people had there been here, and where had they gone? Had someone been waiting for Westbrook? And which side were they on, Belial or Baal?


OOC: First, a search for footprints to work out how many people there are, and any other clues as to what the place is used for. Search 18.

Find Clues feat: if Penny passes with 5 ft of a clue, she gets a free Search check, Search 15.

Listen 14.

From the looks of it there are only a few pairs of footprints in the room and they seem to be all male judging by size. There are no sigils that you can see and the room is surprisingly commonplace. Judging by the general disuse of the area you wonder if it is perhaps simply a meeting place rather than an actual base of operations. Judging by the tunnel you went through it is only a couple streets beyond the Men of Letters and logically the enemy wouldn't want to draw too much attention to themselves within such proximity to the Men. Perhaps a spy point? As you listen you can't make out the words but you can tell it is two men and one of them could be Westbrook by his tone. They are speaking furiously though it's hard to say if they are fighting or just expressing frustration.

Penny pointed to the ceiling, whispering tersely to Ian and Kitty, 'Two, maybe three. Let's get closer.' Keeping low and to the shadows, Penny stole her way up the stairs. Unfortunately, the wooden staircase was old and cheaply built, and creaked alarmingly beneath her boots. Penny winced, paused to hear a cry of alert, and was ready to call out her own bluff.


OOC: Not so good, but hoping distance and walls make the Listen checks harder.
12:06, Yesterday: Penny Dreadful rolled 20 using 1d20+4. hide.
12:06, Yesterday: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 1d20+4. move silently.

If heard, Penny will try to bluff them by pretending we're looking for Westbrook.

Kitty followed the others' lead, trying to stay silent and keep to the shadows as best she could.

(OOC: 17:39, Today: Kitty Kelly rolled 24 using 1d20+10. Hide; 17:39, Today: Kitty Kelly rolled 20 using 1d20+12. Move silently. )

Unfortunately they do indeed hear your presence and soon there are two men rushing down the stairs. You have the opportunity to try to hide if you wish (since you already rolled) and should you go this route they will fortunately not see you. Should you go the lying route they will be surprised but seemingly believe you...

When you do see them you find they are both mid thirties, brown hair and of medium build. It's impossible to tell if they are demons or not at the moment. For all you know they could be others that Westbrook duped.

ooc: They rolled so crappily you can practically do what you want. Sheesh! Just let me know if you go the hide route or bluff route, though just in case Penny, do roll a bluff if you do that. You could also have Ian and Kitty hide or some combo if you wish.

Hearing the sounds of alarm and approach, Penny reacted quickly, waving Kitty into hiding behind a stack of crates. She seemed so much more light-footed than herself and her heeled leather boots. She also gestured Ian into concealing himself opposite. That left herself, alone and in the open, as the bait in her trap.

'Ah! Thank God!' Penny cried, relieved, as the two men ran into the basement. 'I came looking for Mr Westbrook. Is he here? Is he well?' she asked urgently. 'You must take me to him... But, first, I must test you with silver and holy water. A precaution, you understand...' She assumed these gentlemen were demons; she doubted they'd submit to any test, but the mere threat should force them to reveal themselves, and attack her.


OOC: Penny will try to put set up an ambush, with Kitty and Ian waiting to pounce as the two men go for Penny
21:20, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+3. bluff.

Initiative 5, if needed
21:31, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 5 using 1d20+2. initiative.

It appears they believe you about looking for Westbrook, but as soon as you mention being tested they glance at each other darkly and their eyes go black. One rushes forward in an attempt to grapple you...

ooc: Ok roll first round both of you and an opposed grapple just in case Penny. Fortunately you will be getting back up soon ;P

OOC: Blep.
23:29, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 1d20+5. OGC.

One of them manages to overpower you but as you struggle Ian comes rushing from his hiding place and hurls a knife at him. It sinks into the demon's shoulder, wounding him enough that you have the opportunity to scramble back. Meanwhile the other demon is starting towards you. Things have just escalated...

ooc: Ok first round please and for time's sake make a will/fortitude/and reflex save that way I can choose from what I need and make it more streamlined.

Slammed into the ground under the demon, the air burst out of Penny's lungs. 'Oof!' As Ian injured it, she scrambled back, gaining space to bring her ash-wood cane and pistol to bear. Silence was hardly an issue now, nor preserving the lives of the possessed victims. At close range, she fired off a shot into the demon's chest.


OOC:
* Dodge: Gain +1 dodge Defense against the oncoming demon, call him Demon #2.
* Agile Riposte: If Demon #2 makes a melee attack against Penny and misses, then Penny may make an immediate melee AoO against the target.

Shooting my pistol at Demon #2
Point Blank Shot: +1 attack and damage
Attack 18, damage 7 @ Demon #2
11:06, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 2d4+2. damage, PBS +2.
11:05, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18 using 1d20+9. shoot the demon, PBS +1.

Fortitude 15, Reflex 25, Will 10
10:53, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15,25,10 using d20+5,d20+5,d20+8. fortitude, reflex, will saves.

The demon snarls in pain as the bullet hits but it doesn't stop him raising his hand and causing you to fly across the room. You manage to avoid the staircase though and are less harmed than you might otherwise be. Meanwhile Ian shoots the other demon though it will take more than that to kill him. Fortunately the responding attempt to attack Ian falls short.

Wincing with fresh pain and muttering oaths, Penny climbed to her feet. She'd hardly recovered from fighting the demons in 2013, and here she was doing it again. She could really do with a holiday at the seaside after all this.

But she had the measure of her foe now, tracking his movements and wary of the telekinetic power he commanded. She aimed her pistol and fired off another shot, this one only grazing. She should go after Westbrook, but couldn't leave Ian and Kitty alone with the demons.


OOC: Move action:
Exploit Weakness: Int + Smart level check, 17 vs DC 15, success. Using Int mod for attack rolls instead of Str and Dex for Demon #2.
15:30, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 17 using 1d20+8. Exploit Weakness check.

* Dodge: Gain +1 dodge Defense against Demon #2.
* Agile Riposte: If Demon #2 makes a melee attack against Penny and misses, then Penny may make an immediate melee AoO against the target.

Standard action:
Shooting my pistol at Demon #2
Point Blank Shot: +1 attack and damage
Attack 26, damage 4 @ Demon #2
15:39, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 26 using 1d20+11. pistol: attack, PBS +1, EW +2.
15:40, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 4 using 2d4+2. damage, PBS +1.

Penny: The demon swears savagely as the shot hits but as is usually the case, demons don't go down easily. He instead lunges forward and punches you hard across the jaw. Fortunately you are made of stern stuff. You also note that he could have punched you a lot harder and that considering the many things demons are capable of he is choosing some of the more benign attacks. You suspect he may want you alive and your thoughts harken back to Mrs. Bentley and the similar instructions she was given.

Meanwhile Ian is holding his own against the other demon. He is made of tough stuff and he has amazing calm throughout. This man is a hunter through and through. As the fight continues you see the trap door open again and to your surprise Lily and Kate emerge looking ready for action.

Kate: As you emerge on the scene you find Penny and Ian embroiled in quite the scuffle with two demons. It would seem your arrival would be welcome...

After the ringing blow, Penny rubbed her jaw and shifted it from side to side to work some feeling back into it. Fortunately, thanks to her bare-knuckle boxing practice, she was no stranger to such fisticuffs. The demon had closed to melee now, and Penny switched her weapons, holding out her ash-wood cane and adopting a duellist's pose, a narrow profile for defence. 'En guard!' She lashed out at the man's arms, a probing attack.

Over his shoulder, she spied Kate and Lily arrive, and none too soon. She desperately hoped they didn't prove to be demons too.


OOC:
* Combat Expertise: −5 attack, +5 dodge Defense – AC 21
* Dodge: Gain +1 dodge Defense against Demon #2.
* Agile Riposte: If Demon #2 makes a melee attack against Penny and misses, then Penny may make an immediate melee AoO against the target.

Attack 11, damage 7 @ Demon #2
11:34, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 11 using 1d20+5. cane attack, CE -5.
11:39, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 1d6+1. damage.

ooc: Kate, whenever you are up for it roll a few rounds for time's sake. I know your new job must be time consuming. Penny, go ahead and roll your attack of opportunity plus the next round.

Penny: Lily pulls out a long dagger and runs to help you with your demon, her face surprisingly ferocious. Your attack misses your foe but in turn he is unable to strike you, giving you an opportunity to retaliate. Where's Westbrook? Lily demands as she readies to attack, flanking the man.

Kate took in the scene and quickly pulled her gun, firing at the nearest demon.

Attack round 1:24 (15+9)
Damage:5
Attack round 2:29 (20+9)
damage:8

Ready to retaliate, Penny thrust the butt of her cane at the demon, but with the same results. She was being too cautious, but that was the natural result of the hard blows she'd taken. 'The imposter's upstairs!' Penny answered, swinging harder at the demon, but again missing. 'Blast!'


OOC:
* Combat Expertise: −2 attack, +2 dodge Defense – AC 18
* Dodge: Gain +1 dodge Defense against Demon #2.
* Agile Riposte: If Demon #2 makes a melee attack against Penny and misses, then Penny may make an immediate melee AoO against the target.

Agile Riposte: attack 12, damage 7
20:35, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 12 using 1d20+5. agile ripose AoO attack.
20:37, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 1d6+1. damage.

Attack 10, damage 5
20:50, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 10 using 1d20+8. cane attack, CE -2.
20:51, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 5 using 1d6+1. damage.

Kate: Your nearest demon is Ian's and you hit him causing him to snarl venomously and turn towards you savagely. You feel a horrible strain on your ribs as though something is trying to crush them. The demon gives you a savage grin as it raises a fist and starts to squeeze. Ian takes the opportunity to lose a bullet in the demon's head at point blank range, a chunk of skull goes flying in a gory mess and though he releases his hold on you for the moment he is still alive, though seemingly not for long at the rate he's going.

Penny: At your words Lily gives a nod and goes tearing upstairs like her feet are on fire. You miss with your attack but you manage to dodge once again as the demon tries to strike you. You sense a nervousness about him. It would seem he knows he's outnumbered. ooc: Go ahead and roll your next round plus attack of opportunity. He missed again ;P

'Miss Lily!' Penny cried after the native woman, before cursing to herself. These demons were proving tough nuts to crack, and they really could do with the Indian's assistance, and her knife.

Meanwhile, she was stuck duelling this demon, and rather ineffectually at that. As the demon delivered its blow, and missed, Penny launched a swift retaliation – against a nearby stack of crates that happened to be close at hand and in the way. 'Drat!' Quickly, she retracted and, growing furious, raised the cane over her head to deliver a devastating overhead strike – only to get her cane caught in a low-hanging rafter. 'Bloody hell!' Penny cursed, her rough words entirely out of place in her delicate accent.


OOC:
* Combat Expertise: −1 attack, +1 dodge Defense – AC 19
* Dodge: Gain +1 dodge Defense against Demon #2.
* Agile Riposte: If Demon #2 makes a melee attack against Penny and misses, then Penny may make an immediate melee AoO against the target.

Agile Riposte: attack 9 – rolled a 1, missed
18:43, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 9 using 1d20+8. agile ripose AoO attack.

Attack 10 – rolled a 1, missed
18:47, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 10 using 1d20+9. cane attack, CE -1.

Why'd I have to roll two 1s? D:

ooc: Wow! That's wretched luck!

Lily apparently hears you, stops in the middle of the stairs and cries in a strangled voice, I'm sorry but he could get away! I'll be right back! then she takes her dagger and hurls it with surprising force at the demon attacking you. It hits him with a thud in the chest and he looks shocked as he staggers in pain. He is not doing well, clearly weakened, though Lily is already gone again. At the very least she has distracted him enough that his next swing misses wildly, giving you another chance to make up for clumsy mistakes. Meanwhile Ian's demon has thrown him roughly across the room where he crashes into a stack of crates with a irritated curse. Kitty has run back into the tunnel, knowing when she is outnumbered.

Kate fortunately is luckier in her attack and she fires at the demon that has just hurled Ian now that he is clear and she is in no danger of hitting the Scotsman.

Penny was about to say something more to Lily, but it was too late; she was gone. She could only hope the other woman could stand firm against Westbrook long enough for the others to render assistance. And they themselves could defeat these demons to do so. They were surprisingly resilient, their power strong. Penny looked around in alarm for Kitty, relieved to see her safe, disappointed to see her fleeing. Of course, this was all too much for her.

Penny launched another swift riposte at the wounded demon, and had the same blasted ill-luck as before. Was it some new demonic power, a witch's hex throwing off her arm? Or just simple mishap? She'd assumed she wouldn't have time to use her depurgare spell, but in all this blundering about, it seemed she could well have done.

Abandoning the cane, Penny scrambled back, gaining room to bring her pistol to bear. She fired swiftly, at point-blank range, a sharp report and the smell of gunpowder filling the air.


OOC:
* Dodge: Gain +1 dodge Defense against Demon #2.

Agile Riposte: attack 11 – rolled a 2 this time.
20:04, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 11 using 1d20+9. agile ripose AoO attack.

Just shoot the guy: attack 15, damage 7 (Point Blank Shot +1/+1) - oh look, a 4
20:13, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+11. pistol: attack, PBS +1, EW +2.
20:15, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 7 using 2d4+2. damage, PBS +1.

ooc: Good gravy! You have even worse luck than I do! That's not easy!

Your shot barely misses and unfortunately this time he manages to throw you against the wall. It is painful but once again you realize he is trying to spare your life. Just then Ian fires on your foe from where he was thrown and a spot of blood blooms across the demon's chest, spreading rapidly. A square hit. He staggers and swears before realizing he is in trouble and starts to run up the stairs and away from the fight. The other demon starts towards Ian but slips on his own blood and stumbles. Ian turns to you, eyes wild in the heat of battle. He actually looks exhilarated! Off with you Penny! Kate and I can handle this one. See if you can't track down that bastard and if he hightails it see to Lily would you? She never knew when she was in over her head. ooc: If you do go after the demon please roll a constitution check to see if you outrun him.

Gasping, winded from having her back slammed against the wall, Penny staggered forward, back on her boots but her head was spinning. She might count herself glad the demon apparently didn't wish to kill her, if only it didn't hurt so much. More of Belial's foul plans for her, she was sure.

Recovering, she saw the demon flee and heard Ian's cry. She nodded, having no breath for words, and hurried up the stairs. But her exhaustion and sore limbs saw her stumble up the cheaply built stairs, and move much too slowly to catch her quarry. Track him! she ordered herself. Three gunshots had hit; he had to be leaving a blood trail. As she moved, she scanned the floor ahead of her.


OOC: Constitution 6. A 5 now, I'm going up...
19:31, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 1d20+1. constitution.

Search 32 to find tracks
19:36, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 32 using 1d20+12. search.
Aargh! Now I roll a 20, on a no-import, hard-to-fail skill check! :o

ooc: Lol! That's so funny!

As you follow the demon you find his blood trail easily enough. It leads through the house and out the front door. The house itself is simply furnished, indicating it is a bare bones set up rather than any kind of permanent dwelling. Probably a meeting place. The demon moves fast, you aren't able to keep up by any means but the trail leads down the street and into an alley. He is likely trying to clear out as fast as possible rather than having a particular destination in mind, at least for the moment. His trail winds through the alley, down a street and at last ends in a small shop that looks to be closed. A haberdasher. The blood leads to a back entrance and you see the door has been kicked in. By now you are a good five minutes away from where you started.

Dogged in her pursuit, willing herself to keep moving despite her injuries, Penny had at last tracked her foe to its lair. A haberdashery, by the looks of it, the back entrance. Would the impostor Westbrook and Lily be here already? Grimly, she checked her pocket revolver, loading two new enchanted bullets.

She noted the kicked in door, observing the height and signs of boot prints. An obvious means of entrance, and an obvious trap. Penny listened at the door, then looked about for a window or basement entry. She might go in through the window or front and take her foe from behind.


OOC: Is this by any chance Mr Bently's shop? He was a tailor.

Any idea who kicked in the door? Search 29
17:44, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 29 using 1d20+12. search.

Listen at the door, Listen 21
17:47, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 21 using 1d20+9. listen.

Any other ways in?

ooc: Nope, but that would have been a good idea!

You are able to find a basement entry on the side or you could go through the front if you didn't mind being seen by passerby. It is locked though so you would have to enter in less conventional means. As you listen at the door you hear someone inside panting hard and grunting in pain. You gather it is likely the demon tending to his wounds which leads you to believe he kicked the door in to find refuge. The fact that he didn't take care to conceal his whereabouts means he either underestimated your abilities in following him, he's desperate and careless, or he's overly confident. You also notice the sounds of a man screaming in panic from somewhere a few streets down.

ooc: Let me know which way you go and be sure to make any rolls if you are going to sneak inside.

Kate took another shot at the demon she and Ian had been helping, hoping to finish him off so they could follow after Penny.

Attack: 17 (8+9) Damage: 6

She was contemplating a means of entry and attack when she heard the terrible scream, some blocks away. Blast. Westbrook and Lily must have gone the other way. She didn't have time for anything clever; no sneaking in, no devil's trap under the doormat. She had to do this the London way.

Penny kicked the door in.

Her pistol was up in a flash, seeking her quarry, ready to fire. 'Round the front, boys! We'll get 'im as he comes out!' she cried, hoping to trick the demon into believing she had assistance and into not fleeing her this time.


OOC: I don't have time for anything clever, so: kick open the door!
Ready attack: shoot the demon as soon I sight him.
Attack 18, damage 6 (assuming Point Blank Shot +1/+1)
19:22, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18 using 1d20+11. pistol: attack, PBS +1, EW +2.
19:25, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 2d4+2. damage.

Dodge: Gain +1 dodge Defense against Demon #2.

Bluff him, 13
19:27, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 13 using 1d20+3. bluff.

Is it daytime or nighttime?

Penny: You seem to catch the demon by surprise and when you shoot you hit him across the collarbone. He looks panicked, pained and in shock. It would seem he believes you regarding your bluff. You may have me but if you don't hurry your little Indian will murder the best lead you've got. I'm just a lackey, I'm no good to you. he sneers. You heard him scream didn't you? Does that sound like a woman who is looking for answers? Or just revenge?

Kate: You barely miss though Ian is no luckier. Seeing how edgy you are Ian calls to you. Why don't you go after the other two. This fool is almost done and I'm not so helpless I can't handle a lone demon he winks.

Penny remained impassive, only a little concerned. In her opinion, it was better to kill a monster than deal with it; she could hardly have a vampire or werewolf tried in the Assizes and sentenced to Newgate or the gallows. There was little gain in interrogating one, and nothing good in torturing it. 'I shall learn all I need from his body.' she remarked coldly. 'And you are right – you are no good to me.' The gun fired.


OOC:
Attack 16, damage 6 (assuming Point Blank Shot +1/+1)
17:35, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+11. pistol: attack, PBS +1, EW +2.
17:36, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 2d4+2. damage, PBS +1.

Dodge: Gain +1 dodge Defense against Demon #2.

Once Ian confirms he can handle the demon Kate heads off to find the others. She was hoping to warn Penny about Lily's "abilities" in case the Native American lost control.

Penny: You aim but he manages to dodge, barely, looking shocked at his near miss. He suddenly opens his mouth and starts emitting the black vile smoke that is the demon's true form, the body convulsing and stiffening as the thing starts to leave. You doubt the poor devil is still alive after all he's been through. You do have a quick chance to get off one more shot before he completely exits his host...


Kate: As you race down the street you are able to follow the sound of gunshots to a haberdasher that looks to be closed. Of course the door has been kicked in so this could be where Penny has gone. People on the street out front are starting to flee in terror of the shots. Meanwhile to your right a street or two down you hear a man screaming in terror.

Kate skidded to a stop in front of the busted in doorway. Screaming from down the street caught her attention and she took an instinctive step in that direction, torn between following the screams or entering the building. In the end she chose the closest option and stepped past the broken door. Her gun was up and ready despite the people in the street.

Seriously considering if she should invest in a pair of spectacles, Penny hastily re-aimed at the smoke-spewing fiend. There seemed little point; the demon was fleeing, but would it go back to Hell or seize another host? She couldn't take the risk, she couldn't let a demon live. She fired again, this time scoring a palpable hit.


OOC:
Attack 20, damage 6 (assuming Point Blank Shot +1/+1)
20:21, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20 using 1d20+11. pistol: attack, PBS +1, EW +2.
20:22, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 2d4+2. damage, PBS +1.

Penny: Your shot hits true this time and to your surprise the host's flesh begins to sizzle and crackle and the black smoke suddenly falls to the floor, nothing but sulfuric dust. You seem to have killed the demon, though you've never seen a demon killed half exiting a body like this. It would seem there was still enough left inside the meat suit (as they call it) that the bullet finished him. Meanwhile Kate bursts in, gun drawn.

Kate: You arrive in time to see the above scene, your friend apparently victorious. Meanwhile people in the streets are screaming from the gunshots and the man nearby is still crying out in agony.

ooc: roll a spot/search please if you intend on finding him

Penny stared aghast as the enchanted shot took effect, killing both host and the emerging fiend. Never before had she seen such a thing, a demon slain outright, not merely banished back to Hell. She examined the warm gun in her hand, its magic proven. So it did work. This was a powerful weapon indeed, vital in the fight against the forces of darkness.

Then Kate burst in, finding Penny victorious yet surprised. She turned, recovered her senses, and said 'Kate! We must hurry and find Lily and Westbrook's impostor! We will shortly have a great deal too much attention.' she warned, realising that firing a pistol off in the streets would do just that.

With Kate, Penny rushed toward the sound of screaming, first taking the alleys where she could to avoid scrutiny for her gunshots. And, after all, why would two women ever run toward a scene of bloody murder? She expertly navigated the twisting passages, then tracked the fleeing people back to the source of the panic. Where were they? What had happened?


OOC: Listen 17, Spot 27, Search 26
11:00, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 26 using 1d20+12. search.
10:59, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 27 using 1d20+9. spot.
10:59, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 17 using 1d20+9. listen.

Penny: You manage to track the pair quickly and find them in an alley. Lily has Westbrook pressed against the wall with one hand inside his waist, blood is dripping out of his wound and running down her arm. Her eyes are completely grayish white with no pupil or iris and her face is as hard as stone. Westbrook turns to look at you desperately. You've got to stop her! She's killing me! he gurgles, blood coming out of his mouth. In response she twists her hand inside him and he screams again.

"Careful," Kate warned Penny as they came upon the scene of Lily and the false Westbrook. "She warned me about this. I don't think she has a lot of control..."

'I believe that's the idea,' Penny answered Westbrook, desperately searching for a solution. Saving the impostor long enough to identify and question was worthwhile, and saving Miss Lily from doing something horrific was worthier still. She took Kate's warning on board. By her white eyes and impassive face, what had happened to Lily was no mere battle rage. Was it possession, a native battle-frenzy?

'Miss Lily! You may stop now. It's over! We need him alive to question.' she begged, but even as the words came out she knew they were futile, would go unheard or worse.


OOC: Shoulda known, really... Diplomacy 6
20:11, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 1d20-1. diplomacy.

Can Penny identify Lily's transformation? Knowledge: arcane lore 28, theology 19
20:15, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+10. theology.
20:15, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 28 using 1d20+10. arcane lore.

Penny, wrack your brain as you might you have no idea what she is though naturally you are immensely curious. Lily hears your words and turns to look at you, hand still inside the imposter. She speaks with an alarmingly calm voice. He is responsible for the death of my friends, of Westbrook. By all rights he should die. The man starts to whimper but Lily instead rips out his liver and drops it on the ground almost nonchalantly! He screams and sinks to his knees and she watches him coldly. He is a shifter, an alpha, the first of his race. He can live without his liver but it will be...unpleasant. Ask your questions, if he wants to keep the rest of his organs he will answer. It would seem that Lily has some remnant of reason left, whatever form this is but you feel she is clearly not the Lily you know. For one thing Lily would normally be in a fury of temper, stories about her bad moods circulate frequently about headquarters. This woman is cold, calculating and in complete control.

"You'll get your chance to kill him later," Kate added to Penny's comments. She wondered what Simon would think if he could see his girlfriend now. It was too bad he wasn't with them now. It off all of them he probably would have the best chance of reading the real Lily.

Penny was put in mind of the ferocious berserkers of the Norse, or the ríastrad, the terrifying transformative battle-frenzy of Cú Chulainn, the Irish hero. Was this some native Indian analogue? Yet, for all Lily's famous fierce temper, she was now quite dangerously cold and calm. Possession, then?

Penny watched in horror as Lily tore the shifter's liver, stepping forward, an objection strangled in her throat. She was reminded of the Ripper killings, already horribly fresh in her mind. Yet still the shifter lived. An alpha, the first of its kind? This was new...

She licked out her mouth as it had turned dry in shock. 'What have you done with Westbrook?' she demanded of the torn shifter. 'Where can we find him?' She wasn't aware that his body had since been found, and though she'd heard Lily's words, she wasn't exactly thinking reasonably.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:25, Tue 07 Apr 2015.

The shifter looks nervous suddenly and glances at Lily fearfully. Tell them she says flatly. I killed him he admits uncomfortably. He's buried in Victoria's garden though he is not...intact. I've replaced him recently as I believe you had already guessed. You may as well know now that my knowledge is limited. I was told to keep an eye on things, throw off the men of letters as much as I could and keep my agents running smoothly. The demons have infiltrated things months ago and I have likewise been in play, taking the place of a minor member to blend in. It was only the last week or so that I was ordered to take Westbrook's place. I'm more of an errand boy than anything else. You should know though that Belial wants both of you, badly. The only reason you are free is because he is confident he can sway you to his side. I'm not sure how he plans to do this but expect to hear from him soon I imagine. he shrugs. He must be truly terrified of Lily to be so forthcoming and she listens with an icy blankness, ready to stop him should he try to run. She looks a bit gruesome with his blood spattered over her and her arm covered in the stuff. She turns to look at you both then and you suppress a chill. I can feel the taint in you both right now she nods. It must be because you are related. Darkmoores have a common thread of blackness it seems. Naturally these words will not be without a great deal of surprise on your parts.

Penny looked downwards momentarily, briefly mourning the passing of John Westbrook. She would have to inform Victoria, and exhume the body for proper burial. And locate the pocket watch; Victoria should have that, she felt. 'What else has infiltrated the Men of Letters? Or was it only the demons and yourself?' she pressed for clarification. After all, what had allowed these monsters in past the wards in the first place?

Then the mention of Belial made her shudder. She leaned on her cane, held stiffly before her; right now, she needed the support. She hated having this thing lusting after her. 'What does Belial want with us?' she demanded, voice cracking with the tension. 'Tell me why!'


OOC: I'm still confused about the second part. Is that Lily speaking in rose-coloured text again? Who is supposed to be related to Penny?

Ooc: I apologize, Lily was speaking to Kate and Penny in the second part. I'm in a bit of a rush as I have an early client. I will reword it later if necessary
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:44, Mon 06 Apr 2015.

"I hope Belial likes disappointment," Kate muttered watching the scene unfold with gross curiosity.

ooc: Wait are we supposed to be related? I will edit one I'm sure I understood the post :D

OOC: So it seems! Hello great-great-great granddaughter!

Penny had stiffened in surprise then simply frowned at the claim she and Kate were related, scarcely believing it or knowing what to make of it. Every being of power they had met thus far had made veiled hints about her family, though this was the first definite statement. Death, Castiel, the King of Hell, had all said nothing, but this unknown thing in Lily did? 'Unlikely.' she snapped. 'Now, please, continue.'

The alpha looks at Lily nervously before answering, not liking how tensions are rising. As far as I know there are no more agents. Surely half of your company infiltrated should be enough. I don't know what Belial wants with you but I'm sure if you asked him he would tell you. He seems amused by the whole thing and expects you to join him before long, though how he means to manage it I'm not sure.

Lily listens with an icy face though she looks amused at Penny's denial. Think what you like but burying your head in the sand won't change things. You share common blood, and that, I think is why Belial needs you. Castiel knows something about it and he knows what I am. I suggest you leave me out of your questions though. It will be safer for you. She winces suddenly. We need to get him back now. I'm starting to forget again... she looks in pain. Unless you two want to wrangle an alpha on your own we need to move fast. she turns to the shifter. For your sake we'd better make it in time. If I start to fade the last thing I'm going to do is rip your head off. He turns pale and nods quickly.

ooc: Thought I would give you a chance to respond before you rush back

The alpha shifter seemed to have no more of worth to say right now, and though Penny was full of questions for the thing possessing Lily, now seemed quite definitely not the time. 'Let's go back then, via his safehouse and the tunnel. It is the shortest route, and we can't get this bloody mess back through the streets.' she growled. She didn't mention Ian, deciding to leave the potential for reinforcements unknown to both Lily and the shifer. She covered the shifter – any Lily – with her pistol and directed them back along a concealed route away from witnesses.

On the way, Penny turned over these revelations. In her previous cases, Penny had been pleased to be an outsider, apart from the crimes and horrors she uncovered. She hoped America would be even further removed. But, instead, this business had brought it even closer. Despite what everyone had said, Penny didn't doubt that her family may have acquired some dark taint or two in its ancient lineage and nocturnal misdeeds, only that Kate might be a part of it. Maybe she did not want dear Kate to be so polluted by the blood of the Darkmoors. But perhaps a familial connection would explain their fast and close friendship... But how? There were few other Darkmoors in her time, and a distant cadet or bastard branch of the family hardly seemed relevant. Kate's ancestors would most likely issue from... herself. A husband, a family, children; Penny had scarcely considered them, and had, at the age of 27, been resigned to spinsterhood, or an early grave. But now she whirled with possibilities, wondered who and how. The future suddenly seemed completely unclear. I should have Googled myself when I had the chance.

ooc: Lol, I love the googled herself comment!

You travel back to the house and Lily notes the gun with amusement. That won't do any good on either of us. You'll need iridium for this one. As for me, if I'd wanted to harm you I would have already. She winces again and picks up the pace. You should know, the agents that I killed were demons. You're going to hear a lot of rumors about me so you may as well know that much. My advice? Don't investigate. I know it's your nature but you'll be much better off. Now, we need to run. She grabs the alpha's arm and starts to hurry towards the safe house. Just outside of it you see Ian, bloody but in decent condition. He looks relieved to see you. Ah you got him then! he grins. Lily ignores him and barrels inside, trembling and looking stressed. I don't think I can make it she pants even as she starts to open the trapdoor. If I don't trap him before I fade he will kill you. Your gun is not enough. I may have to finish this. Ian looks at her in shock and back to you for explanation.

Kate followed along her weapon also up and ready to shoot if needed. Lily's words rang in her mind. She was related to Penny? Kate scrutinized her friend out of the corner of her eye. It was a crazy idea but she found herself hoping it was true. Her family in the future was dead, why not look up someone from the past? Though who knew how badly they were messing up Kate's future by knowing one another in the past. Maybe that was why no one had brought it up until now.

Kate was pulled from her thoughts when they met up with Ian. Lily was obviously having a hard time keeping control. "Try to hang on a little longer," she encouraged the Indian. Things could get ugly very fast if she lost control...

Iridium? Penny would remember that. 'Maybe a bullet will not kill either of you, but I'd wager it would certainly hurt going in.' Plus, of course, the gun was enchanted, so the bullet should be more effective. Did Lily or the shifter know about their weapons?

'Why not just tell us who or what you are? It would save us all a lot of bother!' Penny called after the thing that was Lily as the Indian woman hurried off with the shifter.

Cursing, she followed to meet up with Ian, but they hardly had time for courtesies when Lily confessed to losing whatever wicked power she had. Penny would be glad to see the young woman rid of it, but right now it was so terribly inconvenient... 'Look for rope, chains, anything we can bind him with!' she told Kate and Ian, and turned to eye Lily, or the being inside her. 'He'll kill Lily too. Tell me what you are and I may be able to help you.' she pressed.


OOC: Okay, so it appears the major use of iridium at the time was in fountain pen nibs: :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridium#Historical
Can I assume Penny has such a pen, or roll to see if it is an iridium one? I presume I should make a Knowledge (physical sciences) check for Penny to know this. I got an 18. If need be, I can spend an action point to make it 27.
19:51, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18 using 1d20+5. physical sciences.
20:00, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 9 using 2d6. action point?

What I am is an abomination she calls back with a wry smile even as she hurries off.

At the safe house Ian quickly obeys, though it is clear he has many questions. Lily winces but gives a short mirthless laugh. He won't kill me. I'll have his head off before that happens. You had better bind him quickly or it's as good as mine. He removed Westbrook's apparently so it's only fair. She is in great pain now, fighting whatever is happening to her. You can see her glowing eyes flicker back and forth to Lily's green ones. She grabs the alpha and forces him to his knees, gripping his hair in one hand and his neck in the other. There's nothing you can do to help me. My mind is trying to restore itself. You have one minute to find something or he dies. Your guns may hurt him but he's too powerful.

ooc: Roll a search please! Ian already did and sucked horribly. Also, yes you may have the iridium pen as it seems like Penny to carry things to take notes. Also 18 is good enough for me! Lastly, keep in mind that the men of letter's weapons are limited in their power. However...do you still carry your angel swords that Cas gave you...? I believe he did mention they were useful against a number of things.

Penny rummaged in her purse, pulling forth an elegant fountain pen. 'Would an iridium-tipped fountain pen do? It would be a shame to blunt it in a shifter's ribcage, but needs must when the devil drives...' she tutted, then drew a short, gleaming silver blade that seemed rather too large for her purse. She stared puzzled at it for a moment. 'Or an angel's sword? I forgot we had these...'

Seeing Ian trying and failing hopelessly to scour the basement for rope, Penny beckoned the man back, holding out both weapons. 'Ian! Come cover him with one of these. Let me look.'

She rummaged through crates and ransacked the place, she applied her detective skills to the matter, finding her keen deductive skills honed to a razor's acuteness by the life or death situation she now found herself in. 'Now, Miss Lily, or Madam Abomination, or whatever I should call you... You say you are fading from Lily's mind. Yet also that you will tear our shifter friend's head off should Miss Lily be threatened... So, I take it that a threat to Miss Lily's person will awaken you to her defence?' she reasoned, hoping she could find a way to keep Lily or the entity in charge at strength.


OOC: Look for rope, Search 28.
11:37, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 28 using 1d20+12. search.

OOC: Angel swords! I forgot we had angel swords! Damn! We could have been slaying demons with angel swords all this time. Although, considering my rolls, it wouldn't have done me much good anyway.

Lily looks surprised and pleased at the pen, though naturally the alpha looks shaken. Upon seeing the angel's sword she suddenly recoils visibly and turns ashen. Where did you get that!? she whispers.

Ian takes the weapons looking relieved to be free of searching, though he looks curious at the angel sword and Lily's reaction to it. You have a lot of explaining to do later ladies he shakes his head.

At Penny's questioning Lily calms down, trying to play off her earlier reaction. I will tell you this much, I am Lily, she just doesn't know it, but I'm as much a part of her as anything else. Keep that in mind should you try to kill me you will as surely be killing her. Second, I am not your enemy so I hope you remember that. Third...a threat to the version of myself that you know may do the trick she muses. I am set free during times of instinct, whether it be fear or anger she adds suggestively.

During this time you find some spare rope so quickly that Ian actually blushes. I'm sure I would have found it had I kept at it he mutters.

'Friends in high places.' Penny answered simply and mysteriously the questions asked of her angel's sword. She ought to show Simon, she considered. Would the priest doubt her so much with such clear sign of divine approval? Or, at least, divine tolerance.

She was intrigued by what she learned of Lily. If what she said was true, she appeared to have some kind of split personality, but one with fantastic strength as well. She supposed she might awaken the other Lily by provoking her to anger, that would surely drew her ire, making it a very risky tactic. 'Oh, I shall remember that...'

She soon hauled out a length of rope from its hiding place, but handled it like it was a particularly stubborn snake, gingerly wrapping it around the shifter's wrists and puzzling over the knots. 'Where's a sailor when you need one? Ian, perhaps you will have better luck at tying knots.' Allowing Ian to take over and recover his pride, she took the sword and pointed it at the shifter's neck, standing beside him so he could not easily reach her with his hands.


OOC: My turn to be hopeless again.
14:19, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 1d20+2. dexterity.

Castiel then Lily surmises bluntly. The fact that she knows who he is surprises you, but then it wasn't the most unusual thing to happen that day. Ian takes the rope with a grin and quickly goes to work. Remind me to show you one of these days my girl, he laughs. I've always been good with my hands he winks. The shifter looks relieved to be merely a prisoner and is surprisingly cooperative during all this, glancing back at Lily nervously. As for the native woman, by now she has slumped to the floor, shaking.Tell Lily nothing! If you value her life you'll not reveal me!, she implores fiercely. Suddenly her eyes are green again and it is clear she is the Lily you know once more as she sits up in bewilderment. She looks at the blood spattered all over and her gore covered arm and sighs. Tell me I didn't kill anyone I shouldn't have? She glances at the false Westbrook with surprise. Oh! We caught him? I don't suppose you saw anything of what happened to me? she looks hopeful.

'Perhaps...' With a slight blush, Penny looked away from Ian's flirtatious comment, and decided to concentrate on threatening the shifter rather than the matter of knot-tying and Ian's dextrous hands.

She watched with concern as whatever force she had been conversing with seemed to leave the Indian woman and leave her normal and free. As a detective, Penny valued the truth and honesty – after all, her middle name was Veracity, or rather, Verity, but she had changed it – and felt Lily would be better off knowing full well what was happening to her. But, if the truth meant a threat to her life, then keeping her secret had to win out. At least until they knew more about what afflicted her. Besides, this was hardly the time. 'No, you didn't kill anyone, Miss Lily. Only maimed this shifter here, and it is hardly a loss... As for what happened to you... I'm afraid we learned little.'

Looking away, angry at herself for lying, for keeping secrets from Kate and now Lily, she poked the shifter with the tip of the blade. 'For your sake, I hope you do not make us regret saving you, sir.' she hissed with savage politeness.

Lily looks disappointed but relieved to have not caused too much harm. The shifter wisely decides to stay silent on the matter but at your threat he stiffens. I have plenty of information I'm certain you would be interested in Miss Dreadful. What use is a corpse to you? he glances at the blade with distaste. Lead on then he gestures, the epitome of cooperation. You wonder if it is because he feels well and truly beat or if it isn't because he has hope of escaping at some later time.

As you head through the tunnel Ian takes the lead, taking you to the prison cells which are equipped with just about every protective seal one could hope to find. The bars are silver and iridium flecked he smiles smugly. This alpha as you call him isn't the only creature susceptible to such things. We'll post guards on him as well. In the meantime is there anything you wish to ask him before I have Victoria take over?

'I find corpses very useful, as a matter of fact...' Penny hinted, her words ambiguous and morbid, though she only meant as a body of evidence. She intended to scare the shifter and keep it off-balanced and uncertain. If these creatures would claim to know her and her family name, then let them fear her too.

She was satisfied to observe the security of the gaol cells and strength of the bars, though time would tell how well they held. The Men of Letters base was meant to similarly impregnable, and look how well that had turned out. 'I have one question.' She turned to the shifter, fixing her steely crystal-blue gaze on him. 'What did you do with Mr Westbrook's pocket watch?'

"I wouldn't mind if Lily had killed him," Kate muttered as she observed the shifter being locked up. She wondered what plans Victoria would have for him and hoped he'd meet his end sooner than later. The Men of Letters base had been infiltrated once. It may be only a matter of time before he was set free again.

Penny's attempts to make the shifter nervous seem to work and he looks quite uneasy as you speak to him.

The alpha blinks in surprise at the question. His pocket watch? he mutters. I think it is probably still with his body he shrugs. Didn't even realize he had one. Why? What use is it to you?

'Remember when last we spoke, I asked you for the time?' Penny reminded the shifter, a small smile on her lips. She enjoyed this moment, the opportunity to explain her reasoning and reveal her sharp intellect, to let the criminals and monsters know where they had failed. 'John Westbrook carried a silver pocket watch, a family heirloom perhaps, given to him by his father or a father-figure. He had a nervous habit of handling it and checking the time on it when anxious. That much I surmised in my first meeting with him, which I subsequently verified with him.'

'Victoria Green already suspected you were an impostor, as the nearest person he had to a daughter would. I confirmed her beliefs at our last meeting: you failed to produce the pocket watch when pressed, either emotionally or simply when I asked for the time. Ergo, you were an impostor. I warned Miss Green and, until we could entrap and reveal you, we planned to feed you false information... For example, our hotel room number. You sent poor Fredrick to ransack the wrong hotel room. We helpfully gave him a suitcase... What did you do with that anyway?' she inquired curiously. She assumed he'd given it to Belial, but it would be worth confirming.

'As for the pocket watch, I will give it to Victoria. I believe Westbrook would have wanted that.' she decided with sentiment. One could not choose their parents, Penny knew, but they had chosen each other and, in the brief time she had known them, they seemed to genuinely care for one another. It felt the right thing to do.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:40, Fri 17 Apr 2015.

The shifter looks surprised at your cleverness and gives you a scrutinizing look as though studying you properly for the first time. In regard to the suitcase he is most unhappy and his face falls. I, gave it to Belial he sighs. He was going to destroy it I believe. He will be most unhappy when he realizes Emma's soul is not within. You may as well know, he is aware of her plans to stop him. Her husband betrayed her and he is looking for the ring as much as you are. he informs you flatly. Why are you being so forthcoming? Ian demands suspiciously and the alpha scowls. As much as I support Belial, I need to live. I have many children who need guidance, shifters all over the world. I cannot leave them leaderless. Lily gives a derisive snort. What makes you think you're going to be left alive? After what you did to Westbrook, I'm betting Victoria will have some ideas for you. The alpha turns pale but holds his head high. Perhaps, but I've seen something of the woman's character. She will know an asset when she sees one and unlike you she can control her temper when she needs to.

"I like that you think you are an asset" Kate said sarcastically. Her tone implied that she thought the shifter was an idiot for thinking he'd live to provide his "children" with guidance. That was obviously not going to happen. Victoria would probably let him live for a while but in the end he would obviously need to be killed.

It would be good indeed if Belial destroyed the fake suitcase without checking inside; he need not learn of Mrs Bently's resurrection, and should be surprised when they completed her plans to destroy him. 'Belial will indeed be unhappy. So it would behove you not to try to escape and reunite with him. He will be even less kind with you than Miss Lily was.' she warned.

She didn't have anything to say on the alpha shifter's subsequent utility; obviously he would need to be executed for his crimes at some point. And obviously, that was not a subject to raise in his company while he remained helpful. 'In any case, kindly stop wearing Mr Westbrook's guise. It's offensive.'

She turned to Ian. 'I believe I'm done here. For now.'
This message was last edited by the player at 05:45, Fri 01 May 2015.

The shifter effortlessly changes into the form of a young man, surprising you with the ease of the transformation. Normal shifters are messy things, this man was far more sophisticated.

Ian nods. Victoria will have her fill with him next I imagine. He's got a lot to answer for. Still, in light of everything that's happened I'm not keen to leave him too quickly. I'll stay with him until someone comes to relieve me. Kate, would you mind keeping me company in the meantime? His eyes are friendly and his manner nonchalant but you get the impression that the man wants to speak to the time traveler about something in private.

Meanwhile Lily suggests that she and Penny go and locate Victoria so that she can address the alpha. As soon as the pair of you enter the hallway and the door to the prison is closed, Lily turns towards you with intensity. I know there's more to it than what you've said. Tell me what you saw, I need to know. Did, did I seem evil? Like a murderer? I've been carrying the dead on my shoulders far too long, I need to know what I was like, what did I say? Tell me everything.

'Hmm.' Penny watched the transformation with professional interest. Shifters who did not leave scraps of skin laying about vastly changed the procedures for investigating their crimes. No longer could she rule out a shifter as a culprit for a lack of skin evidence. Even in the case of the false Westbrook, she hadn't ruled out a ghoul or some other obscure monster with shape-changing ability. These alphas required further investigation.

Penny accepted Ian's plan and Lily's proposal, but was disappointed not to get the opportunity to speak with Kate privately. The revelation that they might be related perturbed her greatly, but if it was true – she had a granddaughter! It was thrilling news. How could she not want to speak with her, about everything?

She was startled from her thought by Lily's much more pressing worries. Such was the Indian woman's intensity, and the violence of her earlier actions, that Penny backed up a step. She chewed her lip, uncertain how to answer. She so wanted to help relieve Lily of her fears and anxieties about what she was. But the identity's threats to Lily made her wary. 'I... cannot.' Penny looked down to the floor, ashamed. As a detective, she was honour-bound, however terrible. But sometimes secrets had to be kept, investigations had to be delicate. When she could ensure Lily's safety, only then. 'I was bound to the strictest confidence. I cannot tell you – for you own safety. I beg you, you must trust me on this.' she implored.

But she had to say something, to soften Lily's worries. The desperate fear on her face couldn't be ignored. 'I learned very little, in fact. But, I believe I can say... you seemed ruthless. Extremely dangerous. But fully in control. I do not believe it is evil, no more than a lion is. This... force within you is keenly dedicated to the safety of your person.'

Lily listens with growing horror. Ruthless? she repeats. Dangerous? A lion may not be evil but it kills just as surely! she stammers. I was with other hunters and they ended up dead. Were they a threat to my person? Why did I kill them if I were not evil? You have to get this thing out of me! I can't keep wondering who is going to end up dead, waking up covered in blood. How do you know I am no threat to you or Kate or even Victoria? If you know so much that you are unwilling to divulge you must at least have some idea of how to cure me!

Shocked at Lily's mention of her alter ego's misdeeds, Penny cursed herself for her words. 'Forgive me, I did not know all the details of your case...' she returned hesitantly. She hated working in the dark like this. It would make her job as a detective so much easier if everyone involved were wholly forthcoming. 'I can only speak to what I observed, and what you told me then. I do not know what this power is, I know very little about it. We can only buy time until we can identify the cause.' Penny hurriedly explained.

So, it had killed other hunters? Of course it would, if it had manifested and the hunters tried to attack it, believing it a monster, Penny theorised. After all, it was only the distraction of the shifter that had forced them to trust Lily's alter ego. And it appeared in moments of instinct, of fear and anger, to protect Lily from danger. She must quell that fear and anger, control that instinct – perhaps that could do it. 'I cannot promise a cure. But I think may be able to teach you how to control it, to keep it contained or release it as you need.' She had to allow her that option.

The Indian listens with a desperate hope. Really? You must tell me how, I can't keep going like this. I've wanted to leave here for a while, keep everyone safe from me, but Victoria has insisted I stay, that I am meant to be here. It's just not easy knowing I could lose control when things go wrong. she sighs. <Rose>Most people don't know the extent of it. I've lied to Ian and Simon about how frequent it happens. When I was young I would have days of missing time and no idea why. It's gotten better since then but I never used to wake up with blood on me until recently. Perhaps it's getting worse. <Rose>

'From what I observed, I believe this force manifests under certain circumstances, when you are angry, afraid, in danger, or perhaps in times of stress, anxiety, or acting upon instinct. Controlling your emotions at such times may, and I stress this, may limit its appearances.' Penny knew she was walking a fine line, and taking a dangerous risk, telling Lily these things while avoiding the truth her alter ego wished to keep concealed. But that other Lily had warned of – or threatened – great harm to Lily if she revealed the truth of her. Blast it all. It was too cruel either way. Penny licked her lips, having a truth to admit; her recollections of the Ripper were still too fresh in her mind. She reached out and patted Lily on the shoulder, hesitant but assuring. 'I do know what it is like to black out and wake up covered in blood.'

'We must have a long talk some time, Miss Lily.' Penny smiled. 'A traditional English tea ceremony.'

Lily gives a half smile at this. You want ME to control my anger? Have you never met me? she gives a dry chuckle though a moment later her face is serious again. Alright, I will do my best she takes a deep breath as though practicing right now. When you mention being covered in blood she looks startled. Really? she breathes. I would like that.

By now you are down the hallway a ways, fairly isolated from anyone else and Kate is still with Ian talking about who knows what. Suddenly you hear a soft rustling sound behind you and Lily looks up in surprise. You turn to see Castiel! He looks bad, his white shirt is bloodied and his face is haggard. Immediately Lily's eyes turn the pale smokey gray and she moves into a fighting stance. Cas slumps against the wall and gives her an impatient look. If I'd wanted you dead you would be dead Lily. I am not here for you. Besides, we'll need your help through all of this, no matter what you are. She still looks on edge and her face is scowling furiously. She turns to you suddenly. What did I tell you about not talking to her about me? she growls. You are either very belligerent or very stupid Penny. Don't make me tell you again.

'Mr Castiel?' Penny exclaimed at the sudden and unexpected arrival. He looked a ghastly state. But Penny had no time to inquire when Lily's dark half manifested and accused her. Was there no way to help this woman? But Castiel's presence changed things considerably. Buoyed with righteousness and indignation, she returned vehemently 'Blast you! I said nothing to her about you. I only tried to ameliorate her fears, to help her handle this thing. To handle you. Can you not see these dreadful secrets are harming her as surely as any demon?' Belligerent, every time.

Lily listens without sympathy. I am doing what must be done. Keeping her alive. It doesn't matter how she feels, only that we survive. Her curiosity will jeopardize that so stop trying to help her. her eyes flick to Castiel then, accusingly. If I help you and I am discovered, be certain the first thing I will do is kill you Castiel. I've hidden far too long to risk exposure now. The angel listens with a grimace. You could try Lily. But are you really so selfish you would stand by and let the world end just so you could save yourself? She glares in response and folds her arms, choosing instead to say nothing. You get the feeling that she will be helping you though. It's hard to get a real read on the woman.

Castiel turns to you then, looking exhausted. I came to warn you, this place is not safe. It is overrun with demons. You will need to find a new base to work out of until the threat is gone Lily gives a grin at this. That news is a little late Castiel. They've already been eliminated. Or did you come all this way just to tell us old news? He scowls at her and continues. Then it looks like I missed my mark, I meant to warn you before hand. That means I'm too late. Kate is already gone.

If this thing cared so little for Lily's peace of mind, Penny doubted it really could be an aspect of Lily at all, unless it thrived on such anguish. Penny was more determined to resolve this. But she bit back her savage retort, listening intently to the conversation with Castiel. It seemed the angel knew the truth; she had to ask Castiel when alone.

She was amused by his belated warning, then taken aback at his last words. 'I believe you are mistaken, sir. We just left her a minute ago.' she said, but already felt a cold and plummeting dread. She turned and started striding off toward where she had left Kate talking with Ian.

Lily and Castiel follow, the Indian almost as frantic as you, eyes full of worry. Cas though, has a tired, defeated sort of look you don't like. It is too late. They will have already taken her he sighs. Indeed as you throw open the door you find to your shock that the room is empty! The alpha has escaped too, his cell door wide open. I knew you should have let me kill him! Lily swears irritably. I should have ripped his head off when I had the chance! Suddenly she stiffens and her eyes turn green again. The human Lily has returned it seems now that she is out of danger. I blacked out again?! she cries in irritation. Then she realizes where she is. Where's the alpha? And the others? She looks down at herself in horror, checking for new blood as though she could have killed them. Cas steps forward then. I was trying to prevent this. It is going to complicate things. You're going to need to find Crowley, after you get Emma's soul back in her body. Crowley may be able to find where they took her.

'To hell with Emma's soul! We must find Kate and Ian immediately!' Penny cried, desperate and determined. She couldn't bear to leave her friends in a demon's clutches for a moment. Belial could inflict the most cruel and degrading tortures. She had to rescue her grand-daughter. Quickly, she cast about the prison room, keen eyes taking in every clue and sign as to what had happened, where her foes had gone this time. How had the shifter got out? Had he been let out, or forced his way out? Did he have help?


OOC: Find Clues:
21:57, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 23 using 1d20+12. search.

Castiel listens with disapproval. I know you want to find her now but Emma's soul is more important. Belial is after it and he will destroy it if he can. The sooner you reunite her with her body the safer she will be. Remember, the fate of the world depends on her information. Kate is an unfortunate loss but if you want to have a world for her to return to you had best get your priorities straight. Then you can find Crowley and he will help you track Kate. The Crowley of my time has already put in a good word for you since the only person he'll listen to is himself he adds drily.

During this you investigate and it looks like there was a surprising lack of struggle. Whoever did this must have taken the pair by surprise or perhaps tricked them into going with them? A moment later though you understand more fully what happened as you find a rag dropped in the corner of the room. A quick sniff reveals that it is chloroform. The barred door still has the keys inside the lock so it was all done in a hurry and by someone familiar enough with the place to find the keys quickly. There is only one door to the prison and since you were never very far from it during your talk with Lily you wonder if they didn't find a different way out. Investigating further you find a faint powdery residue on the wall. A sigil is your guess, though they seem to have taken pains to leave it unreadable after they used it. They must have transported them somewhere. You do wonder how someone got the jump on both Ian AND Kate without one or the other of them being able to cry out. Does this mean there was more than one attacker? How did they get in past you when you were never far from the entrance...? Things are starting to get suspicious.

'My priorities are not the problem.' Penny returned acidly from where she crouched over the chloroformed rag. 'I shall never be wrong for wanting to save my friends from suffering at a demon's hands. It is the situation that is all wrong!' She hurled the rag down at the ground, before staring at it suspiciously. This was definitely all wrong. There was something, a nameless suspicious, a nagging doubt, gnawing at her mind. Was she misunderstanding something here?

She worked through the situation, explaining her findings for the others' benefit as much as her own. 'They took them by surprise or were known to them, and used chloroform to subdue them. Then escaped via a magic sigil...' Them, they – what had Holmes said about not multiplying suspects? 'Well, there's no following them now.' she concluded sadly, forced to accept Castiel's plan as a fall-back plan. It pained her to think of Kate in Belial's captivity, but it seemed the only thing she could do was defeat Belial as soon as she could. 'It seems we must do it your way after all, Mr Castiel.'


OOC: Is there only one chloroformed rag?

So Ian and Kate are gone? Lily looks horrified though relieved to realize she likely had nothing to do with it. Why did I black out again? Who is this man? she frowns at Castiel. The angel gives her an impatient look. I am Castiel, we spoke before through Victoria. As for your black out, it is better you not ask about it right now. I can assure you though there is little to fear from your lost time. It has saved your life many times. He turns to Penny again. I do not mean to underplay what has happened Penny, but we have to think logically. Now, I can tell you have a suspicion, what is it?

'He is an angel.' Penny assured Lily. She would have to asked Castiel about Lily when they had a moment alone. But she was distracted again by the evidence, or rather, the lack of evidence. She was certainly capable of thinking logically. At Castiel's question, she worked through the deductions aloud. 'We assume both Kate and Ian were abducted. We heard no shouts, see no signs of struggle. Kate and Ian are too capable to go down without a fight. It is clear that the attackers used chloroform to overcome them so suddenly and silently. Yet, there is only one rag. We might suppose one of the attackers shoved theirs back in their pocket or carried it with them, but why go to the trouble whilst handling an unconscious body, a task that takes two hands? One rag, one confirmed attacker.'

'Furthermore, there is only way in and out of this room, through that corridor. Lily and I were close by, and would surely have seen either Kate or Ian leave, or someone else enter. Assuming the wards were working, the attackers could not have spirited themselves inside.'

'The shifter was securely locked away. While it might at someone through the bars, I like to think our friends were wise enough not to get too close.'

'That leaves us with the simplest possibility, that...' Penny slowed, hesitant and unwilling to come to the conclusion. She'd grown too fond of him. She said hoarsely 'That Ian kidnapped Kate... He must have been replaced by a shifter, protecting its "alpha". We were together the whole time, except when he pursued Lily and Westbrook. He urged us to be away...'


OOC: When we returned to the safe-house, did we see a body for the demon we left Ian fighting?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:13, Wed 13 May 2015.

ooc: Yes

Cas frowns at this and Lily swears. Either he was replaced during the fight or before this, which means the real Ian could be in danger or worse. After all Westbrook didn't fare well when they replaced him... she trails off turning pale. You gather she is close friends with the man for she looks genuinely upset.

The angel puts a comforting hand on Lily's shoulder, though it is an awkward gesture for him and you feel he is not used to such things, he's trying though. He may be yet alive Lily. Don't lose hope yet. Now, why don't you go clean up and get changed. You can't go around covered in blood like that. Meet back here and we'll start the investigation for Emma's body. He nods to the door and the Indian woman moves quickly, eager to return and get things started. She does look a mess, it should give you a bit of time while she cleans up. After she leaves Castiel turns to you, looking exhausted and weak. To your surprise he stumbles and nearly falls down, catching himself on a wall. He is much worse then he appeared to be.

I couldn't show weakness in front of her while she saw me a threat. Until she fully trusts me it puts me at a great disadvantage. I don't think she would outright kill me but it could prove too much of a temptation with my wounded condition. He opens his trench coat to reveal a massive spot of blood blooming on his white shirt. He winces and puts a hand on it to stem the bleeding. Now, where is the case with Emma's soul? We're going to need it.

Penny was disgusted and infuriated to realise that the fake Ian had been with them all that time, pretending to be a friend and ally, fighting alongside them. This impostor had done a much better job of impersonating Ian than the alpha had done of Westbrook. No doubt he'd been plotting to rescue his master, this alpha shifter, but first had to get Lily away. The alpha had brazenly lied about there being no other agents, right to her face, and she'd not spotted the deceit. How long had it been since Ian was replaced? Recently? Since the beginning? Penny felt hurt, especially because this monster had kidnapped a dear friend into the bargain. 'We must hope that Ian will turn up alive and well very soon, that the shifter did not have the opportunity to... finish him.' she surmised softly, reluctantly. 'We must report back to Miss Green immediately, and inform her of his latest development. As we were about to do previously.'

After Lily departed, Penny was shocked to see Castiel's weak and wounded condition. She'd never expected to see an angel so hurt, to be anything less than perfect. But then, Castiel did seem an appropriately humble fellow. 'My goodness,' she exclaimed, stepping over to offer support. 'You must let me treat you, if no one else. After you healed Kate and I, it is the least I can do.' Since then, she had been thrown into a wall by demons several times, but it seemed churlish to beg for divine healing now, with Castiel in this state.

'Now, the case is...' Penny caught herself, looked again at Castiel with fresh and wary eyes, 'In a safe place. As is the head.' Currently in the hands of Western Union, in fact. 'We still need the rest of the body before can reassemble them, of course.'


OOC: We didn't decide what to do with the case containing the soul. Kate had been carrying it previously, but I imagine we found a more secure hiding place. Either we left it in one of our hotel rooms (Belial got a fake) or let it move around with Western Union, as Penny proposed to do with the head.

ooc: Well Western Union seems like a good place for it then, you can pick up the head at the same time.

Lily listens with a nod. If you like I can find her and bring her after I've cleaned up. I'm sure she will want to talk to this...angel she still looks stunned as she glances at him. With that she departs.

Castiel waves away your offer, still wincing. I'll be alright. There's not much you could do for me anyway, though it is generous of you to offer. Upon hearing about the case and the head he nods approvingly. Good, though we'll have to move quickly if we expect them to stay safe. Victoria should be close to locating the body for you though I advise caution. Emma will not be happy to see you and she is powerful. You will not want to go alone. Be careful who you trust too, there are too many of Belial's agents. I suggest daily testing, he has an unusual amount of followers who seem willing to throw their lives away for him. I'm not sure what to think about this, having so many different races serving him that would otherwise have nothing to do with each other. It feels a little forced to me. You'll want to look into that. He sits down, leaning against the wall and holding his wound. Be careful of what you say around Lily. She's like a trapped animal right now, afraid and desperate. Once she knows she can trust you she'll prove an excellent ally but she's been running her entire life, she's going to be wary. If the wrong people find out about her you could get hurt.

Penny took note of what Castiel said about Emma Bently and Belial, though much of it was wise precautions and unanswered question that had already been brewing in her head, and she had little to add. But Lily, however... Penny checked around the corner, just in case the woman was eavesdropping. 'You must tell me about Lily,' she pressed, her voice low and standing close to Castiel, 'Not for my sake, but hers. It's clear you two know each other. What is this, this curse or possession or other self that's taken hold of her? The anguish is clearly tearing her apart, and the mystery is only making the problem worse. How can we help her?'

Castiel hesitates before answering but gives a slow nod of agreement. Lily is not human, well not completely he begins. She is an abomination. Her creation was forbidden by heaven and so far only three of us know of her existence. Telling you will make four. I need your word that you will not reveal this information to anyone. Lily will be made aware of it if and when it is necessary and not a moment before. He waits for you to agree, should you do so he continues.

She is the child of an angel and a human. A Nephilim. Throughout history there have only been three though this information is not known by even most angels who think them to be a myth for the most part. If my kind found out what she was they would seek to destroy her as an abomination against heaven. Her father knew this and for her own protection he sealed away her angelic birthright, blocking her abilities and memories, locking them away in her mind. Under times of distress or great anger though her instincts force their way out and she unlocks her grace in order to protect herself. Think of it like two personalities, one is her human half and the other her angel half. To protect herself the Nephilim blocks Lily's mind from remembering so she can maintain her anonymity. In reality they are the same person, but one of them is unaware of the other. You should also know she is very strong. Stronger than myself even. Don't become a threat to her Lily. That said I think she is a good woman, she wouldn't kill someone she considered innocent. Lily's morality is still in control, even when she is not herself.

Penny hastily swore to keep the secret, but then, maybe she'd swear to anything to know the truth. Then she was fearful and regretful, yet the weight of responsibility to keep this secret of heaven fell on her.

Penny joined Castiel in leaning against the wall, barely able to support herself against these weighty revelations. 'My word.' she murmured. Dim recollections of Sunday School came to her; she'd always the preferred the weird bits of the Bible. So, another legend was true and invited to tea. Nephilim. Giants. Offspring of the daughters of men and the sons of god – angels, or fallen ones, at least. She was surprised, she hadn't thought it possible. Suddenly heaven seemed so much more earthly, the world tangled further. But then, here she was conversing freely with an angel, which she realised she'd really come to accept. Penny glanced down at Castiel; suddenly this humble, quiet man seemed so much vaster than before.

'But this, this nephilim half of her has already threatened and killed her fellow hunters. What does that say of her morality?' Penny protested. 'And never mind the angel half, it is the human half I must concern myself with. She is a woman, not an abomination... The killings, the missing time, this secret – its tearing Lily apart. Please, you must set her mind at ease if nothing else.'

Castiel frowns at this. If she killed hunters there was a good reason. You should ask her about it. I know it seems like I have a lot of faith in someone I should be shunning but I knew her father well and Lily is much like him. She has no idea of this or even who her father is and perhaps it is better that way. I've kept an eye on her over the years at his request, from a distance of course he adds with a wince. What's more Victoria trusts her too. That woman is a powerful psychic, though she doesn't know the extent of her abilities yet.

So you've said before Victoria enters soberly. Lily must have run across the woman and sent her as promised. Lily sent me and told me the bare bones of everything. So this...alpha escaped and took Kate with him? She says the word alpha with bitterness, after all the man did just kill her only family.

It was still a terrible business, Penny thought, but had no time to say so when Victoria arrived. 'Yes, but not without help. Ian is gone too – he may have been a shifter impostor too.' she fumed, her anguish at Kate's disappearance returning afresh. Quickly, she took Victoria through the clues and pieced-together sequence of events and showed her the remains of the sigil on the wall. '...And we have no idea where they could have gone to.'

'So, what can we do now? I want go after the shifters and rescue Kate, but Mr Castiel recommends we focus on reassembling Mrs Emma Bently and dealing with Belial directly. But Belial has dark designs on Kate and myself, and I would not see her in his clutches a minute longer than necessary.'

Victoria frowns at the sigil. We can dust this, see the markings clearer, find out what it was maybe. And yes you are right about Ian. Father Simon and I found him ten minutes ago locked in a closet with a gash on his head. He's alright, he's actually out looking for you. I suppose I'd better get word to him before he tears the place apart she gives a dry chuckle. Kate's abduction is unfortunate. We will absolutely free her as soon as possible. We may even have a lead or two, Father Simon found a ghoul while doing an errand for me. She looked starved and beaten, she claimed to have escaped a facility where she was experimented on. My thinking is Belial is trying to enhance his forces somehow. We may find signs of something there. We also have some clues into a network of communications. And don't forget Crowley Cas adds. The Crowley of this time has been coerced into helping us. He's just as self serving now as he will be in my time but that is to your advantage. He is not the king of hell in this year but he is not without connections. He may be able to be of use. Victoria listens a bit bewildered. I don't know who this Crowley is but it sounds like yet another avenue to use to our advantage. Take heart Penny. Kate is strong and I feel she will be better off than you fear. If you recall Emma Bentley was killed for attacking you. Unless his plans have changed he seems to want the two of you safe, though why I don't know. she shakes her head.

'Oh, thank God,' Penny said, relieved that Ian at least was safe and well, and had not been a shifter spy this whole time. She took in the other information, not sure what to make of this story of a ghoul. Crowley, at least, she knew how to deal with. But she was too distracted by what had happened to Kate to think much of it.

Penny held up a finger, interrupting Victoria, her voice tense with restraint so it did not crack. 'No. He wants us alive, and that is a very different thing from safe. Recall what kind of fiend Belial is, his reputation for debaucheries and perversions. He— he may find other ways to harm Kate...' She trailed off, shuddering to contemplate it, eyes growing moist as the anguish and horror began to break.

Victoria struggles to find words to comfort you and instead gives up and clutches you in a fierce hug. I'm sorry Penny, that's all I can say right now. I only pray that he wants her in one piece or that she finds a way to escape, that woman is resourceful I know that much. We'll find her one way or the other, I promise you that. Castiel struggles to a standing position then looking sober and somehow sympathetic at the same time. If he does...harm her as you fear I can block her memories of it at least. She need not be burdened by it the rest of her life. But Belial may take more care with her than he does his usual conquests. There may be some hope yet.

Penny wasn't exactly huggable, but she went unresisting and gratefully into Victoria's arms. Her eyes were wide and red, not daring to blink. She'd seen and heard of many cruel outrages, and she didn't dare imagine anything lest she break down. The horror of it lurked around the edges of her mind. She tried to put away her fears, to steel herself, to fight and hunt for her friend and all women. Stiff upper lip. 'Then let us hope. And take this monster down as soon as we can.' she resolved, determined to tear the Prince of Hell down.

She looked to Victoria. 'What must we do?'

The first thing we should do is find Emma's body. I have a spell for that but I will need her head for it since I've been told you have it. Should make things much faster for us. Once we locate it you can use her soul to revive her and we can find out just what her plan is to take down Belial. Naturally I recommend doing this in a secure place. She will likely try to kill you as soon as she opens her eyes she says drily. After that you can locate Crowley and he will hopefully be able to help you trace Kate. I will be back to help you when I can. I'm not actually here, well not completely anyway Castiel winces. Time travel is taxing and in order to be involved with you as much as I can I must ration out my visits and take shortcuts when I can. To your surprise he starts to flicker. I'm already starting to fade. I'll see you soon And suddenly in a blink of an eye he is gone.

A moment later the door opens, startling you. It is Lily and with her is Father Simon. Simon, you see Victoria and Penny in an otherwise empty room save for a jail cell with the door still open. I told him the basics of what happened the Indian explains. Where did the angel go?

Simon entered after opening the door for Lily. Upon seeing Penny he took out of his pocket a small stick with a white handkerchief tied to it. He waves it, indicating his surrender.

Penny still hated the idea of resurrecting Emma Bently, the proverbial wicked witch, but events were increasingly leaving her with little other choice. There was no guarantee she would be at all cooperative. 'I should probably not be there, then. We should take precautions: handcuff and blindfold her before we revive her. Is there any other way of disabling her witchcraft?' she asked, concentrating on how to do such foolhardy thing safely. Dealing with Crowley seemed equally reckless and unreliable.

She was surprised to see Castiel flicker like the moving pictures of a praxinoscope. She couldn't help it; she blinked and the angel gone, with only a distant flutter of wings to mark his passing. Blast! She wanted to confirm with him her relationship to Kate.

Then someone else arrived: Lily and Simon. 'Back... to the 21st century, I think.' she answered, then stared blank-faced at Simon's flag-waving. At first, she did not get the significance, before recalling. Their argument seemed ages past, and now so petty and ridiculous against what had just happened to Kate. She had no desire to squabble. 'Yes, quite... Excuse me, I have a head to collect.' Penny moved toward the door, intending to make haste on this task.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:16, Fri 22 May 2015.

Simon did not move to stop her. Instead he nudged Lily to follow. "A head to collect? What head? Are we hunting big game now?" His questions were alert and rapid fire but not condescending. Instead he is attempting to play catch up to the situation. Seemingly Penny had accepted his surrender. "Lily mentioned a Messenger? One of the Celestial Host...what an honor. Penny please a moment. If God has seen fit to reveal himself to you in this personal a manner, I am obliged to respect that...and you. I appreciate your being willing to accept my surrender. If you would also accept my apology, I meant you no harm."

He showed her the flag. "It was meant to break the ice." He gave Lily a wink over his shoulder, indicating she had nothing to fret over. "I also believe that God sent me here with the purpose of working with you...along side you...but if you are more comfortable with the arrangement of us working apart I will not argue. I think our own differences must be set aside for the good of humanity, whatever we are embroiled in affects not just us but all around us..." he paused to give Lily another smile, "and those beyond our immediate reach."

He put out his hand, "If the hand of friendship, accept. If not, at least the hand of cordiality. Too much is at stake for you and I to squabble."

Penny stopped, momentarily irritated, but only for being interrupted from her course. Every second of delay meant... She shook her head, clearing her fears, and listened to what Father Simon had to say. It wasn't his fault for meeting her at such a desperate time. She spoke carefully 'Forgive me, but right now, my only wish is to rescue Kate. In comparison to her plight, our feud seems... childish, for the both of us. You are quite correct: there are far more important things at stake than our pride. I will gladly work with you to rescue Kate and defeat Belial and his schemes.' she promised, then allowed herself a tight smile 'Though I cannot promise we won't have further disagreements as to how.'

She looked down at Simon's proffered hand, considering and having an idea. She reached inside her purse then placed a cold length of metal in his open hand, clasping her hand over his around it. It was a short, gleaming dagger, all of some silvery metal. It seemed too light for its size and a little too large to have come from her purse. Her hand lingered, reluctant to let it go, hoping Castiel would approve. 'It's hardly the Sword of the Archangel Michael, but it is an angel's blade, entrusted to me by the angel Castiel himself. Consider it a peace offering. Furthermore, it may better suit your hands than mine. Run it through a demon for me, please.' she asked, relishing the outcome. With a small amusement, she added 'And before you ask, no, I don't have the authority to knight you.'

Simon is agitated at Penny's pronouncement. "Kate? What happened to Kate?" And why was he the last to know everything it seemed. He nodded, "I hope our disagreements will be civil."

Simon is shocked, both at the gift and it's source. "Penny I..." he is clearly overwhelmed, "your generosity is moving. Indeed I will use it in the manner you suggest." He turned it over the back of his hand, catching it so that the blade is down. He put it into the large leather bag he carried over his shoulder. He motioned for her to continue on her way, walking beside her and motioning for Lily to join them both.

"That you think me worthy of the honor of Knighthood is enough for me. Now I seem to be behind on a great deal. If you could fill me in while we walk, I would appreciate it greatly."

Before they left, Penny looked back to Victoria, asking 'Was there anything else, Miss Green?'

She hadn't said she thought Simon worthy of knighthood, but elected not to mention it. Priests weren't even knighted with swords. She shot a look at Lily, saying 'I thought Lily had updated you? Well...' Quickly, Penny filled Simon in, on how, when the demon infiltrators were caught in the repaired demon's traps, she, Kate, Lily, and Ian had pursued the impostor Westbrook – an advanced "alpha" shifter, it transpired, a long story itself – through a secret tunnel and a hidden safe house, where they'd battled demons, and finally caught up with Westbrook, who'd been captured by Lily. Penny glanced at Lily, but did not elaborate on the details. They questioned him and brought him back to the Men of Letters' gaol cell.

However, Penny and Lily left briefly and returned to find Kate, Ian, and the alpha shifter gone. "Ian" had in fact been a shifter himself, who'd knocked out and hid Ian and adopted his form. He'd abducted Kate and freed the alpha, escaping through a teleportation sigil. 'Victoria said you and she had found Ian in a closet?' Penny inquired, wishing to be updated on events herself.

((OOC: I thought Kitty was the one who had been taken hostage. My fault.))

"Yes," he shook his head, "my apologies, I had been confused as to who was captured. Yes we found the real Ian in a closet, tied up. He and I followed the tunnel in Westerbrook's office and came out in a house near by. He dealt with the local authorities and I followed a tail of blood to another house. We found a human liver on the front porch, but the trail went cold there. I was very concerned for Lily's safety...for all of you but Lily in particular...so we returned here and found you."

He inhaled before he went on, "Now before that I was busy with disposing of bodies. Victoria has been elected as leader of this cell. There were some who did not like this, whether for her race or gender, and those were sent to other cells. The Church has asked me to stay on as adviser and liaison, which just means I have official cover to continue my work here."

He backtracked further, "Before that I was given permission to raise a demon from among the Crossroads variety. We, Lily and I, discovered that the Witch Queen Hecate is involved in this as well." He nodded, "Forgive, it is her title in Hell, not my name for her." Then he is struck by something, "Oh! I forgot, the Ghoul. There is a shabby creature, a ghoul, here under my influence. She indicated that there are others being experimented on in a warehouse not far from here. Perhaps a lead we should investigate after we retrieve...you said a head?"

'Yes. That was our trail... I wouldn't worry about the liver, the owner won't miss it...' Penny noted cryptically. 'You didn't find a dead man in a haberdasher's, did you? Never mind.' She'd slain a demon, she recalled in awe. The war was turning against the forces of darkness now.

'Hecate?' Penny frowned in serious reconsideration. 'We were aware that Emma Bently worshipped Hecate, but I thought it only for magical power, as witches do... We already have Belial and the Hand of Baal on our hands, but if the Grand Coven get involved, that would complicate matters immensely.' she worried. The witches might even be useful allies, but she chose not to suggest this in front of Simon. Her purgative hex-bag lay heavily in her purse.

After everything, she could not care much for a ghoul. It would have to wait. There was too much going on, too many plots and players, to much to do.

'Yes, a head.' Penny answered brightly, with a levity not suited to the darkness of the matter. She was being flippant, confident, trying to keep her fears quelled. 'Emma Bently's. Belial cut it off and sent to me by way of apology for her attempt to kill Kate Piper and I the other day. Mr Bently himself left it at our hotel yesterday. A macabre gift, certainly. Unfortunately, it appears that she knew the location of the Ring of Solomon by which we might stop Belial. Thus, we are to reassemble, resurrect, and interrogate her – a frightfully bad idea, I know, but it has been recommended by Miss Green, the angel Castiel, and Death himself. He gave us Emma Bently's soul in the year 2013.'

'All that remains is to locate the rest of her body. Miss Green has a spell for this, but requires the head.' Penny sighed, so weary. 'I suppose we should count ourselves lucky that Belial is sending me severed heads, though I would've preferred flowers.'

'You asked if we are hunting big game – we are. The biggest: Belial, the Prince of Darkness.'


OOC: Kate, Kitty, similar names.

The Grand Coven is a Season 10 thing, but it's exactly what it sounds like, a governing body of witches.

Simon smirked and followed.

Victoria listens with her usual calm. She seems to be aware of everything already. Fortunately I have agents enough to investigate the ghoul so you needn't concern yourself for the moment. I do think it would be better if you all worked out of my safehouse for the time being. Naturally the resources here are always at your disposal but I would feel better if you slept there at least. I don't know if there are any double agents left but after what's happened to Kate I can't take anymore chances. she shakes her head. It will be dark in an hour or two so I suggest we get started as soon as possible. Why don't you head over to Western Union and obtain the head? Take these two and Ian with you she gestures to Lily and Simon. I don't want you to be followed and lose the only edge we have. Take back roads, make sure you aren't followed. Then we'll meet back at the safehouse and we can then figure out where the rest of her is. Sound agreeable?

ooc: Go ahead and finish up here and let me know if you have any plans before leaving. Also, roll a general hide and spot check just to see if you are as surreptitious as you'd like to be.

Simon nodded, and gave frank notice to Penny. "As of late I seem less inclined to go unnoticed. I will do what I can to correct this but I make no promises."

17:57, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 6 using 1d20+5. Spot.
17:57, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 5 using 1d20+1. Hide
A pair of ones...=-(
This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Tue 26 May 2015.

Penny agreed with Victoria on the suggestion of using a safehouse. 'I agree; my stay at the New York Hotel is becoming too well known and the alpha shifter knows my ruse with the rooms there. We should stop by there to collect our possessions and equipment and sign out.'

To prevent infiltrators, she gave a list of recommendations to Victoria for increased security among the Men of Letters: checking of all the wards and devil's traps; testing by walking through traps and by exposure to holy water, silver, etc., and now iridium – available on top-quality fountain pen nibs, and Penny donated hers to the cause. She advised these tests to be carried out on entry and at frequent, random intervals.

'Of course. We shall see you presently with the head.' Penny accepted Victoria's proposal, though not without a little trepidation as to both Miss Lily's and Father Simon's accompanying them.

She had wasted no time in making a departure and setting out, choosing appropriate streets and transport options. She suggested taking a back way out of the Men of Letters headquarters, moving through backstreets until they got back to a main road where they could hail a coach – a nondescript coach cabin would conceal them from prying eyes. They could alight opposite the Western Union office, hold the coach, retrieve the head, and then carry on the same coach to a location close to the safehouse. 'I am becoming frustratingly well known to our foes,' she remarked ruefully 'Though I may yet spot a tail or spy.'


OOC:
19:57, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 23 using 1d20+9. spot.
19:56, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+4. hide.

Simon too felt that they had become very well known. He made a suggestion, "Perhaps taking all your things and checking out is not the best idea. If they believe you there then our stay in the safe house might remain safe. Perhaps we smuggle out a few items at a time, so no one knows the difference." He thought out loud on this as they rode in the carriage to retrieve the head of Mrs. Bently. "So if we visit the room every so often to retrieve more items then we lend credence to the illusion that you are still staying in those rooms." He leaned back and offered his hand to Lily, "Of course it is your room so your decision, I am really just thinking out loud."

'No, that is a very good idea.' Penny admitted. 'Although I do have some half-dozen rooms rented. We can leave them as an empty lure. I hope this safehouse has some spare clothes.' Her own dress had become rumpled and dusty in the brawl, though thankfully the use of a cane spared her from blood spatter. Accompanied by an Indian woman, the dishevelled Mr Shaw, and a priest, she supposed she would only be considered down-on-her-luck.

Simon smiled and gave nod, "Well then we have some sort of plan for dealing with that situation. I think that will be the least of our worries. I admit I am worried of resurrecting Bently. It is good that I will be present, I can help dispatch her if things go awry."

Before you leave Victoria manages to send Ian your way and he looks extremely relieved to see you are alright, hugging both Lily and Penny and apologizing that his identity was used against you. When he hears about Kate he is devastated but a look of determination crosses his handsome face as he hears the plan.

I can get what you need from the hotel later if you like. I can be very sneaky when I need to. Indian you know. she winks with a grin. Ian gives her a dry look. Really? Didn't I hear just last week you blew your cover when you knocked over a shelf of china? The native woman responds by punching him hard in the arm. That was not my fault! The stupid thing wasn't screwed into the wall properly! Who doesn't secure their china anyway? And it was an isolated incident you ox! You know I'm quiet Ian! she hits him again and he laughs. Well thanks for ruining my reputation she grumbles, blushing. She takes Simon's hand when offered, glaring at the Scotsman who looks horribly amused.

As you ride to the station things go apparently without incident. The package with Emma's head is still in place and should you examine it, it is definitely still a dismembered head. As you head back towards the carriage though, Penny notices the driver seems to be keeping tabs on you and trying to hide it. The fact that you didn't sense this before makes you wonder if he wasn't recently taken over, or perhaps it is another shifter. Hard to say.

Penny listened with amusement through Ian and Lily's banter. It was a far cry from the supposed nephilim she'd first met. It helped, for a short time, to take her mind off dreading what terrors Kate might be facing. But, just when she might smile, she remembered Kate again. After recalling the Ripper case, this day had been full of things she did not wish to think of.

Leaving the Western Union offices, she carried the hatbox containing Emma Bently's head. Another thing not to consider. She looked up, seeing the coachman look away. She didn't like his tense posture, his furtive glances. She kicked herself for not leaving Simon and Lily to hold the coach and keep an eye on things from the road. Well, now what? They could hardly cut the fellow and sprinkle him with holy water here in the street. She couldn't even warn the others with him in earshot.

Penny approached a step closer, saying 'Terribly sorry, but we've had a change of plans. We'll have dinner here in town. I shall of course pay you for the time and the inconvenience.' she offered generously, opening her purse and feeding out coins to pay the driver.

'Ah, this is embarrassing. Do you remember the address we were to go to next?' she asked him. A test: a demon might know through its host, but a shifter would not.


OOC: Sense Motive 20

I still need to level up, which I'll try to get done over the weekend.

Simon had noticed this before about Penny, she was too British. It wasn't a slander, she just had too much of the typical British bulldogged determination to do things herself and not to share her feelings. He had seen a touch of it when she took offense to him earlier when he had confessed his prior attraction to her. He was trying to decide how he might get her to open up to him when he heard her talking to the driver. He sensed something was amiss and he caught Lily's eye. He nodded, intending to alert her to play along with Penny. Whatever she was up to he sensed she felt it important.

The driver blinks in surprise but decides to play along with Penny. You sense he is intimidated by you as wisely you brought enough defenders with you that he is outnumbered. Still playing along he recites the address to you perfectly. Considering this is the safehouse this is bad news indeed. He will have to be dispatched or else your new hiding place is already compromised. Penny, should you glance to Ian you see he has come to a similar conclusion as to the driver's identity. His hand twitches near his holster. Sensing danger the man licks his lips and decides to try to bluff his way through it, wishing you a good evening and readying to drive off. If you hesitate he will start to do so in a hurry...

ooc: If I recall correctly your next course was to go to the safehouse right? If not I will correct it. If you wish to do something to stop him go ahead and roll an attack and we'll get into it. Also, for leveling up don't forget I put up new bonuses so be sure to pick one out.

OOC: The destination was "a location close to the safehouse" (post #239) so he doesn't have the exact address.

I started my post, then we had a power outage and I had to start again. :(


Penny listened as the coachman recited the given address, silently kicking herself for not holding it back. Still, it wasn't the exact location; the safehouse was still viable. So, a demon then. There may yet be time to save the host. She glanced to Ian and Simon, surreptitiously signalling them to action.

'Ah, excuse me, sir.' Penny began quickly, stopping the coachman from driving the horses off. 'Your tip. I believe that's the American custom.'

OOC: If it works...

Suddenly, she slapped a small cloth pouch in his hand, one daubed with a red sigil – a hex-bag. 'Depurgare!' she hissed in Latin, commanding the demon to be purged. Furiously muttering the continuing arcane words, her eyes growing dark and gleaming, she held the hex-bag against the choking coachman.

Frantically, with her free hand, she shook the lid off the hatbox – the only container to hand and already with a devil's trap drawn on the base to ward demons away from Emma Bently's head. It should do just as well to contain one. She could worry about separating the two later.


OOC:
Initiative 13

Stopping the coachman: Bluff 22

The aim is to use Depurgare to liquefy and expel the demon, and get it vomited into the hatbox, which has a devil's trap (it makes sense for Penny to have put it there; Spot DC 26) and I hope it will contain it and free the coachman. Else, it should buy some time for Simon, Ian, and Lily to kill him with magic weapons and the angel blade.

16:48, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+6. concentration.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:19, Thu 04 June 2015.

Simon realized what Penny had planned. As quickly as he could he held up his rosary and said some words in Latin.

Cast Enhance Ability - Charisma on Penny
Penny you get +5 to Constitution for the duration of the spell.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Fri 29 May 2015.

OOC: Thanks. But while Penny could do with some charisma, :) she doesn't actually need any for the spell. Constitution for the Concentration checks would be more effective.

Thanks, always tell me which stat you need more. I can only do it once a day right now, so make sure it is the best overall and not just immediate. I changed it to add to your con. Don't forget the extra HP. =-D

OOC: Okay, thanks. My Concentration check is now 18, and I have +18 hitpoints.

ooc: Sorry about the delay here. Just hashing a few technicalities out first so I don't screw anything up. Thanks!

The demon starts to convulse and shake, eyes bulging in shock at Penny's words. After a moment though it manages to steel himself as he drops the hexbag though he is still fighting the affects of her spell. He instead leaps from the cab and looks like he will try to strike the woman, no doubt in an attempt to obtain the head. He does look weakened though and quite desperate. At this close range Ian and Lily decide against firearms and instead the pair rush at the man with their blades. Lily manages to slice his arm with her tomahawk but Ian trips and nearly drops his knife.

ooc: Next round! I figured even though he shook off the exorcism, something like that will definitely damage him so if nothing else that should be a boon :)

Following Lily's lead, Simon drew the angel's blade to strike the demon.

11:24, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 12 using 1d20+7. Attack with angel's blade (Not including any bonuses from the blade itself).

Penny's incantation ended fluidly in a dark curse as the demon shook off the spell. Stumbling back, avoiding a clumsy swing, she abandoned the casting and the hex-bag, and worked frantically to bring her enchanted cane to bear, hoping to have a little protection. She noted the host's continued choking, the slackened grip the possessing spirit had on his body. 'We must slay the demon!' she urged her fellows.


OOC:
Dodge: +1 dodge AC versus demon (Agile Riposte)
Defensive Martial Arts: +1 dodge AC versus melee attacks

Move: Exploit Weakness, 28 vs DC 15, use Int for attacks vs demon
Move: Draw can

I rolled an attack, but don't have actions for it, so I left it out.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:48, Thu 04 June 2015.

ooc: Man I'm having the worst luck with 1's! Luckily for you... ;P

The demon attempts to grapple with Penny but he slips on some loose gravel and goes pitching past her. Ian tries to stab the man but misses. Fortunately Lily's tomahawk slashes his arm though it is not a disabling blow. Simon likewise misses though he is at least closer to his mark than Ian was. Well this is going horribly Lily remarks drily.

ooc: Next round :)

Simon took another stab at the demon with the angel's blade.

10:44, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 23 using 1d20+7. Angel Blade strike.

Deftly, Penny sidestepped the demon coachmen, slashing her cane downwards. But his clumsiness even extended to her, as he slipped and fell before she could connect. Fortunately, the fallen hex-bag was still close by and Penny saw a fresh opportunity to recover her initial plan. 'Quickly! Restrain him! All of you! We may yet save the host!' she beckoned, launching into a new casting of the spell. 'Quod praecipio tibi hoc daemon emundatum purgari!' she rushed through the Latin phrases, commanding the demon to be purged and expelled, speaking not to the fiend but to the body and soul within. She had hoped, when they had a moment's peace, to speak to Father Simon first about her new spell, to ensure there were no further misunderstandings, but events had conspired against that plan.


OOC: I'll switch my last action to drawing/readying my cane, since Penny uses that more often and she was trying to save the coachman. And it didn't make a damn bit of difference.

Agile Riposte: AoO, attack 11, rolled a 1, miss.
22:49, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 11 using 1d20+10. Agile Riposte: cane AoO. (updated modifier)

Dodge: +1 dodge AC versus demon (Agile Riposte)
Defensive Martial Arts: +1 dodge AC versus melee attacks
Total AC: 19

Re-attempt Depurgare: Concentration check: 20
22:57, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20 using 1d20+8. Concentration.

Penny's suggesting everyone else pile on and grapple the guy so she can exorcise the demon into her hatbox.

Translation of Latin: "I command you to be purged and cleansed of this demon."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:10, Thu 04 June 2015.

Simon will not use the dagger if there is a chance to save the person.

ooc: No worries, we can just have Simon graze him purposefully ;P

The angel's blade slashes the demon across the leg and he lets out a piercing howl of pain and shock. Whatever this blade is it is far more affective than your usual weapons. When Penny began the spell again his screams became even more pronounced, unfortunate considering the fact that there are many people nearby who have become aware of the situation. Some men try to help the driver, seeing he is appearing to be attacked en mass, however when they spot the black fluid dripping from his facial orifices they suddenly back up in shock. Stay back! This man is sick! Ian barks and for the moment they are happy to comply. The Scotsman and Lily both rush to obey Penny's command to hold him and fortunately in his weakened state they manage, though only barely. This time the demon is unable to resist Penny's spell at least so far and he shudders as the spell starts to take it's course. Simon, you notice that Lily sees your angel blade and for the fraction of an instant you could swear you saw fear cross her face. A moment later it is gone though and you wonder if you didn't imagine it. Simon, grab him will you? He's strong! Lily grunts. Meanwhile you've all gathered quite a crowd.

ooc: If you decide to help go ahead and roll a grapple check.

Simon put the weapon away. He easily dismissed Lily's look as his own imaginings, and went to help hold the demon. He nodded at Penny, anything that would save the human had to be sanctified.

09:43, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 17 using 1d20+6. Grapple.

'He's having a nervous fit! We must hold him still lest he harm himself!' Penny claimed to the crowd. Seeing a burly fellow nearby, she decided to recruit some aid. 'You, man, hold his leg! Lily, push harder!' She knew the nephilim in her could restrain the demon single-handed, but she would not draw it out, would not force Lily into it. But surely she could bring a little more strength to bear.

Continuing to mutter Latin phrases under her breath, she popped the lid off her hatbox and tipped out the head of Emma Bently onto the pavement. Fortunately, she'd put in a thick bag for added security and privacy in case anyone at Western Union peeked or dropped the package. She shoved the round box under the coachman's head, catching the foul black slime of the liquefied demon. 'Come on! Better out than in!' she beckoned the man brightly.


OOC: Recruiting aid: Bluff 21
21:44, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 21 using 1d20+5. bluff.

Penny will maintaining concentration and be ready to catch the demon in her hatbox. It has a devil's trap drawn on the bottom.

It is no easy feat even with four people on the demon (including the man recruited by Penny) but you are able to hold him so far. Lily looks offended at Penny's instruction to push harder. What do you think I'm doing here? Waiting for tea and cookies?! she snaps. During all this he continues to vomit black liquid which starts to fall into the hatbox. The newcomer swears at this and looks horrified but Lily snaps him back into action, yelling at him not to let go. You have quite a crowd gathered by now and a few more men rush in to help and some women upon viewing the scene start to faint, no doubt a combination of nerves and corsets strung too tight. The demon is screaming and shouting in spite of his expulsion and the whole thing is a right mess.

ooc: For some reason picturing this scene is really funny to me. It looks rather stressful. Also, Simon I have changed a few things about exorcisms. Remind me if I haven't posted by friday to update bonus threads reflecting this new change. Basically you can perform an exorcism in 3 successful rounds of concentration checks assuming they are trying to distract/taunt you etc. More details later.


Almost there! Roll 2 more rounds to fully exorcise him. If you are going to keep up with holding him Simon roll two more grapple checks though you can try other tactics too if you wish. Penny, two more concentration checks please. Because he is so restrained your DC will be fairly manageable.

13:49, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 15 using 1d20+6. Grapple Check.

'It's a matter of torque!' Penny growled back at Lily. She clasped the hex-bag to the back of the coachman's head, trying to force his face over the hatbox as he puked up the foul black ichor of the fiend, dropping in gobbets over the devil's trap. Grimacing, Penny tried to stretch her neck away from the foul scene. Not for the first time in her supernatural detective career, she regretted not choosing a life of leisure instead. I should have stayed in academia. 'Expellere sordes. Expellere malum.' she hissed into the coachman's ear, to drive the last of the demon out. It could still escape even at this stage, if it turned to gas. She could not fail.


OOC: Concentration checks: 9, boosted to 12 with an action point (3); 26
19:48, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 9 using 1d20+6. concentration.
19:50, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 3 using 2d6. action point.
19:50, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 26 using 1d20+6. concentration.

Latin translation: "Expel the filth. Expel the evil."

ooc: That was disturbingly descriptive. I don't think I like the word gobbet *shudders* ;P

At last it seems to have worked. The driver shudders violently as the last of the black mess escapes his body and into the hatbox. By now most folk have backed away in horror though your burly champion has stuck through it all. Between Simon and the others efforts he has been pinned enough for the spell to finish. You see now that the poor driver is in fact still alive. You are fortunate he was so recently possessed, most hosts do not fare so well. He wipes his mouth and pants as he tries to catch his breath. T-that was....thank you!! he looks suddenly very aware of the crowd that's gathered. Lily and the others release him and the Indian woman looks at the hatbox with disgust. What are you going to do with it? she asks in repulsion. Meanwhile the helper looks aghast at all he's seen. What the devil was that?!

Simon decided best to let his collar help them out now. "My good man I can explain. This was in fact nothing less than a battle for the poor man's soul. My comrade used her reliquary to aid us in a quickened exorcism. Normally such a thing is a long and drown out ordeal, but with your help we accomplished it quickly."

He took the mans hand and shook it, "I, my friends, this man, and the Holy Church owe you a debt of gratitude. Lets hear it for the hero of the hour my good people."

As the last of the liquefied demon dribbled out of the man's mouth, Penny snatched away the hatbox and jammed the lid back on tight. She looked upon it with glee. A captured demon spirit! What could she do with that? Study it, test it, find new ways of killing it. This was quite an achievement in the field of demon hunting. 'At this stage, keep it locked up and prevent it from returning to Hell with its information.' she told Lily. Penny quickly scooped up the bag containing Emma Bently's head before it aroused suspicion; carrying around a severed head would do that, and it was beginning to ripen...

During the struggle, she had considered an explanation with a more medical theme; a parasitic infection that caused fits and vomiting would do nicely. But while she organised herself, she heard Father Simon explain instead, with the honest truth. Penny started in alarm; he'd unveiled the conspiracy of silence that kept the normal world safe from an all-out war with the forces of darkness. Even if they didn't believe him, it wouldn't help them to be considered lunatics or fanatics, who just may have attacked this fellow. But, just maybe, the priest's tale would reassure and give these people hope.

Hearing this most people look alarmed, confused and in some cases disbelieving. The driver turns pale as well though it helps that he does not refute Simon's words. Lily exchanges nervous looks with Penny but fortunately the burly fellow gives a small nod. Really? Such things truly exist? Really? he looks unsure but willing to believe, perhaps he is a catholic judging by the way he takes Father Simon so seriously. Ian decides to take the opportunity to disperse the crowd. He removes a metal police badge from his pocket and waves it at the people. It's alright folks, policeman here we have things under control now. I suggest you hop on to wherever you were going and leave matters to the professionals. Fortunately with his confident bearing and official credentials the people reluctantly move along with much murmurings. He turns back to you all then. Well that was messy in more ways than one. Nice work everyone but we had best get out of here. he turns to the driver. Considering we just saved you from death AND possession might we borrow your cab? We'll have someone return it to you here in an hour but right now we just alerted far too many people of our presence to find another driver we can trust and no offense but I doubt you're up to it. The driver shakily agrees and the burly man informs you he'll look after him. Now, I'm not the greatest driver, anyone else want a crack at it?

Penny relaxed, relieved as Ian took charge and dispersed the crowd, quashing the inevitable questions. She watched them go, making sure that none lingered suspiciously, before regarding the coachman they'd just saved. She was glad he'd survived, that they'd not been forced to kill him. It always pained her to kill a host; even if they were already technically slain by the demon, she felt the terrible guilt. This would feel like a victory if it hadn't been her slip-up that had put the man at risk in the first place. She could not bear it if they'd had to kill him. 'I recommend warm lemon juice to remove the taste – and a stiff drink, I'll wager.' she recommended to the coachman, seeing him for before answering Ian.

'I can drive a horse and coach,' she said, 'Though when it comes to such things as outrunning a rampaging Egyptian hippo monster that escaped from the British Museum, I am better off passing the reins to another. Besides, I must carry our smelly friends here.' she said of the hatbox and bag in her arms.

Ah, better you than me Ian makes a face at the box. The driver wanders off with the burly man to the nearest pub but not until he thanks you profusely. Seeing that no one else is volunteering Lily immediately climbs up to the driver's seat with surprising glee on her face. No, I didn't mean to include you in the invitation! Ian protests and she gives him a defiant laugh. Too late! You had your chance! And for your information I can drive very well! Ian swears as he starts to head inside the cab. Our definition of well is not the same. Maybe in Sioux driving like a maniac means well but in English it's quite another thing. Promise me not to tip us over this time? he sighs. She rolls her eyes. That was once! You need to let that go. It was ages ago. Last month was ages ago Lily. You can't round up like that. If nothing else remember that Miss Penny here has a hatbox full of demon slime she doesn't want on her lap. I imagine none of us would be very happy with you should you spill it. Hearing this she suddenly looks nervous. Oh, I hadn't thought of that she murmurs. Maybe you'd better take the reins then she offers. No no no, you wanted it you get it! This will be good for you, driving like a sane person for once. Now let's go.

Once everyone is inside Lily gingerly guides the horses. You've never had a tamer ride in all your life, or slower. It is agonizing how long it takes to get to the safe house. During this time Ian will chat with both of you, asking Penny for details about the Egyptian Hippo monster and asking questions about the spell too. It's nice to have a moment of peace though it's odd to have such an experience with both a severed head and a demon in a hatbox sharing the cab with you.

Eventually you make it to the safe house and Lily watches you depart with relief. Did I spill it? Did I do alright? she demands and to your amusement she looks like she perspired out of nervousness. You drove like an old woman! Ian accuses. Well make up your mind! she snaps. Well I'm off to go return this to our un-possessed friend. I'll meet you back here within half an hour or so With that she turns the cab and to your surprise tears off in astonishing haste nearly tipping the cab on the first corner she turns. That could have been us. Ian shakes his head. Now that you've arrived you find yourselves at a three story brick brownstone. There is a light on inside so someone is home, hopefully Victoria.

ooc: Sorry, that's a lot to read over. I'll give you a chance to put your two cents in and then move things along one way or another tomorrow.

Amused by the exchange between Ian and Lily, Penny climbed back inside the coach, taking great care with her precious, grisly cargo, and settled back into her seat as Lily drove them off. The slow ride provided gentle and relaxing after the stressful struggle with the demon – much too slow, gentle, and relaxing. Time was of the essence and a slow coach meandering through the streets would be quite suspicious and easy to follow. Twice Penny urged Lily to hurry the horses, to little avail. At least New York had so few cobblestones, else it would be a very bumpy ride.

As it was, after some minutes, the demon-possessed hatbox bumped and wobbled threateningly in her lap. She kept a tight grip on box and lid, and passed the bag containing Emma Bently's head to Father Simon.

Penny regaled the others with her story of Ammit, a monstrous figure of Egyptian mythology. Part lion, part hippopotamus, and part crocodile, it devoured the hearts of the unworthy dead. A statue of Ammit discovered by the renowned archaeologist Flinders Petrie and sent to the British Museum had turned out to be rather more than a statue, coming to life at night to devour the hearts of hapless night-watchmen and lost visitors, who of course failed to meet the long-forgotten standards of ancient Egyptian morality, or ma'at. After a hair-raising chase through the streets of London, including a desperate struggle on the roof of a coach, Penny had enlisted the aid of a big-game hunter (of natural and supernatural beasts) and, armed with an enchanted elephant gun and golden shot, despatched the monster. The stuffed head now adorned the man's wall.

Initially surprised at needing to explain the depurgare spell to Ian again, Penny recalled she had in fact told his shifter impostor. She carefully explained it to Ian, and especially to Simon. Although it had been developed by a cruel Scottish hag named Rowena in the 18th century, and was witch's magic, it was "white magic", requiring no sacrifice and having no wicked effect. Apparently, this Rowena had needed to protect herself from the fiends she consorted with. Penny had since reconstructed it through research. The magic bound a demon in the form of black slime and empowered a host's own body to expel it, similar to an exorcism. The hex-bag had to be closer to a demon, but it had the added the benefit of liquefying a demon and allowing it to be more easily caught.

Finally arrived safely at their destination and alighting from the coach, Penny watched Lily hare off in the coach, hoping she wouldn't pick up any more monstrous pursuers, or worse, crash into something. 'Well, we arrived safely, despite everything. Let's get inside quickly and secure these ghastly things.' She needed to pour that demon into a good strong jar.


OOC:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammit
This message was last edited by the player at 12:49, Sat 13 June 2015.

Simon took the head in a bag and nodded at Penny's explanation. "In truth I had heard of this method and though it is unsanctioned I feel it was sanctified. You did well to leave our friend with his life. I commend you."

When they arrived her hopped out and opened the door for Penny out of urgency, she had the hat box and did not need to spill its contents. Lily said she would handle the cab and Simon nodded. He reached up to pat her thigh, "God Speed, my Love."

Lily blushes and smiles back at Simon. Considering her bold personality it is amusing to see her so flustered. Don't worry, I'll be back before you know it she mumbles almost shyly.


Ian is surprised by both the story and the details of the spell, mentioning you will have to teach it to him one day.


Ian admits you with a key, informing you that you'll receive your own soon enough. As you go inside you see it is a finely furnished place, very well kept and beautiful. It definitely has a woman's touch about it and you suspect Victoria has had much to do with the decor. As you enter you find a cozy fire has been lit and the place is warm and pleasant. It is a stark contrast to the parlor where you find Victoria surrounded by items of the macabre. Bones of various animals, human teeth, a human leg with flesh still attached (Simon recognizes this)and disturbingly a bowl of entrails form a circle around her. She sits in the center, reading a book and looking slightly bored. Seeing you she brightens. Oh good! No trouble I hope? Where's Lily? she looks around. Ian quickly explains the situation and she nods, relieved. She's already lost Westbrook today, it is understandable she is on edge. She bids you to remove the head and place it in the center of the circle. Hearing about the demon she is very surprised but finds an over sized mason jar and a funnel for you. Once everyone is gathered round she takes Emma's head and a map of the state along with a long needle. Hopefully they kept it in New York at least or I'll have to do this again with less accuracy she sighs. She proceeds to close her eyes and chant, rocking back and forth. You both recognize it as some form of hoodoo though it is quite a complex ceremony.

 Ian watches and in a whisper offers you both tea or coffee. It is odd having such an every day activity while she drones away in her strange language. This goes on for some time, enough that Lily returns, her presence announced with the bang of the front door. Ian winces and then goes off to scold her for being too loud. Victoria is completely focused though and you would say she is in a trance by the way she is seemingly unaware of the world around her. At last she suddenly stiffens, takes the needle and with a jolt of force jams it into the map without even looking. Her eyes open and she is suddenly Victoria again, so quickly herself that it's hard to believe the last hour actually happened. Ah! Good news! She's still in the city! Unfortunately it looks like she's at central park. Goodness. Well that's a hard find. I can narrow it down for you though. She's near still water, buried. Probably the lake. There are birch trees nearby and a nest of birds. She remembers hearing the hatchlings as they dug her grave. She says it isn't far from the boathouse though I can't get much more out of her she sighs. It's not perfect but it's doable. We should go tonight if you all have the energy. While it's still dark. We'll have to bring a wagon and be sure you are not seen. I will go with you if you like and we'll keep the head here for safekeeping. If you thought that headquarters were warded you should see what I've done to this place she smiles. It's perhaps the only place I can actually sleep soundly now.

Central park...Simon related the incident of how he and Lily had killed the Windigo. He asked if perhaps the two were related. It seemed and odd coincidence.

'Given the short time-frame for possession, I realised that the demon likely hadn't had the time to murder the host. I'm truly glad to have this chance to save someone.' Penny admitted to Simon.

*

No stranger to the macabre and the accoutrements of dark magic, Penny was unperturbed to see the workings of Victoria's voodoo ritual, nor to drink tea and eat biscuits as she watched, intrigued. She was English; she could have tea in Hell if need be. She greeted the other woman and helped explain what had happened since they'd last spoken.

The first order of business was to acquire the jar and funnel. A much more leisurely application of the spell rendered the demon liquid and dormant once more, and from there it was a simple matter to pour it into the jar through a funnel, the thick liquid remaining as a single mass. She screwed the lid on tight, having previously greased the screws to make it airtight. Penny produced from her purse a neatly cross-stitched devil's trap sampler, and placed the jar on top, while she drew another devil's trap on the lid. She could swear the black glutinous mass was glaring hatefully at her. Later, it would reform into smoke but remain trapped and angry.

As the ritual at last came to an end, Penny quickly noted down Victoria's report on the location, with some distaste. 'I do not like exhuming a fresh grave, much less in public, but we are fortune she is not within some guarded demon lair. Still, they may have left a watcher. Regardless, we must go tonight; time is now of the essence.' Penny was resolved, slapping fist to palm, though it had already been a long day fraught with dangers and battle.

She listened to Simon's question about a Windigo (a new monster in her experience) and added 'And what, pray tell, is the significance of this half-chewed limb?'
This message was last edited by the player at 05:46, Tue 16 June 2015.

Yes...that Wendigo was at the park wasn't it? Victoria muses. Perhaps our demonic friends are utilizing the park for more than one activity. It is massive and not effectively patrolled. It makes sense

It is Victoria who also answers the question of the chewed leg. Ah, Father Simon acquired that for me for use in my spell. It had to be a fresh body part you see and I was loathe to use any of the poor souls who died at headquarters. He found a ghoul on the other end of this, the same one we questioned. That is something else that will require investigation though perhaps Mrs. Bentley will know more about it. Anyway, I think we will have more time to discuss matters later. I will meet you back here tonight, I have business to see to at headquarters. I suggest you all start to bunk here from now on. There's plenty of bedrooms as Ian has his own residence he keeps. When you return with the body I will help you put Mrs. Bentley back together again. Be careful of prying eyes though. Should the police see you with a headless body they will be none too pleased. Even Ian would have trouble talking his way out of that one Oh I have an idea about that Ian assures her and she nods approvingly. Alright, take the wagon out back then and do be careful. Who knows what else is in that park...

ooc: Go ahead and finish any conversation/preparation and then I'm jumping ahead to the park. Since Simon is out of town this week I'm going to divide you into 2 mini search parties and then when Simon returns I'll join you guys back up. Also, Victoria will restore your hit points should you need them. She has a few healing tricks up her sleeve.

Penny: An hour later you find yourself east of the boathouse, searching in the darkness with Ian at your side. His lantern is kept low, just bright enough to see a few feet in front of you but hopefully not enough to be visible to anyone else. To your dismay it begins to rain. Well isn't this fine luck he mutters. Digging around in the dark is one thing but in the rain? It's like they're trying to make our job hard.

ooc: Please roll a search/spot check

When a spell or rite called for fresh meat, Penny had a distinct preference for beef, herself, but each to their own. She regarded the half-chewed limb with distaste. 'I do so hope it is not Emma Bently's leg. We have enough trouble reassembling her as it is.' she sighed. She noted Victoria's plans, and begged for some bandages and restoratives to treat her aching limbs and bruises before she set out again.

*

Refreshed and reinvigorated, Penny once again found herself out on the hunt, though this time she was armed, prepared, and equipped. For one – she raised and unfurled her umbrella as the rain began. 'We English are used to rain, Mr Shaw.' she said without irritation but perhaps a trace of self-satisfaction. 'Here, you better stand under with me.' she offered, sharing the brolly. She'd had it enchanted as a weapon by the Men of Letters, and the whole underside of the canopy already bore a devil's trap. Penny had tried sewing a sealed tube of rock salt around the hem of an umbrella, but without success. Inevitably, the water would get in and dissolve the lot.

Trying not to think about the dashing, handsome rogue Ian Shaw standing so close by, Penny peered into the slashing grey lines of the fallen rain. 'The rain will wash away the prints of our quarry, yes, but I had not expected any to remain after so long in a public area. We are fortunate, in a way: the rain keeps prying eyes away from us as well, and obscures our own footprints and grisly work.' Walking around the lake, she looked out for the birch trees, scanning the branches for a nest. For Emma's spirit to have heard the tiny squeaks of hatchlings, she would have to be quite close by.

'Furthermore,' Penny began, now casting her eyes at the muddy ground, 'A recently dug grave will contain looser soil that will absorb more water than the ground around it. Look for where the water quickly sinks. We may even see subsidence if the rain gets heavy enough. You see, the rain can be to our advantage.'


OOC: Penny searches like a boss: Search 33 (rolled a 20), Spot 24
Find Clues: Search 32 if within 5 feet of a clue
14:05, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 33 using 1d20+13. search.
14:05, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 32 using 1d20+13. find clues: search.
14:05, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 24 using 1d20+9. spot.

Are we restored to full hitpoints?
This message was last edited by the player at 06:28, Tue 16 June 2015.

ooc: Yup! Sure are!

Well aren't you just optimistic he grins, sharing the umbrella quite closely. He looks up at the devil's trap with appreciation. Well isn't that clever he chuckles. But then you always seem prepared don't you? It's strangely romantic being stuck under the umbrella with him in the pouring rain, like your own private shelter away from the world; almost alarmingly intimate at the moment. Fortunately your eyes spot a bird's nest, albeit a soggy one and as you investigate you see the ground appears to be disturbed. Should you point it out to Ian he will look incredibly impressed and immediately get to work with the shovel, warning you not to get too close lest he ruin your clothes. He gets quite muddy and wet and it is not a bad look for him. As he digs you are fortunate to find it is a shallow grave. Whoever did this was either lazy or in a hurry. The body is woefully bloated and ripe smelling and Ian makes a face of disgust. Should you investigate the body you find disturbingly it is naked and there are numerous signs of torture on the plump woman. Penance for disobedience perhaps? Specifically you see cut marks, bruises from blunt objects and what looks to be gashes from fingernails or claws, not human is your guess but not any animal you've seen. Perhaps from a werewolf? Hm, it would seem if that were the case that Belial has plenty of servants to do his bidding.I appreciate the female form as much as the next man but this is something I could have done without Ian mutters. Now, this part you aren't going to like. I know this beat well, I used to work it myself. What you do inside the park is usually unnoticed but there are plenty of coppers patrolling the exits as you may have noticed and even if we cover her up in the wagon they are bound to be suspicious. If we run across an officer that doesn't know me we're in for it. Therefore I thought it might be best to divide and conquer as they say...I brought a hacksaw and some lined carpet bags. If we divide the body amongst the four of us and take different exits and meet up a few blocks down we should be just fine. Victoria can put her back together easily enough. Of course, if you have a less macabre solution I'm all ears he adds grimly.

'I try to be,' Penny agreed, before admitting ruefully 'But I still often seem to be caught unawares.' She was still blaming herself for not recognising the other Ian as an impostor. If only she'd seen the signs, she might have saved Kate. Had she become too familiar, too trusting? Was it simply the stress of the moment and the battle? Or was she developing a blind spot where Ian Shaw was concerned?

Having pointed out the disturbed ground, behaving as expected, Penny stood back under the tree and under the umbrella. Ian leaving the shelter of the devil's-trapped canopy proved he wasn't a demon, at least. She watched him work as she kept watch for onlookers and passers-by, as well as demonic spies. But Mr Shaw by the lake in a sopping wet shirt was reminding her thrillingly of a Pride & Prejudice adaptation a hundred years hence.

Under the umbrella, she knelt over the unearthed grave, inspecting Emma Bently's body and the dirt around while it was still in context. She grimaced politely in disgust but with the calm restraint of one who'd seen far more horrific injuries and mutilations. The wounds were a frightful variety, clear signs of torture and humiliation. Surely not even Emma Bently deserved this.

Then she heard Ian's macabre and grotesque proposal. 'I worked the Torso Killer case; I am not squeamish. Let's see, a leg, a leg, a torso, and two arms, divided up amongst the four of us, it is feasible. But, separated, we run a risk of any one of us being discovered with our grisly cargo, and being hardly able to explain it.'

'You know the police in this area? Can you make it an official police matter? Call it a murder victim exhumed from a shallow grave, and bring your most trusted colleagues in. Then the body need only go missing on the way to the morgue.'

'Otherwise... The boathouse is there. Might we acquire a small boat to transport the body in, unseen, to more secluded location away from the park?'

I could try the official route but to be honest some of the new officers don't particularly like me. They see me as abusing connections I should no longer have. Most of the boys love me of course, who wouldn't naturally? he laughs with a wink. But I'm trying to keep a fairly low profile when possible. Especially since if there's any chance of this getting back to Belial's men I'd rather avoid it. They seem to know far too much about our doings already and if we can keep at least a few things secret that would be best. I do, however, like your boat idea. We'll give that a go first and if worse comes to worse I'll bring the hacksaw. True we'd be in for it if anyone discovered us but I don't think most folks would question someone just because they're walking around with a carpet bag. He squints through the rain at the boathouse and suggests you go and look for a boat while he guards the body.

Should you do so you will find a sturdy rowboat chained up to the dock. Fortunately it looks easy enough to pick for the right person. If you report this he will nod easily. Sounds good. I'm thinking if we head to the west end of the lake there will be fewer patrols. We should have the two lovebirds meet us there with the wagon, see how things go. he suggests.

ooc: Should you go this route please roll move silently and hide. Also, if YOU want to try to pick the lock (too lazy to see if you have that skill sorry...) then roll as well otherwise Ian will give it a go.

'Oh, naturally!' Penny chuckled along with Ian, put at ease despite the gruesome sight between them. 'I normally worked with Scotland Yard back home, and could always invoke the name of the Yard for assistance. But I trust your judgement. I will go look inside the boathouse.'

Penny set off to the boathouse, soon finding the rowboat, and the lock and chain. Producing her lockpicks, ostensibly hairpins and so on, she deftly picked it open and loosed the chain. A useful skill, though not one an upper-class lady ought to possess by society's mores. Like Holmes before her, Penny had abused criminal contacts acquired during more mundane cases to learn a few useful skills one could not easily gain elsewhere, skills as useful in solving crimes as committing them.

Piling the chain and lock in the boat, Penny climbed in and looked at the oars. 'How does one row a boat, anyway?' Having visions of herself being washed uncontrolled downstream, she climbed out and fetched Ian.


OOC: I do indeed have Disable Device, and I'm glad to get the opportunity to use it so well: 27. :)
20:52, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 27 using 1d20+9. disable device.
20:54, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 13 using 1d20+4. hide.
20:54, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 12 using 1d20+4. move silently.

ooc: I had a feeling you had the skill. It fits Penny so well :D

Once he hears there is a boat secured he takes a small canvas tarp out of his pack and then making a disgusted face he covers the decomposing body with it before wrapping it around her and hoisting it from the grave. A trifle heavyset isn't she? he grunts though once he has her out he handles the load much easier. His nose is wrinkled in repulsion as he carries the corpse to the rowboat. I know saving the world should be motivation enough for this but I really feel like someone owes me he gags. If I get a maggot on me I'm dropping her. Not to be squeamish but there's just something about maggots... he shudders, headed to the boat house. Once she's in the rowboat he looks massively relieved. He is completely covered in mud and some more nefarious looking fluids that seem to have leaked through the canvas. I hope you don't mind but I'm getting out of these clothes. If we are to avoid suspicion it will be easier if I'm not covered in mud and liquified remains he says drily. If the good father takes an end we should be able to get her into the wagon without too much more soiling and I don't want to wear her guts on me any longer than I have to.With that he begins to peel of his shirt, digging through his pack for a replacement. He doesn't seem to care if you look or not though as a genteel woman it is the proper thing to do to turn your back.


Moments later he has changed entirely, even his shoes. It would seem he has come prepared. Well that's better. Time to get soaked I suppose. We'll have to douse the lantern for now but Lily should signal us from the shore so we can see where we're headed. He helps you into the boat politely and then takes the oars himself, expertly maneuvering the small vessel into the dark waters. It is pouring by now and visibility is very difficult. A ways off you see a light winking from time to time, marking your position and Ian relies heavily on you for guidance as his back is often turned. It takes some doing but eventually you make it there where a soaked Simon and Lily await you. The body is moved easily between the two men and more canvas is laid atop the woman as well as a few other items such as bundles and boxes to hide the shape of her body. Luckily the rain has helped with the smell a bit though it is alarmingly strong nonetheless. As you head off in the wagon you see a lantern in the path ahead of you. It is an officer it seems and he has his hands up for you to halt.

'A trifle heavier with her head, I'd wager, but a gentleman should know better than to criticise a woman's weight.' Penny tutted, though hardly seriously. 'Though I can understand the desire to carve her up like a Christmas goose.' Penny fussed around, holding the boat steady, keeping the tarp covering the cadaver, watching for passers-by, and generally doing everything she could to help without getting her hands dirty or carrying a load or actually really helping. After all, she wasn't strong and always enlisted some stout bobbies for such work. At last, feeling a little guilty, she offered 'Tell you what, I shall owe you a dinner.'

As Ian complained about his clothes, Penny suggested 'I suggest you bathe in the lake. Then we could say you fell in. The stains we could pass off as mud and...' But, too late, he'd removed his shirt and Penny trailed off, for once at a loss for words. Of course, she'd seen Mr Shaw shirtless before, when treating him for a bullet wound. But now, well, the rain put a sheen on his muscles that accentuated a fit and healthy body quite handsomely... 'Um.' she said, feeling a bit funny and flustered. Perhaps it was the rotting corpse nearby? Remembering herself, she turned around, trying not to think about it further. She needed to see a doctor when all this was over.

*

'I don't suppose we can simply speed away?' Penny said in a low voice to Ian from her position in the seat beside the driver. 'We shall have to bluff our way past.'

'Good evening, officer! How can we help you?' she called cheerily.

A dinner eh? Don't think I won't take you up on that! he laughs. At your awkwardness of his undressing he laughs all the more. You can look if you like. I've never had a complaint before he teases.

Later at the sight of the officer he looks grim. We can certainly try and honestly it may come to that. Still, best not to arouse suspicions if we can avoid it. he says quietly. In the back Father Simon and Lily try to look innocent as though they are simply safeguarding the load. The officer looks suspicious and grumpy in the rain. He has an umbrella in one hand and his other is near his holster though seeing women amongst the group he looks a tad easier. Yes, if you wouldn't mind telling me what you're doing out here in this ungodly hour? he sees Father Simon suddenly and looks a bit awkward at his choice of words. Nothin personal mind you, it's just a lot of unsavory activities happen in the park at night. We're supposed to question everyone.

ooc: Bluff check and also spot please

OOC: I'll post properly tomorrow, but I had a question: what kind of wagon is it? Is it open-topped or covered, and if covered, is there a door on the back?

My Spot check: 15
21:48, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+9. spot.

Sherlock-Scan the police officer: Search 28, Investigate 18, Sense Motive 19
21:49, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 28 using 1d20+13. search.
21:49, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18 using 1d20+17. investigate.
21:48, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+8. sense motive.

ooc: No worries! It's an open top wagon. My apologies.

'Oh, of course. It's good to see the coppers keeping an eye on things. Fine work, officer!' Penny agreed chattily, a little differently and lower class from her typical reserved manner. She was stalling for time to think of a good deception. A priest, an Indian woman, and two British expats kind of narrowed her options. 'We were doing charity work. We took food and blankets to homeless folk camping in the Park – gets cold and wet out here, as I'm sure you know – while the good father tended to their poor souls.'

Changing the subject, she quickly went on 'Now, we didn't see any unsavory activities, sir. Just poor, honest folk trying to get by.' But the detective's interest was piqued by these "unsavory activities". Her voice took on a worried edge. 'What's been going on, officer? I hope no-one's in danger?'


OOC: Bluff 23. Great roll! Then I just had to think of something.
19:27, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 23 using 1d20+5. bluff.

Gather Information 18
19:53, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18 using 1d20+9. gather info.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:35, Mon 22 June 2015.

21:11, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 21 using 1d20+5. Spot Check.

ooc: I have to say that was a genius lie. Kudos!

The officer looks more than satisfied with this answer, even so far as to look sheepish at having stopped you. Oh well that makes sense of course! I'm so sorry to have hindered you. As Penny scans him she notes he seems unsure of himself, young and his uniform albeit soaked is in new condition. His ignorance of Ian also leads you to believe this is a rookie. The force probably shoved all the newbies out in the park rather than deal with it themselves. It's good that you are trying to help but this is a dangerous place at night he answers your question. There's been a lot of reports of screams and strange attacks. We've even found a body or two and not in good condition either. I don't mean to shock the ladies but you had best know what is out there. Might not be the best place for the homeless to be hangin about either he shakes his head.

Meanwhile Simon spots quick movement from behind the cop. It looks to be a young woman and as she rushes silently towards him you see a mouthful of fangs. This is not good...

Simon pointed, "Behind you, good sir!" He felt as though he should have been more on his guard. He raised the cross in his hand and casts Light upon it by saying, "And Christ said 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light. No man sits before the Father except through Me.' " He makes the light centered on his crucifix.

Cast Light

Penny wished she could get more details out of the fellow, but further questions would raise suspicions and they needed to be away. The troubles in the park came as no surprise anyway, given what they'd already found and how rundown and overgrown Central Park had become since its opening. 'My goodness!' Penny gasped at the policeman's report, raising a hand to her throat and playing the role of the good-hearted gentlewoman, shocked at the news of murder, even though she knew of a headless corpse not three feet away.

But soon her feigned shock turned to real shock as a vampire came rushing upon them, its fangs exposed. Penny was immediately on her guard, but thought – this wasn't right. It wasn't like a vampire to attack a group of five and be so outnumbered.

So, as everyone looked toward the vampire woman, Penny looked behind and all around, for the rest of the pack.


OOC: Initiative 13
14:57, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 13 using 1d20+2. initiative.

Active Spot check, 29! Are there any more of them?
14:58, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 29 using 1d20+9. spot.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:01, Tue 23 June 2015.

The officer gapes at Simon's spell but manages to hear the warning and turns just as the vampire rushes at him. She hits and sends him flying back in a heap. Ian and Lily immediately dig an armful of machetes from the wagon. Never leave home without em Ian notes drily, offering them should you need. Penny, you do see movement fast approaching and you know the rest of the nest will be on you in seconds...

ooc: Ok, go ahead and roll if you decide to attack. This round there is still just the one vamp but by the next round more will arrive. Simon, go ahead and brush up on the lore since it's a bit different in supernatural. http://www.supernaturalwiki.co...ex.php?title=Vampire   Note, decapitation is typically best but you can try the new angel sword too...

'We have company!' Penny warned, seeing fast movements in the night and through the trees. Damn their timing! Their cargo was too precious, their need too desperate, for them to stand and battle these vampires. How many more were there? 'Get him on the wagon! We must be gone ere more of them arrive.' she urged. They had to rescue the poor copper. And she'd told such a splendidly plausible lie too...

In one hand, she snatched up the reins dropped by Ian, ready to drive off as soon as they had the policeman. In the other, she pulled her pistol and aimed it at the vampire woman atop the struggling man. 'Hold still, sir!' she warned, focusing on her shot, on the vampire in the night. She breathed out, squeezed the trigger, and her enchanted pistol let out a sharp report.


OOC:
Draw pistol
Precise Shot: No -4 penalty on ranged attacks into melee
Blind-Fight: May reroll miss vs concealment.
Point Blank Shot: +1/+1

Attack 22, damage 6 @ vampire
20:36, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 22 using 1d20+9. shoot, PBS +1.
20:36, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 2d4+2. damage, PBS +1.

Miss: 94, should be good if it applies.
20:39, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 94 using 1d100. miss?

Simon recites:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." [Ephesians 6: 10-15]

Cast: Shield of Faith

He also drew the Angel's Blade in anticipation of the assault.

Lily and Ian jump from the wagon and rush towards the vamp. Penny's shot hits the woman, grazing her in the arm and she recoils, surprised at the pain the bullet has afforded considering most weapons don't harm the creatures. Ian tries to swipe at her with his blade but misses. Lily has more luck, burying the machete into the woman's collarbone, missing the neck but not by much, unfortunately this means it doesn't do much good. She swears in frustration and barks at Ian to get the cop in the wagon which he nods to. The poor officer is scrambling to stand up. As soon as he's in the wagon you leave! she snarls. We'll try to join you if we can but don't wait on us! This is more important and we've had worse before. Simon, you stay with Penny and get the cargo back safe. She dodges a couple of attacks from the vampire easily. By now you can see the others bursting from the trees. Simon's light has helped illuminate the scene nicely and it seems there are four more of the things.

"No," Simon said flatly, "I am staying with you."

'No! Everyone get on!' Penny cried to Ian and Lily, and now Simon, aghast at their recklessness. She couldn't lose anyone else, couldn't leave anyone behind. 'There's no need for heroism, and no reason to stay! We'll fight them on the run!'
This message was last edited by the player at 11:56, Thu 25 June 2015.

Arrrrrg! Well so much for getting Emma out safely she sighed in frustration. Fine, we'll do it your way but if it comes down to it saving the world is more important than either of us!Ian laughs. Looks like they may just care about us Lily. Let's make sure that doesn't get them killed shall we? They both run towards the wagon, the vampire woman close behind Lily and the others closing in.

ooc: Next round please

'Do you really believe leaving me alone to transport her is getting her out safely?' Penny hissed to Lily, her genuine concern her companions supported by a pragmatic concern for her own safety and the completion of the mission. She fired another shot at the nearest vampire, the attacking female, trying to cover the policeman's escape. She had the reins of the wagon tight in her other hand, ready to set the horses to motion. They were already spooking at the gunfire. 'Hurry!'


OOC:
Precise Shot: No -4 penalty on ranged attacks into melee
Blind-Fight: May reroll miss vs concealment.
Point Blank Shot: +1/+1

Attack 15, damage 10 @ vampire
20:01, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+9. shoot, PBS +1.
20:01, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 10 using 2d4+2. damage, PBS +1.

Ready move: drive the horses when everyone is aboard.

Simon follows Lily.

Simon was supposed to stay with you! she snaps back. You could have gone a lot faster without the two of us slowing you down she adds irritably as she scrambles aboard with Ian and the wounded cop who has started firing his pistol at the vampire to no affect of course. Oh for heaven's sake take this and chop her head off Lily rolls her eyes impatiently, thrusting the machete in to the bewildered cop's hands. By now everyone is on board, Penny's shot misses and the vampire has already leaped onto the side of the wagon, determined to continue her attack. Ian pulls out his pistol and fires at close range, hitting the woman in the side. She howls in pain, surprised that the gun actually hurt her and she struggles to grab at him but he dodges. The other vampires are incredibly close and as Penny spurs on the horses they run after the wagon and will catch up in seconds. This is bad.

ooc: Next round please

Simon lashed out at the female vampire with the Angel's Blade.

09:59, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 14 using 1d20+8. Attack - Angel's Blade.
I still am unaware of any inherent bonuses in the stiletto, so this roll includes only personal bonuses.

Biting back an argumentative response to Lily, Penny instead lashed the reins and yelled 'Yah! Yah!' at the horses, sending them and the wagon clattering into motion. She continued to urge the horses, trying to get them up to full speed. They weren't warhorses, but with the gunshots and shouting, that shouldn't be too hard. The problem might be getting them to stop. What she wouldn't do for Kate's horseless carriage right now...

Twisting about in her seat, Penny turned to fire a quick shot at the crowd of vampires, but instead the wagon bumped over a stone, throwing off her aim. The gun reported, and the bullet thudded into the back of the cart in an explosion of wood splinters. She counted herself lucky not to hit her companions.

'Miss Lily! Perhaps you should take the reins.' she suggest, recalling how the Indian woman had given fresh meaning to the term "breakneck speed".


OOC: I looked through d20 Modern and d20 Past, but couldn't find and driving/vehicle rules specific to carts and coaches. If treated like a vehicle, then Penny will try to increase the speed category. If needed, Drive check 10.
13:58, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 10 using 1d20+2. drive.

Attack 10, rolled a 1, critical miss.
14:01, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 10 using 1d20+9. shoot, PBS +1.

ooc: So these particular vamps have an AC of 16 for reference in this fight, that way you know if you hit and you can react appropriately. As for the angel blades, they do add a +2 to attack and damage rolls, critical hits are 19-20 and if you do get a crit you get to triple the crit damage. They are supposed to be very powerful weapons so we'll try that for now and see how it goes. I reserve the right to tweak in the future! ;D  Also for time's sake Simon I'll roll the damage for you. The damage die for the time being will be 1d8, yeah I know it's a small weapon but like I said, supposedly powerful stuff.

Simon manages to slash at the vampire and it has even greater affect than Ian's gun has. A spectacular weapon indeed! She's still alive though and as she leaps into the wagon she savagely bites the priest in the arm though you're able to shake her off an instant later. She's in the wagon now and chaos has erupted. Penny's wild bullet barely misses Ian and he swears in surprise though is too entrenched with the new attackers to react any more. The rescued cop is trying to clumsily hack at another vamp clinging to the wagon and Ian manages to shoot another but not mortally as yet. Hearing Penny's request to take the reigns a huge grin splits Lily's face. I thought you'd never ask! she laughs and scrambles up to take the reins. You're all going to want to hold on.

ooc: Next round

The pain in his arm was enough to make Simon miss the vampiress.

13:11, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 10 using 1d20+9. Angel's Blade.

'Well, not the vampires, obviously.' Penny added dryly after Lily, scrambling out of the seat and into the seat aptly named "shotgun". But she only had a pistol and umbrella. 'Push them off the wagon!'

Seeing the first vampire sink her fangs into Simon's arm, Penny gasped in alarm. She aimed her pistol, taking the time to calmly line up her shot despite the desperateness of their situation. She didn't want a repeat of her last blunder. She took note of the vampire's injuries and movements, and the jostling of the wagon. When she had a clear shot, she breathed out, squeezed the trigger, and scored a direct hit on the vampiress. 'Got you!'


OOC:
Exploit Weakness, DC 15: 15, use Int for attack rolls.
14:07, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+8. Exploit Weakness check.

Precise Shot: No -4 penalty on ranged attacks into melee
Blind-Fight: May reroll miss vs concealment.
Point Blank Shot: +1/+1

Attack 25, damage 9
14:14, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 25 using 1d20+11. shoot, PBS +1.
14:14, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 9 using 2d4+2.

Dodge: +1 dodge Defence vs nearest vampire

You alright Simon? Lily calls back as she sends the cart careening down the road in her usual wild fashion. Meanwhile the female who has been causing you so much trouble is blessedly put down by Penny, the final bullet embedding into her side as she falls limply out of the wagon. One down...

The officer has managed to find his strength it seems and hacks away at another vampire frantically though of course it isn't done yet and tries to strike him in return. Ian shoots one at close range, hitting it in the collarbone but it takes a bite out of his arm in exchange. Another lunges at Penny this time, clawing her across the thigh and trying to bury its teeth in your flesh though thankfully the jostling wagon makes it difficult, in fact it is hard to keep from falling out you are all going so fast...
ooc: Please make balance checks each round now too, don't worry you won't need much to stay in.

ooc: Next round.

Simon nodes, "A flesh wound only." Then he lunges for the vampire attacking the police officer.

Nominating that vampire for Shadow Hunter bonus

He takes a slash with the Angel's Blade.

10:56, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 27 using 1d20+11. Attack w/ Angel Blade.

Prodding the dead vampire with the toe of her shoe, Penny rolled the corpse out of the wagon, seeing it go bouncing away down the road. But her effort to keep the field of battle tidy saw her left exposed, and she was savaged by a vampire. The only damage was to her many layers of skirts, and her pride. 'Get off me, you cur!' she snarled, shooting the thing to drive it back.

Penny crouched behind the crates concealing their precious cargo, seemingly for protection and support, but considering her options.


OOC:
Dodge: +1 dodge Defense vs the one that bit me
Defensive Martial Arts: +1 dodge Defense vs melee attacks
  Total: Defense 18

Precise Shot: No -4 penalty on ranged attacks into melee
Point Blank Shot: +1/+1

Attack 22, damage 8 @ vampire that bit me
20:14, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 22 using 1d20+9. shoot, PBS +1.
20:15, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 8 using 2d4+2. damage, PBS +1.

Balance 5. Yeah, I don't even have much...
19:57, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 5 using 1d20+2. balance.

ooc: I rolled your balance for you Simon just for time's sake :)

Simon slashes the vampire across the back with the angel blade and to your surprise the flesh lights up almost as though from within. The vampire screeches in shock and pain and turns to face you in rage. The weapon is powerful it seems. Seeing you as the biggest threat the vampire buries its teeth in your collarbone as it lunges at you.  Meanwhile Ian and the other cop do a poor job with their attacks, their lack of balance playing a large part as the wagon is careening wildly. The vampires are within the wagon by now though a couple of them stumble, leaving themselves vulnerable. You are able to keep your balance fairly well for the moment.

Penny's shot is true and rips through the thing's stomach though it is by no means out of the picture. In the meantime you are having difficulty staying upright and almost pitch out of the wagon but you manage to grab the side and drop down to preserve yourself. As you stumble and flail a bit your vamp claws you across the side, ripping through your flesh and clothes.

ooc: Next round and roll another balance check please. When you fail such as poor Penny did you lose your AC to your defense that round. If you get less than a 5 then you fall out completely...best of luck. I'm sure Lily will come back for you should that happen ;P