'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