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.'