She knew she had her Mama, right where she wanted her, and she pressed the advantage,

"Oh yes, and I'll watch the good ones walk to their own deaths, and the new ones die of inexperience, all because I'm afraid to do what Daddy did." she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm to lay the guilt on thick,

"So if I grow close to some, do I just watch them die? Let them make the bad decisions, while I'm perfectly capable?" now came the big pitch,

Approaching her mom, she threw her hands into hers, knowing her and dad were always weak to this,

"Trust me, Mama, like you always have. Teach me, and let ME decide! I know the risks, I know the danger, and I don't promise I'll choose the safest path, but you've raised me well enough to choose the best path. Have faith in me, like I've always shown I'm worth, and support me in whatever I choose." she said, her voice and face a combination of begging, and convincing.

You expect me to support suicide? Your father was a hunter for decades and he still got himself killed. What do you think you're capable of girl? Just because you can throw a punch and use a gun you think you're ready? There are things out there that would turn your blood to ice, you have no idea what you are getting yourself into and your stubbornness isn't going to be enough no matter what you think you are capable of! she snaps. She starts to go on but Michael steps forward then, his hands up as though he's tempted to separate you.

Now hold up Elizabeth, I just had a thought. She rounds on him as though furious he is interrupting but allows him to finish. There's a man I know, Ian Shaw. Best hunter I've ever heard of. He faces demons practically every day and he has some way of dealin with them. Won't tell me much but I know he has methods the rest of us don't. Maybe he can help. He's always talking about some higher ups he's working for, won't tell me much more than that but I'd bet I can get him to talk to ya, see if he can offer a way for Josephine to help without endangering herself. he offers hopefully. Elizabeth shakes her head though to your dismay and she turns to you, her voice softer. Look honey, I know you want to help. I know you want to get justice for your father but it's too risky. It's not worth your own life. He's dead and nothing you do will bring him back. Do you think he would want you to throw your life away? Think about what he would want. If anything happened to you I would be completely alone. Would you really want to do that to your own mother? It would seem she is the one laying on the guilt now. It is clear that no matter your methods she is unmovable tonight. Eventually she says it's time to leave and Michael nods soberly, disappointed that she didn't accept his offer. She turns to the hunter. I appreciate what you told me but I hope you understand I don't ever want to see your face again. Especially around Josephine. She turns and waits for you by the door. Shaken, the man offers a handshake to you. Well, nice to meet you Miss Hartley. I'm sorry for my involvement in things As you take his hand he slips you a piece of paper to your surprise. Should you read it later you find it is an address and the simple instruction to 'ask for Ian.'

ooc; Go ahead and respond to your mom if you like. I just thought I'd start to wrap up things here. She's not likely to budge yet so arguing back and forth could take a while so feel free to skim. Also, let me know your plans for that night and the next day. Keep in mind it's quite late, around 2:30 or so.

"Mama, I'd never want to leave you, or endanger anybody, but if nobody teaches me about these things, I'm just a victim waitin' to happen. They're still out there, and whether I believe in them or not, I'd guess they believe in me!"

Despite that, she realized her mother wasn't going to be moved, so she simply sighed, shook her head and wished the man a good day. When he slipped her a piece of paper, she was glad, as that simply saved her the trouble of hunting him down for the address anyways.

That night, Jo went home with her mother, continuing to try and explain her point of view, despite knowing it was just as unlikely for her to succeed as it was for her mother to. Instead, she made sure Mama knew she loved her, and she always wanted what was best for both of them.

Before she went to bed, she copied the address twice, hiding it around the room, just in case her mother was suspicious and came in to take it away. She was 100% sure she wouldn't lose her one shot to get back at whatever killed her father, and prevent it from hurtin' her or her Mama.

The next day, waking up, Jo got dressed in one of her better outfits for athletics. More form fitting, and a bit less free flowing, something that she could easily pass off as "for work" if given questions. With that, assuming she didn't have to work today, she spent the early morning (8ish) eating breakfast, and heading out, immediately set on pursuing this goal. Jo was a driven woman, and she wasn't about to let this opportunity pass her by.

You find a note under your door that night. An apology from Billy. Apparently your mother bullied him into spilling his secrets and he's pretty ashamed of it. You won't see him until that afternoon though so no sense worrying about it now.

The next morning Elizabeth watches you leave suspiciously. She opens her mouth to say something, hesitates, and then opens it again. Look darlin, I know you're mad at me but we'll figure a way for you to help alright? We just have to find a way for you to do it safely. We'll talk about it when we've both calmed down a bit. In the meantime I'd better not see you houndin Michael again you understand? So, she thinks you are out to badger the hunter again. Assuming you quell her fears on that score you are soon out the door and for the moment free.

The address is a twenty minute walk or so though this means little to your young legs. Your mother's bar is not exactly in the bad part of town but your current destination very much is. It is a good thing it is so early and the un-savories are sleeping off their drink. Instead you are met with the sight of hungry children who eye you as a likely pocket to pick. The occasional beggar implores for a handout and proud eyed flower girls eye you curiously. At last you find the address, a tiny apartment in a ramshackle building. #13 on the second floor. You walk up the rickety stairs and gingerly knock on the door. At first there is no answer but you aren't about to turn back now. As you knock with increasing volume at last the door is flung open to reveal a man of about thirty, dark of hair and in need of a shave. You obviously woke him and he is quite out of it. Looking at his rumpled clothes he appears to have slept in them and there is a faint smell of drink on the man. In spite of all this you are taken back by his good looks and sharp eyes that seem to see every detail about you even though he has barely opened them. As he speaks you hear a Scottish accent. Ah blast, don't tell me another one has found out where I live? he curses. Look, I'm not really looking for anythin serious right now....hm. I seem to have misplaced your name lass. And don't get me wrong but your face isn't ringin any bells either. Was I particularly drunk when we met? If so I should hardly be held responsible for any declarations I may have made.

Nodding her head, Jo made her mother a promise,

"Unless Michael hunts me down for some reason, I'll never seek him out again, and if I do, you'll be the first to know Mama, promise." she said, smiling to set her mother's fears to rest.

Once she'd stuck around long enough to make it seem genuine, she left and headed out.

Finding the second floor of the building, Josephine was startled to see the man's disheveled appearance. She had been expecting... something different. Still, Michael had told her this is where her answers lie, and so she wasn't taking no for an answer.

Pushing the good looking man back into his apartment, Jo wasn't taking no for an answer as she shut the door behind herself,

"Look, I was told that you were who I needed to speak to, if you're Ian." she said, an expectant look on her face.

He looks surprised by your forcefulness but allows himself to be physically moved, almost with a sense of dread. Upon hearing your words though he blinks. Yes, I'm Ian. he looks relieved. So you don't know me? We never...? he trails off and then realizing you genuinely don't know each other quickly changes the subject. It would seem the man must bed many women if he loses track of them so! Who told you about me? And while we're at it, who the bloody he-uh, I mean who are you? He starts to pick up his room a bit which is strewn with dirty dishes and dirty clothes. Sorry bout the mess. As I mentioned, I'm not in the habit of bringing women here.

Rolling her eyes at Ian's words about 'not bringing women here', Josephine kicked a piece of clothing aside with her feet in a subtle strike out at the filthiness of the place, and she placed her hands on her hips, setting herself in a position to learn,

"Look, I don't care much what you do in your spare time, Ian, nor do I mind. I'm here to learn how not to get myself killed while learnin' to be a hunter like my Daddy was." she said flatly, being straight out about things. No reason to beat around the bush now.

At the question as to who she is, she stared at him and answered directly,

"I'm Josephine Hartley, and I look to do my family proud."

He blinks in surprise at your bluntness but quickly recovers. At mention of your family name he frowns in thought. Hartley, Hartley, Hartley....ah yes. Had a bar in Nebraska right? If I recall there was some bad business there...he suddenly remembers and looks sympathetic. Oh yes, I heard about that demon. That was your father? I am sorry. he sounds sincere. Well I've heard about your mother, I'm betting she would never have sent you on my path. Wouldn't know where to find me anyway, I've never dealt with the woman. She's well favored among hunters though, they say she's wonderful if you keep yourself in line. No, you must have heard from me from someone else....Michael Hudson I'm betting. Now that he has something more to think about than his latest conquest come to seek revenge you can see he has a sharp mind and he paces a bit figuring it all out. Curse that Hudson for giving my address out like that! I told him it was for emergencies only not every young thing that wants to get revenge. I have too many things to do to train you Miss Hartley. Bigger fish to fry as they say. I am sorry for your loss but this is a bad time to be getting into the hunting business. There are big things afoot, huge things that your ever lovin mother would have my head over if I got you involved in them. Besides, you have any idea how many folks get themselves killed trying to do what I do? Even the good ones who've done it for years, like your pa end up dead before long. What makes you think you've got the goods? You may have pluck but I'm willing to bet you haven't got a clue what it's really like out there.

Narrowing her eyes slightly, Josephine, instead of answering his question directly, asked him a different question instead: aiming the conversation the way she wanted it to go,

"What makes you think I'll stop just because you don't help me? I suppose I can just continue to make noise, and hunt these things down without your help, though I wouldn't guess you'd be alright with letting me get myself killed, would you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow in question.

On that note, she continued, "I'd wager, from what I've heard of it, there is never a good time to 'get into the hunting business'. Since there is never a good time, then now is as good as any other time. I'm already involved, Mr. Ian, the question is really whether or not you're going to help me learn to survive on my journey." she said, redefining the question for him, so that her desired outcome would seem like the only possible answer.

To your surprise he laughs and runs a hand through his hair. Well aren't you just a manipulative little thing? Think you'll start stalking dark alleys by yourself eh? Well I suppose we can't be havin that, you should at least be supervised. Heh, alright if that's how you want to play it fine. I'll help you but only because we could use every able bodied soul we can lay our hands on and though I tried to spare you I could use you. My one condition though is that your mother never find out and if she does it can't lead back to me. I've never met the woman but the stories are fearsome enough. he shudders. Once he has your assurance he makes sure the door is securely closed and proceeds to get right down to it to your surprise. He gives you the general background on demons, vampires, ghosts and werewolves, including their weaknesses and how to detect them. Now, you any good with a gun? Or at least a knife? If you want to help you'll have to get pretty hands on as they say. I'd bet I could scrounge up somethin for us to work on tonight if you're interested. Do you think you can get away from the bar? I don't know how you are planning to keep this all secret from your ma considering most hunting we do takes place at night. A lot easier to kill a vampire when there isn't a crowd of people watching.

Her pride flared up a tiny bit at the question about her firearms proficiency, and she nodded,

"Daddy got me good enough to shoot a badger out of his hands while he was wrestlin' with it, so I suppose I can handle myself." she said, proud to recall history with her father.

Still, she agreed to his terms, though in reality she knew she couldn't stop her Momma. She was an insightful woman, and she knew her daughter. Hiding something from her wouldn't go very well...

Thinking about his question, Jo nodded her head,

"I'll slip away tonight. Billy owes me anyways for droppin' the ball the other night. I'll be able to get back here when the sun drops. she said, hoping that would be adequate.



On a player-related note, should I look up "how to hunt demons/werewolves/etc" somewhere random online, or do you have a "for your game specifically" rule-book (house-rules, etc) or something? Jo is a focused little thing, so she'd commit all of this to heart immediately.

ooc: Nah, it's all pretty standard to the show. If you need any refreshers Supernatural Wiki has everything you would ever need so look up demons/vampires/werewolves on there if you want to brush up. Ian would have told you pretty much all of what you'll find on there so feel free to read them and consider them part of Jo's knowledge at this point. As for physically finding things to hunt you listen for trouble and you go after it just like the boys do. Though in my campaign the Men of Letters play a big part in telling you where to go and what to do. You'll get into that soon enough. If Josephine ever wanted to snoop on her own I would just have you roll a gather information check and you could find the latest gossip on violent and weird deaths in the area and then seek them out. I hope that answers your question! :D

Ian looks impressed at hearing your skills and gives an approving nod. Good to hear. I don't want to have to bring you up from nothin, I don't have that kind of time. Well you run along then and think of what stories you're gonna try to pass by your mother. Keep her away from the though you hear? I am not going to tangle with her. I've had enough angry mothers after me as it is he laughs suddenly. With that he bids you goodbye and you head back to the bar.

When you return your mother looks at you suspiciously but she has chosen to give you the pretense of trust at least. She gives you the usual tasks of readying things for that night and Billy apologizes for ratting you out.

ooc: Go ahead and let me know your plans that day and roll a bluff if you're going to lie directly to your mother. Otherwise let me know how you plan to skip out that night and what you'll tell Billy about it. Then we'll move things right along!

Rolled a 32 for bluff. Hope that works :)

Helping her mother out around the bar, setting up for the night, Josephine explained that she had to spend some time on her own, as she was feeling bad after the mention of her father the day before. She wanted to be alone, and appreciated the understanding.

With Billy, she of course laid the full guilt of screwing her over, except she did it gently. She liked Billy, and she didn't want him to really feel bad, so she teased him a bit to influence him to cover for her, but she didn't actually tell him what she was doing. Instead, she used her original story about wanting some time to herself for the night, to hopefully rest up and feel better the next day.

With her lies carefully set into place, she made her way off, back towards Ian, fully ready to roll. She was a mixture of terrified and excited, and she was ready to get started.

ooc: 32 should work nicely! :D

Your mother looks almost guilty for suspecting you and she quickly gives you the night off, as does Billy who feels even worse. Perfect timing to play the guilt card it would seem.

As you head off to Ian's night has fallen. It is not late yet but still in this part of town the minute it gets dark things get more dangerous. By the time you get to his apartment you are grateful you haven't run into any trouble. The walk home may be a different story.

He answers the door looking much better groomed than before. He is more of a night person it would seem and he lets you in with a smile. Alright, first task of the night, I have a house that needs investigating. This is pretty small potatoes to most hunters mind you but you probably won't like this. There's rumors of a spirit seen in an abandoned firehouse about six blocks down. Good time to investigate I should think. He hands you a sawed off shotgun and several rounds. Rock salt in the bullets he explains. Remember what I told you about ghosts right? Well it won't kill them but it will at least keep them at bay while we figure things out. If we are going to burn the bones we have to first figure out whose bones we need to find eh?

He then locks up and you walk the six blocks across town. To your surprise the unsavory characters and begging children all seem to know the man and either wave, greet him or at least nod. He is liked around these parts it would seem and he goes on to explain he's helped a lot of folk with their more unusual troubles. I used to be a copper too, so a lot of them know me from my beat. Still have connections there, comes in handy I can tell ya that. he grins. Soon you find yourselves at a three story brick building that has seen better days. Several bricks are missing, windows are broken and as you enter dust litters the place. Ian lights two lanterns and hands you one. Alright, this could take a while so I hope you're not expected anywhere. I suppose for now we'd best keep you near me until you get used to things. Ghosts are a lot more malevolent than people realize. During all this you get an intense feeling of being watched and the hair on the back of your neck stands up. This is already very unpleasant though part of you is excited.

ooc: Roll listen/spot please

Natural 20 listen (23) and 22 on spot

Josephine stays as close to Ian as she can when he tells her to, knowing that while she was a bit feisty, spectres wouldn't care, and she would end up dead right quick if she didn't pay attention.

Wielding the shotgun heavily in her small hands, Jo kept her eyes and ears peeled, ready to blast the first ghost she saw, if she saw one.

"I feel like I'm bein' watched..." she whispered to him, wondering if that was a sign of a nearby presence.

Oh you most definitely are he says darkly. You are already impressed by how calmly he handles himself. This is a man who has seen action. You explore the place with him and you note the disarray everything is in. There are signs of squatters having been there at one time but the dust indicates this was some time ago. Perhaps the ghost ran them off, or worse. I did some research on the place. It was a firehouse as I've mentioned but they saw the occasional burn victim here as well when they needed some place for the doctor to tend them. It was before the hospital was finished supposedly. They've had a few folks die here so I'm thinking this could be one of them. Won't really know until we see the bugger. He circles the room as he talks, his own shotgun at the ready. Suddenly from the corner of your eye you see movement. You turn in time to see a pale man dressed in clothes some twenty years out of fashion or so. He is large, imposing and has a bushy gray beard and thick black brows. He simply stands in the corner facing you with a menacing expression. Before you can shoot though he blinks away, suddenly gone. An instant later you hear a scraping sound and you turn to see an old oil painting remove itself from the wall and go hurling towards your head! You barely duck in time and Ian swears. Feisty fellow he growls. Suddenly the ghost reappears across the room, his mouth open in a voiceless scream of rage...

ooc: Go ahead and roll an attack. I will mess with your sheet so you can edit it and post it to your avatar thingy :)

21 attack roll, and thank you :)

Nodding her head at Ian's words, Josephine recognized the potential for a ghost-story, as hilarious as that may have sounded to her a full day previous. When the ghost revealed itself, she still had difficulty swallowing the idea, but she decided not to hesitate, and instead use the reality of rock-salt firearms to 'prove' it to herself.

With that, she pulled the trigger in the direction of the 'ghost', and half-hoped it would hit, half-hoped it wouldn't. She wasn't entirely sure how she would react when she saw definitive proof that ghosts existed, and not only that, but were malevolent!

The rock salt shell hits and to your surprise the ghost dissipates in a violent momentary mist. Nice shot. You may be better at this than I thought. Ian nods approvingly. He then takes out a small notebook and pencil. In cases like these I like to write down a description as soon as I can while it's still fresh in my mind. We're probably going to have to do a bit of canvassing to figure out who the fellow was and an accurate description is helpful. he explains. He didn't have any signs of burns on him right? He may not have been a burn victim then, though it's not always so cut and dry. What we really need is a name. If we have a name we can find his grave and burn his bones, simple as that...well usually. If he was overly attached to something it could be that his soul is tethered to that rather than his remains. Let's hope he wasn't overly sentimental about anything. he sighs. Now, let's get searching quickly. How soon he returns depends on how strong and how angry he is. I'd say split up but you're too green yet so let's move fast shall we? he pauses suddenly and looks at you searchingly. Oh, are you alright by the way? I suppose seeing a ghost for the first time could spook a lot of people, no pun intended.

ooc: Roll a search please

10 on search. You can roll these for me too, if you'd like. Like I said before, I don't mind you rolling/advancing in the interest of a cool plot/storyline :) I trust you

Josephine's eyes were a bit blank as Ian was speaking until he re-addressed her. Shaking herself free, she nodded her head,

"Yea, I guess, I just..." she swallowed, "Yea, let's move." she said, her confidence back at least on the surface. She couldn't help wondering if her father ended up like this, and it was troubling her, but now was not the time or the place, or even the person to ask.

Hopefully, she called out slightly louder than a speaking voice,

"Excuse me, sir? What's your name?" she asked, turning towards Ian and shrugging as if to say 'who knows?'. If she received no response, she went with Ian, searching around the building.

ooc: Will do! Thanks! I will still leave attack rolls to you though. You don't want my unlucky fingers on that dice roller ;)

He gives a little chuckle. Not easy your first time seeing something like this eh? I suppose part of you hoped it was all nonsense. It would be more pleasant than the truth. As you call out the name he shakes his head. Unfortunately they aren't usually the chatty type though on occasion you'll get lucky. Most of the time they are trying to kill you though he sighs sounding tired. Well let's get to it. You search the building with varying degrees of luck. For the most part you run across ledgers, old equipment and a few personal affects. Ian does manage to find a staff roster and tucks it under his arm. We'll take a look at this elsewhere. No sense staying longer than necessary. Feel how it's getting cold? That means our friend isn't too far off he explains. Just as the words are out of his mouth he is suddenly hurled across the room, slamming into a fireplace with surprising force. The apparition is there once more but he's angrier this time. He is standing across the room and he glares at you as suddenly loose bricks from the fireplace come hurling at you...

ooc: Ok, post response and then roll an attack and a reflex save. Normally I'd make the save for you but since you're already going to roll an attack you may as well do both :)

Attack roll = 16, Reflex Roll = 12. So I'm supposed to be the lucky roller? Haha! Well, I think perseverance in the face of failure is important, so there! :P

Hearing Ian's question, Jo shook her head,

"Not too pleasant, but..." she stopped as he continued and simply nodded her head. She wasn't here to teach him, she was here to learn, and she knew the downsides of always talkin' and never learnin'. At his final words, however, she raised a question,

"Wait, he can't follow us out of..." just before he was launched across the room, surprising her as she threw her hands up, flustered by the sudden movement. Seeing the apparition glare at her, she tried firing rapidly again at him, and also stepping out of the way of the flying bricks, but her main goal was reaching Ian's side as she rushed forwards. She wanted to make sure he was ok, and on his feet, as a vulnerable target would be defenseless against this onslaught!

Unfortunately your attack misses though only barely, denting the wall next to the specter. Try as you might to avoid the bricks unfortunately one hits you squarely in the back and it HURTS! You'll have bruises for sure and if that thing had hit your head...meanwhile as you rush to Ian's side he is recovering albeit a bit dazed. Hold still! he barks, not wanting to hit you on accident as he scrambles for his shotgun. He fires at the man but he's already disappeared though you doubt very much he is gone as things in the room are still stirring on their own accord. He's stronger than I thought he growls, standing quickly in spite of a gash on his forehead. We need to get out now. You take the lead I'll cover your back. Go! Should you do so he will follow you towards the exit, gun raised. However, as you head towards it you hear an ominous slamming sound. If you're not mistaken it is the front door closing. Keep going don't let it distract you he orders. Indeed as you reach the front door you do find it closed. Before you can try it though the ghost is back and he rushes at you!

ooc: You have enough time to shoot at him if you like so go ahead and roll again. You also take 5 damage.

Seeing the bloody wound, Josephine winces, and touches it gently, wishing she had time to bandage him up, but when he spoke, she nodded, turning and taking off for the front door. Hearing it slam, she wasn't happy, and she spun around, seeing the specter faster than she'd hoped. Lifting the shotgun, she was about to fire at the specter, but she remembered his words, and burst through the door instead, trying to get outside, and not be distracted.

18 rolled on attack

Now I rolled an attack, because initially I was going to spin at the door and fire, but I realized his words might have meant "don't be distracted by the door", so if that's what he meant, then I'll just try to barrel through it instead :)

ooc: No worries it goes well with what I have planned. I'll just use your attack a smidge out of order :)

As you go to obey Ian's commands to get out you struggle against the door but find it supernaturally sealed. It isn't budging. As the ghost lunges for you though you manage to turn in time to point blank shoot him as he's only inches from you. He disperses again but the fact that the door is still sealed indicates he's not far gone. Ian swears. Get over there in the corner quickly! he orders, removing the light pack he brought and opening it quickly. There is a small sack of salt and he quickly forms a barrier around the two of you using the corner of the room to spare much needed salt. I can tell you without looking that he's sealed the windows too. More powerful than I realized he shakes his head. The salt will keep us safe until we figure things out. No use wasting what ammo we have on a useless fight. he takes out the book he found and starts to peruse it. Maybe we'll find something in here, at least put a name to the face that's trying to kill us. Speaking of, when is your ma expecting you back? You may be here a bit longer than I'd hoped.

Swallowing nervously as she slid across the floor to land beside Ian, Josephine's breaths were short, and nervous,

"She... Ma won't expect me back. I've got time..." she said, knowing the guilt she'd laid on those two was perhaps enough to buy her time.

Seeing Ian pull out the book, Josephine gripped the shotgun tightly,

"And what can I do?"