'Oh, so do I,' Penny promised, and there came an answering howl from the moor. So, suicide was not necessarily an escape, but she might get away with having her corpse burned to ashes and her soul hidden far away from his reach. Blood and flesh were Belial's interest, hopefully he did not desire her soul too.

ooc: If Simon wants to bow out and stay in the kitchen with Ian that's fine with me, though you can always roll a listen check to see how much you overhear. Otherwise you can join Jo, I care not a whit what you decide :) I suppose the issue of Simon being absent for the holidays is moot considering how friggin long I've taken to post. Sorry again guys!

Belial smirks at Penny's words, not in the least bit intimidated. He glances at the tea and then back at Jo. It would be rude not to offer you refreshment as well young lady. Won't you have a cup? he arches an eyebrow at Jo. I am sure there is enough for everyone.

Meanwhile in the distance you hear a woman's scream though it sounds animalistic, angry and panicked rather than the typical damsel in distress. You're willing to bet it's Lily.

"I'm not a coward. I prefer a real drink." Jo said in reply, knowing that he was testing, but also knowing that if she was smooth enough, she'd be able to insult him and keep herself out of it.

Calling his bravery/masculinity into question worked on others, why not a devil or whatever he was?

Blast! If Juliet was devouring Lily, she'd never hear the end of it! Daring to risk leaving Jo and Kate alone with Belial, however briefly, Penny quickly hurried to the nearest window, throwing it open. She leaned out, trying to spy her companions over the manor and meandering estate. Spotting the invisible hellhound was a more difficult matter. She called out a command to bring the hellhound to heel, and called for her friends to return. She hoped Castiel, Ian, Lily, Simon would safely regroup and return. She could not do this without them.

Returning to the drawing room, Penny faced Belial. 'There, I have called off my forces. I expect you shall follow suit?'

Seeing the tea set, it wasn't hard to determine that the teacup on a separate tray was the poisoned chalice for Belial. Penny was mildly annoyed; it was rather obvious. 'Tea is a real drink, Miss Hartley. Now, please, serve us.'

Regarding the object of her hatred, Penny continued 'Now I shall present our own demands. First, you will give us the baby.' Penny's tone admitted no doubt, no fear, only absolute insistence and certainty.


OOC: Calling off Juliet:
17:27, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 23 using 1d20+6. concentration.

Simon heard what had to be Lily screaming and decided that was where he needed to be. He went looking for beloved Lily.

Belial seems amused by Jo's snide remark and gives a chuckle. Indeed, I am generally prefer stronger fare myself, however when in Rome as they say... he gives a polite nod to Penny. Besides, the Darkmoor's have impeccable taste, I'm sure even your picky tongue would appreciate it. However, never let it be said I was forceful. he shrugs. ooc: Let me know Jo, if and when you officially 'serve' the tea.

Penny, you unfortunately don't spy anyone out the window though you do sense that Juliet has heard you and is on her way. In response to your request Belial simply snaps his fingers and gives you a level look. You're not sure what this has accomplished but you have a feeling he has kept his side of things. Upon hearing your demands he actually laughs. The baby? Out of the question. I've already had to manipulate the timeline as it is. You would destroy the world in your stupidity woman. Besides, she is far from here at the moment. You may as well cut your losses and leave while I still feel like letting you. That could change you know he adds with an arched brow.

Simon: Ian also hears Lily and you both rush down the corridor in search of her. You note that the halls seem to have periodic bodies strewn about as though exploded by something from the inside. Meanwhile you catch sight of Lily after a minute or so, seated on a couch with Castiel at her side, bleeding heavily and looking furious. He is bent next to her, examining her wounds. You hear a snippet of, I don't know who I'm going to kill first, the dog or Penny!!

Simon stopped short seeing Lily's sad condition. "What has happened here?"

I'll tell you! she snaps, starting to get up but then groaning and slumping back again. You can see her eyes are smokey gray, indicating her other half has taken control. That blasted hell hound is what! Penny just lets the cursed thing loose and forgets that she has it out for me! Well, us actually she nods to Cas who you note is also looking on the tattered side though less so than Lily. We could kill it of course but she has come in handy for Penny before and I have a feeling it wouldn't go over well. This is the last time though I tell you! I'm done being chewed on! she fumes. What about you? Did you notice the demons? They just exploded! Amusingly, despite the fact that the other side of the woman is in control she clearly has some temperaments that are identical to the Lily you know. Try as she does to hide it, they have more in common than she would like to admit.

Simon nodded, "I will have a word with our detective companion. How did the demons come to explode?"

Josephine 'hmmphd' to herself, and immediately served the tea to everybody. While she was annoyed at Penny's attitude, she knew that her sticking to the story was important, so she did her part: ever the trooper for the team.

She even threw in a tiny little curtsy with the hand-outs, playing the role of the 'serving wench' the best she could, given the circumstances.

'You mean you have already perverted the timeline horrendously. And you will destroy the world in your own stupidity too. After all, we have both us seen the future, and it is presently a future without you in it. So what does one more change matter? My own experiments show that temporal duplication would be the most likely outcome of such a removal, and it behoves you as well to have a second queen on the board, so to speak.' Penny explained, trying to make Belial doubt the effectiveness of his perverting of history. It was all she had, right now. Most of all, she had to try to get the baby back for Kate; if she did not at least try, if she gave up on the child, she could never rest easily. She went on teasingly 'So much could still happen. Perhaps I will be adopted out, or stolen away by the washerwoman, and infant mortality rates are so tragic... Besides, you can hardly hide me in my own past. Wherever you place me, I will know.'

She waited for Jo to pour the tea, regretting that she'd not been able to choose the tea and supervise the preparation herself. These Americans had no art for it. She was also aggrieved to use the good family china on the Prince of Darkness. 'Here, I'll be mother.' Penny seized the teapot and set about performing a note-perfect traditional English tea ceremony. 'Milk?' Penny had milk herself, and Belial would have the rat poison, of course. After the milk, she poured the tea into each teacup, using the tea strainer. 'Sugar, anyone? One lump or two?' With the tea finished, Penny served the teacups on their saucers, mindful of which was which, passing the poisoned cup to Belial.


OOC: Try to persuade/confuse Belial: Bluff 11, didn't think so.
20:22, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 11 using 1d20+5. bluff.

https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/be_mother
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...om#British_style_tea

ooc: Dang tea was a complicated affair! I go to a little tea place run by this wonderful woman who makes everything herself. I suppose it's a smidge americanized but it's the BEST! She has about thirty types of tea or hot cocoa too. Everyone gets their own individual pot in different designs with really delicate cups and saucers and tiny spoons, etc. Then she has a sorbet to begin then an 8 finger sandwich course with soup and each sandwich is different and exotic and every time you go everything is different so she's always coming up with new flavors. Then, after your sandwich course you get a dessert course with 4-5 mini desserts, all different and complex and of course handmade. Scones fresh from the over with cream or flavored cinnamon butters, etc, and of course the scones are always different too. Last time I had an apple cinnamon scone, Bavarian cream mini tartlett with phyllo dough, chocolate fudge with mint fudge on top, and something else I forget. Gosh I love that place. And everything is decorated in vintage art deco and Victorian designs. Sorry, you got me talking about food. Food is kind of my life.
http://s3-media4.fl.yelpcdn.co...FPkGK09S8XncwQ/o.jpg

Penny/Kate/Jo: You can argue until you're blue in the face my dear, it will not change anything. Firstly, as you say it is presently a future without me. That will change I assure you. Second, your duplication may not work so well as you think. Time travel is more complex then you can possibly fathom. And third, I can easily remedy your knowledge of your past. I could erase your memory right here. It would certainly make things simpler don't you agree? Though your knowledge doesn't concern me. I've guards enough to prevent you from any success. He pauses then to take his tea and the tense moment interrupts conversation. With completely knowing eyes he looks straight at you unblinkingly as he drains the cup and puts it down on the chair next to him. Still meeting your gaze he barely winces and then with a sigh shakes his head. Admittedly that does sting a bit. Were I any less than I am I would be in quite some discomfort. As it is though, I did warn you not to be foolish. Now you pay the price. He turns to Jo with a small smile, almost apologetic. I am sorry for this my dear. You are so pretty. But I need the other two unspoiled if possible, and well...you did make the tea. Don't worry, I'll leave your lovely face alone. With that he suddenly raises a finger and Jo is lifted from the air, hovering a foot from the ground. Then, horribly her limbs snap and fracture as though being pulled and pushed by unseen hands. Her shoulders are dislocated, her elbows crack, her knees fracture until she looks like a limp marionette that has been battered and destroyed. Her feet turn the wrong way, all in a terrible cacophony of broken bones. The pain is incredible, though thus far she seems to be alive, if shock doesn't overtake her. He lets her drop to the floor in a literal broken heap. He turns to Penny, showing his true coldness for the first time, his face a blank mask of callousness and cruelty. It sends a shiver down your spine. I have given you a generous offer. Leave now and don't make trouble and I will let your companions live. I don't think you realize just how easy it would be for me to do otherwise. This is your last chance.

Simon: Lily shakes her head. I don't know. It just suddenly happened. Castiel nods at this. I suspect it was Belial. Only he would have that kind of power. We need to find him now. Do you know where he is? There is a frantic urgency in his voice.

Simon jerked a thumb and with a wry grin said, "Having tea with Penny. The tea is poisoned. I don't know if it will work, but I figured my presence would just make that less likely. What do you think?"

Gasping for breath as she is suddenly, and violently, tossed to the floor, Josephine's sudden screams of agony can be heard echoing all down the halls. She writhes in place on the floor, unable to move at all more than a pained quiver, her entirety of self simply overcome with the sudden and unexpected destruction of her entire body.

"P..pl..." she tries to sob out, but she can't even form words, lying there in agony.

14 rolled, I do believe (though not sure what mods to add
This message was last edited by the player at 16:26, Thu 07 Jan 2016.

'NO!' Penny screamed, leaping to her feet as Belial turned on Jo, seizing her. Her heart, her breath, long-stopped during the tense moment of the tea, thudded back into frantic motion, pounding against her ribs with terror. Then stopped again at what she witnessed. 'No, stop, please, it was my idea! I served it! Hurt me if you must!' she pleaded, but there was no reasoning or pleading with such a fiend. Desperate, she considered her weapons – one bullet in her gun, a teapot of boiling water – but there was nothing that could hurt, let alone stop, such a monster, nothing that would't provoke him to even worse retaliations. She could do nothing but stare in horror as Belial inflicted monstrous cruelties upon poor Jo, her own body aching in sympathy. And worst, she felt so completely responsible, for putting the girl up to it, her cunning defeated in the face of such brute force.

When it was over, at last, Penny swiftly crossed the floor to tend to Jo. She had no more words for Belial, no possible response to that. Her brief glance at him showed eyes red with tears and grey with horror, and a contempt for the creature that became a steely gleam of defiance, a promise of justice and of revenge. She scooped her hands under Jo's broken, shattered body, lifted her up with not a care for the weight, and waited for Kate to accompany her out.

Simon: Before they can answer you hear terrible screams coming from down the hall, your guess is where you just left. Considering they are feminine, things with Belial must not have gone well. Immediately Ian, Lily and Cas rush towards the scene. Assuming you follow you will soon come upon the rest of them. Jo is looking horribly mangled, all her joints sticking at unnatural angles and swelling badly. It is as though someone's broken all of her limbs and then some. Penny has lifted her and is looking incredibly upset.

Penny/Kate/Jo: Jo barely is conscious, which is unfortunate as the torture would at least be spared had she passed out. Clearly in shock, the poor woman shakes and whimpers in Penny's arms. Despite her light weight she is heavy and it will be an effort to carry her long. I know it was your idea he says flatly. Let this be a lesson for you. Defiance will only cost you those you care about. You wonder why I am so generous as to let you all leave intact? Because every one of these people is a tool I can use to keep you in order. Remember that. With that he turns and walks away. By now the others have rushed upon the scene and Lily, seeing Belial leaving and Jo's mangled body, starts to rush at the man but Castiel firmly yanks her back at which point they grapple a bit. Her eyes are smoky gray and she looks completely enraged. He's too strong! Cas growls.

Entering the room behind the others he sees Jo and immediately dropped down beside her and tried to aid her.

09:21, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 23 using 1d20+10.  Treat Injury.

'No, Lily.' Penny murmured, as pale as a ghost with shock and dismay. 'Please,' she begged to Simon and Castiel, 'Help her.'

Kate gasped in horror. Seeing Jo crumpled in a broken heap brought a nausiating wave of guilt. She'd spent enough time with Belial to know the plan probably wasn't going to work and yet her own selfish desire to find the baby had stopped her from objecting. Now Jo was paying the price.

"I would like a word in private," she demanded as Belial turned to leave. "I will meet you out front," she said to the others. Her voice was firm and unafraid despite the recent events.  If allowed she will follow Belial out of the room.

Simon is able to stabilize Jo and treats her shock though it will take some doing to set her limbs again. Castiel nods at the request to heal her and places two fingers on her forehead, concentrating. He suddenly staggers though, nearly passing out himself and you realize he is more wounded than you realized, the effort draining what was left of his energy. Swearing, Lily grips him by the arm and hoists him upright easily for she is still the nephilim for the moment. Forgive me, healing is not something I've been able to figure out yet she sighs at her friend with an apologetic look. Perhaps Castiel could teach me one day.

At Kate's demand of an audience with Belial he smirks but allows her to follow, both of them quitting the room, the door closing behind them. ooc: While they are doing that, feel free to roll searches for anything you can set Jo's bones with.

With the healing kicking in, a little tiny bit of the edge was taken off, but Jo was honestly not sure if it was better than just dying off, and ending the horrific feelings she had gone through. Still, she was still herself, even if in horrific pain...

"I think..." she coughed out painfully, struggling to speak, "...I think I got him." she managed to squeak out, a weak laugh following that. Then, she broke into a pained cough, and winced, scrunching her eyes shut with the additional pain she felt.

And with that last attempt at a joke, her energy was spent, and she just did her best to be mentally 'somewhere else', so she wouldn't feel the agony. Theoretically that was a good idea, but it wasn't working quite so well in practice...

First the Priest made a search for splints in the room. If he must he will take a chair apart to do this.

09:05, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 12 using 1d20+5.  Search for Splint.

Simon was ill prepared for healing a comrade. He knelt beside Josephine, taking his rosary in hand, "Oh Father God, I beseech Thee for the knowledge to heal this woman, Your child. Let Your power pass through me and let You receive all the Glory and Honor. In Your Son Jesus' name..."

He put his hands on her head, having faith that God would answer his prayer.

Rules say must be 4th level to switch out spells - boooo! However you can get spells by inspiration, which I am hoping for here.

Penny started in alarm as Kate stepped out with Belial, but it was too late to react and stop her. Penny was so thoroughly defeated there was little she could do or say right now anyway.

As the weight of Jo's broken form grew too much, Penny helped her down onto a couch with Simon and Castiel's aid, since Belial was not driving them out of the house immediately after all. Producing her medical kit, she gave Jo some laudanum for the pain – laudanum, or tincture of opium, contained an impressive dose of morphine and other goodies. Unfortunately, she could do little else, given the great amount of injury. Every bone in every limb broken or fractured in many places, the joints dislocated. It was ghastly, like a victim of an inquisitor's torture chamber.

More familiar with the house, Penny easily found some serviceable splints, by taking apart a couch and pulling out the slats.


OOC:
20:14, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 31 using 1d20+13. search.
20:14, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 10 using 1d20+2. treat injury.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:00, Wed 13 Jan 2016.

ooc: I'm going to have to do a bit more research on the gaining spells by inspiration as it is a tad vague in the class description. More on that to come.

Between Simon and Penny's efforts, Jo is splinted on her major joints, which hurts immensely. She will need to be carried as straight as possible so you will have to try to fashion something in order to leave with her. In the meantime Juliet has returned, leaving bloody pawprints on the floor as the invisible hound makes her way to her master. Lily immediately glares at the beast, seemingly able to see her judging by the way her face darkens. She pats Jo comfortingly but at the same time looks ready to tear the beast apart if need be.

ooc: Concentration check from Penny for Juliet please. Sorry not much is happening, just have to hash out the spell with Simon and finish up Kate's conversation. Thanks!

PM