'The chaise longue. It's light, we can use it as a stretcher.' Penny suggested, pointing to the light, flat couch she'd already placed Jo on. 'I always wondered how it came to be in the inn. They did say it came from the big house.' she murmured absently, still in shock at what had happened.

Sensing the hellhound return, Penny relaxed a little, and called it to heel. She was reluctant to dismiss Juliet however, even if Castiel and Lily were present. She felt strangely safer and reassured with the hellhound present to protect them, still seeing the old black dog of the moor. But she did not forget that Juliet's obedience was to the forces of Hell, and she could not rely on her protection.


OOC:
19:44, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 14 using 1d20+6.  concentration.

ooc: Ok, so I had Kate's conversation with Belial in private and she's about done so I'm going to move things along to the inn soon. I figure if it's alright with everyone that Simon can heal her there just because Belial wants you out and it's considerably less demony there, though of course you're free to decide. Any final plans before leaving Penny's home? Just want to give you a shot before we progress. I'm basically ready when everyone else is.

It would be more powerful if the healing happened here.

Simon felt God's presence and he lay hands on Josephine, his palms on her head and his thumbs meeting at the bridge of her nose. He held her, letting the warmth pass through him and into her.

09:02, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 10 using 2d8+1.  CMW Healing.

Perhaps it was not enough to heal her completely, but it should handle the worse of her injuries. As the warmth faded from his fingers he sat back on his heals, "To God be the glory."

He nodded at Penny's suggestion and helped Josephine onto the chase lounge. "I have done all I can here. What she needs is a hospital, rest, and a good dose of my mother's chicken soup I think."

'Let's go back to the inn then.' Penny agreed, her words hesitant and shaken. 'She may rest there, at least.' She was too shocked, too defeated, to offer anything more. Even searching for the kidnapped child, her younger self, seemed an impossible dream right now. How could they possibly fight against Belial's monstrous power and casual cruelty? What hope did they have of stopping him?


OOC: I don't have anything, and I don't think Penny has either.

Between Ian and Simon, Jo is carried and you are able to make your way back to the inn, mostly in silence. Kate has emerged from her meeting with Belial looking upset but thankfully unscathed. Even Castiel looks uncomfortable with what has transpired, at a loss for what to say.

Eventually you make it to the inn and the plump woman looks shocked at Jo's state, though thankfully she's at least stabilized for the moment. She frets and exclaims but gives you rooms should you wish them, though she demands to know what happened. By now it is afternoon and evening is only a few hours away. Lily has also returned to her natural state, though she looks somewhat worse for the wear now that her wounds have more pull on her. She doesn't seem too bothered by them though, instead worried about her friend.

Ian has a quiet word with the innkeeper and she shows you to a private sitting room, providing you with tea and privacy at last. If desired, a cot is placed in the corner for Jo to lie on should she wish to be involved in the conversation, otherwise there is a room with a bed at her disposal. Simon's healing has helped enough along with Penny's medications that the pain is bearable but you must take care when you move not to make things worse. The nearest hospital is miles off but a doctor has been summoned and should be here within an hour or so. Ian is the first to break the silence of what to do next. Well I think we can all admit that went horribly. Any idea what our next move is?

Simon sighed heavily, "We've rescued Kate, our main objective. We have information we did not and time to plan. I think we would be best to return to our own time while we still have the opportunity."

"If that involves moving..." Jo's voice croaked out, still in horrific pain, "Then I vote against it." she said, contributing what she could.

If the choice were between "warping between dimensions" and "going to a hospital", Jo's vote was known!

As Kate returned from her meeting with Belial, Penny looked to her with concern, dreading what more might have transpired. But she would wait until Kate was ready to speak of it, trusting her. But what as, as a friend or as a mother? Did this revelation ultimately change anything about their friendship?

Making their way out of the empty, blood-spattered house, now the site of another nightmare for Penny, she was glad to be leaving again. But a deep regret remained, a sense of great defeat. Jo was so badly injured she would surely be crippled for the rest of her life, unless Castiel's divine magic could fully restore her. Kate had been a prisoner, a whole year of her life and her newborn child stolen. They'd lost the chance to get her back. And Penny's whole past had been twisted to suit Belial's ends, her fate to have her body used for Belial's sick purposes. This felt like a defeat in every way.

After returning to the inn, Penny spun a rambling tale about being accosted by thugs and ruffians, who'd badly assaulted poor Jo. It was plausible but obviously false and evasive; Penny was too shaken to even lie properly, though it was obvious something of the kind had happened.

Penny ordered the stiffest drink she could bear, the potent local cider known as scrumpy, on the theory that it might calm her taut nerves. She downed a hefty swig, then sat staring morosely at the glass. 'The roads are too long and too hard to even transport Jo to the Royal Albert Hospital in Devonport. Trekking back to the time portal on the moor will be even harder.' she agreed with Kate. 'Let us wait for the doctor, recover from our wounds, then see if Castiel might... improve your condition.' she suggested hesitantly, glancing across at Kate, and regretting it. She couldn't understand how Jo retained her spirit, after all this; Penny felt as broken in mind and soul as Jo's body.

After sipping her scrumpy again, Penny looked up at Simon. 'Until then... Will you baptise me, Father? I would like it to be at dear Saint Petroc's, while we are here.' The village chapel had always been one of her sanctuaries while growing up, and it felt appropriate that she be baptised there, here at her home and on her land. 'I doubt the demons would have bothered. I may have been ineligible for communion all this time.'


OOC: A quite appropriate failure there.
15:03, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 1d20+5. bluff.

Simon said, "Baptized?" but really just to himself. He looked at Lily, to get her permission to be alone with Penny. If given he will stand and offer his elbow to Penny.

Penny took Simon's arm as she rose – being thrown into a bookshelf a couple of times had left some aches, though not nearly as many as Jo's. But she looked across to Kate, saying 'Maybe my mother should be present as well?'

Simon now looked worried, "Penny are you sure you are alright?" He allowed his crucifix to brush against her, just in case she had been possessed while alone with Biliel.

Penny barely noticed the cold touch of the metal. 'No, I'm not sure.' she sighed wearily, pained. 'We have been used so appallingly. I can no longer be certain of anything – not my past, not my identity, not even my body. Belial has corrupted it all.'

Looking around the group, and especially at Kate, she explained, trembling with anxiety. 'You should all know what we discovered back there... I told you yesterday of the tale that, in ancient times, two patriarchs made a pact with Belial, that the child of their two bloodlines, the Blaedens and the Darkmoors, would be the living key to his prison. Belial has now finally brought them together, though not in the way I had predicted.'

'Kate it seems is distantly of the Blaedens, her husband Dalton of the Darkmoors.' She hid the delicate matter of being out of wedlock, quite normal in the future but scandalous in this day and age. Logically, Penny should not care, but logic had little to do with it. Penny had moved around the table to place a supporting hand on Kate's shoulder, gazing down at Kate's eyes for permission to go on. 'She... had a child.' she admitted hesitantly, unable to go further for now. But the pose was a classic of Victorian portraiture, of the child standing behind the seated parent.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:22, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

ooc: I'm going to let you two do your conversation, so no interruptions on my part there. However, I will post for Kate and Jo.

Lily easily gives Simon permission to be alone, looking amused by his need to ask all the time.

Meanwhile, as the pair are off discussing whatever it is they are discussing, Castiel looks at Jo's broken form regretfully. It is clear something is on his mind and as the silence eats away Ian finally breaks it. What is it!? You obviously have something on your bloody mind he takes a swig of scotch and shakes his head. Cas looks surprised that he was so transparent but gives a hesitant nod. Well....I was thinking there may be a way for me to heal enough to revive Josephine. But it would be....risky. And it would require Kate's help. he arches an eyebrow at the woman.

Kate had been silent for most of the trip to the inn. Her mind clearly on her conversation with Belial. But Penny's pause in her explanation brought her to the present and she looked back at her apologetically. "I did have a baby," she confessed taking up where Penny left off. A tear trickled down her cheek but she otherwise kept her composure. "He took her from me and plans to keep her here to be raised in this timeline." Her words sounded strange, as if someone else were saying them. "We won't be able to save the baby," the tears fell faster. "But we will save the woman she becomes." Kate's voice was firm and she reached out and clasped Penny's hand reassuringly. She would not let him get his hands on her daughter again.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:02, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

Struggling to pay attention, Jo saw Ian take a swig of scotch, and she looks longingly at it,

"S..seeing as I... I'm a..about to di..die, at l..least share?" she asked, her voice meek and pitiful as she wished for some scotch to maybe lower the pain she was feeling, just a bit.

If offered any, Jo would, of course, take full advantage, but at this point, she was just trying to keep her mind sharp, so she didn't fade away into darkness with no guarantee that she'd come out of it.

'I, I wanted to rescue her, for you. If only you could have touched her, held her again with a clear mind, if even for one last time. I'm sorry, mother. I tried, but what happened to Jo...' Eyes red and moist, Penny shuddered with grief but otherwise remained firm, endeavouring to display classic stiff-upper-lip composure. At some point, she would completely break down in tears, but in private, with onlu her new-found family. 'I'm so sorry.'

She sat beside Kate, and let her clasp her hand. She had nothing she could say, but dark thoughts simmered in her mind, about how she might deny Belial her flesh, cheat him of her life.

"It will be alright," Kate sushed Penny. Her heart ached with grief but she wouldn't burden Penny with more worries. "It just wasn't meant to be, we are together now and that's what counts." She glanced apologetically to the others in the room. There were many gaps that would need to be filled later but now wasn't the time. "What can be done to help Jo?" she looked to the others but kept hold of Penny's hand.

"Sc...scotch!" Josephine croaked out, trying her best to sound cheerful, but not at all feeling it.

Still, if they were looking for ideas....!

Penny nodded slowly, but had nothing more to say. Belial had broken her pride, her hope, her whole sense of self. It would take time for her to recover and regain her wits, if she ever did.

But she could start somewhere – at home. 'We are in Devon. Wouldn't you rather have some Plymouth Gin, or the local scrumpy cider?' she offered, indicating her own glass, which she had almost emptied. 'Or some more laudanum?'

She watched Castiel and his words with Ian, asking eventually 'Well, how can we heal Miss Hartley? Or grant you the power to heal her? Whatever you need, I will give... I know I am responsible for her condition, I just make amends.' Penny drew herself upright, trying to display her resolve.

Simon was happy to step back and let the others discuss this. He watched, waiting for when he might be needed.

Wincing at the need to speak again, Jo tried her best,

"All of... the above?" she tried hopefully, attempting to smile, but even that brought pain, so she settled for a horrific looking half-smile that didn't exactly accomplish what she'd been trying to manage.

She hoped to God she didn't have to explain that she wasn't able to serve herself the drink.

Ian looks sheepish at Jo's request, having neglected to offer it before. At Penny's suggestion of alternatives he makes a face. Never send gin to do scotch's job he pours a generous serving at which point Lily seamlessly takes it from him and helps Jo to drink. The revelation at Penny's heritage takes both of them by surprise though they understand the severity of emotions and wisely stay silent on the matter.

Meanwhile Castiel, still looking poorly, leans heavily on the table as he explains his request. You must forgive my inability. Normally I am...stronger. But as I've told Penny before, I am not completely here in my form, being split between now and the future, and therefore I am more susceptible to fatigue and pain. I will need to regenerate if I am to heal Josephine. Or...we could have Lily attempt it but that might be even more dangerous. Untrained as she is... Lily turns in confusion. What are you talking about? The angel gives her a long look and then shakes his head. Nevermind. I will attempt it, if someone is willing...I will need to touch a human's soul. It is a very sensitive procedure, if I make the slightest mistake you will die. Messily.

As promised, without hesitation, Penny offered herself. 'You may use mine – if you can still find one.' she added, her words bitter at the demonic taint. 'Belial told me death is no escape from his schemes, insinuating that if I am killed, I will be restored to life. So, my life is safest to risk at this juncture, no one else's.'

"If..." Jo struggled, in between sips of the drink Lily offered, "If you can see... see that I'm not... dying, I will wait." she said flatly.

She was in agonizing pain, but there was NO way she was about the be the reason somebody exploded, or died, or anything of that sort. She was a stubborn one, and this was one position she was not about to change, shattered bones or not.

Turning to face Penny, Jo tried to be as gentle as possible, knowing that the woman was in a horrible place emotionally,

"One mistake... not two. L..Let's keep it that way, yea?"

She then helped herself to a generous position of "drink absolutely as much as Lily will allow me to ease this god-awful pain".

Penny prepared another dose of laudanum for Jo, and carefully administered it. In Penny, Jo had encountered a woman equally as stubborn. 'I was the one who put you up to poisoning Belial. I should bear the consequences.' she said, trying to sound resolute, but feeling as fragile as fine china inside.

She went on, sounding almost calm. 'And, furthermore, if I should die and stay dead, then you must keep my body from Belial's clutches. It is the only way to foil his schemes. I will not have my flesh become the stitching in some horrific new body for him, like some Frankenstein's Monster...' she shuddered. 'Please sink my remains into the Great Grimpen Mire where none may ever find them, and have Juliet carry my soul to Avalon in the Otherworld. There I shall seek sanctuary in King Arthur's Court, before I move on up to Heaven.'

She eyed Castiel appraisingly, noting his weakness and propensity for making a mistake. 'But first we should wait until Mister Castiel is well enough to try.'