Ian frowns at all of this and runs a hand through his hair, picking his words. Well, it likely could be Kate I'm also thinkin he looks at Penny to gauge her reaction. Though if she is catatonic perhaps it means she is unharmed. They could have done it to keep her docile perhaps, but then if she is the key they would have to keep her in one piece. We should rest while we can, heaven knows what awaits us he finishes darkly.

ooc: I'm thinking it's time to move on? If you're ready I will skip ahead to the actual manor. Penny, feel free to describe the route, any further details of the house and a general physical description of your father so I have it when I'm ready. Also go ahead and roll bluffs and sense motives everyone and get your stories straight so we can get this ball rolling :D

'It comes with the name.' Penelope Darkmoor said dryly in response to Simon's comment on her father.

'I agree, Kate is the most likely, though I dread to think what might have brought her to this. I know of no other possibility. Great Aunt Maureen was known to be a bit addle-headed, but she whiled away her days in Coombe Tracey.'

*

When they finally headed to their rooms, Penny found it difficult to get to sleep, though she told herself it was the lag in times between when they'd departed and when they'd arrived, several hours later in the day. Not her unending worries and fears for Kate, the secrets of her heritage, and how it what it meant for herself. In the small hours of the night, after the rain had let up, Penny wandered about the slumbering village, noting places she remembered, and oft looking toward the distant silhouette of Darkmoor Manor. She was going home.

*

The next morning, Penny showed the way to Darkmoor Manor, following a long and winding path out of the village, through the estates with its peculiar landmarks, toward the sprawling, crumbling, overgrown, granite-stoned manor-house. The house sat brooding upon the moor proper. Nevertheless, the moor was, as promised, a much lovelier place in the cool light of day, the golden rising sun casting it in bright greens and reds and browns and greys.

Penny had described her father, though she knew him as a middle-aged man, plain-featured but tall, strongly built, and imposing, with wild dark hair and beard. 'How shall we handle this? Knock at the front door with some story? Or sneak in through the secret entrance? I think I can find the old priest-hole or the cave tunnel to the wine cellar...'


OOC: I've given some descriptions above, though I'll reassemble them when we get there.

22:29, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+8.  sense motive.
22:29, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20 using 1d20+5.  bluff.

The moor in daylight:
http://www.dartmoor.gov.uk/__d...se-Thomas-Dobner.jpg
This message was last edited by the player at 02:03, Thu 15 Oct 2015.

Simon thought a moment, "Why not both? The front entrance should be easy enough to find. You and Lily find the secret passages and the rest of us will approach the front. I'll allow Josephine to do the most of the talking on our behalf as I suspect she is much better at it than I."

Raising an eyebrow, Josephine looked annoyed,

"What, exactly, do you mean, father?" she asked, but after a second, her face crumbled into laughter, "I'm teasing. I'll try to help any way I can!" she laughed again, gently patting Simon on the shoulder (or trying to) to show him she had been teasing.

"Just let me know what I can do to help, and I'll fit myself in when possible." she looked positively excited to help. Probably the whole 'new-girl' thing, combined with her mother's exuberance.

Simon chuckled. "Well I think you would be much better at talking your way around things than I. You just have the personality for it."

He nodded at Penny, "Do you approve?"

Grinning at his words, Josephine nodded and turned to face Penny as well, her bright smile still on, and her hands sliding to her hips hopefully.

Penny was almost glad not to have to face her father directly; observing him from afar would give her time to take the measure of him and prepare herself. And there was the preservation of history to consider; what if Vortigern remembered her, and saw her in his growing daughter? Would that be why he would have so little to do with her upbringing? Penny didn't, couldn't, know, but could only act sensibly based on what she knew now. She nodded, still standing aside from decision making. It was also hard to deny Jo Hartley. 'If you think it best... But be firm. My father is a domineering man, with little time for priests and "do-gooders". You will likely be greeted by the butler – I'm not sure who that would be now – and he will likely try to turn you away, though the lord of the manor will ultimately do what is proper for his image.'

She looked to Ian and Lily, asking 'Ian, Lily, where will you go? It may be wisest to place all the Americans together,' she said of Simon, Lily, and Jo, 'And have Ian and I go alone. In case we are caught, there is little to connect us to you.'


OOC: I'll let Artemis decide the nature of the secret entrance.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:18, Thu 15 Oct 2015.

Shrugging with a smile, Josephine hadn't lost her positivity,

"Every person, man or woman, have constants about them, even your father." she predicted, laughing, "I'm sure we'll at least be able to see eye to eye, and see what happens."

Truth be told, Josephine hadn't really been following what she was supposed to do until Father Simon had mentioned her name, so she was a bit lost, but she wouldn't admit that.

I suppose that is logical but if he calls me a squaw I'm going to have to put a fist to his nose Lily growls. It would seem she has had quite a few encounters with folk's preconceived notions of natives and is already defensive. But then I am supposedly a savage so perhaps he wouldn't be too surprised she grins wickedly.

Ian looks pleased to accompany Penny though he frowns. Alright, there is a good chance we could run into trouble. If that happens we'll be needing help. Give us...hm I'd say half an hour? If we haven't met up with you by then I'd say it would be time to come looking for us. We will try the tower first so start there if need be. Just keep them busy as long as you can! We should all meet back here within thirty minutes. If you haven't then it's time to be more aggressive I'd say. he finishes darkly.

Once final preparations are made both parties split.

Jo/Simon: The three of you make your way up the path to the front door, the whole place is incredibly impressive. There's nothing like it back home and in spite of your mission it's hard not to enjoy the antiquated beauty of the place. Once the knocker is used it is several moments before anyone answers and when they do it is a well dressed butler, just as Penny predicted. He is a thin, severe looking man and he looks at the three of you with slight surprise, especially at Lily for she would most definitely turn heads so far from home. Hm. May I be of some...assistance? he looks at Lily again with a mixture of curiosity and distaste. ooc: Ok! Time to roll bluff, diplomacy and sense motives! Oh, and start the charade of course :D

Penny: You lead Ian to the cellar that runs the length of the house. Your father calls it a basement now but you are certain it had more nefarious uses in the past for the cold stone always lent a more dungeonesque feel then merely a place to store food and supplies. There are multiple entrances due to the enormity of the place but one in particular has fallen into disuse and ignorance. You recall it as a child, a boarded up window overgrown with brush and foliage and on the other side a massive stack of firewood, one of many and enough to last the place for years. Fortunately the wood will be easy enough to crawl over, though you do risk the occasional splinter. Ian looks at the boarded up window and with a grunt pulls it off after a couple of mighty tugs. You suspect it is more a testament to his strength then the weakness of the actual wood. He looks slightly pleased with himself but quickly returns to the task at hand, offering to go first. ooc: Go ahead and make a hide and move silently check. I won't make you roll search if you are just going to start at the tower.

Simon stood by, letting Jo do the talking.

10:02, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 31 using 1d20+13.  Sense motive.
10:02, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 15 using 1d20+12.  Diplomacy.

At Jo's optimism, Penny could only slowly shake her head and mouth 'No.' It was impossible to explain just what kind of man he was, how little like a normal person he behaved, how heartless he could be. Some monsters hurt you. Some monsters killed you. Some eroded your very sense of being and purpose over your entire life. Like the bogs of the dark moor that could take a subtle hold on you, make it ever harder to get away, and drag you down into them, so slowly you might never notice anything wrong, until it was too late, and you'd drowned in the mire.

Stirred from her thoughts, Penny smiled thinly at Lily's promise. 'I'd like to see that.'

Constructed wholly of the local dark grey granite that formed the bedrock of the Dartmoor region, Darkmoor Manor was built in a late Tudor style that hearkened back to the Medieval, with the most recent construction being Gothic Revival, but parts seemed much older, dating back to the actual Middle Ages, such as the fortified tower. It stood up to three stories high in places, with an attic level bristling chimneys and gables. It lay sprawling over a low hill that emerged from the moor, with various wings and servants' quarters reaching out here and there like the tentacles of a landed octopus. The haphazard nature was why Penny had called it the "family pile", as many of these old houses were. Around it ran a wall, collapsed in parts. A close eye might discern a layout dating back to the Norman motte-and-bailey castle introduced after 1066, while a very close eye might discover the arrangement of a still-older Celtic hillfort with earth embankments and ditches. It had been around a long, long time.

It showed its age though, with hard granite cracked and crumbling in parts, bolted together with S-shaped anchor plates. Ivy and moss grew wild up the walls all over the manor. Much of it seemed rundown and neglected, being rather too large now than required by the few people who lived in it. The manorhouse had a quaint, antiquated beauty, but it was a bleak, beshadowed, and brooding one, looking for the world like one of the granite tors that erupted from the moor.

Thanks to the overgrown garden, the walls, and the various follies, Penny was able to lead Ian unseen into the manor grounds. The house and the layout rushed back to her as though she'd never left, but she felt bewildered and lost nevertheless. Everything was just a bit different from she remembered in the future. A greenhouse that had been neglected and shattered in her day was now intact and flourishing, while a gardener's shed she knew was missing, not yet built. A tree later blasted by lightning in a storm, stood whole and young.

So she was glad to find the entrance she had in mind, much as she remembered it. Penny smiled as Ian pulled off the boards, revealing the old window. 'Jolly good job. Now I know why these boards were loose... Of course, I was rather smaller when I first crawled through here.' Following Ian, she climbed in, easily recalling the procedure, delicately negotiating her skirts through the gap. Inside the dungeonesque basement, she took a moment to gain her bearings. The house had been rebuilt so many times over the centuries it could be almost as labyrinthine and disorientating as the Winchester Mystery House would be.


OOC: Hide 18, Move Silently 23
14:46, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 23 using 1d20+4.  move silently.
14:46, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18 using 1d20+4.  hide.

Roughly what I had in mind, but somewhat bigger:
http://www.newsusauk.com/news/
7965-country-manor-once-won-by-
sir-francis-drake-in-a-bet-in-1581-
goes-on-sale-for-1-25m-and-
there-s-a-lordship-thrown-in.html
This message was last edited by the player at 02:36, Sat 17 Oct 2015.

Penny: You both crawl inside easy enough though it is a bit of a squeeze for the muscular Ian. You scramble over the pile of firewood and soon find yourselves in the rest of the basement, filled with piles of coal, wood, shelves of tools, parts, marked boxes and parcels, odds and ends that had no place elsewhere. Other sections of the massive place had stores of food, jars and preserves and other such sundries. The enormity of the place could be a treasure trove of hidden treasures but of course there is no time at present save to search for Kate.

You make it out of the basement easily for luckily no one seems to have needed anything and therefore you remain unseen for the time being. As you emerge from the back staircase and through the corridor to the main level Ian knocks a book off of a small table in an alcove, a favorite place for servants to rest for a cup of tea. It falls loudly and with a curse he runs for it, following you for likely places of cover. You both slip into a closet in time to hear a servant approaching in search of the sound, muttering at the book and someone's rudeness for not picking it up. The woman then clutches the tome and disappears around the corridor. Don't tell Lily about that Ian whispers with a grin. Otherwise I won't be able to tease her about knocking over that case of china.

Eventually you make it to the tower the innkeep mentioned though you can see there is a woman sitting outside the door, looking incredibly bored but still vigilant. She does not see you...

ooc: Feel free to describe the interior if you so desire! I'm enjoying your colorful descriptions! I swear I'm not lazy, I just figure you have a better picture of what things look like. And yeah...maybe I am just a little lazy after all ;P

Penny considered the basement stuffed full of bric-a-brac much of the house, especially disused portions, would be like this. Successive generations of lords, scions, and household staff had had a habit of hoarding one thing or another over the centuries, be it wealth, artworks, supplies, books, or grudges; Penny merely collected hats and spoons. The junk had always been difficult to get rid of. Sometimes she wondered if the house itself wanted to keep hold of what went into it.

She navigated the old family home with ease, stunned at the memories coming back to her, marveling at how little had changed in here. The same dark oak panelling in the finer sections, the same rough plastering in the servant's area. The same paintings of old lords glowering down from high places on the walls, amidst other adornments: their swords and axes, suits of armour, and hunting trophies. More occult and macabre items tended to be kept out of public view. One whole room was filled with deer antlers, and their skulls, the trophies of a Sir Richard Darkmoore, so many the walls bristled with them. Penny had always found that room rather creepy, afraid she might fall into their points or they would fall from the ceiling upon her, and all around the deer skulls' empty eyes seemed to stare accusingly into her. She'd never stayed long in there.

She knew all the hiding places too, and quickly beckoned Ian into the closet with her. Scandalous! With a mischievous thrill, Penny had to stifle a laugh; here she was, once again stealing about the house unseen, through hiding places and secret passages, still trying to avoid Father and the household staff. 'We'll say the ghost knocked it off.' she whispered back.

At last, they'd made it to the tower entrance, hardly believing her luck. So naturally there was a guard. From her hiding place, Penny observed the woman for a time: her dress, attitude, posture, and the finer details of her trade. A demon was one thing, but an innocent maid was quite another.


OOC: Sherlock Scan the guard: Investigate 18, Sense Motive 25, Spot 28
10:59, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 18,25,28 using d20+17,d20+8,d20+9. Sherlock Scan: investigate, sense motive, spot.

Antler rooms are creepy:
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pini...df794ff6aab1c41d.jpg

"Hello there, sir..." Josephine started off, inching forwards to draw within reach, a bright smile on her face,

"We're here, on behalf of the Church, to ask if we could speak with the owner of the household for but a minute." she asked, a slight accent to her words as she spoke. Seeing his look of distaste for Lily, she leaned in conspiratorially and laughed softly,

"Oh, don't mind her, sir, the native's been properly converted and understands the way of things now. Interestingly enough, once we gave her a chance, turns out she's one of the most capable women I've met!" she said playfully, leaning back again,

"Regardless, sir, we're trying to speak to the owner of the Manor, if possible. If you don't wish to let us in, we can always speak to the tax-keepers a bit more, see if we can't levy more support through other means, but I'm sure the owner of the home would prefer speaking to us directly, hmm?" she hinted, an implied tax-hike threat in there for good measure.



Diplomacy: 37

If possible (not sure if it is or not) she'd probably try to throw in a desire to be left to their own devices inside, but I'm not sure if diplomacy covers that or not.

Simon nodded and clutched at his Bible. "Might we trouble your master for a few moments of his time?"

The butler listens with an unsympathetic face though mention of tax keepers lends him a small sneer. He grudgingly lets you in though he informs you the master is busy and won't have much time if any. He leads you inside and into a formal sitting room, the furniture and decor very fine if antiquated and slightly dusty. Now, I must insist you stay here. The master has a great many business associates here at present and they do not need to be disturbed with your requests for money. And don't let the Indian touch anything! You may be convinced of her conversion but I've heard about their thieving ways. It would be most embarrassing for you if her base temptations took hold in such fine surroundings as this he sniffs. And then, without even giving you the chance to respond he sweeps out importantly. He certainly has a big head for a butler. As soon as he's gone Lily stands up, fuming. Oh why does this always happen with rich people!? she snaps. He thinks me a thief? Well I would hate to disappoint! She starts to look around for a small object to pocket, grumbling and ranting to herself all the while. ooc; If you are going to risk looking around make the appropriate rolls (hide, move silently) if you are going to run the diplomacy route then I shall move on.

Penny: ooc: Wow! That's way too many antlers!

You watch the woman and note her stance, the way she squares her shoulders and the watchful look in her eye. Her dress is simple and plain but she holds herself as though used to commanding others. Your guess is she is much more than she seems, and dangerous at that.

Simon stood with Lily and gently put his hand on her own. "Lily, Tho Shalt not Steal." He gently took the items back from her and and returned them to their place. "Make them respect you. Don't give into this temptation. Lets poke around and see what we can find."

09:23, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 14 using 1d20+12.  Investigate.
09:22, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Search.
09:22, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 18 using 1d20+9.  Listen.

Laughing softly, Josephine nodded at Lily's words, and shrugged,

"Taking from the rich and giving to the poor has been a time-honored tradition, you know Father." she explained with a grin, referencing old fables, "They wouldn't miss it, and I'd be willing to give Lily the benefit of the doubt, and say she would put it to good use." she said, shrugging again as her input had been said.

Turning around, she was glad to use her tongue to get what they needed, and not her hands, but if the others insisted, she wouldn't judge them. Their work, from what she'd heard in her short time, was difficult.

There was no sense putting a guard on the old tower unless there was something, or someone, there to guard. A humble maid in Darkmoor Manor would be quickly disabused of such pride and commanding airs, Penny noted, watching the guard. A demon, mostly likely. Was it their taint that had so disturbed her, years later?

Though Ian and herself might trap or defeat a single demon, there was a good chance she would raise the alarm, and Penny would not risk that while the Americans were making a distraction around the main hall. She wanted to do this quietly and discreetly for as long as possible.

And damn it, this was her home! Though loved and loathed in equal measure, this invasion of her sanctuary/prison rankled her. She'd walked these halls for eighteen years, and she knew their every inch and every secret. She ought to have the advantage in her own home, she ought to use that against those who dare hide in her own shadow.

Penny thought furiously. She'd climbed the old medieval tower often, loving the view and distance, and though they said it was dangerous, that had only made her more curious. Of course, there'd been no guard on the heavy oak door then, only a treacherous squeak of rusty hinges. A castle tower was meant to be impregnable, she knew, but that was before a manor house had grown up around it, before centuries of building rebuilding. There were hidden ways and places where rooves met windows.


OOC: Can Penny think of another way in, say by crossing the roof to a window? I thought I should roll, but d20 Modern doesn't specify a Knowledge (architecture) skill like D&D 3.x, but that includes it with engineering, so I rolled Knowledge (physical sciences) check, 15 (my Int score is +4).
15:50, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 14 using 1d20+5. physical sciences.

Alternatively, my Obscure Knowledge skill might be worthwhile: 15
15:53, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+13.  Obscure Knowledge.

Find Clues feat: If Penny passes within 5 ft of any useful clues, then she gets a free Search check, 15.
15:51, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+13. find clues: search.

ooc: Guys, I rolled your hide/move silently. Figured it would be faster. Forgive me if that was too forward of me but at least the dice roller smiled on me today.

Lily does look irritated at Simon's words and gives a thankful look at Josephine but at last concedes though she does grumble, You know since this is Penny's home I can just ask her if I might borrow a few things. That wouldn't be stealing technically she gives a wicked smile. Or perhaps I will just punch the wretch in the nose on the way out. I suppose that would be just as satisfying.

The search is moved forward quickly. Lily moves with incredible silence and grace. Sneaking is clearly her forte, well usually. Ian is forever telling about the china incident where she knocked over a whole shelf of the stuff trying to hide once. The place is massive, archaic and more than a little creepy. Lily looks exhilarated, commenting on the molding, the dramatic arches and ancient tapestries. An Indian in a British manor is quite an odd thing and she's enjoying the exotic experience. Unfortunately you don't yield much in your search though you do have an idea at least of how many people are here. As you tiptoe down a corridor you hear voices in what seems to be an arboretum though you can't make them out well. Lily takes a quick peek and informs you that there are seven men and one woman gathered together and it doesn't look like it is for a social occasion. They are well dressed so I don't think they are servants. These could be Belial's people she notes darkly. Suddenly you hear a voice coming from the other direction, sandwiching you between the arboretum of possible demons and the on comer. There is a window outside but you'll have to be quick....ooc: Roll a reflex save to see if you get out before you're seen or you can always try to reason with the person if you wish.

Penny: ooc: You absolutely can go outside and try it that way. It makes sense you would know the house perfectly so go for it! I just need a climb check...

Should you suggest the idea of a different tactic Ian will gladly agree though when he realizes it requires climbing he blanches. I'll admit, just two weeks ago I fell off a roof training Josephine. Teased me endlessly about it too. Just...don't let me break my fool neck will ya? I'm afraid I'm not coming across quite as rugged as I would like this trip. he makes a face.

Simon scrambled to the Window, but made sure Lily and Jo went first if they were going.

08:15, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Ref save.

'You fell off a roof?' Penny repeated in surprise. Well, clearly he wasn't hurt, bar a bruised pride. She smiled. 'Fear not, Mr Shaw, ruggedness is not actually a prerequisite in a gentleman... Well, there's enough ivy, rough stonework, and drainpipes around. We should be to find a safe way up. I've done it before.'

Though, once Penny had led the way outside into a secluded area and appropriate stretch of wall, she found that though she'd done it before, she'd been a much lighter girl, whom the ivy could better support. At the least the pipes were more sturdy now. With boots off and tied around her neck, she gingerly scaled the wall as best she could, feeling a giddy, girlish thrill at returning to youthful games.


OOC: Climb check? Curses! Uh, take 10 for 10? :)
21:02, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 5 using 1d20. climb.

ooc: Lol! Yeah, it looks like you can take 10 for both climb and balance, luckily for you. If the roof weren't so wide and ledgy you would be screwed but as it is you'll survive ;P

Ian listens with a face. Who says I want to be a gentleman? he winks suddenly. He goes behind you to make sure he can try to catch you if you fall and suddenly he laughs. I just want you to know I am refraining from looking up your skirt Miss Dreadful he says the formal name teasingly. It takes quite a bit of work and the climbing is slow as the roof is still damp from last night's rain but at last you reach the tower window which you know from experience does not have a lock on it. Your father was too cheap to install one and your ancestors never thought to need one in such a precarious place. Looking inward you see a woman lying on a small plain bed, her back to you, presumably sleeping. You can't tell yet if it is Kate or not for she has hair that grazes past her shoulders, most unlike Kate's short futuristic style.

ooc: Simon, just waiting on Jo's roll :D

'I hadn't thought to warn you.' Penny reflected absently, concentrating more on finding a good grip on the ivy. Well, the thought had crossed her mind, but she'd trusted Ian to be a gentleman. She noted how she'd not trusted Ian the last time they'd done this, and that one had turned out to be a shifter spy. 'Who says you aren't a gentleman already, Mr Shaw?' Working her toes into gaps in the old stone, and reflecting this could well be murder on her stockings, Penny hauled herself up toward the windowsill. 'Well, you might as well look upwards – discreetly. I'd rather not fall and hurt myself while you were looking politely away.'

Raising a leg, Penny paused, finding no footholds until she reached the first-floor window sill. Ah. She spoke coolly 'I shall require support upon my lower limbs, and I will hear not a word about it.' With the proverbial hand-up – somewhere – Penny got up to the sill, and from there to the gutter and slate tiles. It was a somewhat less difficult matter to creep across the damp slope to the side of the old tower.

She peered through the window, trying to discern the sleeper, who was surely the catatonic woman the innkeeper had spoken of. It didn't look like Kate, unless she'd been prisoner long enough for her bobbed hair to grow to her shoulders. And how long had that been?

Well, Penny had not climbed up here to turn back in caution. She gently eased the window open and climbed inside, trying not to wake the sleeper until she was in a better position to deal with her.


OOC: I'll take that 10 again. :( I really need some physical skills.
21:28, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 9 using 1d20+2.  balance.

Look through the window, then slowly and hopefully quietly open it and climb inside.
21:33, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+9.  spot.
21:33, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+4.  move silently.

Penny:
Ian helps you up with firm hands and impressively pulls himself up after you though you are ahead of him a bit. Once you climb inside you see the sleeper does not wake though you can see she is breathing and she sleeps fitfully, twitching and whimpering slightly. Upon closer inspection you see it is Kate after all and indeed her hair is an indicator that she's been here some time. Judging by hair length and what you know of it you would estimate a year or thereabouts. She looks healthy enough thankfully so perhaps she has not been abused at least. Ian slips in after you, hand ready to reach for his pistol though he looks surprised seeing Kate lying there. Still, this is not the most startling thing you spot for close to the bed on the other side of the woman is an empty cradle.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:54, Thu 22 Oct 2015.