You return to your present time without further incident and Castiel departs, bidding you to send for him when you have need.

Upon returning to Victoria's brownstone she will ask how things went and be very pleased to see Kate returned whole, though shocked should you share the news of Penny's parentage with her. Meanwhile Emma seems to be impatient, demanding to go to California as soon as possible. ooc; How much you share of what happened with her will be up to you.

It will take a day or two for preparations to be made. As lovely as a train ride can be there is simply no time for it now. Emma claims to be able to transport everyone there herself, and Victoria decides she will supervise closely lest she try anything. Ian recovers nicely with sleep and a great deal of scotch, (his drink of choice) and is soon up and ready to go, his usual charming self.

Jo, should you return home your mother will be happy to see you, though because of the nature of time travel you were not gone long in her view so thankfully she was not nearly as worried as she might have been. ooc: It will be up to you if you want to divulge more to her... Meanwhile Lily takes special care to try to be cheerful and involved with you. You get the impression she feels guilty for going against your wishes and is trying to butter you up.

ooc: Ok, we're going to San Jose. Let me know what you do the day or two before, anything in particular you wish to bring, etc.

PMs are appropriate, I'm assuming since we're all alone?

With a couple of days, Simon would really like to take a quick trip to Boston to introduce Lily to his family.

Although it was a difficult and sensitive matter, Penny explained the truth of her heritage and all that they'd learned to Victoria. After all, Victoria was the one best able to help her deal with Belial, and keeping secrets, whether through privacy or shame, would only lead to trouble.

But it went no further than her; it would not be shared with the other Men of Letters. Penny was also not inclined to tell Emma Bently of her relationship to Kate, not trusting the witch formerly in Belial's employ not to use it against them. Speaking with Emma later, Penny only mentioned Belial's ultimate intention for her, his plan to use her flesh in some new body, in the hopes that Emma might shed some more light on the scheme.

OOC: Gather Information 26 – does Emma know anything about Belial's plan for Penny, now we have the gist of it?
21:33, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 26 using 1d20+9. gather information.

Over the next two days, Penny's grey mood passed and her spirits slowly recovered, now that she had a new plan to focus her mind on, and a way of moving forward and defeating Belial – the Ring of Solomon, Sarah Winchester and her peculiar house. She engaged in research and preparation for the new task. Penny was rather disappointed not to take a grand train ride west; magical transportation across time and space was getting too mundane. Still, Penny treated herself to a new hat, a quality Stetson cowboy hat.

Kate will spend some time alone, coming to terms with the events of the last year. Though not one to share emotions she seems well enough when in the company of others. She does get some funds from Victoria and expands her 1890's wardrobe and gear.

Simon: Lily seems downright terrified at the prospect of meeting your parents. She will go if you really wish it but she's awkward and nervous and of course quite amusing in her bumbling way.

Jo: pm

Penny: Emma seems only to know that he will come to power through you as a key and that it will all go down in central park. Belial did not trust her completely it seemed.


Everyone: After a few days things seem to be at the ready. Emma is kept in the dark as to the details of things that have transpired but she seems more eager to get on to California anyway. Soon you are packed (lightly of course) and Victoria closely monitors Emma's transportation spell for anything amiss. At last satisfied she bids you farewell and tells you to telephone or wire if you have need.

Soon you all find yourselves walking through the portal and as you step through you are on some rolling hills with short scrubby grass and little more as far as the eye can see save for tumbleweeds, spiky little bushes and other such shrubberies. In spite of the fact that it is late February, the air is warmer here, much warmer and as you lug your belongings it will likely necessitate the removal of outerwear. Emma looks around with a frown. Well I got us as close as I could but obviously we're a ways off still. I brought a map but that requires me to know where I am... she sighs. Anyone want to offer up a helpful suggestion?

Simon does whatever he needs to to make her more comfortable, but this is very important to him. His family embraced her, his mother especially was welcoming and warm. None of them seemed to mind or even notice her heritage.

Stepping out of the portal, Penny beheld the wild desert landscape with a mixture of fascination and disdain. Where was the greenery, where was the moisture, and the life? Where was the rain? 'I think I preferred Dartmoor.' she noted dismally, as the desert heat soon settled into the Englishwoman. Removing her outer layers of clothing would be a tough ask. Penny unfurled her umbrella to shade herself from the sun, then scanned the horizon for clues – smoke or a glint off metal would be the first sign of civilisation.


OOC: Various attempts to find a path, landmark, or ID our location:
Geography: Knowledge (earth & life sciences) 17 (corrected from roller)
Avoid getting lost: Survival 8, fail
Obscure Knowledge, rolled 25, if knowing some trivia applies.
Spot 28

Simon is terrible at maps. He lets the others handle that.

"I can deal with this weather," Kate smiled tipping her face up to the sun. She didn't seem to mind being in the middle of nowhere. "I can take a look at the map, but honestly I'm more of a landmark girl."

Penny spots a road about a mile off though you must come down from the steep hills to get there. Lily advises the best path to take and after a few slips you manage to get onto the valley floor. Emma doesn't do well, obviously not used to such physical activity. Eventually you get to the road but you don't quite know where it leads as there are no signs and it's a thin dirt trail. Well, it may come back to haunt us but let's pick a direction and stick with it until we find someone to ask. Watch out for rattle snakes please. They like the brush and startle easily. This time of year they won't be out so much at least but that's no reason to tempt our fate. Lily warns.

Penny seems to recall reading about a river that runs through San Jose but thus far you don't spot one and you wonder just how far off Emma put you. As you walk the witch grumbles and sweats, muttering about her aching feet and corset. Lily seems irritated at the woman. If you knew you were going to be this inaccurate you should have told us. I could have brought more water you fool! The middle aged woman glares in response and thereafter whenever she stumbles or whines Lily gives her the smuggest grin you'd ever see.

In the meantime you end up walking for hours with little luck. There's no telling if you went the right way or how far civilization is. Lily knows her directions perfectly but she has no idea where San Jose might lay in the midst of it all.

After some time twilight falls and you are getting a bit worried. Lily is snapping at Emma now who looks on the verge of tears and pale with exhaustion. Suddenly though, you see a light in the distance. As you near it you also see barbed wire, indicating a fence line of someone's property. You may just be in luck.

Should you go further you will see a quaint farm house about a half a mile off. In the distance coyotes howl and yip as the moon starts to rise.

ooc: Roll a spot please everyone, and let me know any comments/intentions during this time.

Simon had not intervened until it looked like Emma had broken then he quietly whispered to Lily, "I believe you made your point." He smiled, "Now I would like some attention."

As they come up on the farmstead, Simon takes a long look before speaking. "Perhaps I should ask for directions?"

09:24, Today: Father Simon Cole rolled 13 using 1d20+5.  spot.

Finding she was quite lost at this, not to mention actually quite lost, Penny was glad that Lily took over on trail-finding. It saved her from having to try to ask the Indian if she knew her way around, which would be the kind of colonialist assumption guaranteed to earn her ire. Then again, Penny had known her way around Dartmoor, and felt she'd had comparable ties to the land there. After all, she was a native.

Still, not to be outdone, Penny turned her hand to tracking, examining the trail for footprints and wheel marks. But she didn't have Holmes's skill for tracking, and though she could find ruts left by wagon wheels, she couldn't say which way it had gone. She let Lily choose, and marched along it.

Penny might not have been doing well in the heat, but there was no way she would complain. She remained stoic, even stubborn. Stiff upper lip, and all that. Only mad dogs and Englishmen went out in the midday sun, it was said, and Penny could be one or the other. At one point, she glared at a rattlesnake until it turned tail and departed in shame.

Penny wasn't happy to have Emma Bently tagging along, but given her friendship with Sarah Winchester, there seemed nothing else for it. Regardless, she felt Lily's ire at the witch was unfair in the circumstances, and their bickering grew irritating while she tried to speak with Kate. It was the constant heat, which frayed and shortened tempers all around. At last, she had to intervene, snapping a little more than she likely 'Let it go, please, Lily. Remember when we arrived in Dartmoor? In the rain, at night, amongst the bogs?' she reminded her, though Lily had fared rather well and with little complaint, she recalled. She tried for a more patient tone. 'Being cast lost into the wilderness is a hazard we must accept in magical transportation. Perhaps whatever god or spirit directs these spells is a spiteful one.' she suggested, gazing up at the harsh blue sky, wishing for a grey cloud. 'I still believe we should have taken the train.'

Penny gazed hopefully at the farmhouse. 'Yes, let's.'


OOC: Belatedly on finding our way:
Find tracks and prints: Search 21
Follow tracks and prints: Survival 2, not a chance.

Spot 17
This message was last edited by the player at 12:10, Fri 05 Feb 2016.

"I don't think we need to be freaking out just yet," Kate added her two cents. "I'll take nature over demons any day.

Seeing the farmstead was a relief and she hoped they would be able to point them in the right direction.

OOC: Spot: 22

Lily looks irritated with Penny's tone, clenching her jaw, green eyes flashing. Your bogs may have been hazardous Penny, but running out of water is a bit more pressing than our previous encounter She glances at Simon, recalling his earlier intervention and visibly calms herself. Sorry. I just hate being unprepared she glares at the witch again. I will try to calm down but if we end up being torn apart by coyotes as our shriveled water deprived bodies spasm in the only protest we can manage, I AM going to crawl with the last bit of strength in my body to this plump waste of flesh and strangle the life out of her! she growls at the woman. Emma actually gasps at this and then Ian bursts into laughter. You are such a fatalist! Giving up after a few hours already? What happened to your Indian pluck? Lily lunges at him. I'll show you Indian pluck you idiot! she then tries to smack him upside his head but he dodges easily which only infuriates her the more and amuses him to no end. At that point she runs after him and he ducks left and right, just barely keeping from her fists as he chuckles all the while. Wait! Don't you want to conserve your strength? Don't you likely have witch strangling to prepare yourself for? It would be a pity to waste it on me. he grins, giving Penny a wink and you get the impression it is mostly for her he is goading his friend. Oh I'll be just fine don't you worry! she snarls. At last Lily does get the better of the Scot, leaping on his back and slapping the side of his head until at last he cries defeat though he never does stop laughing.

When the farmhouse is spotted both Ian and Emma turn to stare at Lily accusingly as if to say I told you so. She blushes so fiercely you can see it even in the moonlight. We got lucky she mutters. At Simon's question she nods vigorously. Yes, you would be the best choice. Priests put most people at ease. The woman tends to get shy around strangers you've noticed, likely because of her Native blood and the poor reaction most give her.

Before Simon can step over the barbed wire fence towards the house though, Kate, Penny and Ian spot something run in the darkness and disappear behind the building. It moves inhumanly fast but it moves upright, like the figure of a man...

Simon took Lily's hand. "Fret not Love, God has granted me the knowledge of how to get Him to create water and bless it."

Simon is unaware of the potential danger at the farmhouse and thus continues toward it.

Penny wasn't sure whether to be alarmed or amused by Ian and Lily's antics, though she leaned more towards the latter than the former, returning a smile to Ian's wink. Eventually, she intervened, reminding them 'We should conserve our energy and water. Save it for the journey, not horseplay. You can brawl after we have arrived.'

*

'Wait!' Penny quickly halted Simon, blue eyes widening at something she'd sighted in the distance. Glancing around, she knew Kate and Ian had seen it too. She pointed, saying 'I saw something run behind the farmhouse there. It looked like a man, but moved much too swiftly. Unless it's some new American animal, it may be something unnatural. We should be on our guard.'

Simon was astounded, he normally saw such things. He nodded, "Yes, of course, caution is prudent. Should we approach or simply walk away?"

Penny smiled. 'You should know by now I cannot leave a mystery without investigating.' she said. 'Some of us should go to the house. The rest can wait in reserve if it turns out to be a trap. Shots or screams should be a sufficient signal.' And Penny, naturally, would go to the house to investigate.

Simon nodded, "Alright then, no ruse is necessary we are lost and in need of assistance. If pushed, you can use the same cover as before - we are Christianizing the Native American Tribes, yes?"

Considering this a moment with pursed lips, Penny answered 'I don't know what would be convincing here. As you think best. I'll follow your lead.'

Simon shrugged, "I don't lie. Whatever story you think best."

"I saw it too," Kate peered into the darkness scanning for the figure. Suddenly the welcoming farmhouse didn't look so fantastic.

"May as well go with the Native Americans since we have one with us. I can lie for you," she added for Father Simons sake.

'A handicap in a hunter.' Penny observed after Simon. She looked around the group, noting 'We are not carrying a load of bibles or anything one would expect of missionaries. Nor are we seeking the local Indian community. And we are quite an assorted band... Perhaps, instead, we can say we have come west looking for work. That's quite plausible on the frontier and, given our trade, it is not even a falsehood. If we intimate that our stagecoach was lost or broke a wheel, then that explains how we came to be wandering.'