ooc: Feel free to finish your conversation before responding to the following. Also, I rolled Kate's listen for time's sake.


Penny and Kate share a room and Alice has her own. Ian is pleased that she will spell him in a few hours but as the night progresses Alice and Kate both hear several loud thumps coming from Ian's room, then all is completely silent.

Speaking of European scientists, Penny spoke eagerly of her adventure with Professor Heinrich Hertz, the physicist who'd proved the existence of electromagnetic waves, and the lightning-wielding ghost of Luigi Galvani, the Italian scientist of a century earlier who'd discovered corpses could be made to twitch by inserting electrical currents into them. This shocking affair had led to the invention of the EMF meter for detecting the presence of ghosts through their electromagnatic fields. This she was happy to show Alice, as well as her hex-bag for purging possessing demons in place of exorcism.

*

Penny slept soundly, for one rare night. Just having the Ring of Solomon now, a potential defense against Belial, gave her some cause for relief and the chance to relax.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:54, Fri 26 May 2017.

Alice is now in the reverse position that Penny occupied with music and Opera. Her knowledge is limited but happy to talk to such a learned person. Penny showed her the hex bag, which she was skeptical about being from a Catholic background. Penny was enthusiastic, so Alice showed her the tattoo she bore on her Right inner forearm depicting St. Marcellus the Vampire Hunter. Then she opened her own Hunter's bag and took out a stake made of rose wood. "The only way take out a Vampire, stake them, decapitate them, burn the head and body separately."

'Oh, indeed,' Penny agreed with relish, 'Though any order works.' She was quite aware of the story – the true one, not that popularised in fiction after she'd told it to the author. She thought she recognised Alice's family connection, but if she wished to keep it quiet, Penny would not pry. After all, she too had a family she wished to keep quiet by adopting a pseudonym.

Alice steered the conversation toward men, which she normally did around other women. Gossiping about men was one of a woman's favored past times. She knew Penny had at least a little bit of a crush on Ian, and hoped to fan that with a bit of jealousy. Alice loved playing matchmaker. "Ya know that Ian fella, he ain't half bad once ya get to know him. And when he took his shirt off..." she fanned herself. "My...my, though I ain't his type. Actually from the way he fetches after you I would guess you are more his type. I think he likes the mystery of you. Men love mysterious woman and you my dear have that in spades. Mysterious and plump backside...I envy your rear girl, you should flaunt it more." She smirked at Penny, knowing it would bring a blush to a British Lady to talk so frankly, even when it was just two of them.

Alice was yawning, ready for a bed. She put her stake away, "I have enjoyed this, it has been an age since I got to let someone know about my love for culture and vampire killing." As she reached the door she paused, "I've found staking them first to be most gratifying, looking into their eyes as you send them to hell is priceless." So she had a long and wide mean streak as well.

"Thank you kindly Miss Penny." She took her leave.

--------

The commotion in the witch's room woke Alice up. She did not bother dressing, remaining in a long black night dress, but she did grab her gun belt and threw it over her shoulder as she left her own room. She gave one sharp rap at the Witch's room, "I'm coming in. If ya ain't decent, get decent!" She pulled one of her pistols and opened the door, with her foot if need be.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:51, Fri 26 May 2017.

"Either they are moving furniture or something is happening in Ian's room..." Kate woke Penny with a shake before grabbing her gun and heading to the hall. Seeing Alice already there she took up position to cover the woman as she entered.

Penny's pale cheeks merely took on rosy shades as Alice tried to engage her in gossip and lewd talk, being shyer and less practised than most in such matters. She'd interviewed street-walking prostitutes about their trade in a clinical manner, but her own romantic affairs were a far different matter. 'Yes, um, well, quite, indeed, thank you.' she mumbled. But certainly Alice had given her some things to think about, but exactly how, she wasn't sure. She was most stunned to hear that Ian might be romantically interested in her, in addition to the growing realisation she was too. It all raised familiar warm feelings, feelings she had no opportunity to satisfy.

Off that matter, with relief, she answered, too formally, 'Yes, it was a most illuminating conversation, thank you. Perhaps we shall get the chance to speak more fully of vampires on a later date.'


*

Stirred awake by Kate, Penny sleepily arose, murmuring 'Oh, doctor...' before snapping into alertness and full wakefulness. Snatching up her gun, she hurried after Kate, sparing a moment for slippers and throwing a dressing gown over her frilly white pyjamas.


OOC: Women's pyjamas were introduced in 1886.

By now you are all gathered in the hall and find Ian's door open. The window to the room is likewise open and Emma is nowhere to be seen. You see Ian slumped on the floor, resisting a man who has one hand on his head and another around the hunter's throat. Ian's gun is a mere foot away but he is unable to reach it, instead suddenly going limp as the man's hands and eyes glow blue. The man himself is covered in tattoos on his arms and face and he turns to see you with a snarl of irritation. He gets up as if to move to the window, so incredibly fast you'll not have much opportunity to get a shot off...

ooc: Go ahead and roll an attack as well as a knowledge check

09:13, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 17 using 1d20+7.  Shot #2.

09:13, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 28 using 1d20+11.  Pistole Shot.

09:11, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 20 using 1d20+4.  K: arcane.


Alice took two fast shots from the only weapon she had drawn.

'Ian!' Penny gasped, quickly levelled her gun rapidly firing at his attacker.


OOC:
Precise Shot: no penalty for shooting into melee
Point Blank Shot: +1/+1
Shot #1: attack 22, damage 8
Shot #2: attack 15, damage 6
22:08, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 22 using 1d20+9. attack, PBS+1, Precise Shot.
22:09, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 8 using 2d4+2. damage (PBS+1).
22:08, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 15 using 1d20+4. attack #2, PBS+1, Precise Shot.
22:09, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 6 using 2d4+2. damage #2 (PBS+1).

Knowledge (arcane lore) 11, no joy.
22:11, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 11 using 1d20+10. knowledge: arcane.

ooc: Waiting on Kate to post but since I probably won't have a chance to tomorrow feel free to add an attack Kate! If for some reason you get a crazy awesome hit I will edit the following post, but I don't want to leave you guys hanging all weekend.

You both manage to get a shot each into the thing but it is fast and leaps out the window. You do notice a trail of blue blood though, and if you hurry you can get one more shot off through the open window if you're a good enough aim. There doesn't seem to be anyone on the street below save the running man so there is no danger of hitting civilians.

Meanwhile Penny is too distracted to think properly on what the creature might be, but Alice seems to recall reading something about a creature that matches the description. It's the tattoos that tickle your memory.

"Its a Djinn, like Middle Eastern Vampires." She said as she went for the window to try another shot.

11:17, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 20 using 1d20+11.  Pistol Shot
This message was last edited by the player at 15:17, Thu 01 June 2017.

Dashing to the other window, Penny took another shot at the fleeing villain. 'Djinn?' she repeated, turning away from the window, 'I don't suppose it dwells in a lamp and will grant us three wishes?' she wondered bitterly.

She hurried back to Ian's side, desperate to see if he was well or if he had been harmed by the djinn somehow. 'It's bleeding, I can track it, but...' she began. But she didn't want to abandon Ian.


OOC: Attack 20 (assuming I'm still within 30 ft for Point Blank Shot), damage 8
15:18, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 20 using 1d20+9. attack, PBS+1.
15:19, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 8 using 2d4+2. damage.

Alice shook her head, "Nope they live in caves. No wish granting, only blood drinking. We could track him, but your friend needs help. He has to be the priority."

You both manage to wing the man again, which is good because it will just be that much more of a trail to follow.

Meanwhile Ian's pulse and vitals are strong but you cannot seem to wake him. He does have a blow to the his head from seemingly being struck with something or slammed into something but you doubt it is what's causing the unconsciousness.

Alice shook her head, "You won't be able to wake him. You have to go through some kind of ritual. I can't remember...something about entering his dreams. I am going to need to ask...uhhh...someone with more knowledge than I." She pointed at the vampire, "We can, however, follow him."

'Ian!' Penny shouted, hoping to rouse Ian from his unconsciousness, but to no avail. The blow to his head, as marked by a livid bruise, wasn't one likely to knock out a man out. It was whatever the djinn had done to him, a deep and unnatural sleep.

At Alice's urging, she leaned back and recalled 'Mrs Bently! She may know.' Penny rose and looked hurriedly around for the witch and surveying the room. Once the immediate threat and urgency was over, her analytical mind leapt into action. Whatever the djinn was after, it was no coincidence it had attacked the witch's room. But was it to rescue or to murder her? Was it too in Belial's employ? 'Mrs Bently! Emma!' she called out. She was actually worried for the witch, God help her.


OOC: Search with Find Clues, 14,
20:30, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 14 using 1d20+13. search.

Ian, unfortunately is unresponsive.

You do find some blood and see enough signs of a scuffle that it starts to look like Emma was not keen to leave, especially after finding a smear of blood on the window pane that does not match the blue blooded Djinn. If she was taken, she's probably not too far either.

ooc: Should you wish to track the Djinn, please roll spot checks to try and follow the blood trail, keeping in mind the longer you wait the further he gets away.

On kindle so no cut and paste. Total spot check= 25

As she deduced the sequence of events, Penny snapped 'She's been kidnapped. We have to get after them,' Realising, she glanced down at Ian's unconscious form, a deeply pained look on her face. She couldn't bear to leave him, but logically she knew the best way to help him. 'We can do nothing for him here until we get them back.'

Penny hurried downstairs and out of the hotel, scanning the street and cursing. 'Blast! I can't see it!' Blue blood might be incredibly distinct, but not in the dark of night, where it might as well be black.


OOC: So much for the Great Detective, maybe Alice should hunt? :)
19:57, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 13 using 1d20+9. spot.

Fortunately Alice's eyes are sharp and she catches the trail quickly. The djinn is losing enough blood that even when you lose the trail you find it again shortly after. After searching a while it eventually leads to a shack by a large creek. There is a light from within, the whole thing big enough for perhaps a bedroom and a living area but otherwise pretty small. It looks abandoned save for the light.

Alice was able to find and keep the trail. It would a bit, but ended at a shack with a light on inside. She looked at Penny, "One of us should go around back. Your call..."

'Do you know anything more about these djinn?' Penny had asked whilst on the trail of the djinn. She'd paid close attention to Alice's tracking techniques, trying to learn it for herself. 'Regrettably, I've not had the honour. Bar what you might find in Arabian Nights or the like.'

Regardless, the whole affair was giving her a nasty sense of déjà vu. Another dark night, only a couple of days ago, hunting the Double-Face as Lily tracked and Ian lay paralysed. That too had involved an abandoned building. The adventure had ended well for them, then, in the end. She could only hope they had the same fortune this time.

'It hardly looks big enough for a back entrance... Let's go together – I don't wish it to catch another of us alone.' she advocated caution.

Alison shook her head, "Only what I've told you, that they are the Arab's version of Vampires. I must assume they are susceptible to sunlight, stakes through the heart, beheading, etc." She nodded to the detective. "Don't worry Penny I've been in much worse positions than this."

At the shack she nodded, "Alright then, but let me go in first. I'm better with guns. Maybe get that knife you're carrin' ready for cuttin' it's head off after I knock it down?" If Penny agrees Alice will kick the door in and try to shoot the Djinn before it could get it's feet under it.

Penny shook her head. 'Lots of things drink blood. We shouldn't trust that what applies to vampires applies to djinn.' she cautioned, but added optimistically 'But destroying the heart and cutting off the head are certainly good places to start.'

She didn't think she was necessarily so bad at gun-play. Rather, Penny prided herself on being an all-rounded, as effective at range as she was at close-quarters. She checked her knife, but stood ready with pistol in one hand, cane in the other. 'After you.' she offered graciously.