Penny tried to look dismissive instead of relieved at the idea of holding a séance to contact the deceased builder. It seemed their only hope now, short of begging Castiel to find this Cole Michaels in heaven. 'Well, this shall be very instructive, I'm sure. I'll accompany you, to observe the process at every stage.' she said, still in her role as sceptic.

Penny/Kate: Emma nods and soon Sarah leads you out, pleased at the prospect of your return. She even offers to let you stay at her home that night which Emma readily accepts. Soon you are outside on the beautiful palm tree lined lawn; fountains and statues in far more order than the interior of the place. Emma leads finds a bench several paces off, plants herself down and produces a fan, waving it at herself irritably. Well that was...interesting...Ian shakes his head. Why do I feel sorry for her? She's got money up to her elbows but somethin tells me I'd not want to swap places with her. Besides the fact that I'd lose my handsome looks he winks. Emma answers with a sigh.

Well she's gotten even worse than I remembered. A lovely woman but grief has not been kind to her mind. She thinks she's communing with spirits, but I'd bet you her entire fortune that her broken mind is the real architect. Sad. Still, at least we know wherever it is the ring is safe. Even demons would go mad searching that house. Getting this widow of Cole's to cooperate sounds tricky though. May be best to just swipe something of his when we call. Any suggestions?

Mary-Alice: You arrive in San Jose, tired from the long train ride, not to mention the voyage prior to that. Perhaps one day you'll sit still again but knowing Victoria it won't be anytime soon. No matter, the end of the world is pressing enough that you won't be complaining about such trivial problems. Instead you stow your things at your hotel and make your way to the Winchester house. You know little about those you are to join, only that their business is here. As you stroll through the gates you notice the place is a behemoth, with fine stained glass windows, countless wings added on and even a door that opens from the second story and leads to a nasty looking drop. You'd heard the woman was eccentric but you didn't realize how much.

Should you knock, you'll be greeted by a middle aged woman who takes quite a while to get to the door. She's very grumpy and out of breath and she throws the door open with a scowl. Another visitor!? Are you all trying to kill me? What do you want? My mistress isn't keen on nosy strangers so if you want a tour you can turn around now.

Alice stood gawking at the place, wide eyed and totally speechless. It took her some seconds to gather her wits and respond. "Sorry ma'am, I'm looking for Miss Dreadful and Miss Piper. Miss Victoria sent me, they are important and need looking after."

Penny remained standing, casting concerned gazes back at the brooding pile that was the Winchester House. Eccentric and faddish Mrs Winchester might well be, but Penny had seen too much to wholly dismiss her works as having no supernatural basis. There was always, however remote, the possibility of something strange and unexpected to be found around any corner.

'That could be me, in many years time, if I settled down in Darkmoor Manor.' she mused sympathetically. 'Though I hope I'd have a better architect at least.'

She considered what Emma Bently might need. 'How personal an item must it be? Could it be simply something he owned or touched, or something he used constantly, or something almost essential to the man?'

"I don't imagine you'll end up like her," Kate was also examining the house. "Clearly she's one card short of a full deck," despite her words she did feel sorry for the woman who had obviously had a difficult life. She never believed it when people said money didn't buy happiness. Clearly Mrs. Winchester was proof of that.

'No. I'd have lots of cats.' Penny said in jest, then reflected on certain family traditions. 'Or possibly dogs.'

Mary-Alice: The woman listens in confusion, and grumpy about it too. Who now? she grumbles. I don't know who you mean...oh wait! There was some folks here not long ago, you just missed them. I forgot their names already but they're probably who you're after. I think they're coming back tonight, you might try then. Or you can find their hotel I suppose, save me another trip to the door. It's not easy for me you know she points out dramatically.

Emma listens to the exchange with dry amusement. The more personal the better, it will make it easier to contact him. It doesn't have to be perfect but I'm betting a hairbrush wouldn't work. Ian makes a face at this. Well that will be a challenge. Just ask his widow what his most personal item was and ask for it? Not bloody likely. Couldn't just be easy now could it? he shakes his head. May have to distract her...I wonder how old she is? You can see the roguish wheels spinning in his head.

Alice was confused, she had not met anyone on the way here. She nodded though and went where she was pointed to, took a seat and waited. It was better than wandering blindly around and maybe someone would come back tonight.

pm

As she thought for a moment, she realized that these people would stand out, especially with a Scotsman in tow. She got a mental image of the short round elderly Scotsman she had met over time and giggled. She went back to the carriage and asked to be taken into town. When she arrives she will start by going to the telegraph office to see if new instructions had arrived for her. Unless otherwise instructed she will begin searching hotels, then high end restaurants, then other places more "lady like" women would want to go...

Penny made a suspicious face at Ian, wondering what, exactly, he had in mind. 'The truth should work well enough. Emma, you can tell Mrs Michaels that you're a witch or medium or somesuch and that Mrs Winchester wishes to contact the spirit of her dear departed husband to – oh, I don't know, locate the bathroom – and you require one of Cole's personal affects. Then I appear and loudly declaim its a harebrained idea, that I'll expose your fraudulent spiritualism and see that Sarah Winchester never again patronises mediums and witches and other loonies. If the widow is as opposed to Sarah and spiritualism as her voice implied, then she may be only too glad to share an item so I might ruin it.' Penny outlined her proposal.

Then she thought better of it, adding 'Actually, that is rather complicated... Cole Michaels was a builder, was he not? He could just as easily have a favoured hammer or the like. It may even still be here on site... First, let's ask the other workers. They'll know for sure, and should be happy to help, as it keeps them in work.'

Mary-Alice: Fortunately there are not too many hotels in town and you are able to ask around fairly easily, finding success at a particularly nice hotel who nods at your questions. He gives you their room number without much concern but should you knock you find they are out. ooc: roll listen please

Penny/Kate: When Penny gives Ian a shrewd look he merely winks and grins, devil that he is.

Emma seems satisfied to ask the workmen first and you find several quite easily. Should you ask about Cole's belongings you find they answer easily, used to such odd talk no doubt from their employer. One heavyset man nods jovially at the question. No tools per say but he did have a pocket watch he was very attached to. I half thought they would bury him with it but I'm pretty sure his misses has it. Good luck getting it off her though, she's not likely to sell it or give it over. Hated this place too, says it was the death of him He shakes his head sadly.

'It's always a pocket watch,' Penny murmured in understanding. The pocket was both very useful and very expensive, often passed down from father to son or the like; it was naturally bound to attract a spiritual connection.

But death always attracted Penny's interest. 'How so?' she inquired at the worker's last words. She was aware it was only a saying, but death came in many ways. 'Did he die here?'

Mary-Alice: You think you hear something rustling inside and should you press your ear to the door you hear two people speaking to each other in low voices. One of them hisses something sharply to the other. From the tone it is probably something like, "keep quiet." You get the impression they are waiting for you to leave so they can resume their activities. Perhaps this is the people you seek and they are not interested in visitors or perhaps it is something more nefarious...

Penny/kate: He nods. Yes siree. Dropped dead in seconds. He was on a ladder repairing the roof on the East side. They think it was his heart but hard to say of course he shakes his head. He was a good man. Even if he was black.

ooc: Of course you should all know I'm just keeping with the time frame! Not trying to come across as racist! Yikes!

Alice, holding her shotgun under her coat, knocked loudly at the door. "Hey, I'm looking for Penny and Kate. Victoria sent me."

Penny pursed her lips, frowning at the man's words. There was a time when she might have made such comments unthinkingly, but travel broadened the mind, and time travel deepened it. She now recognised the backhanded compliment for what it was, but knew the workman did not mean anything much by it, nor was this a time to argue. 'Of course he is... Sorry, but why does Mrs Michaels think the house is to blame?' she reiterated. 'Does Mrs Winchester overwork you poor fellows?'
This message was last edited by the player at 09:36, Wed 24 Aug 2016.

He looks around cautiously and gives a half shrug half nod. Well yes and no I suppose. She works us somethin awful but she pays real well at least. I suppose we could always quit if we wanted but it's real steady work as you could guess. Cole's missus though, she thought the whole thing unnatural. Don't really take much stock in it myself but as long as the money's comin in...anyway she thought he was encouraging a crazy old woman by bein the foreman here and that delvin in her seances and such was askin for trouble. She's sent many a nasty letter to Mrs Winchester or so I hear he blushes suddenly, realizing the gossip he's admitting.

Penny realised he was looking around for Mrs Winchester eavesdropping, perhaps literally from the eaves-drops, but they should be safe enough here outside. 'Don't worry, we only want to help your employer. We won't get you into trouble for anything.' The bad relationship between Mrses Winchester and Michaels complicated matters, but didn't suggest a supernatural element (other than the planned summoning of the dead man's spirit to find the Ring of Solomon, of course).

Still, the house disturbed her for reasons beyond the shoddy design. Surely Sarah Winchester realised the architecture was crazed. Who, exactly, was given her these ideas? 'Do you have many accidents around here? Have there been other deaths?' Penny continued to probe. 'I mean, the layout and constant changes must cause so many mix-ups and hazards.'

Mary-Alice: You hear a curse and then the speaking stops at which point the unmistakable sound of the window being lifted is heard. They appear to be escaping out the back. No doubt whoever is in the room is not supposed to be there...

Mary was always a woman of action, not surprising given her lineage. She took a step back and put her foot into the door. If it gives she will level her shot gun and shout "Hold it right there!"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:54, Fri 26 Aug 2016.

Penny/Kate: No other deaths directly, thank the lord he shakes his head. But plenty of accidents. You know those doors that open to nowhere? Or the staircases that lead every which way? Dangerous! I can't tell you how many close calls we've had but the spirits want what they want she says. Not for us mere mortals to complain he mutters drily. Like I said though, the money is good. I suppose that's all that matters

When you are through with the worker and start off Emma looks back with a face. It would make it easier if there were some dark force to blame for this madness. As far as I can tell it's all the twisted mind of a woman's grief. Who would have thought nothing but human emotion could lead to a monstrosity as this? You two have been to the future, does she ever stop?

ooc: Feel free to add any additional questions still!

Mary-Alice: ooc: I rolled for you for time's sake

You manage to kick open the door and rush inside. The place is overturned, clearly someone has been searching it and you enter in time just to see someone slip out the window, seemingly unworried about your shotgun. Should you rush to the window you see two men headed out the fire escape. You can go after them or shoot.

Climbing out the window Alice shouted "Stop thief!" She will follow, not shooting unless she is sure she is dealing with something inhuman.

'Yes, indeed... Well, I shall let you get on with your work. Have a good day, and good luck with those stairs.' Back in London, there were too many deaths and injuries resulting from nothing more than a badly built stair.

After they left the workman, Penny regarded Emma curiously. 'Kate can answer that better than I, she's our seer after all... But surely she has a friend to set her right? She listens to you well enough. And you are certainly closer to the spirits.' Penny was wary, of course, not forgetting their battles with the witch not too long ago. Emma's death can't have changed her ways too much. What part had she played in Sarah Winchester's madness and her monstrosity of a house?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:50, Tue 06 Sept 2016.

Mary-Alice: They pay no heed to your words but a man in the alley below hears your accusation and pursues them gallantly. Unfortunately his efforts are rewarded by one of the "thieves" grabbing his head and smashing it into the wall with inhuman force. He immediately goes still in a heap, a bright smear of blood staining the brick.

ooc; Go ahead and roll a general climb check to see how well you do with the fire escape at such a speed. If you pursue on foot roll a constitution check, if you want to take a shot at them you have a couple of rounds to do so before they turn the corner.

Penny/Kate: Emma listens to your comments with a look of discomfort. All well and good to try to rein her in, but when I try she gets...resistant. Threatened to never speak to me again if I kept on with my hounding as she calls it she mutters. I had my fill and left her to it. That was years ago and now I think perhaps I should have tried harder. It's probably too late now. Oh well, I suppose we'd best worry about larger matters for now she is all business once more, plump chin raised with determination.

ooc: Go ahead and finish up here and then let me know if you have any plans for the widow and how you want to organize that...

'Indeed. As Swift said, one cannot reason someone out of something that they did not reason themselves into.' she said sadly, letting go her suspicion of Emma Bently's role.

At last, after a time, she said 'Well, then, we perforce follow Plan A. Let me go speak to the widow alone first. I'll broach the plan first before we raise her ire by bringing in the Two Witches.'