When her white thread ran out, Penny sacrificed her dove grey, tying the two threads together and continuing on like Theseus in the Labyrinth. She was down salmon pink and sky blue and others as well by the time they found the drawing room.

Penny cast an observing eye over the room, worried to see Kate and Mrs Bently so distressed, a sure sign of a struggle or some exertion. What had they been through while they were gone?

She was briefly surprised by Emma's query – they'd already met outside Molly Michaels's house – but perhaps it was for the sake of the ruse. Mindful that Sarah Winchester could be listening in in this absurd house riddled with secret passages and spy-holes, Penny answered grandly 'A surprise, Ms Bently, a fellow investigator of the so-called supernatural. This is Miss Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner, one of our colleagues. Alice, this is Miss Kathryn Monrow, the fortune-teller, and Mrs Emma Bently, the notorious witch.'


OOC: Emma's already met Alice (post #74), so I just worked it in.
16:48, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 22 using 1d20+9. Spot.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:57, Fri 24 Feb 2017.

Alice nodded and tipped her hat.

ooc: Crap! Well neither Kate nor Emma have been very involved for several weeks. It's pretty easy to slip through the cracks, sorry! Oh well, we'll just go with it. Thanks Penny.

The servant arches a brow at the exchange, keeping otherwise mute. She is certainly poky about her duties. Meanwhile both of you notice that Kate and Emma's shoes have traces of blood on them, though they've clearly tried to wipe them off. There's a touch of it on the witch's hem as well.

Pleased to meet you Emma nods, eyes flicking to the servant and back again, clearly wishing she'd quit the room. It's only a matter of time until Mrs. Winchester arrives and it's obvious she wants to speak with you alone. Before you can even begin to think of asking the woman to leave though Mrs. Winchester does indeed enter, still in her black mourning attire which likely seems very strange to Alice. Another investigator eh? My but you're skeptical the widow sniffs. I trust you're nearly ready? Anything you need to prepare for? I suppose you'll want to inspect the room or some such nonsense. Oh by the way, I don't suppose they've found Miss Adams? It's not like her to run off she frowns.

Alice nodded, "Yes, ma'am, if it is all right with you I would like to inspect the room, please."

Blood too? It had been a serious brawl then, and that meant there was another enemy in San José, not just Balen and Barik. Blast! This threatened everything. Penny wished she could get a chance to speak with Kate privately, but they were not to get the chance before Sarah Winchester returned. Penny caught herself, answering, 'Oh, yes, of course, I've love such nonsense... But what happened to dear Miss Adams?' she pushed, trying to get the story. Had it been something to do with Kate and Emma's misadventures? 'If this is some ghastly bit of theatre before the show...' she began warningly.


OOC: I'm so sorry! I lost my tabs and forgot all about this. In my defence, I had some heavy work and a bad cold I'm recovering from.

Mrs. Winchester nods at Alice, giving her permission to explore the room, which is adjacent to where you are currently having tea. You are in earshot for the most part, so you hear the continued conversation if you decide to take a look around. It's a small thing, simply made in shades of white and blue. You're actually surprised at how non-nefarious it is.

(see below)
http://www.ghostinmysuitcase.c...winchester/room1.jpg

http://travelchannel.sndimg.co....tccom.1280.853.jpeg

Meanwhile she answers Penny's question about Mrs. Adams. No, no I assure you this is not theater! she shakes her head, somewhat upset. This is not like her at all! She's worked for me for twenty years and never disappeared like this. I think we shall have to ask the spirits about her. I fear for her... she shudders dramatically.

ooc: Go ahead and respond if you like. I'm giving Kate a chance to put her two cents in. Also let me know your exact plans for the seance and we'll move to it soon.

What do I need to roll to set up a few small tricks to enhance the experience? It doesn't take much to make a table raise up a few inches, set the shade to roll up on command, and things of that sort.

Despite her current guise, the detective in Penny rose to the fore as an automatic reflex. She simply had to help, to question. 'Oh, let's not bother the spirits just yet. Where was she seen last? And at what time? ...Have you considered that she may simply be lost?' Penny tried catching Kate's eye for some kind of signal or explanation, but was yet to get the chance.


OOC: Penny will simply participate in the séance while keeping alert for both mundane and magical trickery. She will also make sure the fake pocket watch is used first.

ooc: Yeah, considering you knew this was going to happen I'm sure you'll have everything you need already. Go ahead and roll a sleight of hand/craft check if you have craft in anything to see how convincing you are.

Lost? Oh good heavens she knows this place even better than I do! And she hasn't been seen for hours, at least not by me. Emma, didn't you say you two spotted her earlier when you returned? Did she say anything? she looks at her friend with worry. Emma shakes her head and pats her hand. Just said she had a lot of things to do. Perhaps she went to town Sarah. No need to fret so soon, there's many a distraction in town you know.

ooc: I'll give Kate another day and then I'll move forward.

14:41, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 22 using 1d20+5.  Craft Mechanical.

14:40, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 16 using 1d20+12.  SLIGHT OF HAND.

Alice work hard with the time she had to create some convincing slight of hand tricks.

'Yes, quite.' Penny agreed, having encountered some distractions in town herself. She'd been watching Emma and Kate for some indication of if they knew what had befallen the housekeeper. Their dishevelled state and admission of having met her strongly implied they knew, and that it was not good. Blast. In any case, there was another player in this game, and Penny did not even know who they were, which frustrated her to no end.

Spying Alice planting her knickknacks (Penny wasn't sure why, since they were here as paranormal sceptics, but they could always explain it as a demonstration of the tricks of charlatans), Penny quickly caught Sarah's attention. 'Well, I spoke to Mrs Michaels and was able to obtain a small item of her husband's for this little exercise... Although, I must say, she is no admirer of yourself.'


OOC: Is Emma lying, or do Emma and Kate know the truth?
13:13, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 11 using 1d20+9. spot.
13:12, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 19 using 1d20+8. sense motive.

Kate smiled at Mrs. Winchester reassuringly. "I'm sure she is fine, she mentioned she was going to run some errands and I asked her to deliver a message. I was to do a reading this afternoon for a client and I wanted them to know I wasn't going to make it today." She caught Penny's eye hoping to have a chance to explain later.

OOC: Bluff 20

Emma and Kate's assurances seem to soothe Mrs. Winchester somewhat thankfully. Penny, though can tell something has happened with the pair. You're not quite sure if they're lying about the housekeeper or not. You're certain something is up though and Emma tries to catch your eye and give you a meaningful look. Meanwhile Mrs. Winchester nods at Penny's comment. Yes, I'm afraid she disapproves of my building schedule. I had no idea the poor man would overwork himself. It's not as though I didn't tell him to take a day or two off now and again she sighs. His wife never did understand the house. Hopefully he won't let his widow affect things when we summon him.

Alice continued working in the room to create her illusions.

'Oh, I don't think he shall.' Penny observed, reflecting more on Molly Michaels and wondering how best to aid the poor widow. 'She naturally blames the workload here for Cole's death. It must have taken quite a toll him; I understand he was very hard-working. Molly is a proud woman, and would not ask herself, of course...' she began to propose delicately. 'But some compensation would help her make ends meet without Cole. He was after all your foreman. I believe it would be quite appreciated – one widow to another...' she ended, reminding Sarah Winchester of the similarities between her and Molly Michaels: two widows, house-proud, and clinging to the memory of a deceased love. Fate and grief had set them against one another, but it did not have to be that way.


OOC: Damn dice roller.
15:52, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 5 using 1d20+3. diplomacy?

Sarah's face darkens at the suggestion. I gave her adequate for the time being. She's a smart woman, she'll get by. She'd bleed me dry if she had her way. No, her husband understood this place but she never did. We may be both widows but that is where our similarities end. She sits up archly, arthritic hands folded in her lap. I'm keen to try to reach out to the man if you're ready.

ooc: Ok, I'm going to start if you're all ready. Let me know what questions you want Emma to ask and all that jazz.

Alice is ready.

Penny was disappointed, but hardly surprised, at Sarah Winchester's response. But there was no benefit to arguing further. She'd tried, she'd done what she could. Her own conscience should be appeased, at least.

Returning to her act as cynical sceptic (well, it was hardly an act), she answered 'Oh, I'm quite ready to see a ghost. But let us first see if he actually turns up.' Penny produced a pocket watch – the forged pocket watch, that is – and passed it over to Emma Bently. 'Here you go. Let's see what you can make of this.'

She caught Alice's eye and gave a slight shake of her head, indicating she should hold off on her fakeries until she gave the signal. Penny wanted to see what would happen when nothing happened, as it were.


OOC: First, the fake watch, so no questions yet.

Alice nodded back to Penny, understanding what was required.

Candles are lit and seats given. Ian leans against the wall, comfortably watching the scene as an assistant and nothing more. Sarah seems happy to let him do so and you get the feeling he intimidates her a bit. She allows Emma to lead the seance, commenting on how wonderful the woman is at such things. Emma gently places the pocket watch before her, bids everyone at the table to take hands and then closes her eyes, concentrating. She mouths something to herself, though you can't hear the words. Some form of witchcraft no doubt though Sarah takes it in stride, looking downright excited. Mr. Cole, if you would please grace us with your presence? Give some kind of sign that you are here. There is no answer. In fact the silence is so loud you can hear the tick of the pocket watch on the table. Emma lets the silence stretch a bit and asks again. Nothing. Hm. Interesting. She turns to Penny. And you got this from his widow you say?

Penny closely watched all Emma's preparations, recognising the ritual of the séance for what it was, as theatre to dress up and disguise what was really going on: the tricks and fakeries of a charlatan, or the working of actual magic. And it was the actual magic she was really looking out for. Penny had noticed Emma's incantation, and wished she could make it out. This would be so much more reliable if she could perform the summoning herself. How many murders she could solve by simply interviewing the victim!

She sat in the circle and held hands with the women beside her, waiting and watching as the séance went ahead, and failed. It confirmed Emma needed the pocket watch after all, and that she wasn't about to make furniture move or ectoplasm appear. 'Oh? It seems Mister Cole is otherwise occupied.' she teased when Emma at last broke the silence and the séance. 'His widow definitely gave me his pocket watch.' she declared, which, while true, didn't answer the question. 'Perhaps you should trying calling him again, hmm?' Meanwhile, Penny gently tapped her finger against Alice's hand, hopefully indicating she should go ahead with her tricks. A demonstration of the charlatan's arts, that's what she would call it.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:48, Fri 31 Mar 2017.

Alice understood. When/if the second effect was made she would be ready with her tricks. She could make the table rise several inches, blow out candles across the room, use her toes to ring little bells, and several other tricks to make the whole thing seem very genuine.

Emma's eyes widen almost imperceptibly at Penny's assurances but she goes back to her incantation, sounding just as confident the second time.

Upon Alice's theatrics, Sarah Winchester is indubitably enthralled, eyes wide and shining with wonder. She calls out to Cole. Cole! How are you my dear man!? Knock once for well twice for unwell!! Can you tell us where you put the ring for me?

After the theatrics came into play, Penny suddenly stiffened, her hands squeezing Alice's and Kate's. One might almost suspect it was shock at the supernatural display, if she weren't known to be made of more dignified stuff.  She considered calling an end to the charade, but waited to see if Alice had any more tricks up her sleeves first...

ooc: Alice is unavailable until next week, just fyi ;)

pm