OOC: Should I just halt the séance now then?


Although dark, Penny was closely watching Emma Bently as she attempted to continue the sham séance, even while distracted by its curious failure and her efforts to communicate with Penny with mind-magic (well, that was different). After their earlier conflicts, Penny felt a sense of spiteful glee at this opportunity to embarrass the witch. And of course she could tell Emma she was one of the threats she'd been guarding against.

Alice used a switch to make a hammer hit the floor two times. She indicates unwell assuming this is how Penny wants to play it.

Suddenly Penny spoke out in the darkness 'I think that's quite enough. Mister Shaw, the lights!'

As Ian turned up the lamps and opened the blinds, flooding the room with light and blinding the eyes after so long in the dark, Penny rose and strutted around the table, holding forth. 'Do forgive the surprise, Ms Winchester, but we wished to demonstrate the deceits commonly employed by the charlatans and con-artists who purport to be mediums, fortune-tellers, and spiritualists... Observe, an associate brought in at the last moment to surprise and disrupt preparations.' She indicated Alice, then went on to expose some – but by no means all – of the contraptions she'd rigged up. 'See this hammer? Connected to a simple apparatus operated by my associate here, so it might knock on the floor on cue. And below the table, little bells she simply rings with her shoes. Even if this watch: it's not the late Mister Cole's, but a cheap imitation I purchased in town. The real watch is still safely in my purse.'

Triumphant and smug, she faced Sarah Winchester, announcing 'These are just some of the tricks and frauds we must watch out for when dealing with mediums. I hope this demonstration encourages you to be more aware when the real show begins.'

Penny had realised she could have blamed all this on Emma Bently and ruined the wicked witch's standing, broken Sarah Winchester's trust in spiritualism, driven her safely out of the actual act of ghost summoning, and given Molly Michaels some vindication. But it also would have cost them the witch's vital assistance and gotten them all thrown out of the house they needed to search, as well as destroy a friendship and break a widow's spirit, and Penny simply didn't have it in her to do that.

Alice stood and took a little curtsy. She was happy to let Penny do the talking.

Sarah watches agape, her face turning angry and shocked as trick after trick is revealed. For a moment you fear she will storm out but Emma gives her a meaningful expression and she manages to get a hold of herself. Contrary to your belief, I was well aware of your charade she sniffs, doing her best to convince you of this. It's frankly a little sad. Her eyes indicate pure shock, as though deception has never entered her possibility of thought. No doubt the naive woman has been taken advantage of many times with such gullibility. I was just curious as to how far you would let it go. I've had enough seances performed here by now to know the real thing from a fraud. She sits up tall and straight, trying to look the part of her lie. Emma pats her hand warmly and you can tell that the friendship there is real if nothing else. Of course you knew my dear she smiles. These skeptics haven't seen a real seance to save their lives. How about we show them one eh? She speaks to her kindly, almost as though to a child though without the patronizing tone. Sarah takes heart in this and nods quickly, relief in her eyes. She can fool herself once more, believing her friend to be the genuine article, which thankfully she is. If you would hand me the real pocket watch? Emma holds out an expectant hand to Penny, her face disapproving towards the Brit. And why don't we do this all with the lights on? Take off your shoes everyone, and the tablecloth too. I'll prove there are no tricks this time.

Alice does as told, taking off her cowboy boots, which also makes her remove her large knife from the boot sheath.

'Oh, of course, I should have known we couldn't put one over on you.' Penny played along, perfectly aware they had done just that. At the least, she had shaken Sarah's confidence, and she would be more aware of tricksters in future. Furthermore, Emma seemed to be trustworthy; at least, she hadn't immediately stolen the false pocket watch and fled, and would be cautious about further tricks Penny had up her frilly sleeves.

'Our shoes? How rude.' Penny remarked, more amused than anything. She sat back at the now-bare table, and slipped her boots off her stockinged feet beneath the table (for privacy, since Mister Shaw was present). She retrieved the false pocket watch and at last yielded the genuine article up to Emma, watching her carefully – and with a hand on her garter-holstered pistol beneath the table, ready to shoot the witch if she proved treacherous.

Emma takes the watch, satisfaction on her face now that she has something she can work with. For a split second you do fear the possibility that she will betray you now that she has what she wants but she simply places it before her, folds her hands quietly in her lap and closes her eyes, muttering something you don't quite understand. She does this for a few minutes, clearly concentrating. At one point Ian coughs and she shushes him so nastily that it's hard not to laugh. Eventually the witch is satisfied though and a small smile lifts the corners of her lips as the lights flicker and blink. The room goes cold, the hair on the back of your neck and arms raise and something just feels off. The lights, still threatening to go out, reveal a sudden panic on Sarah's face. She's clearly never seen something this dramatic before. The lights finally do go out and you are pitched into complete blackness for roughly two seconds before they sputter back on. To your shock instantly you see a man standing behind Emma's chair. His dark brown skin is ashy and graying and he's covered in sweat. His entire frame is trembling; eyes wide, otherwise holding stone still and stiff. It is quite disconcerting even for you hunters but Sarah gives a shriek and leaps back from the table far faster than you thought a woman her age could. Emma does not turn around or move at all but she seems to be aware of the situation.

Calm down Sarah please. Now, someone needs to stand up and offer your hand to him. He will communicate through you. I suppose Sarah is too frightened, would one of you mind? I'm too busy keeping him here. He'd really rather not be.

Alice shook her head no. She tapped her revolver, indicating she would cover Penny if she decided to take the challenge.

Shocked, Penny felt a very real chill as the ghost appeared. She'd dealt with ghosts and hauntings before, every hunter had, but somehow hadn't expected such a vivid manifestation here in these controlled circumstances. Stiffening, her mouth dry, she swallowed and tried to speak. 'I—' But who would ask the questions? More than that, she was too disturbed by the notion of being used as a medium. 'Ian?' she began hesitantly.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:57, Thu 13 Apr 2017.

Kate slid her chair back and stood up. "I'll do it," She kept her voice steady though her hand shook as she reached her hand out it the ghostly figure. She glanced at Penny with a "YIKES!" Look before she offered him her hand.

'Kate, no.' Penny whispered, trying to protect her friend and time-lost mother, but it was too late...
This message was last edited by the player at 15:53, Tue 18 Apr 2017.

ooc: Everyone's reactions made me crack up so bad btw. Great stuff!

When Penny turns to Ian his eyes go comically wide. He hesitates, is about to take the bullet so to speak, and then Kate volunteers. He tries to protest but it isn't exactly convincing. He is most definitely relieved...

Kate, as you take his hand you are surprised to find it solid, though it is cold and clammy. Ewwww...His distant gaze immediately snaps to your eyes, he stares at you intently as he starts to speak to you.

To everyone else you see his mouth moving rapidly but no words come out. It is...disconcerting, especially the way he is shaking and staring unblinking into Kate's face, a mere foot away or so.

Kate, you hear him as clearly as though he were alive. Let me go back! I want to go back! I won't stay here! You can't make me! He gets increasingly agitated.

Emma, still not looking behind her, says calmly, Be sure to let us know what the man is saying Kate. We can't hear him like you can. Ask your questions Miss Penny. Don't dawdle either. He won't stay long.

ooc: First off, sorry I screwed up the previous color for Emma's words in my other post. They should be dark blue, not yellow. Sigh. Second, for time's sake I'm going to assume that Kate is going to translate for him and so anything in italics he says you should be aware of too unless I say otherwise. Thanks!

Instead of watching the ghost and Kate, Alice watched the witch and those around her, suspicious of her motives.

Penny swallowed, finding her mouth dry, and tried to regain her composure. It was hard to bear the sight of Kate in the ghost's grip, serving as its medium. This whole matter seemed unnatural, and putting ghosts to rest was why she'd become a hunter. 'Please forgive us for calling you here, Mr Cole... Sarah Winchester asked you to hide something, a ring. Where is it?'

His eyes roll around as he shakes and twitches. It is the most disconcerting thing and it's difficult to concentrate on the questions as you listen. You've never seen a ghost act like this, but then you've never seen one summoned in quite this way either. You have a feeling Emma is more powerful than you realized.

Through Kate's translation, he says,

Under the house. Coal. Floorboards. She....p-p-p-p-p-poisoned m-m-me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He is shaking so violently and as he mouths the words you can make them out even without Kate's translation. He is getting increasingly agitated, and his chest heaves with effort, sweat pouring down his skin. Considering he died of a heart attack, you wonder if its not related to his current state, the way he is acting, as though reliving the sensation he died of.

So rarely did Penny encounter a murder victim she could still question. 'Who? Who poisoned you?' she urged him. 'And where in this house?'

Alice continues NOT watching the ghost.

"Easy," Kate grasped the ghosts hand reassuringly  in both of hers now. "Focus, where did you hide it? Who poisoned you?"  She repeated Penny's questions with as calm a tone as she could muster standing so close to a dead man.

C-coal. Under the c-coal... he repeats, agitated. From across the room Sarah cowers, stammering, W-we keep a supply of coal, under the house. For f-fuel
Yes. Under the house. Then his eyes blaze. Adams. Find Adams!! With that the lights once again go out and a second later when they come back on he is gone. Sarah whimpers in the corner, terrified and Emma frowns and rubs her temples. Sarah dear? Why don't you go to the other room, rest yourself. I'm sure there is still some tea. Mr. Shaw will escort you. Ian crosses the room and takes the frail old woman who is grateful to leave, shaking like a leaf.

Well, that was illuminating. It looks like someone is going to get dirty shoveling coal Her tone makes it clear it won't be her. As for MIss Adams...well her body won't be a problem, but the demon inside her escaped before I could finish her off. She could be in anyone now she sighs. Her words explain much that was previously unsaid.

Alice shrugged, "If I can muck out a stall, I can shovel coal. Point me in the right direction."

Penny let out a sigh of long-held tension as the ghost of Cole Michaels vanished. They had what they needed, though she wished he'd stayed along enough to be questioned further. Penny also vaguely regretted not getting a chance to get a message for Molly, as much as she'd feigned disbelief.

She waited until Sarah had left and Emma had begun to hint at what had happened. 'And who is Miss Adams? I think its time we had the story.'

" we had a run in with Miss Adams," Kate confessed gesturing to the blood on her hem. "The demon put up quite a fight and unfortunately got away before we could finish it. Poor Miss Adams' body is stuffed in a closet."

Yes, and as much of a labyrinth as this place is, someone is bound to find it eventually. Poor Sarah. She's had a horrid day already Emma shakes her head, sounding genuinely worried for the older woman. Unfortunately that means the demon could be in anyone at the moment. I suggest certain precautions be made at the entrances of this coal nonsense perhaps. I will stand guard too. Unfortunately my back is not made for shoveling. Good thing you brought this strong looking oaf she gestures to Ian. Though I'm sure he won't mind you helping him dear she adds to Alice.

Hey! he protests.

ooc: Go ahead and finish up here, roll your general search/spot checks and let me know how long you plan to look for it. It could take hours. In fact, roll constitution checks too and name any precautions you want to take.

Alice went with Ian to shovel coal.