ooc: For complex reasons, this is Jo's temporary personal thread in case there should be any lurkers. Simon is currently going to be researching things back in New Orleans along with Victoria and Lily will be with Jo until the time comes when things mash back together. I don't know if anyone cares or is even reading this besides Jo, but you know, continuity people! :)

Jo: The train jostles and screeches as it finally pulls away. Lily sits beside you, scowling poutishly and crossing her arms. She was not eager to be on a train again, but under the circumstances she was insistent she accompany you. Your mind goes back to the unexpected telegram that drew you away in the first place.

I need you back in New York. Now. Life and Death. -Mom

And that's all it took to drop everything and head north once again. Lily sees your expression and her scowl softens. I'm sure it will be alright. She's a barkeep right? How life and death can things be? she tries to smile but it's a nervous one and the joke falls flat. I've sent some friends to go keep an eye on her Jo. She'll have help if she needs it she adds with seriousness.

Shaking her head, Josephine didn't like the letter,

"No, Ma wouldn't send that letter unless it really WAS life and death. That, or if somebody else is sending it in her place. Usually she can handle things." she sighed, and added,

"Though its always possible she's just having a bad feeling, and trying to get me to stop Hunting." she shrugged, slumping down next to Lily sadly.

I suppose it's always possible someone is mimicking her. Does she have any enemies? Anyone who would have reason to harm her, or you? You can practically see the gears turning in the Native's head. I don't feel right about this. The timing is too...perfect. Right when we were getting things done in New Orleans, this happens? Coincidence is a real possibility but still...we're not going unprepared and you're not going alone. Now think. Who would have reason to target you? We need to eliminate that possibility. I hope it is something as benign as her wanting you out of the life.

Shrugging, Josephine answered,

"I'll be honest with you, once I got my entire body shattered by some magical devil demon thing, my entire world changed. I don't even know what to expect anymore." she said, having no idea,

"A few potential suitors at the Bar, maybe? That's about all I could think of..." she thought, shrugging. Her Ma usually handled herself just fine, and Jo didn't know of anything her Ma kept hidden.

Ah...that still haunts you does it? she looks strangely guilty. We should have protected you better. You're still new to all this. You're very brave to keep with it Jo. I'm impressed.

A few minutes later your train stops for dinner at a comfort stop, a building along the tracks with outhouses and a simple but large restaurant. As frustrating as it is to have to delay your journey home, both food and a chance to relieve yourself are badly needed. No wonder Lily hates trains so with so few accommodations.

Soon you find yourself seated at a booth with Lily, looking over a simple menu and muttering over the prices. Considering there are no other options they can afford to gouge you. I could go out and shoot a deer for free if we had the time she grumbles. At last you order, a simple fare of potato soup, white rolls and trout, when you notice a couple of men sitting in the corner of the restaurant, talking animatedly.

I swear I saw it myself! one of them thumps his hand on the table in anger. I'm not making it up!
Right...you think I'm going to believe something that crazy? You been hittin the bottle even more than usual? he sneers back.
No I'm not! I was sober as your Quaker grandmother I tell ya! It drug ol Neil into the field, he was hollerin somethin awful too! Why do you think he's been missing you idiot?

Laughing softly under her breath as the food came, Josephine turned her thumb towards the men,

"Drunks, am I right?" she teased, baiting Lily into the obvious 'they might be on to something!'.

Glancing back down at her meal to sell the bluff, she nearly grinned, waiting for Lily to smack her. She avoided talking about the entire body shattering experience, so she would avoid becoming resentful. Their companion had CAUSED her to be shattered, through a horrific mistake of arrogance, and hadn't even done anything to take care of her afterwards. Jo still held resentment, but no reason to bring it up.

Lily smirks at your comment but leans forward to listen better. As the pair continue their talk she grows more intrigued. We may have something on our hands here but with your mother's note I worry about distractions. Hm...we should at least try to get more information though. Maybe I can send a message to headquarters, have them coordinate something. Do you care to work your magic? I can give it a try but men react better to white girls most of the time she makes a face.

ooc: If you do, feel free to roll diplomacy and approach them.

Nodding her head, and setting her jaw, Josephine took a breath, and headed over. On her walk over, her gaze became a bright smile, and she laughed softly, approaching,

"Did I hear you boys mentioning drinks to be had? Well what's a lady to do, other than join you?" she asked, purposefully mis-hearing what they were saying.

After their response, she asked,

"And who is Neil?" she asked, glancing around, "Another friend of yours here somewhere?" she asked, subtly baiting the man into talking about what had happened to his friend.





Diplomacy 29

The pair look surprised at your intrusion. A flash of appreciation crosses their eyes, but the one who was carrying on about what he saw seems too preoccupied with his tale to dwell on your appearance too much. Ignore my friend here the skeptical one (a bearded fellow in his twenties) apologizes. He was tellin tall tales. I for one would be happy to have a drink with you though. Perhaps we'd better let Ned here rest a bit though he looks like he wants to put some distance between them. Ned though, is insistent. I'm not crazy Tom! There's something out there, something dangerous! Look miss, I don't know you and you'll probably think I'm as crazy as he does, but...stay close to the train tonight alright? There's something out there. Something that didn't look human. Even if it was just a man, you don't want a pretty thing like yourself snatched away never to be seen again do you?

Looking surprised at the information, even though she knew what he was getting at, Josephine glanced nervously between the two, feigning worry about his health,

"Well, I mean, but can't a big strong set of boys like you two keep me safe?" she baited, to keep the skeptical one involved in the conversation for perspective, "I don't think you're crazy, Ned, but I don't know what you're talking about. What, exactly, do you mean? What did you see?" she finally put the questions to him, dragging the information out.

Tom looks exasperated, clearly not wanting to discuss the subject further but Ned takes the opportunity since he's obviously intent on warning others about it. I-I don't know. I couldn't exactly see well but it was big, like the size of a tall man. It stood on hind legs too and had arms with claws and its face...was almost like a dog's! But still...human somehow. Its eyes though, I'll never forget those eyes... he shudders and takes a long drink. Meanwhile Lily is still sitting at your previous table. She looks down at her meal but you can tell she's listening in. When he mentions the description she looks up sharply and to your surprise, pales.

Nodding, Josephine needed Lily's input, so she waved her over,

"Gentlemen, this is a friend of mine, and I would hate to leave her alone over there. Would you mind if she joined us?" she asked, knowing they wouldn't say no to her,

"So this creature... it was human AND with a dog face? Could it have been a man with a mask or something?" she was covering the bases.

Not like any mask I've seen. And he wasn't entirely human either. Kind of like a long, stretched out dog on hind legs... he looks self conscious saying it aloud. I-I don't know, I thought that's what I saw... Lily gives him an intense look. Where and when?

A few hours ago, just by the town well about two miles east he points. You two seem awfully interested in one man's drunken fantasy Tom shakes his head. Though I for one wouldn't mind if you stayed on. We don't often get such pretty women visiting, especially you blondie he grins at you. Lily, surprisingly, seems too distracted to react to his comment.

Smiling, Josephine knew the best time to separate the two men was now, so Lily could wrangle the story out of the other guy. Taking her cue as 'wing-woman', she smiled and turned towards the man that was flirting with her, and she blushed slightly, turning her eyes downward, like she knew a proper lady would have,

"Well what a nice compliment!" she said with a smile, lifting her eyes slightly, wanting to keep him focused on her, "It makes a girl wonder what other nice things you do..." she said with slight innuendo, allowing the man's mind to take over and imagine all sorts of things.

You'd better hurry up, Lily. I'm taking bullets for you over here! she thought to herself, keeping a smile plastered on her face.

Lily looks surprised at your words for a moment but you can see the recognition dawn on her face and she quickly turns to Ned to quietly grill him further. Tom, meanwhile, is completely oblivious to the rest of the room. He looks so shocked and pleased at your response that a big goofy grin spreads across his face. He's decent looking, in a simple farmer kind of way, though his ears do stick out slightly more than you'd like. You've flirted with worse.

U-Uh...I'm up for any nice things! he stammers, suddenly blushing. You have a feeling he's all talk and this is the farthest he's gotten with many a woman. Anything at all! You...wouldn't want to go on a walk with me would you? It's a nice night... he swallows hard.

Smiling demurely, Josephine averted her gaze, as if SHE were the insecure one, to let him gather some confidence,

"A walk? On a train?" she questioned him, nearly laughing inwardly at his stuttering. He really was in trouble, and had no idea that he'd just wandered into the spider's web, "Alright, but its difficult to see the night from in here you know..." she teased slightly, subtly, wanting to keep him focused on her.

ooc: Oops! Sorry, you guys are stopped at a train stop that is a restaurant and small shop for travelers before their train continues. Some of the smaller trains of the time didn't have dining cars and this was their method. Sorry if I didn't do a good job making that clear! :/

Looking extremely pleased and half terrified he quickly gets up, offering his arm for you to take. Well we'll just have to go out and see how nice it is then! he looks pleased with his words, likely thinking himself clever.

Soon you are outside and he's not wrong about the night being pleasant, though it is bordering on chilly this time of year. He proceeds to make small talk with you as you wander around the restaurant a ways. The area is surrounded by forest but there is a road leading into town and a few houses dot the land. For the most part though, there is no one about save you two. Suddenly the moment is interrupted by a man rushing down the street, waving his arms and shouting.

Get your guns folks! Old Neil is dead! We must have wolves about, he's been ripped to shreds!

"Oh, ok!" Josephine said, playing the perfect foolish and naive woman.

When the running man came down the street, however, she raised an eyebrow, and asked,

"Who is Old Neil? Is that man ALSO drunk, like your friend?"

Tom pales at the man's words, looking like he wants to be sick. N-No. Neil is the man Ned saw...he said a creature pulled him into the woods. It must have been a wolf! At least that explains what Ned saw, but it's still dangerous. If the wolf is gutsy enough to come into town like this...hey we'd better get you someplace safe! he turns to you with worry, grabbing your arm. Come on, my house is not far. You can hole up there while I go help the rest of them track the beast down. I'll send your friend after you if you want

Tugging her arm loose with a soft smile, Josephine would get her friend herself,

"I've got her, thank you. she said, turning to run and get Lily asap.

He starts to protest but you're too fast and you slip away at a run. Meanwhile you see women and children rushing indoors and men are busy loading their rifles, yelling at you to get safe when they see you. You ignore them, hurrying to the restaurant to find Lily and Ned, both looking grim. Are you alright? she demands, looking concerned. We heard the ruckus about the supposed wolf she exchanges glances with Ned to show they both know better. The poor man looks pale and terrified. Where's Tom? Is he alright? he asks you in worry.

As much as I'd like to get on that train and never look back, I think you and I must go on a little hunt of our own Jo she sighs, looking surprisingly reluctant. We could use help Ned. If you think you're any good with a gun. He looks shocked at the offer but after hesitating, nods. I'm a decent shot. Someone has to avenge poor Neil.

Lily turns to you then. Now Jo, this thing is probably a skinwalker. Not like the kind most hunters think of, but something worse. Fortunately it has similar weaknesses we can exploit but...it's going to be tough. Really tough. You up for it?

"Have I ever NOT been up for it?" she asked rhetorically, laughing at her friend's question with a smile. She would follow Lily into the pits of hell, given the chance, and her face showed it.

Lily beams at you, her dimpled radiant smile that completely transforms her usually gruff expression. Then she turns to Ned and pats his shoulder. I hate to drag you into this man, but even if you do nothing but distract it, that will be enough. Come, show me where Neil was taken.

An hour later you're in the forest on the edge of town. The moon is high overhead and the breeze ruffles the branches eerily. Not a sound is heard. No crickets, no owls, no sounds of life anywhere. Lily is very on edge, more so than you've seen her for some time. If I tell you to shoot something, you shoot it. No matter what. Understand? she looks to both of you. Ned hesitates then nods firmly. Good. Follow me and stay sharp. She turns to you. Now, this isn't the kind of thing you can sweet talk I'm afraid. You're going to have to brute force this. What you can do for me though, is keep an eye on him. Skinwalkers have a way about them they can be almost as persuasive as you she smirks. Keep him in check.

You push deeper into the forest and she walks, almost as though she knows where she's going, though when Ned asks how she chose the direction she shrugs and says, I'm just going where it feels the most wrong. Indeed as you walk the way gets increasingly tense. You feel the hair on your arms and back of your neck stand up, your skin prickles, your heart pounds. Poor Ned looks like he wants to run already.

Suddenly you hear a voice calling in the distance. It's familiar. It sounds like Tom and he's calling for help!

Hearing Tom, Josephine widened her eyes,

"Oh it's Tom! We have to help him!" she said, feeling guilty.

Running off after Tom, Josephine kept her eyes peeled and tried to be the hero!

Ned likewise rushes to aid his friend but Lily hesitates, eyes wide for a moment and then uncertain. She runs after you both, hissing vehemently, Wait! Wait you fools, it could be the skin walker!

Skin-what? Ned looks confused. Look, you do what you want but I'm going to save my friend! he runs off again and Lily, growling with pure irritation turns to you and barks, Alright, after him. Before he gets himself killed

The three of you race to the scene and to your surprise you see Tom on his back in a clearing through the trees. He lays there, unnaturally stiff but still calling with that desperate voice. Ned immediately rushes to him but Lily tries to call him back. Unfortunately though, Ned's long legs carry him faster than either of you can keep up and though the Indian is desperately ordering him not to move, he is kneeling by his friend a moment later. Come on! she snarls to you, readying a tomahawk to your surprise. It's then that you understand, for Tom suddenly sits up unnaturally fast and grabs Ned by the head, bringing his mouth to the man's neck and to your absolute horror, ripping his throat out with his teeth.

Seeing the apparent skin walker rip into Ned, Josephine levels her shotgun and unloads shells at its face!

Your shot misses his face but it does hit squarely nonetheless and Tom drops the still twitching Ned, turning to bare his bloody teeth at you in an inhuman grin. Lily shouts at you something unintelligible and hurls a tomahawk at the thing which unfortunately careens wildly. Seeing its opportunity though, the skinwalker moves to the Indian woman with alarming speed and slashes her across the chest with a clawed hand. Meanwhile, as you stare at him in horror, a feeling of intense fear threatens to paralyze you...

Seeing everything go so poorly, Josephine froze on the spot, feeling her heart seize up, and her breath slow... She felt horrific, but like she couldn't do anything to help Lily, so she fumbled in place, unable to move...

Lily swears, seeing you are affected and the false Tom's smile widens as he realizes your predicament. Moving with lightning speed, he rushes at you and stabs you with his claws, piercing them into your stomach, though fortunately thanks to Lily's efforts it is not a mortal wound. As he attacks you, she goes at him rabidly, burying her other tomahawk into his flesh with a snarl of rage that he should attack her friend.

Shake it off Jo! You can do it!

ooc: Next round, roll another fort! You take 10 damage by the way....

Despite her injury, Josephine couldn't move.


Failure part two

ooc: Hahaha! You poor thing! You always did have the worst luck!

The skinwalker, seeing Lily as the greater threat at the moment, turns and slashes her across the belly. She swears savagely and swings at him but misses, rage filling her glittering green eyes. Jo! Try harder! You are surprised by the desperation in her voice. She is afraid. Lily, the brave ferocious woman you've come to know, has never been afraid that you've seen. It is...jarring.

ooc: Ok, go ahead and roll until you actually beat the DC. Then we'll see how much damage you take overall. If you do manage to beat it this time you can just roll an attack instead. Good luck!

Third time was the charm... Right? Josephine willed herself to...

...Do nothing

and fail again

And then try the fourth time! Or fifth!

"Run!" she shouted, knowing that was what she was best at!

Your inability to move is extremely frustrating and both you and Lily pay the price for it. The skinwalker tears both of you up pretty well, though Lily gets some good shots in too. You can tell she's not at her full ability, the terror in her eyes no doubt has something to do with it. Whether this is an effect of the creature or genuine fear it's hard to say. At last though you're able to move and she starts to follow you at a run though the skinwalker is faster than the both of you.

Get ahead of us! Put some distance between you and then don't stop shooting unless I say! If we can convince it that it's not worth following us maybe we'll survive this thing she pants.

ooc: You poor thing! Hahaha! So go ahead and roll some shots from a distance if you please. Hopefully you have better luck this time...

Once they had any distance, Josephine sold out on an idea she had from what Simon had said. She was terrible at shooting, but...

Spinning around, she grabbed Lily by the arms and looked her deep in the eyes,

"We need you, demon thing or whatever, like right now! If you don't save us, I'm dead, and you're host is dead... Get your ass out here and quit dragging this out, now!"

Ok so Simon might be mad later about that, but Josephine was good at convincing people of things. This was their only chance in her eyes...

It doesn't work like that! she whimpers, looking back in pure fear. I have to be angry! It only works when I'm angry! Quick, do something! Make me angry, anything! as she frantically pleads with you, the skinwalker grabs at her leg, digging its claws into the limb and starting to pull her back. She fights with it nearly in hysterics but you can see her body start to stiffen, as though paralyzed...

"Well... I didn't want to tell you this, but... I slept with Simon! Back when we were alone before this trip! I didn't think you'd ever find out, so I..."

Josephine lied her sweet little ass off, knowing that betrayal by the two closest people in lily's life would certainly piss her off.

She just hoped she wouldn't die for it...

Ooc:I'll respond to this later but in the meantime...ahahahahahahaha!!! This is sooooooooooooooooooo funny!!

Ooc lol right?! I thought you'd get a laugh. My boyfriend was staring at me because I was giggling the whole post

ooc: Yeah, I actually laughed out loud reading it, hahaha!
Also, I know you have a really good bluff so I'm going to have her be pretty convinced...mwahahahahaha!

At first Lily gives you a look of shock and disbelief, clearly thinking you must be lying. Even through the pain of the skinwalker pulling on her she manages to look surprised. Then, as your expression remains unchanged, the full weight of what you said sinks in. She's already expressed jealousy and protectiveness of Simon before, so it's no surprise that she would be upset and as her eyes go smokey gray you know you're in for it now. The skinwalker, oblivious to what is happening, continues to drag her and claw the woman repeatedly. If she were anyone else she may not survive these wounds but as her persona begins to change, it's as if she cannot even feel the thing. Instead she turns around, as if noticing a pest that is no more than annoying her, then she reaches out fast as lightning to grip the thing by the throat. Its eyes bulge in surprise and it struggles wildly with ferocious strength. It might as well be a kitten in her powerful hand. Eyes blazing, she squeezes and you hear bones crack. A wicked little smile purses her full lips as it desperately tries to escape. CRACK! Again she tightens her hold and blood starts to drip out of its eyes, mouth and nose. Then she squeezes still harder until the thing's neck is pulverized in her hand, nothing but a mass of squished flesh as the rest of the body breaks away, leaving a twitching headless corpse as she flings the head away from her and then turns to face you...cold anger emanating from her.

Oh.... shit!

Raising her hands instinctively into the air, Josephine stepped backwards in fear so quickly she promptly tripped and fell, scrambling backwards on her butt,

"Whoa... Whoa Lily... Lily you... You said to say anything to make you mad! That's all I was doing! I would never do that to you! Never! Lily?" she asked meekly, hoping to God she hadn't just signed her own death warrant.

ooc: hahahahahaha! Poor Jo!!

Unfortunately as easy as it was to turn her anger, it is not so easy to stop it. She glares at you, eyes blazing. How do I know you're not lying now? How can I be sure? her voice is a venomous growl. I won't let it happen to me a second time. Not a second time! She's standing over you now, twitching with rage but to her credit she could have killed you instantly and Lily must be fighting for control somehow.

I, uh... Josephine realized Lily was fighting for her, and she bit her lower lip nervously.

Scrambling to her feet, Josephine knew she was an inch away from being ripped asunder yet again, but she threw her arms around lily's neck, and held on as tight as she could,

"Because I'd never leave you, or hurt you Lily, and you know that." she said, squeezing her eyes shut in terror, waiting to be disemboweled.

You feel her stiffen in surprise and for a long terrible moment you can sense the imminent danger you're in as every muscle tenses, ready to literally rip you to shreds. Then, she relaxes and to your overwhelming relief hugs you back tightly, trembling violently. W-what happened? Are you alright? she sags against you, exhausted. Something bad almost happened, didn't it?

Breathing a sigh of relief, she shook her head,

"No, Lily we're fine. nothing terrible happened. The monster is gone." she said, giving Lily another big hug.

Stepping back, she looked Lily over for injuries,

"Are you hurt?"

N-No. I'm fine I think she says as if dazed, looking down at what's left of the skinwalker. Is he really dead? Was it really that easy? Her green eyes widen in bewilderment. I've been terrified of skinwalkers since I was a child and I watched my brother get torn into pieces by one. And now... she trails off, falling silent. At least I didn't run away this time she whispers and you realize she likely had abandoned him.

Lily hasn't realized that Josephine might have been speaking about HER monster being gone, so she levels with her,

"Look I don't know why everyone seems intent on hiding the fact that you have some murderous demon inside of you from you,
but I won't. That side of you is terrifying, but deep down, it's still you! You don't have to be controlled by it... It's part of you." she said, shrugging and holding Lily close.

She looks at you in surprise, though accepts the hug gratefully. D-Demon? Is that what it is?! she gasps. But how can that be? I need to get rid of it! she shakes her head. What if I hurt you? I can't seem to control it!

"But you won't hurt me! you just proved it! You're in control!" Josephine smiled,

"You're so strong, I'm proud of you!"

Proud? Lily gives a half smile, half wince. I don't know if I'd say I was in control just yet. Lucky may be a better word. But...thanks. For everything. If you hadn't done whatever it was you did, that skinwalker would have gutted both of us. She sighs, tiredly, still looking nervous at the corpse in spite of her triumph. We should bury it, get back on that train while we still can. The last thing we need is too many questions. The town will sort itself out I imagine Her face is drawn, lost in thought.

ooc: Go ahead and finish up and let me know your plans for the next week or so of travel.

Jo is going to focus on Lily. Talking to her, helping her out, and rubbing her shoulders.

It takes a bit of doing to get your old Lily back. She's been upset by recent events for various reasons. You learn that as a child her half brother was killed quite terribly by a skinwalker and they've held a special fear for her ever since.

Eventually you make it to New York though by the time you do you're both travel worn, grumpy, tired and wanting a bath. All you can think of though is your mother's message, telling you it was urgent, though of course you've no idea what it really means.

Your train arrives at ten at night and the streets are fairly quiet other than the departing passengers.

I'm coming with you. At least until I know your mother is alright Lily insists.

When you're done collecting your baggage she pays for a hansom cab to the pub, which you find strangely dark. This time of night it should be full of drunken patrons but the sign at the door clearly says closed...

ooc: Roll spot/listen/search please

Josephine basically blindly and dumbly stumbled through the city, tripping constantly and forgetting what she was doing. Once she'd arrived, she ignored her worries and rushed the bar, wanting to see her mother.


on die rolls can I just "take 1" so we can get it over with? in this game, I average a 4 so far, lol

ooc: Hahahaha! It's so true isn't it? You poor thing.

You and Lily both head inside, the native woman pulling out a pistol just in case. The place is completely dark but you know where the lanterns are and light one with a shaking hand. The place looks untouched at least, everything is undisturbed which, though comforting, is also eerie. You're used to life and noise and laughter here. You both head upstairs, in hopes your mother is simply in her room but as you open the door it is also dark. The bed is made and everything looks as it should except of course your missing mother. Lily bends down and picks up a piece of paper from the ground, handing it to you with a worried face. It's an address, hastily scribbled.

1201 Southington Street

Then, stiffening, Lily points to something else. There appears to be dried blood on the corner of your mother's nightstand, and a few strands of hair.

Rushing over to the blood, Josephine was clearly not in a right state of mind as she squealed unhappily and spun around, rushing out the door without a word. She was going to find mama, and find her fast!

Lily chases you, grabbing your hand and whirling you to face her. Calm down Jo! Listen to me! she grips you firmly. We're not going to go into this half cocked! Let's go get helped before we rush into the unknown, you hear me? There's a good chance your mother is still alive. She's probably bait for you, why else the telegram? Besides, there's not enough blood for her to have been killed here. She's probably leverage to use against you. Now calm down and breathe!

Being spun around, Josephine grunted in surprise, her eyes wide in fear for her mother's safety,

"But... You don't understand! We have to save her!" she said again, trying to pull away desperately. It was obvious that lily's words weren't hitting home, not when her mother's life was in peril...

Shaking her head in exasperation, Lily bends down and to your surprise, hoists you over her shoulder, gripping your legs tightly as she marches you down the street, hailing a hansom cab at the same time. What am I going to do with you? she mutters as she walks towards the stopped carriage. You're out of control. You'll do as I say until your wits return. Got it? She then lowers you down and gently pushes you inside the cab, giving them orders to the warehouse. Once inside she speaks firmly but kindly. What I intend will only take an extra half hour or so and it could mean the difference between living and dying. Whoever has your mother probably doesn't know about your connection with the men of letters yet. They've just bitten off more than they can chew and we're going to shove it down their throats. Alright?

ooc: She's going to take you to headquarters for reinforcements. Let me know your reactions/ mindset and plans in the meantime. Naturally you are free to propose another plan if you have one ;P

Suddenly being lifted up as of she weighed nothing brought a surprised yelp from Josephine, and she reached out in fear of falling, but Lily held her strongly. Turning her head to look over her shoulder, her eyes were still wild, even as Lily stuffed her forcibly into a carriage.

She paused, seemingly listening, but if Lily was observant, she'd see the fire behind her eyes, planning on running. Waiting a moment, she finally lunged for the door, trying to argue as she did so,

"Fine, you get reinforcements, I'll find her... she needs me!" she tried to proclaim as she went for the door awkwardly over Lily.

Oooooooh! she screeches in frustration. You're just determined to get yourself killed aren't you!? she snaps. Fine! She hauls you out of the carriage but grips your arm with the strength of a vice. She calls up to the driver, Change of plans. I need you to drive to a house, 221 Lexington way. Pound on the door til a man named Marcus Andreas answers, then take him to 1201 Southington Street. Tell him Lily told you to do this and that he owes you five dollars. Got it? the driver looks hesitant and confused but Lily growls impatiently. Ten then! Tell him ten dollars! If you mention my name he's good for it. Now hurry you fool or you'll get nothing and my boot up your ass while I'm at it! The driver pales but nods quickly and off he goes. Then Lily turns to you, still angry but not completely at you thankfully. Alright, let's hope your impatience doens't get anyone killed eh? Come on, we can make it by foot if we run she then releases you and makes good on her words, sprinting down several streets. It's an effort to keep up but your worry gives you speed you otherwise wouldn't have. Eventually you end up at a large brick storehouse and Lily pulls you aside, barely even breathing hard though it's all you can do not to gasp and wheeze. Now, as much as I'm sure you want to fling yourself inside and wring your hands at anyone you meet, we need to do this stealthily. Think you can handle that? she arches a dry brow.

ooc: Go ahead and make any plans for entrance. There are several windows you could probably try to jimmy open or break but you'll need to roll move silently and hide as well as listen and search checks. Heh, heh, hopefully you have better luck than usual....mwahahahahaha!

Flinching a bit at lily's tone, Josephine still ran like hell when given the chance, satisfied that she could even talk Lily into things.

When they arrived, she leaned on her knees to breathe and nodded silently. Looking around, she tried to find a window to open and slip inside with Lily, ready to find her mom. Admittedly she may not have searched well because of her worry, but she at least tried...



28 hide
23 move silently
2 search Jesus im actually blind. At least my luck is consistent.
19 listen

Fortunately you are able to get the window open with little trouble, after looking inside to make sure it's empty of course. Fortunately the room is dark and as you both drop down into it, it seems to be full of crates and boxes. From what little you can see by the moonlight streaming in you anticipate there are probably a handful more rooms in the building and since you're mother is clearly not in this one, you pay attention to little else. Lily, however, is more attentive and she carefully opens a box to discover several rolled up scrolls. She swears. So this is where they keep them she mutters. These scrolls are used to summon demons. They're building an army. We need to burn this place down....after we rescue your mother! she adds quickly, seeing worry on your face.

Then, as you talk you can suddenly hear voices approach and Lily signals you to hide. Two men enter the room, carrying a large crate. This should be the last of them one grunts as they set it down. Finally! the other sighs. We'd better not have to move them again! I still don't think this is a safe place for em, considering we'll probably have company any day now. Hm...maybe. But you dropped that address what, weeks ago? You'd think someone would have come by now. Maybe the wench's daughter doesn't care about her and we wasted our time for nothin!

Hearing the men speak, Josephine listened. As they spoke about her mother, however, her eyes narrowed and she glanced lily's way... Indicating she was about to act.

Standing up quietly behind the men, her shotgun in hand, Josephine had anger and no pretense as she unloaded the blast from a foot away into the men's skulls...

"Nobody talks about momma that way." she said flatly, gritting her teeth.



I don't know the modifiers for my shotgun since it's not on my sheet but I rolled an unmodified 15!plus I'm hoping point blank helps!

Lily moves to stop you but she's too slow to realize just what you're planning and by then it's too late. Your shot hits true, though they appear to be demons as they survive the blast. Still, it's a good hit and they are very much taken by surprise, bleeding heavily on the storeroom floor. You're just determined to get us killed aren't you? Lily mutters as she fires her pistol at one, hitting him across the shoulder. In retaliation, they both draw their weapons and fire back, one fortunately missing though the other grazes your leg as you duck behind a stack of crates for cover. Stay behind something at least will you? she adds with concern, glancing at your leg. Fortunately it's not bad yet but you aren't exactly in a good spot...

ooc: Don't worry, I'll look up the modifiers later. For now I'm just happy you hit something! Also, you take 7 damage. Next round and hopefully the dice gods will continue to be kind!

Josephine slides behind a box, not having intended on hiding but it was better she did because these demons were easily twice her speed able to draw and fire in the same time she only shot!

Firing randomly over her shoulder, not even looking, she shrugged at Lily. She didn't know what to say about her combat abilities.


Ooc a 3. That's more like it!

Lily rolls her eyes at you and proceeds to pop out just enough to fire a shot and then take cover again. From the sounds of it she hits one but in return she takes a graze by the collarbone and gasps in surprise, pressing her hand against the wound. You hear the grunts of one of the demons, no doubt doing the same thing with his and he barks to the other, Quick! Go bring the woman!

ooc: Hahaha! You poor thing! Go ahead and roll for 3 rounds worth. One of them is bound to do something!

Squinting as debris flew from the demon shots, Josephine shrugged,

"Mama raised a natural born troublemaker, what can I say?" she laughed softly, turning and firing multiple shots hoping to connect.


11, 2, 20 natural

Your first shot grazes one, the second one misses and hits a window and the third hits squarely in the chest. Even Lily looks impressed at that one though how much was luck and how much was skill you'd rather not think about. The remaining demon isn't idle though, and hits as good as he gets. You are struck across the side with a bullet and it hurts incredibly, though Lily grunts you'll be alright, especially since she takes a bullet herself a moment later.

We can't keep doing this! she snarls, shooting him in the leg with a curse. Just then the door flings open again and the demon is back, shouting at you to stop. Stop shooting you fools! Unless you want to hit your mother? he sneers. To Jo's horror he enters, your mother's arm gripped tightly in his hand. She looks at you with equal surprise. Jo!? What are you doing here!? she's covered in bruises.

"Mama?" Jo cried out softly, peeking over her cover, all looks of fighting instantly vanishing from her face as she sees her mother in obvious danger.

Glancing over towards Lily with wet eyes, its fairly obvious to her that the fight has just been wrenched out of her, and she doesn't know what to do...

Your mother immediately turns to the demons with rage in her bruised face. You let her go! You have me, that should be enough! she snarls. She turns to you. Honey, you've got to get out of here! Run, right now! One of the demons chuckles at this. I think not. Either surrender now woman or your mother is good as dead

Jo held her shotgun up, looking over at Lily. Unless her half possessed friend did something dramatic right now, Josephine was giving up.

"Im sorry mama... I tried..." she said softly, preparing to give up.

Don't you dare Jo! she snaps and then to everyone's surprise she slams her body into the demon in an attempt to distract him so you can escape. Lily sees her opportunity and shoots her pistol at the man, hitting him squarely while the other one tries to get a hold of your mother again. She struggles and twists, restraints or not and Lily shoots again, finishing off the first demon. To your dismay, however, the second demon in a rage hurls the poor woman against the wall, hard. She slams into it and then falls limp, though you are betting she's merely unconscious. The demon looks at you both with blazing eyes, raising his hand to probably do the same to you. Shoot him! Lily snarls.

Seeing her mom spring into action, Josephine was already pulling the trigger by the time her mom had been thrown aside. Soon as she was clear of the blast radius, Josephine unloaded on the demon beside her.


rolled 11 before mods

The bullet hits and Lily follows up with more of her own, leaving the demon dead at last. The native woman quickly rushes to your mother and hoists her over her shoulder. We should go out the way we came. Can you help me push her through the window?

Just as you are about to do so though, the door flings open violently, actually ripping it off its hinges. A single man stands in the doorway and you can't help but gape in complete shock. It is your father.

"And that's what you GET messin' with a Hartley!" Jo said defiantly, cursing at the deceased demon as Lily picked up her mother. Approaching, she was about to insist on checking out her ma's condition when the door exploded inwards, and she flinched, raising her arm to cover her face. When she lowered her arm, she was extremely surprised, as her heart skyrocketed, and she took a tentative step towards her father,

"Daddy?" she asked uncertainly, having been burned so many times recently, that she was loathe to assume anything. Her heart, however, had other ideas, as it promptly melted, and she took another hopeful step towards him,

"Daddy, is that you?" she asked, every ounce of missing her father pouring into her words as she saw the man she was certain had been dead standing before her...

Your father smiles. Hello Jo It is so incredibly good to hear his voice again that it's all you can do not to start crying. As you approach him though Lily grabs your wrist with an iron grip, her face hard. Stop Jo! Unless your father could rip doors off their hinges without any effort, I'd say he's an imposter

Your father gives a laugh at this. Oh Jo, tell your friend to stay out of our business would you? And have her put your mother down too. We have much to discuss.

Turning back and forth between the two, Josephine knew one thing she could hold onto, and that was that she could trust Lily.

Turning towards Lily, her gaze was pained, but she glanced towards the window knowingly. They needed to escape, and fast. Soon as Lily moved, Jo followed quickly, not even answering the imposter, even though her heart strings Tore at her...

It would be a tall order to escape fast enough even without your unconscious mother to drag along but with her...Things aren't looking well.

Lily's long legs carry her quickly to the window and you try to help hoist your mother upward but your father is not exactly slow either and he follows you, looking irritated. Is that how you greet me after all these years?

Lily, arms still full, snarls at you, Shoot him!

Just as you start to wrestle with the unthinkable, a thunderous crash comes from a few rooms over. Even your father turns to wonder at it, the whole building shakes with the effects. Lily suddenly looks relieved. Finally! She then whips her head back to you. Now hurry up and shoot the man!

ooc: If you shoot go ahead and roll but I'll also need a will save too please

I'm assuming with a natural 1 will save there's no point in posting actions lol,
but if you need it I also massively rolled a natural 5 for my attack *facepalm*

Today: Secret Roll: Josephine Hartley rolled 5 using 1d20.  Shooting plus 8?

03:54, Today: Secret Roll: Josephine Hartley rolled 1 using 1d20.  Will save plus six

ooc: Hahahahahahahahahaha!! It never gets old how unlucky you are!

In spite of Lily's repeated commands, you can't seem to bring yourself to shoot your father. In fact, the more you look at him the more you want to do nothing. He's your father, why would you fight him? Lily must have gone insane to be trying to hurt the man! With a small smile, your father looks satisfied. Are you really going to let her take your mother like that? he nods towards Lily. Knowing instantly what he wants, you lunge at the native, ready to claw your mother free but you stumble in your attempt and Lily easily sidesteps you with a look of shock. Are you serious? Now I have to deal with you too?!

ooc: Roll another will save and another attack of your choice. Keeping in mind if you shoot at her you'll hit your mother and your father doens't seem to want that. Also, I can't for the life of me remember your mother's name! And you never did name your father right? Feel free to do so now :)

Ellen and William ;)

And it must be a riot to deal with, but a pain also because I literally can't survive.

I hereby request to have Castiel permanently added to my thread with me. I can just snuggle him forever when things are bad, and if he's his angry self ill soften him... If he keeps me alive!

Also don't worry Lily I rolled a 5 for will save, falling miserably again, but only a 9 or my attack so you're safe from my punch.
Please Lily when you knock me out, don't mess up the face. 

ooc: Hahahahaha! Yup! Still hilarious! And I don't blame you for requesting Castiel. He's sooooooo dreamy! I've been rewatching 24 again and he was in the first season when he was only 26! He really hasn't changed much over the years except to look even better somehow. Mmmmmm!!

You feel somehow unlike yourself but you can't exactly place it. All that matters is your father wants you to stop her and you'll not let anything stop you, not even when she grabs you by the neck and slams you into the wall. It doesn't hurt as much as you feared though, mostly stuns you a moment. Marcus! Get your hide in here! Lily snarls and suddenly your father goes flying across the room, crashing into a shelf! In the doorway a bloodied young man stands. He's a handsome thing with dark eyes and hair and the light tan skin of someone who clearly has some kind of exotic heritage. I got here as fast as I could! he pants in mild irritation.

ooc: Will save again and attack if you fail. For once it's lucky you have bad luck!

Natural 2 will save...

Attack roll 13+4 = 17

I should buy lotto tickets, you should buy the opposite ones, and you'll win for sure.

ooc: Hahahahahaha! That's a brilliant idea!

As Lily starts to retort something sarcastic, you manage to clock your friend across the jaw to which she turns in surprise, clearly not taking you seriously before now. It's no big wound but you can see it must have hurt and she's giving you a look that fills you with dread in spite of your desire to help your father. Sweetie, if you don't snap out of this right now, I am going to drop your mother and pound your head into your pelvis so hard you'll have to spread your legs to talk.

ooc: Roll another will save and add an additional +2

Across the room Marcus gives a laugh of amusement and then turns his attention to your father, who is starting to get up.

only an eleven rolled lol. I can't win

You feel a shiver of fear at her threat but your mind is set. This woman has to be stopped. Your father has to be helped!

You move to attack but across the room your father shouts for you to go after the stranger, clearly seeing him as the bigger threat. Marcus, hearing this gives a sigh and turns to stop you, gesturing at you and causing you to slam into a wall, seemingly pinned. Meanwhile Lily has indeed dropped your mother and takes aim at your father, shooting him in the arm but to little effect. Instead he stands and rushes Marcus, who tries to dodge unsuccessfully. It's all quite a mess.

ooc: Ok, another will save and a fortitude save too please. Someday you HAVE to roll something useful!

Will 13
Fort 2

You are still hell bent on helping your father, but Marcus seems to have pinned you in place with whatever magic he's using. You watch helplessly as the brawl continues without you. Lily tries to wrestle your father off Marcus, who desperately tries to evade the demon with mixed success. Your father hits hard and the strange man goes flying. Lily is next, a little better at keeping away from his fists but she is not able to hit him much either and she seems unsure about shooting him while he's so near you. Then, across the room your mother starts to stir...

ooc: Give it another shot. Will and fort saves please!

Ten and thirteen.

Continue on at your leisure lol.

ooc; Wow. Just....wow.

The fight between the trio continues and your mother finally wakes, immediately noticing the scene and you pinned against the wall. Josephine! she wails. Are you alright? We've got to get out of here! she proceeds to try to tug against you to pull you away, completely oblivious to your new loyalties. However, seeing her face makes something in you twist and rebel. You want to break free, both physically and mentally...

ooc: Ok, add +5 to each roll in addition to your usual modifiers. Something has to give!!

Got a seventeen for will finally...

... But a natural one for fort. Am I dead yet?

ooc: Holy mackerel. I think you're cursed. That has to be it!

At last you are able to break free of your father's manipulation but you are still pinned to the wall. Luckily for you Marcus doesn't seem to want to harm you as you're merely stuck in place. Lily notices you come to your senses and barks at Marcus to free you, only to receive a bone crunching punch to the temple by your father. She collapses in a heap, not unconscious but definitely dazed.

ooc: You're free...

I'm still stuck to the wall though?

ooc: Oh, I can see why that was confusing. My apologies! You were still stuck last round but for time's sake he does release you thankfully.

Marcus frees you at last with a distracted flick of his fingers, far more concerned with Lily. Your mother grips your arm tightly and pulls you towards the window with desperation on her face.

We need to get away, now! It's what your friends want! We'll send help back for them! Her eyes are wide and she looks more frightened than you thought possible. Across the room, Lily, still struggling, notices you and yells, Go! Get out of here!

Looking back and forth, Josephine knew better than to second guess Lily, so she did just that... throwing herself out the window with her mother.

ooc: Ha! Smart move!

You both manage to scramble out of the window while Lily and Marcus continue to keep your father at bay. He snarls and struggles, trying to follow but Lily isn't having it and Marcus is apparently quite skilled in the arcane. They are keeping him busy.

As soon as your feet are on the street your mother grabs your arm and runs, tearing off like she's on fire. Eventually she hails down a cab and tries to stuff you inside, she's that eager to distance the two of you. Do you  know where their headquarters are? We've got to send help! she urges you. Should you give her the information she passes it to the driver, telling him there's an extra dollar in it if he hurries, which he quickly does.

Finally beginning to breathe and calm, she wraps you in a quick hug. I thought I'd never see you again! You shouldn't have come after me though Jo. It's just what they wanted! she scolds.

OOC - Literally running is the only move that doesn't require a diceroll. I'm not THAT dumb, lol.

As Jo felt her mother's arms wrap around her, she hugged her back with vehemence,

"I don't think rubbing our last name in their faces was the best move, but they need to learn about us Hartley's mama." she said with a hint of pride, "I don't think they wanted all that buckshot." she smiled, giggling softly.

She half smiles back, still recovering from her ordeal but incredibly pleased you're alright. No they didn't, though we were both lucky we got away. Your father...or rather the demon that took him, wants you for some reason. I don't know why yet, but he set that trap out for you! I think he wants me too, for more than just bait. I don't understand why she shakes her head.

"Then I'll have to teach him why that's the biggest mistake he could ever make." Josephine said angrily, narrowing her eyes.

Biting her lower lip, Jo was all tough, but around her ma, she wasn't much more than a child,

"Why is he messin' with Daddy?" she asked, a bit more than a little worried.

I think it's because he knows it weakens us. Seeing your father's face, after all these years...He knows the effect he has. He's just being cruel. You know, the funny thing is, he never harmed me. The demons who took me were none too kind but the demon that is in your father...I don't understand what he wants! she finishes with frustration.

By now you've reached the men of letters headquarters and should you go inside the warehouse you'll see a guard who looks over your mother warily, knowing she isn't supposed to know about this place. I think you've got the wrong place ladies he says warningly.

Turning towards the male guard, Josephine raised an eyebrow, and approached,

"You know, while ordinarily, I would ask you to just move, so I can speak to the other Men of you know what, instead, you seem understanding. This woman is under my protection, and one of our people is in trouble. You mind helping us get some assistance, so we can rescue Lily before its too late?" she asked, eyeing him up and down in a pleasant way.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:13, Sat 07 Apr 2018.

ooc: Yeah, it's really getting absurd isn't it!? Good thing you've got some mad skills!

He starts to ask questions but when you mention Lily he stiffens. The woman is quite popular among the men of letters it seems, for he immediately opens the trap door, ushering you down the ladder. Where is she? What happened? Is she alright?!

Shaking her head, Josephine explained quickly,

"Demons. Taking the guise of my father. She fought so we could escape. So we need to move, and get her back." she gave the man the location, and the rest in a quick summary, and then stepped into the trap door, bringing her mother down.

He wastes no time running across the room and opening a telegram box of all things, quickly gathering help the new-fangled way.

You soon head to the tunnels with your mother, wonderfully furnished and wired for electricity. A marvel of a place. There are several passerby, all about different tasks and they ignore you for the most part. Then, something interesting happens. Just as you are headed deeper inside, your mother stops short, eyes bulging as she clutches at the wall to steady herself. Jo! she gasps. She moves jerkily, as though fighting for every muscle to obey her, every inch forward a battle. What's happening?! Then, you both look down at her feet. She is standing on a devil's trap.

Pausing, Josephine glanced down, and as her heart sank, she froze, uncertain what this all meant. No way could her mother be a devil... that was impossible! She needed her mom, and her mom needed her!

Glancing to make sure nobody saw her, Josephine thought about just scrubbing the devil's trap free, and releasing her mom, and every instinct told her to do exactly that, but she froze. She'd never been tested quite like this, over and over, before and she wasn't sure what to do.

Looking around, she knew grabbing a passerby would just get her mom killed, so she smiled, and shook her head,

"Just talk. Why are you stuck on that? What reason could be behind it? Is something in you? Somebody tagging along? We need to handle this before somebody else figures it out." she said, giving her mom a chance to explain.

Wait Jo, I think...just hold on. She concentrates and, as if using every ounce of will she can manage, she manages to walk the rest of the way out of the devil trap, though it is slow going with much effort. Safe on the other side, she breathes heavily, clearly winded from the ordeal. What does this mean? she looks even more upset then you are. I'm not a demon Jo, I would know! What could...wait....Sometimes they would...inject me with something. Do you suppose... she looks terrified suddenly. What did they do to me Jo? she breathes.

Surprised, Jo knew that if she was inhabited by a demon, she wouldn't have been able to walk out, so she smiled brightly and giggled,

"It means you're FINE! They were probably trying to use a devil's trap to control you, and it just didn't work. The stuff or whatever ran out. Let's get going!" her face showed she had no worries, and was happy to see that her mother was alright.

Your mother looks far less convinced. Jo, I don't think it's that easy... she shakes her head. But I suppose we don't really have time for this do we... she sighs. She then proceeds to follow you and you notice from time to time there are more devil's traps scattered here and there. For the most part you try to find another way around but when it's unavoidable she is able to struggle through just as before, looking increasingly concerned as she does. At last you run across Victoria, who looks at you both in surprise. Ah! Back from your trip are you? And who is this? She clearly doesn't understand the urgent nature of your presence but when you inform her Lily is in danger she barks orders to the nearest man to gather reinforcements, already running back with you towards the exit.

ooc: Roll a general knowledge check to see if you actually remember how to get back to where Lily is and what you plan to do when you run into that devil's trap again, bearing in mind Victoria may have a different reaction to seeing your mother struggle with it.

OH NOW I GET A NATURAL TWENTY! ON A FREAKING KNOWLEDGE CHECK, NOOOOOO!

Frowning, Josephine felt like being stubborn, but she'd just gotten her mother back, so she let it go. Her mother hadn't steered her wrong much before, other than telling her to stay away from this stuff, but to be fair, her body had been shattered, and her family ruined by all of this... so maybe she wasn't that wrong after all...

"This is my mother, Victoria, and we're... having trouble. I need Castiel, and I need him quickly. Its an emergency. Do you..." she paused... did Victoria even know who Castiel was? "Do you know how to contact him?"





Heck I don't even remember how comfortable JO is with Cas, lol, but I can't think of anybody better to solve my mom's problem besides that dreamy, dreamy man!

ooc: HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! That's SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO funny!! You have the weirdest luck! I've never seen it as extreme as yours but years ago I had a really unlucky streak in battle and majorly sucked, THEN I got a quick kill when I was trying to rough up someone I was interrogating. It was...unfortunate.

You are able to give exact instructions and Victoria barks orders to the nearest men to organize a rescue, intent on following after your conversation is done. She appears surprised by your request and turns to look at you searchingly. You want Castiel? I confess, I'm not sure exactly how to do it but I may have an idea of how to begin. It would have to be a very important emergency Josephine. The only way I know is very risky indeed. What exactly is going on? I must decide if this course of action is prudent she waits expectantly and your mother looks nervous as to what you will tell her, no doubt fearing the woman's reaction.

ooc: Now would be a good time to roll a diplomacy and hope you don't have your usual luck!

Taking a short breath, Josephine leapt into it... a bit naively, perhaps, as usual, but her bubbly personality would hopefully help it slide by,

"Because my mother is setting off the devil's traps here in the base, but she's able to just walk out of them through sheer force of will. I want Castiel to advise me, and help pull whatever tiny shred of something bad is in here out, so we can deal with it." she said flatly, grabbing her mother's hand supportively as she spoke.

[6 blank lines suppressed]


22:15, Today: Secret Roll: Josephine Hartley rolled 11 using 1d20.  "fuck it". That's plus 20 I believe, unless I get more bonuses from feats and stuff (probably do, but I'm unfamiliar with her sheet, lol)

Victoria blinks in shock, looking at you and then back to your mother again. W-What? I don't understand, that wouldn't work unless she had demon blood... her eyes narrow at your mother suspiciously.

This is...unprecedented. I think running some tests would be wise. In the meantime perhaps a rendezvous with Castiel is warranted. It will take some time though. What a mess she shakes her head, stressed. Lily's in danger, your mother is affected by...something, and we're down too many good men. Alright, I'm afraid I'll have to make your mother comfortable until we figure this out. I'm sorry, but I really don't think she should leave until we know what kind of a risk she is she apologizes.

ooc: Ok, so let me know what your plans are. Do you want to go back and see if you can help with the Lily rescue or stay and figure out your mom's situation?

Nodding her head, Josephine steeled herself inwardly for the argument she feared she would face, and turned towards her mother,

"Mom, I'm going to rescue my friend. Stay here, work with Victoria, and figure out what is going on. We need it fixed. Castiel will help, I promise. I need to save Lily, though, because she's the only reason we made it, and she's my friend." she said flatly, leaving no room for negotiation in her tone.

Turning back to Victoria, she asked,

"Any quick tips or things you can do to help me with Lily? If not, I'll be off."

Just be careful and stay out of harm's way. You'll not be going alone, I have several hunters that will accompany you, so listen to what they say and lead them back. We'll be here. I'd go with you, but I don't want to leave a situation like this unchaperoned. Besides, if someone else finds out about this, I can't promise I'll be able to keep them calm...she frets.

Soon you find yourself back at the same building as before with twelve men with you, faces all hard and ready for action. Unfortunately the place is eerily quiet and you worry that you are too late. As the men literally break down the door you discover it seems to be empty. There is blood throughout and several dead bodies but no sign of Lily or Marcus. Eventually though your little rescue party does find the man down a hallway, slouched against the wall and barely conscious. He's covered in blood and badly wounded. He glances over at you, clearly upset and trying to stay upright. He took her. I don't know where. I'm sorry.
This message was last updated by the GM at 13:42, Thu 03 May 2018.

Frowning, Josephine didn't like the emptiness... it made her feel like she'd made a mistake.

"You're fine... not your fault." she said to the injured man, patting his shoulder softly, making sure he wasn't injured where she touched him.

"Alright, we need to gather as much information as we can, but..." she bit her lower lip nervously. She was in way over her head, and now her adviser, Lily, was captured!

"Follow the blood. I guarantee you Lily left us something... a marking, trail, or something." she said, and then she began searching, looking for exactly that.

The men spread out and search, and you do too. The place looks like it's been inhabited for some time and you think you even find where they were holding your mother, a locked room with a bed and some women's clothes you recognize. It is well furnished and you are surprised how comfortable it looks considering she was a prisoner. You haven't known demons to care about their captives.

After a while Marcus is able to stand and help you, though shakily. You've never been formally introduced, but he's likeable already. A handsome man with dark hair and eyes that gleam intelligence mixed with mischief, though right now they're more worried than anything else.

He seemed particularly fascinated with her for some reason. Lily I mean, and the few demons he escaped with took particular care keeping her in one piece, so I think she's probably alive at least. I'm sure he'll be after your mother and you soon enough too. I just hate not knowing why! he slams a fist against the wall. Poor man looks like he's been through hell.

Meanwhile your idea about following the blood proves to be somewhat useful and the men track it to a sewer grate where unfortunately you reach another dead end. They could be anywhere now.

Unsure what to do, Josephine saw the way they'd treated her mother, and she paused, thinking quietly.

Pulling Marcus to the side, she decided to interrogate him, in a way,

"Why didn't they kill you?" she asked softly, watching his gaze to see how he reacted to her question.

I think they thought they did he gives a dry smile. I blacked out for a bit, I assume they must have left me for dead. They were in a hurry to get out, probably knew help was coming. They're going to wish they'd finished the job though he adds darkly. Suddenly he turns to you as though seeing you for the first time. I'm Marcus by the way. I don't think we've been introduced, though Lily speaks well of you he adds, extending his hand.

Taking his hand with a curious look on her face, Josephine watched Marcus more closely,

"Alright, so what's the plan? I have no idea where to even start!"

He frowns at your words, handsome face deep in thought. Well, I suppose our best bet is to start with the sewers, see where they go and try to narrow it down. You and I though, should head back and talk to Victoria. If anyone can find her it's her. In the meantime, do you have any idea why he would take Lily? He seemed particularly keen on her after he seemed to realize she's more than she appears. What can you tell me of your father?

"Have you met Lily? everybody is keen on her, she's amazing. she said flatly.

About her father she shrugged,

Not much honestly he was a hunter."

Ah. Well how long has he been...well there's no nice way to say it...possessed? Do you think he's still inside at all? I'm not sure if we can save him but I'll try my hardest! he adds with fervor. You realize now that he knows nothing of your father or the fact that he died years ago, at least you thought he did anyway. It's all very upsetting and confusing and topped with your mother's situation it's about all you can stand.

Wrinkling her brow at him, it was obvious that her emotions were getting fired up, and that had upset her,

"My father has left this world, a long time ago. He has been dead since before I became a hunter."

Relaxing her gaze, she softened as she realized he was just trying to help and protect her. She didn't hate him for that, and she was understanding. He was just doing his best. Still, she was trying to hold back something that had clearly gotten in her eyes, and was making them water now.

I'm not crying... you're crying!

Marcus looks shocked at this, and looks about to say something but then notices  your tears. What?! That's not po- he interrupts himself, seeing your face. Ah...er...I'm sorry...Didn't mean to upset you...I have more questions. Important ones...but perhaps we'd better wait. Or your mother can answer them. You should probably rest yourself eh? You've been through a lot. We can pick up in the morning. The hunters will start searching the sewers. What do you say? Can I buy you a drink? He puts a comforting hand on your shoulder. It's almost laughable, he's barely able to stand upright, covered in blood and bruises and yet he's far more concerned with the crying woman in front of him.

ooc: Hahaha!!

After a second, Josephine nodded her head, responding softly,

"A drink... I could use right now." she said through her sniffles that CLEARLY weren't obvious to anybody. Nope! She was a master ninja with hiding her emotions! She was!

She reached the back of her hand across her eyes, to clear the liquid from the dust particles that had gotten in her eyes, and when she'd done so, she prepared to follow the poor nearly dead man wherever he was going, for some comforting.



ooc: :P

He orders a hansom cab and even helps you inside, wounded or not. He's quite the gentleman it seems, and as you ride to a seedier part of town he starts to mutter something that sounds like latin. It's a little trick I picked up you see he explains, suddenly seeming a bit better. I can heal myself! Well, a little anyway. It's more than most men of letters can do. Even the great Kirk, curmudgeon that he is, never figured it out. It's saved my life more times than I can say. I think it's just about the only reason I'm alive right now actually. What about you? You seem a bit out of your element my dear. I'm all for women hunters, but you lack the bloodthirsty quality Lily seems to have. Are you sure you're up to all this? You look like you've been through hell. His voice is tinged with concern and he scrutinizes you closely, perhaps trying to find this "bloodthirsty" quality you obviously don't have.

THAT irritated Josephine.

"Oh? Maybe I'm not bloodthirsty. What are you gonna do about it?" she asked, suddenly full of fire,

"You gonna try and stop me? Prevent me from helping my friends?" her eyes were full of fire as she glared at him.

Marcus looks at you with surprise and quickly puts his hands up as though in surrender. No, no, of course not! he assures you, clearly uncertain how to placate you. Perhaps you're more up to it than I thought with an attitude like that! I merely want to be sure you're alright, that's all. We lose too many hunters every day. I'd hate to lose another. Look, I'm sorry. Let me buy you that drink. We can brainstorm about Lily eh? he tries to sound cheerful again.

Instantly, Josephine was all smiles,

"Ok!" she said cheerfully, nearly hopping towards the alcohol, following his lead. A drink would do her well right now.

To all eyes, Josephine seemed perfectly content now. She'd proven her point. Nobody would question the fire of a Hartley!

Marcus blinks at your sudden change of mood and then laughs. Well I know how to cheer you up don't I?! Alright then he smiles and leads the way.

Soon you find yourselves in a small little bar packed to the brim with noisy jolly patrons. It's not as nice as your mother's bar of course, but it's a friendly sort of place and you feel comfortable there immediately.

As the night and drinks wear on you find out a little more about this Marcus fellow. He's half Egyptian of all things apparently, and he's traveled just about everywhere. From the sounds of it he's almost as talented at magic as Victoria, but he's a bit pleased with himself about it. Still, there's a kindness in his eyes that makes you at ease with him and his concern for Lily is deep and evident.

ooc: Let me know your plans for the rest of that night and if there are any questions you have for him in particular and I'll move you along. Also roll a constitution check to see how drunk you get eh? ;)

Rolled a 10 for the check, though I seriously doubt Jo would get drunk, or even close, given the situation.

Plans: drink enough to relax, and just keep herself there, pressuring Marcus for information subtly. She might like Marcus, but she would be a bit more focused on Lily's safety right now.

Course, that could always be why, with enough liquor, Jo finds Marcus attractive... he genuinely cares too... Hmm.....

You find Marcus to be a very pleasant man and he is attentive and escorts you back to headquarters when all is done before heading back to his home and informing you he'd see you in the morning.

You are slightly buzzed when you find your way back to your mother, but only barely so and as she asks you to fill her in on what happened to Lily you are able to do so without slurring.

Your mother looks a complete wreck. That Victoria woman had a lot of questions for me. she sighs. She took some of my blood to test too. It was...black. Oh Jo! Maybe you should have left me with your father! What have I become?! she looks angry and frustrated and worse. Frightened. You've seen your mother a lot of things, but frightened is an unnatural emotion for the woman.

Patting her mother on the shoulder, Josephine shook her head,

"You have become, and have always been, my mother." she reassured her, "If I don't drink water for a bit, my skin tightens. Doesn't change that I'm your daughter. They're just physical changes. Keep being who you've always been, the strongest woman I know, and you'll pull through." she said, just being there for Ma.

Your words seem to help and you spend a while with your mother, comforting her, and soon enough she's back to her old steely self again, or at least doing a good approximation of it.

Eventually Victoria arrives and tells you to get some rest. The hunt is going strong for Lily and in the meantime she's working on summoning Castiel. You are soon shown to a private room, well furnished with everything you could need. Your mother though, is to be placed under watch. Victoria winces as she tells you this. It is nothing personal, believe me. But until we know more about her condition, I cannot risk anything happening to the rest of the society.

ooc: Any plans the rest of the night/next morning?

ooc Dream of dreamy Castiel, and plan my proposal for him? Hahaha

ooc: Hahahahaha!!

It takes a couple days before anything of note happens. Marcus checks in on you when he can and he's healing nicely. Still no sign of Lily, though it's not for not looking. And your mother, is antsy. Cooped up, not allowed to leave and still confined to her room while Victoria takes endless tests. It's a frustrating situation indeed.

At last though she announces she's found a way to possibly summon the angel and after a ritual that's both long and frightening (the woman's eyes roll back into her head for no less than ten minutes), all the lights in the room go out as the glass in the bulbs break, and some strange breeze ruffles your hair as you sit in darkness with only you and Victoria. She quickly lights a lamp and to your surprise you see Castiel lying in the center of the room. He's covered in blood and looks to be dead but if you inspect him you find he still has a pulse, albeit faint. Victoria looks shaken. Oh no! I was afraid this might happen! she gasps.

Looking at Victoria accusingly, Josephine slid next to Castiel, and tried to prop his head up in her lap,

"What did you do?! You didn't think it was important to mention this possibility before we tried it!?"

She wasn't being very logical, but her emotions had been riding on Castiel fixing everything... not becoming another issue.

I didn't know it would be this dangerous! she gasps. I just thought it would be a little rough for him. I'm sorry! She rushes to him as well, looking at the blood with dismay. From what you can see he's bleeding out of his eyes, nose, ears, mouth, and the rest of him is broken and bent at unnatural angles. Mangled, is a good word for it. The poor dear must be in immense pain, or would be if he were conscious. It brings to mind your own experience and it's suddenly hard to look at him. Victoria closes her eyes and concentrates, muttering some spell, but she looks extremely drained and has a hard time with it. His bones seem to be knitting back together but he's still very pale and his breathing is shallow. Still, Victoria presses on, sweat dripping down her face with the effort. The spell to bring him here must have been draining for her too because suddenly she falls down next to you, completely limp.

"Jesus!" Josephine cries out, jumping back from Victoria as her body falls limply next to her.

Looking back and forth in shock, Josephine had no idea what to do, other than try and raise both Victoria and Castiel with pats to the cheeks,

"Wake up! You aren't allowed to just pass out on me!"

ooc: Hahahahaha! You're so funny.

Unfortunately your patting does nothing for Victoria. She's out cold. It takes some time to do any good with the angel, but he eventually starts to rouse on his own, blue eyes fluttering open with a groan. He lays on his back, completely still save the look of pain and confusion. W-What...did....you....do? he manages weakly.

"Don't you dare to start to accuse me of this Castiel... now get up and fix yourself so you can fix her!" she said, hands on hips defiantly.

He groans and tries to roll over onto his side, frustratingly slow and weak. At last he drags himself inch by inch to her and places his hand on her forehead. The barest hint of a spark flows from his hands, it is all he can manage, but it is enough that her color improves and her breathing deepens. Then he lays still again, eyes closed. You are certain he's passed out but a moment later he speaks, startling you. That was very foolish of her. It could have killed us both. Why? Why did you bring me here?

Seeing Castiel pull his magic, Josephine grinned, and crouched beside him, rubbing his shoulders softly, and pulling his back into her lap to massage him better,

"Well, my mother is portraying signs of a devil, even if she isn't one, and she's in trouble. Also, Lily is in huge trouble... she's been captured, and we need to rescue her. Plus, I need direction in general. Can you help?"

Castiel looks bewildered and uncomfortable at such physical attention and he manages to sit upright with a wince, listening soberly. I don't know. I'll try. But I've got to get back to my own time soon. What exactly is going on with your mother? What do you mean signs of a devil? Explain please.

He listens as you do, and to your disappointment he doesn't seem to magically know what's happening either. I will need to test her blood. Talk to her too. Where is she? And if Lily has been captured we'll have to find her, if it's not already too late. There are many who would use her powers. They must have known what she was. he sighs.

Josephine was not accepting such bullshit willy nilly answers from Castiel,

"Castiel, damnit!" she cursed aloud, "You're an angel, who protects good, aren't you? I won't allow you to be lazy, and NOT prevent this all from going down wrong! Lily NEEDS your help, and you have the power of God himself behind you! And my mother is confused... don't be acting all helpless, you own this, and then you get your attractive ass back to me in one piece!" she demanded, feisty as ever, but unable to hide her attraction from the man.

Castiel looks unsure what to do with your tirade, but thankfully he at last gives a slow nod. Alright. Bring your mother to me. I'll see if- Suddenly the door opens and Marcus stands there, looking confused. Victoria left a message for me to join her? She said... he looks over at Castiel with sudden suspicion, then back to the still unconscious Victoria. His hand moves to his revolver. Someone had better tell me fast what is going on, or I'm going to start shooting. Are you alright Josephine? His eyes never leave the angel.

Holding out a hand to calm Marcus, Josephine nodded,

"I am safe, as is Victoria. She summoned Castiel, the Angel here, to help us solve our problems, but it drained her, so she lost consciousness." she hurriedly spit everything out so Marcus wouldn't unload on anybody.

"If Castiel here is supported, and taken care of, he can heal Victoria, he can help my mother, and he can give us direction from above. He is a virtuous man, and will guide us in the way we wish to go." she said, still holding her hands out to calm him.

"We need my mother brought here so that Castiel can determine what is happening to her. This is important, because otherwise we could have a traitor in our midst." she said, specifically making herself sound suspicious of her mother to lend herself an aura of trustworthy distance from her mother, even though inwardly she VERY much was biased towards her mother, and would quickly betray everybody here for her without hesitation.

Marcus hesitates, still unsure if he can trust the situation, but after a moment he nods. Alright. But I'll be back very soon. Don't either of you move. With that he literally runs off, no doubt to fetch your mother.

Castiel sighs and sits down, looking like he very much does not want to be there. Obviously he was doing something important before Victoria summoned him and he seems distracted. He's also not the type to make small talk so he is silent until Marcus returns a few minutes later with your mother in tow. She looks very confused. Jo? What's going on? The angel ignores her question and immediately crosses the room and puts a hand on her head, concentrating. She actually screams at his touch, it clearly hurts her, but he merely grabs her shoulder with inhuman strength and wordlessly continues to concentrate. At last he lets her go and she jerks back so quickly she stumbles and nearly falls, breathing heavily, sweat covering her face. This is bad. They've found a way to make a human demon hybrid. Or close to one. I don't know how stable she really is he shakes his head. Marcus looks at your mother with sudden apprehension. What does that mean? Castiel answers unhappily. It would mean the powers of a demon without the negatives. Or at least greatly lessened. The question is, how free is her will? They'd need some way to control them, human minds would rebel if they were left intact. Either they will get human recruits or they've found some way to circumvent that... he looks at your mother again with interest and she shrinks back as though he'd threatened her.

Looking at her mother's reactions, Josephine spoke openly,

"Ma, relax. Castiel is an Angel... he's here to help. He's not trying to hurt you... they've done something to you that we can obviously reverse, we just need to figure out how." she said hopefully, glancing back towards Castiel for confirmation.

"Castiel, what can we do to ensure her safety, while ensuring she can't be controlled and hurt anybody in the process?"

You will have to restrain her. Even a devil's trap would only slow her momentarily. Her restraints will have to be a combination of human and demon, just like she is. There's no telling if they have some way of controlling her and until we know, we can't risk it. We also shouldn't discount her being a spy, willing or not. We should continue this conversation elsewhere. He informs you bluntly, eyes never leaving the woman.

So you're just going to lock me up? What if I can help? Jo can't you do something?

ooc: Roll sense motive

Sense Motive 13

Biting her lower lip, Josephine turned towards her mom, reminding her of a lesson she had once taught Josephine,

"Sometimes what we have to do for the win isn't the most enjoyable, but we need you to be understanding right now Mom. I'm going to go figure out how to fix this and get you back to normal." she said, doing exactly that, and following Castiel elsewhere.

Your mother looks disappointed but accepting at last. As far as you're concerned she's completely innocent and unaware of what has been done to her, making her detainment all the more painful.

Marcus stays behind to secure her and soon you're in the hallway with Castiel, who looks back at the room uncertainly. We'll have to test her. Thoroughly. If we can understand her limitations we can determine what can be done about the others like her. I'm certain there are more. We won't hurt her he adds reassuringly. But this could be a turn in our favor. Now I must regain my strength. In the morning you'll need to take me where you found her. I must see what has been left behind.

ooc: Ok, finishing up here. Let me know any plans for the rest of the night and I'll move you along.

You know... the usual... Make dinner... Eat and recover a little bit... _{vigorously make out with Castiel all night}... reload weapons... you know, normal stuff... ahem...

ooc: Hahaha! Nice try!

The rest of the night you somehow manage to sleep. In spite of all that has happened you are exhausted enough to rest deeply and in the morning Marcus wakes you and informs you it will be time to go soon. The clock on the mantle says 10:17. You must have been tired indeed.

Marcus informs you that your mother is going to be tested throughout the day but that no harm will come to her and that she has been given every comfort. Then he tells you that he'll meet you when you're done getting ready and you, he and Cas can go back to where your father was.

Before long you indeed find yourselves there. The place just as empty and abandoned as it was the night before, though that was to be expected.

He'll have needed to experiment on her. Look around for notes, signs, anything. We must know what he did. Castiel instructs, already scowling as he searches himself. You notice that Marcus seems uncertain around the angel, as if not knowing what to make of him. He doesn't seem entirely comfortable with the man.

ooc: Ok, go ahead and roll search/spot please.

Jo didn't like the sound of 'testing all day', but she had to trust the Men in Letters with her, because she sure didn't know how to fix it. A Hartley's stubborn attitude would only get them so far, after all. Depending on friends was just as important.

Turning back towards Castiel, Josephine ensured she was really near him, you know... just to help him out most of all. Very specifically helping him search. Sometimes, they even seemed to grab the same thing and flip it over... whoops!

She continued to search, aiding the angel the best she could. She wasn't afraid to get hands on in her search, if necessary...



Search 10, Spot 20

Castiel seems slightly uncomfortable with your proximity sometimes, more confused than anything else. Marcus gives you a suspicious eyebrow sometimes, clearly catching onto your "methods."

Fortunately something besides Cas catches your eye. A lever. Should you pull it, the wall slides open to your surprise and as the three of you go through it you discover a room filled with bodies, all in varying states of decay. Black fluid has dried on them, emerging from their mouths, noses and eyes. Failed experiments perhaps. Cas notes. You also note several symbols carved into the walls, scrawled across pages littered on tables and even on the floor. Witchcraft. Marcus notes with distaste. Advanced witchcraft. They must have done something serious to your mother since she's actually alive.

"What would kill a normal man or woman, won't touch a Hartley!" she said with a hint of pride in her tone, even though her wavering volume made it clear she was getting more nervous by the minute,

"She's going to be alright, right Castiel?" she asked, pleading in her tone.

Castiel looks back at you with a grave face, but then his face is always grave. I can promise nothing. If she cannot control herself and we cannot cure her then something must be done. Imprisonment at best. At least until we can determine if there is a cure. Naturally that doesn't make you feel particularly happy but Marcus, with a glare at the angel, is quick to balm your fears. What a pessimist. Don't worry Miss Hartley. We have the finest minds at the men of letters. We'll sort out something. No matter what he finishes with determination. Now, I have something of an idea. Perhaps we can use you to track your father. Would you permit me a bit of your blood please? A lock of hair too.

Looking a bit downcast at Castiel's words, Josephine didn't like the next idea, even if she DID appreciate Marcus having a good attitude to cheer her up,

"Mmm mm..." she shook her head no, "The only experience I have with magic and all of that is my body being ripped to shreds, and left in a broken husk. No thanks, we can find another way." she said, her voice wavering.

It wasn't that she didn't want to help, it was that she couldn't quite come to terms with her father being alive. THAT was going to prove to be a problem... to Jo, family was EVERYTHING. Suddenly her mother is alive, but a possible demon, and her father might have returned from the dead? Somebody knew her weakness, and was abusing it was the most likely reasoning, and as much as she wanted her parents, they were likely never coming back.

Marcus looks a bit stunned at your refusal but gives a slow nod of his head. As you wish it. He is silent a long moment, wracking his mind for something else to try. Castiel sees this and turns to you bluntly. I think you should do what he asked. He clearly doesn't have any other ideas. If you want to find your father, I don't think you have much choice. He says it with his usual flatness but glances at your expression and thinks better of it. I'm sure it won't hurt. If that's what you're worried about. I'll watch him the whole time.

OOC: LOLOLOLOL I'm laughing out loud as Castiel's blunt "He clearly doesn't have any other ideas..." You've NAILED him with that, hahahahaha!

Jerking slightly at Castiel's blunt words about Marcus, Josephine's lips tried to turn up into a smile at the edges, unable to help it, but she grew more somber as he continued,

"What would you advise me to do, then, Castiel? Of course I want my father back, but my mother has come back a demon hybrid, and my father has been dead for quite some time. Somebody knows my weakness for family, and it feels like I am being exploited. Would you trust it, or would you live with the memory of your father before he 'came back' and try to come to peace with it?" she asked, searching his eyes closely,

"I WANT my family back together, Castiel, but I don't believe this is them..." she said softly, a bit ashamed at her own misgivings.

ooc: Hahaha, yay! I'm so glad! :)

Castiel listens, face calm as ever, but he does give a slight nod. You are right to be suspicious. Demons are not to be trusted. But this is about finding the demon, not your father. You must separate the two. Of course, if he were smart he would find a new host, so it could be all for nothing. Even so, it's the only course we have right now. You must steel yourself.

Meanwhile Marcus speaks up, beginning carefully. There is something else you should know. If your father is being possessed that means...he's alive. Demons don't possess the dead. That said, I cannot promise he is still alive now if the demon found another host. He bore many injuries, there's no telling what state his body is actually in, but he's been alive this whole time Josephine. I'm sure that makes this all harder but you deserve to know.

Josephine wrinkled her face a little bit, hearing that her father had been alive this whole time, and a tear snuck out of her eye. She must've gotten some dust in there, or something, because the stupid stream wouldn't slow down.

Hearing that she needed to separate the two, Josephine nodded her head, her lips pressed tightly together. She was resolved to do exactly that, even though if Castiel could read minds, her mind was definitely prepared to fail in that exact regard the second her father showed up once again.

"Then we move, and we move fast. Here is my hair..." she pulled a single strand free and handed it to Marcus, "You need to take the blood somehow..." she said, holding a hand shakily out to Cas.

Good girl Marcus says appreciatively, taking the hair. He proceeds to take out a compass of all things and place the hair inside. Cas seems unsure what to do with your hand but Marcus quietly slips him a small knife and the Angel pricks you lightly. Marcus then drips that into the compass too and after he has his proper ingredients, he goes into the corner to mutter for a while, eyes shut in concentration. It takes several minutes and Castiel seems content to wait silently for him, completely oblivious to human concepts such as awkward silence, though the air is thick with it. Should you try to make small talk it goes about as well as can be expected, which is to say it's mostly unsuccessful. The angel seems only good at talking business from what you can tell. It's both endearing and aggravating.

At last Marcus holds up the compass with satisfaction. It's not perfect, but it will have to do. What this does is shows us where your blood is. We have three points to attend. See how the hand keeps spinning and stopping? he moves close to show you and you're surprised at how nice he smells. Is that Sandalwood? He continues. There, see that? It stopped on you. Obvious enough. Then...look, look, look! See? It's south? I'm pretty sure that's your mother at headquarters. Now....there it is! West! I think your father is west!

"Ok..." Josephine says nervously, and as Castiel pricked her finger, she let him get a sample, then she gripped his hand with both of hers, refusing to let go. For some reason it comforted that horrific feeling she was having in her stomach, so she held on, knowing he'd probably be oblivious to what she was doing. Didn't matter: she was doing it to make herself feel better, so he'd deal with it.

"Now, how many people do we bring with us? We can't just go marching there, and hoping, right?"

Castiel does indeed look confused by your grip and he gently tries to squirm out of it but, seeing you are determined, he turns to Marcus. She's not letting go. Is this normal?

Marcus, rolls his eyes. It is if you have a face like yours. Just ignore it. Now, our clingy friend is right, he gives you a dry look of amusement as he continues. We can't go alone. I don't know exactly how far west we're going either, it's not that exact of a...well science isn't the word now is it? Anyway, I think we should take a dozen men or so, see what that does for us. We'll have to pack for a trip too. No way of telling how long we'll be. I assume you'll be coming with us?

Castiel looks uncertain at this request, still glancing at you as though unsure what to do about your hands. My time here is limited. My powers in the past are less than they should be and will only weaken as time goes on. But...I need to know what is going on. I will stay a little while longer, if you promise to give my hand back he adds with a frown.

Slapping Castiel softly on the cheek, Josephine looked offended,

"Look, if this relationship is going to work, you need to understand that sometimes I just need to be held so that I feel better." she said flatly, leaving it at that.

Turning towards Marcus, she wrinkled her brow and nodded,

"A dozen should be enough. I'm already ready to go." she said, even though she was full of shit. She didn't want to waste time.

Turning back to Castiel, she moved his hands to her shoulders,

"Squeeze softly to relieve pressure in my shoulders. I'm stressed, and this will help." she said, fully content telling Cas exactly how to be a human.

Blunt thing aren't you? Marcus observes with a dry look, watching the clearly confused Castiel struggle to obey. He looks confused more than anything. Uh...we really should get going... he mentions, obviously feeling like he can't move now that he's been put to work on your shoulders.

Meanwhile Marcus continues his instruction. You may be ready my dear, but the rest of us need some time. I'll have to pick some hunters. We'll have to take wagons. Trains aren't possible I'm afraid. You look like a hardy girl. You alright sleeping under the stars and roughing it with us men? Ah, but then it looks like you know how to keep men in line eh? Or is it just angels? he smirks.

Leaning into the shoulder squeezes, satisfied, Josephine opens her eyes to look at Marcus when he speaks. After a moment of thought, she shakes her head,

"All men are the same. Very direct, and I've found if you tell them exactly what you want, they are quite amazing at providing it." she shrugged, a generic male compliment, certainly, but it was true. Women who complained about men generally just didn't know how to direct them properly.

"Castiel and I can spend some time working the kinks out of my back and shoulders. You gather the hunters, and of course I can handle sleeping under the stars. I'll be ready when you are. Come find us when you're prepared, and we'll both join you." she said flatly, closing her eyes again to feel the rubs once more.





Mwahaha Castiel is my shoulder rubber servant angel now!

It takes a while to ready everything and by the time Marcus is set, it's mid-morning the next day. There are three wagons, full of men and supplies and Marcus and you sit in the front of one while Castiel sits behind, easily accessible but seemingly pleased to have time and space to think. He isn't used to the jostling of the wagon though, and you catch him saying how he preferred the impala, whatever that means. Meanwhile Marcus has you drive the wagon while he confers with the compass. Judging by how often the needle moves, it seems that your father is likely still alive, or at the very least someone is moving his corpse a lot, because the compass leads you on a steady trail west. This continues for some six days, only stopping to rest the horses as needed, for fear of losing them.

It is stiff, rear-numbing work and when at last the compass is still you are more than relieved. Eventually you reach the city of Eerie Pennsylvania, where the compass has indeed ceased. Marcus frowns. I can do a bit of experimenting with it, but this may be as close as it gets. We'll have to search the city. Hm...I hear lake eerie is supposed to be beautiful. Perhaps when all is done we can at least take a look at it. It's supposed to be very worth seeing he gives a small grin. You feel though that he is trying to take your mind off things. It won't be long before there's some kind of confrontation with your father. It likely won't be pleasant...

I think these men can camp outside of town for now. We don't want to draw attention to ourselves by bringing so many in at once. Do you think you can find accomodations for the three of us though? Try to get a good price if you can he adds, handing you several bills.

ooc: Go ahead and pick out what type of hotel you're looking for and roll diplomacy too, so we can see what kind of price you get. Let me know if you have any plans too.

Nodding, Josephine had her mind elsewhere, biting her lower lip nervously. Leaving Marcus' side immediately, she grabbed Castiel by the sleeve and dragged him along,

"Come and protect me, angel." she said bluntly knowing that with him it was best that way, "And what in Earth is impala?" she asked, a little confused on that.

With that she headed off to find cheap, ground level accommodations for them all, trying to save money but not super cheap... Decent hotels and such.


28 lol hoping that's enough

Castiel dismisses the question, realizing he said more than he ought to. He's an odd man, you're used to his enigmatic nature.

You soon find a hotel that looks to fit your needs. It is older and small, but in good shape and the owner gives you a fair price easily. Naturally you get two rooms. One for you and one for the men as it isn't decent for a woman to sleep in mixed company, at least that's what the woman at the desk is clucking away about. She goes on and on about the lake and how you really must look at how massive it is, though of course it's not so big as the other great lakes, but their's is considerably more charming. On and on and on she drones. These people seem obsessed with their wretched lake!

The city is larger than expected, and she tells you there are about 40,000 people there, which does not bode well for finding your father unfortunately.

Once the rooms are procured and Marcus comes to unload your belongings, he informs you that a search of the town is in order. We should look for hunter signs, see if anyone has set up shop here. They may be able to help us. Otherwise we could be here for weeks. Maybe they noticed something off, I don't know, it's worth a try right? Marcus sighs tiredly.

ooc: Search check please! :)
Feel free to also try gather information.

Josephine looked slightly bothered when Castiel dismissed her question, and she lifted a pointing finger at him,

"I'm going to remember that, Castiel. Stop trying to be all mysterious and sneaky with me... we're a team!" she said, glaring for a second, but he could probably tell she wasn't REALLY angry at him.

At Marcus' words, Josephine begins searching with the others, but its fairly clear that she's much better at asking people for information than she is at searching for things on her own, so she forces the Angel to go with her, once again, figuring his sharp eyesight would see things, while she could cover up his blundering in social situations.



ooc:
Search 7+1 = 8
Gather Info 12+16 = 28

By the time the search winds to an end, it's 7:48 and dark, though there are still some restaurants and bars open, which is usually where you find talkative folk anyway.

You don't see anything out of the ordinary, but you do hear tell of a reclusive man by the name of Henry Barton, who runs a small apothecary on the edge of town. He's known to sell more obscure herbs and things and from what you gather as to the rarity of these items and tales of his demeanor, he could very well be a hunter.

Marcus is still searching on the other side of town, but Cas suggests you two check out this new lead and after a bit of haggling with a cab for a fair price, you find yourselves on a deserted street, a small dark shop at the end of it. There seem to be living quarters above and there's a light in the window that makes you think someone is home. Should you knock though, no one answers. In fact, the light in the window is removed and the curtains pulled shut. Whoever this Henry is, he's not friendly.

Josephine was so sick of grumpy secretive people, but she knew her strength was her charm... Even if her ego insisted it was her intimidation that was best.

Approaching the door, she called out,

"Henry? Henry, please... please come help! You're my only hope!" she went mysterious and pleading, baiting his interest.

It takes a moment but you hear a man's gruff voice from the other side. How do you know my name? Go away! Find someone else to help ya!

"Does that matter? Please... Help me! she tried sounding desperate,

"Are there no good people in the world anymore who help each other when in need? What must I do to get you to help me save my father and mother?" she hinted, baiting him in.

There's a pause long enough that you actually think for a moment that he has gone back upstairs but at last the door opens a few inches and you see the face of a grizzled older man, none too happy to see you. I'll let you in, but your friend stays outside. I don't know either of you and I'm not about to let you outnumber me. You don't like it? Then go somewhere else.

Should you agree to his terms he grudgingly lets you inside, though you notice he is armed. Yup. This has to be a hunter. The inside of the place is actually the shop itself, his living quarters are upstairs. The shop is well arranged and stocked. Filled with bottles, creams, medicines and an entire section of more natural remedies, many of which you recognize as being used in hunting. He doesn't give you long to look around before getting to business. What's your name and what in blazes do you want?

Nodding her head, Josephine heads inside, and spins, speaking to Castiel first,

"Wait here a second, once he realizes I'm a fellow hunter he'll let you in..." she said softly, turning back and smiling to accompany the man inside,

"Hello, and thank you for hearing me out. I've been working with the local hunters, as I am one myself, as well as my friend Castiel out there, and we're looking for information on my father, or mother..." she started off, raising an eyebrow, "Any chance he can come inside to help me explain, or are you still worried fellow hunters are going to try and overrun you?" she tested the waters...

Determined little minx aren't ya? he frowns. Still holding his gun, he pauses a long second and then with a curt nod he gestures for you to let Cas inside. He does, looking cautious but you doubt he really fears the man. It's then that you notice the devil's trap etched into the entryway rug and, the man seeing you both pass it safely, looks more at ease. He lowers his gun but does not put it down. I thought I knew all the hunters around these parts. Where are you from and who are your parents? I don't just know everyone girl. You'll have to give me details. They hunters too? What took em? Vamps? Demons?

Castiel breaks in then. Demons. We're more concerned with the father right now. He'd be in his middle years and he would be traveling with others. Anyone new in town fitting that description? The man listens with a dry look. What am I? The welcome wagon? You think I'm supposed to keep track of everyone that wanders in town? Look, your best bet is to find out where they'd stay. If they don't have a place here set up they'll need lodging. Look for boarding houses, hotels. Ask around. If you don't have luck there though...well you might want to try the river district. There's a lot of abandoned buildings that way that would serve well for anyone up to no good. It's where I'd go anyway. You'll probably get your faces busted in if you go alone though. Do...you need help? Not that I'm offerin but there are a few bleeding hearts in town that might be willing if you give them a good enough reason to.

Approaching cautiously, hearing the man's hesitation, Josephine extended her hands gently to, if allowed, rest them on his forearm,

"We aren't expecting you to do anything... we appreciate you helping us however you can. I'm sorry if we seem short, we're just really worried... I'M really worried, and scared, and I don't know where else to turn..." Josephine looked extremely saddened and scared at that fact, and she glanced down before looking back up,

"Any advice you offer, we will follow... I promise you that. I just don't know where else to turn..." she really laid it on thick.


diplomacy 32
This message was last edited by the player at 10:49, Thu 08 Nov 2018.

The arm ploy works and he looks at you with a bit of irritation before finally sighing. Oh all right. I'll take you there, poke around a bit, but I'm not sticking my neck out any further than that! How many demons we talkin here? This should be a scouting mission if we're dealin with more than one. The three of us won't be able to take any more than that.

He starts to load up a pack filled with bullets and holy water. Now who has your father and why? I want to know exactly what I'm gettin into missy.

ooc: go ahead and finish your conversation with him and I'll move you along next post. Also I'll need spot, listen, move silently and search checks. Good luck, knowing you you'll need it...

Josephine had a soft, thankful look on her face at him giving in, and patted him softly,

"Thank you. I don't know how many, but it's safe to say more than one. This possession or kidnapping has gone on for years." she said softly, saddened but excited for the help.




00:09, Today: Josephine Hartley rolled 51 using 4d20 with rolls of 16,10,13,12

In order! Sorry on phone can't seperate out!

ooc: Luckily for you it was my turn to roll bad!

Possession? You didn't tell me that! he grumbles. Though I can't say I'm surprised. Just be ready for things to go south. It may be that you can't save him and if that's the case, you need to be ready for whatever happens he warns darkly. Castiel nods his agreement, no doubt anticipating the same thing.

Eventually you find yourselves far across town, on the lakefront stretch full of warehouses, docks, and other such buildings of commerce. By now it's about ten o'clock and you see a few stragglers here and there, milling about their businesses, though they are clearly closed. Most don't offer you a second glance, nor you them. They seem harmless enough. Your new companion, Tully is his name, directs you to a string of about five buildings, all darkened and seemingly abandoned. It will take all night if we search one by one. I think we should split up. But don't go poking around inside, just take a looksy through some windows, see if there aren't signs of life and then come back and find us. No one is being stupid tonight got it?

With that he strides off to take the first one, Cas obediently finding a building himself. You are left with the nearest, which is smaller than the others. From what you can see it looks deserted enough. Dark inside with broken windows and layers of dust. You're just about to move on to the next building though when you swear you see a flicker of light through a window on the top floor, as though someone passed by a window with a candle or lantern. Then, just as quickly it is gone.

Should you decide to try to find the others, to your concern, they are nowhere to be found.

Knowing something was amiss, Josephine hissed a whisper to Castiel, somehow hoping he'd hear her,

"Found it! I can't find you guys though... Castiel, help!"

Unfortunately you get no response. This is not good at all...Surely they couldn't have been captured so silently though? An angel would at least put up a good fight, weakened or not! No, perhaps this isn't so much being discovered as something else. Maybe they were distracted by something and didn't get a chance to find you first? Something must have forced their hands somehow! As you look around you don't see any blood, no signs of struggle. So frustrating! You glance back at your building and see that light winking in the window again. Otherwise there is nothing but silence and the dark night swallowing everything else.

"Ugh, men!" Josephine muttered... She was currently trying to save a man, her father, and had to keep tabs on the men going with her to do so! Useless when they're needed!

Grunting softly, Josephine squared her shoulders up and approached the building, checking for open windows or doors. If she found one, she entered wisely, immediately.

You are happy to find the place looks deserted, at least on the first floor. You do see dusty footprints though, so it's obviously been occupied, not to mention the light upstairs. You creep around quietly but find nothing of interest so it's upstairs you go unfortunately.

As you cautiously make your way upstairs you hear muffled voices. Two people, arguing from the sounds of it. It's difficult to make out. At least it only sounds like two. Alone as you are, you feel keenly exposed. Should you dare get closer to investigate, the arguing becomes clearer. You are upstairs now, and there is a room at the end of the hall where a dim light shines from the door left ajar. You can't quite make out every word but it is a man and a woman and the woman is weakly making some kind of demands from the man, who is definitely not taking her seriously. She gets louder, calling him quite an assortment of curses and it's only then that you recognize her. Lily.

Slipping up, Josephine knows better than to go in unawares. Instead, she draws her shotgun and listens from outside the door. If she hears Lily in danger, she'll rush in, otherwise she listens carefully.

You know you can't keep me drugged forever! Lily snarls. Do you know the power that courses through me? Do you know what I'll do to you?!

Shut up! snaps the man. I still don't know why we're keeping you as it is. You keep screeching like that I'll end you myself. Last thing we need is some angel underfoot.

She falls silent and the man proceeds to move some things around. Then, to your horror, he heads right towards the door...

ooc: Ok, roll hide, move silently and see if you can hide before he walks into you. Hahahaha, good luck!

Josephine, not trying to hide at all, levels her shotgun at the Man and waits until he's so close she can't miss, and pulls the trigger of both barrels,

"Mess with my Lily, you get both barrels scumbag!" she growls as she does so...



mwahaha!

ooc: Hahahah! I also rolled your attack for you. You did decent! :)

The man looks shocked upon seeing you on the other side of the door. Your proximity means that even you can't miss, and though he starts to move out of the way, you still graze him in the torso, sending him stumbling backward. Lily turns to look at you in surprise. Her eyes are smokey gray. Her other self is in control apparently. You find it curious that such a powerful being is being held in place by one mere demon, but the chains that bind her to the chair look...special. Now that you see her you see how bad she actually is. She's covered in blood and cuts and her hair is sweaty and tangled, clinging to her neck and face in a mixture of sweat and gore. She looks like she's been worked over fiercely and considering the puddle of blood beneath her, it's a wonder she's alive.

As you glance in dismay at the situation, the demon starts to get up...

ooc: Ok, the first attack was a surprise round so now go ahead and roll again for the official start of combat...

rolled 17 Initiative and 17 attack. didn't yet add modifiers, Yay good rolls!

Seeing Lily, Josephine called out, a worried look in her eyes,

"Don't worry, Lily, I'm here... I'll protect you! How do I break the chains?" she asked before turning back to the demon on the ground and unloading another shot at him,

"You messed with the WRONG girl, demon! Tell me your plans with her, or I'm going to send you back to hell in a hand basket!"

ooc: Dang! It's a miracle!!

The shot hits him squarely and he hisses in pain, bleeding heavily and looking surprised that you are able to affect him so. Most hunters don't have such advanced weapons as these. Thank goodness for the men of letters....

He has a key! she calls out with a mixture of hope and concern. Take care human!
Indeed she's right to warn you for he re-steadies himself and throws a punch at you that could probably fell a grown man twice your size! His fist goes into the wall behind you though, punching a hole in it as you duck to the side. Yup. This is bad.

ooc: Next round! I hope your next roll is as good as the first! ;P Also be sure to keep me appraised of your hit points each round when you inevitably start taking damage....

Ducking away from the attack, Josephine grunted and lifted her shotgun to fire once again, aiming center mass, but hoping to spot the keys during the fight!



rolled on 11 without attack modifiers added and have 70 points
This message was last edited by the player at 02:01, Wed 12 Dec 2018.

ooc: Hahaha! Did you perhaps mean "ducking" away from the attack? (See your previous post)

By the way, I rolled your spot. Sorry. Crap roll. Good news is that I also rolled crap for the demon too! ;P

IC: You try to see any sign of the key but things are happening too fast and you come up with nothing. You do, however, manage another solid shot to his torso luckily. He's in pain but he's not going down easy and he tries to tackle you but you manage to sidestep him. Enough! You're mine blondie! he snarls, looking like he's very much pissed off...The key is in his pocket! You may have to kill him. Lily informs you as though it were such a simple matter as that. You have a feeling you've been lucky thus far. If he gets a solid hit in things aren't going to go so well for you.

ooc: Next round! Good luck!

Ooc OMG I did hahaha whoops! Stupid letters are so close, and English doesn't look "wrong" to me when I misspell, darn!

"Look, you idiot, when the exorcism is finished, I can either destroy you permanently, or we can make a deal where we both win. I don't care about killing you, just getting Lily back." she said, trying to use her negotiation skills to drop his guard,

"But if you want more blessed shots, be my guest!" she said, circling around and unloading another attack...



6 attack roll without modifiers

ooc: Well it gave me a really good laugh, so no worries!

The half angel is too valuable to give up human. My master would gladly sacrifice me in her stead. A measly human though... he dodges your attack and sends you flinging across the room via telekinesis.


ooc: Ok, roll a reflex save. If you succeed in DC 15 you take 10 damage, otherwise you take 20. Also, if you get 5 or below you drop your gun on accident....mwahahahahaha!

Ooc I don't know what my abilities do, like agile riposte, but I feel like I'll lose unless I start using them, lol. Easily succeeded on reflex, so 10 damage!


Grunting from the force, Josephine pulled herself up and wiped her brow with the back of her hand,

"So you're not willing to negotiate for even more than just one valuable prisoner? Suit yourself... I'll be sure to let your boss know when I'm finished with you. Curious what the punishment will be..." she mused aloud, before firing yet another shot.

Ooc 9 before mods

ooc: Yeah, I'm terrible about looking up all my feats and stuff on the rare chance I get to be a player...

IC: Your shot misses but only barely. He's ignoring you now, well your attempts at negotiation at least. He's certainly paying attention to you physically for he tries to hurl a large desk at you with his telekinesis but you dodge easily. Thank goodness you're quick on your feet today! By now Lily, who is still not looking well, has summoned up all her strength and is trying to break the chair she's bound to. She's continually ramming it against the floor and the demon looks angry, snapping at her to stop. He's distracted and though his attention is still on you, it is a welcome advantage to have her keep him at least a little occupied...

ooc: His DC is down 1 point now so that's something! :)

Thinking quickly, Josephine turned, and...

...fired her shotgun at the chair itself!

Hoping it would free Lily and turn the tide, Josephine knew she wasn't a capable warrior who could win this alone, so she went to shatter the chair so Lily could help!


Ooc 18 attack before modifiers, thank God haha

ooc: Hahahaha! Man that was gutsy! Can you imagine trying to help her and accidentally shooting her right in the chest or something? Now that would be awkward! It would probably confuse the crap out of the demon though! Phew! Good roll for once though, yay!

IC: Lily and the demon look completely stunned by your actions and for a moment Lily looks shocked and startled. Then, as the bullets hit the legs of the chair she seems to realize what you're doing and with renewed vigor she twists and squirms to free herself from the remnants. Meanwhile the demon uses his chance to try to strangle you with his telekinesis, realizing he needs to end you quickly before the angel frees herself.

ooc: Ok, roll a fort save dc15 to get free of his strangulation attempt. If you succed you still take 10 damage but if you fail you take 20 and lose your AC bonus. Luckily Lily will be free next round. Clever thinking!

Ooc my good rolls are always stuff like shooting inanimate objects. I roll a 2 with saving throws lol!

Pumping her fist in the air at the success of the chair, Josephine suddenly gasped, her hand flying to her throat.

"H.. hurry!" she choked out, unable to do much more than...

Josephine turned, knowing Lily would be free, and ran around the corner. She didn't need to die before her friend was free!



Ooc she'll just run for a round then come back

You manage to duck out of the room but you're quickly weakening. The strangulation does not stop just because you leave. Fortunately a moment later the invisible grip on your throat does indeed disappear but you quickly realize it's because Lily has distracted the demon. She has rammed the man, slamming him into the wall with inhuman force. They are currently wrestling...

ooc: Ok, he's very much distracted and you aren't being strangled anymore so those are pluses!

Gasping for air, desperate, but glad that she could breathe again, Josephine rushed forward, shotgun in hand, and she sprinted right up to the melee on the ground, placing the shotgun as close as she safely could to the demon, and pulled the trigger,

"Leave her alone!"




ooc - 18 I believe! Hopefully being close helps, lol. Also I'm not sure what my mods to hit with any favored weapons or anything are, I just see my missile to hit is +8, I rolled a 10, so I went with it. Still kinda clueless on my entire character sheet haha. "I talks good!" is about as far as I can explain it :P

ooc: Hahaha! I figured since you're in your own thread I won't be too picky and I can just look up anything you need myself if you don't happen to know it. So no worries!

IC: Your shotgun blast hits him, but only barely and you come dangerously close to hitting Lily as well but she doesn't seem to mind, yelling at you to do it again. You have a feeling in her angel form she can take the hit better than he can. As it is you graze him in the thigh and he swears savagely. He's wrestling Lily with all his strength now and it's only a matter of time before he breaks free. He keeps eyeing the door frantically and you anticipate he'll run if he gets the chance. Get the key! Right pocket! Lily grunts. Hurry while I can still hold him! Indeed she's having difficulty, but then manacled wrists aren't as effective in a wrestling match as free arms.

ooc: Ok, roll a general dex check to see if you're fast enough to get the key before he twists loose. Good luck. Fortunately the DC is low...

"Ok!" Josephine scrambled for the key, slipping in her haste.




Ooc rolled a flat 7 lol

ooc: Hahahahaha! I'm not surprised!

You try to reach for the key but he twists away and Lily growls in frustration. Really Jo?! Try...unh...again! she grunts, slamming him into the wall. He's clearly about to slip free but she tries to pin him in place for you one last time...

ooc: I'm generous. Try one more time ;P

"I'm doing my best!" she said, lunging forward to reach for it once more...




ooc- Rolled a 17 finally! Give me twenty chances, and I'll succeed once!

You manage to finally snag it from his pocket and he very much notices, hurling Lily off him and rushing towards you. Throw me the key! she calls frantically. Meanwhile he tries to tackle you...

ooc: Go ahead and roll a 1d20 to see if you can throw it in her general direction. Anything over a 7 I'll accept. No additions. Also, roll 3 grapple checks too please...

Ooc:... I rolled exactly a7. Crap. 04:24, Today: Josephine Hartley rolled 41 using 4d20 with rolls of 7,9,10,15

ooc: Ahahahahahahaha!! I really am not surprised!

You throw the key and it bounces off a table and across the room. She swears and goes hurtling after it. Meanwhile the demon does indeed tackle you, wrapping strong arms around you and pinning you to the ground. Lily finally gets the key as you struggle helplessly against the man and you glance up in time to see the shackles fall from her bruised and bloody wrists. She looks triumphant, about to turn on the demon but he calls out to her, one hand lifting your head off the ground, gripping your hair so tight it brings tears to your eyes. Back off or I break her neck he growls. The half angel Lily gives him a glare. What makes you think that would stop me? He grips your hair tighter, pulling your neck up until it strains the spine. Is she really going to let you die?! She slowly walks closer, as though testing his resolve. I'll do it! Don't think I won't! he snarls, though you can sense fear in his voice. She moves a step closer and stops, a smirk on her full lips. You have two options demon. You can kill her and I'll kill you before her head hits the ground, or, you can live. Give yourself up and your life is yours for the time being. Make your choice, you have five seconds.
Don't you care about her at all? I'm serio-
One
I'll really do-
Two
Will you stop and let me-
Three
Arrrrrg!!
Four
Fine! Fine, you win, I let her go! he pants, dropping your head and backing away.
Sit.
He does and she takes the shackles and binds him to a pipe in the wall, looking smug.
You can't help but wonder, as you lay there panting, what would have happened if she'd made it to five.

OOC - Me neither, lol. But hey, the fact that I love this game, and you love this thread means you and I are both kicking butt roleplaying DESPITE the dicerolls :)

Gasping for air, her hand involuntarily grabbing at her own windpipe, Josephine sucked in a few sweet, sweet mouthfuls of air gratefully.

Glancing up to watch the back and forth after the demon gave himself up, Josephine nodded,

"E..Effective at the very least. Are you alright?" she asked, wincing as she stood herself up, glancing around, "I don't know why I ever trust that one to be here when we need him..." she groaned, more to herself than anybody else.

Finally, not holding herself back, she rushed over and hugged Lily, with no words. She didn't care... she was just glad her friend was safe and alive!

ooc: Good point! Imagine what it would be like if you got lucky now and then!? And I'm so glad you like the game, yay!

The half angel version of Lily stiffens at your hug, unsure of how to react. She's so incredibly different than the Lily you know, it's hard to believe she's the same person sometimes. She ends up patting you on the back uncertainly before stepping away. It's progress for the woman. I'm fine...well, weakened but I'll recover. Those shackles are cursed. It will be a bit before I'm back to my strength. Not to mention they...did things. Tainted me. But there's no time for all that. We have to get out of here. Two of us against everyone here isn't going to work. Obviously she doesn't know about Marcus and the others and when you (presumably) let her know she sighs. By all rights we should leave them but....fine. We'll have to start our search and see if they can be rescued. If not we'll have to get reinforcements. They can't get me again, understand? They'd use my blood for their experiments, more than they already have. I shudder to think what they would do to a full angel...Come. Stay close to me and keep quiet. And...thank you, for rescuing me. she adds as an afterthought.

ooc: Ok, roll a search and spot check. Good luck....

Pulling back slightly, at Lily's stiffened response, Josephine shrugged it off. She wasn't thin-skinned, so she was fine with the different reaction.

"Of course! You'd have done the same for me, and I'll always be here for you." she said with confidence. Whether the demon sharing Lily's body knew or not, Josephine had faith in her friend, and that faith wouldn't be shattered with a small fight and something so small as 'possession'... psh!

Nodding at her words about Castiel, she responded,

"You think they're captured as well? I thought they just wandered off... we were all aware of the dangers coming in!"

Search 16
Spot 13

I hope it's something as benign as them wandering off but I somehow doubt it... she sighs. By now you're back outside in the darkness, all of the buildings still seemingly abandoned and empty. This is a fairly small chapter of demons, only a handful really, but they are cunning. And they have traps specifically against angels. Castiel could be in trouble. I don't think they are too concerned with humans though, so believe it or not you may be pretty important if a fight breaks out. Good luck with that she arches an eyebrow and at that moment she seems just like your old Lily again before her face calms once more and she's as serene and cold as ever.

You search the buildings again but this time you're a little luckier. You see two cellar doors in one of the buildings. A loose chain lies next to it and you realize it must have been opened recently. Bingo.

ooc: Go ahead and react as you would but also for time's sake please roll hide, move silently, and listen.

ooc - 17, 3 and 20. Just perfect so I'm sneaky and see everything, but make so much noise I alert the world.

Nodding her head, Josephine laughed softly,

"Hopefully they're in here. I think it would be more intelligent to call for backup, but..." she swallowed, "We ARE the backup."

And with that, she dropped into the cellar, trying to creep her way downstairs.

ooc: Ahahahahaha! That's a very accurate description!

You make it into the cellar and it's so dark that you almost immediately knock over a shelf. An entire shelf. Glass jars and bottles crash to the ground in a complete cacophony of noise and Lily swears savagely, pulling you back into a corner behind some boxes. It's a good thing too because seconds after the door bursts open and two men appear bearing lanterns. What in the world was that!? one snaps, raising the lantern around the room. I don't know but would you look at this mess?! I'm not cleaning it up! Hey, look! You peek out enough to see him point at the still open cellar doors. We seem to have an intruder! You check the room, I'll see if they ran. With that he rushes out. Meanwhile the other fellow inspects the place, muttering over the glass everywhere and calling for you to show yourselves. Lily grips your arm tightly, other hand over her lips to keep quiet. He doesn't search long, content that you must have fled upon upturning the shelf, and he goes off to join his friend in his search. As soon as they've left she stands up and leads you across the room by the arm. It's a good thing too for it's dark again and you can't see though she apparently can, and keeps you from repeating your error. I think I'm going to have to watch you more closely... she mutters as s he pulls you along. Soon you reach a set of stairs going up into the actual building and as you find yourselves in a large empty room, you see there are rooms to the left and the right. In each direction you hear voices. One, to the left, sounds like a woman talking. Then another, to the right, sounds like a man's rough voice giving someone an earful in coarse tones. You can't make out words in either case just yet, you'll have to choose a direction.

Cringing at her mistake, Josephine tried to move quietly now that Lily was directing her, and it went much better,

"Yea, you probably should watch me closer, since in the dark you're the only one watching anything!" she whispered, rolling her eyes. It wasn't Lily's fault, but she was annoyed more at herself than anybody.

"I say we go left..." she said a moment later, trying to think tactically, even though that wasn't her thing, "The woman we can capture, if necessary, and use her as leverage against anybody else. Or at least information. We don't want to approach an argument yet until we have more information." she shrugged, hoping she was correct.

She nods at your suggestion. Smart. Good choice. Alright, lets hope we can figure this out without her alerting the entire building. Hm...actually that's not a bad idea...a diversion could work. Neither of us are up to taking on much right now, a distraction could save us a lot of trouble. I suppose setting something on fire is too drastic...or is it? We can't risk them seeing us or I'd let you loose with that silver tongue of yours. They'd know it was us. Any ideas? Otherwise maybe fire isn't such a bad thought... Yes. There is definitely a spark of the human Lily still in there.

Nodding slowly, Josephine quickly shook her head at the fire idea,

"A fire would just put more stress and time constraints on US. We can't survive in the smoke either, you know." she reminded her,

"Let's just try and sneak up on her. I seem to remember you're pretty good at that, and if we make a simple rolling ball, or metal clattering sound, she'll come investigate." she said, and with that, she moved to find two close spots to hide out, and then if anything metal was nearby, she dropped it a few inches between them, so whomever was investigating would come out close enough to be grabbed and gagged.

Lily looks a bit sheepish at the points you make regarding the fire, quickly latching onto the other idea. You do find a tin fountain pen that looks promising and Lily grabs it and throws it at the actual door where it smacks hard and drops, just loud enough for only the woman to hear. Hopefully.

At first it doesn't seem to work but a few seconds later an irritated woman thrusts open the door, annoyed at being interrupted...

ooc: Ok! Moment of truth! Roll a grapple check! Luckily for you Lily will be helping...

Seeing the irritated woman approach, Josephine was excited... perhaps too excited...

Soon as Lily was ready, Josephine made a covering the mouth motion to Lily. She wanted Lily to cover the woman's mouth, while she would try and wrestle her. She didn't think about the fact that she could hardly wrestle at all...

Launching out when she was ready, she very nearly stumbled right off the bat, but managed to keep her feet...




Jesus, I rolled a 3, lol! I think that's like an 8 total or something.

ooc: Hahaha! Lily rolled a 4....

You both leap at the woman but she's far faster than either of you gave her credit for. She gives a gasp of surprise and then jerks back, trying to slam the door back shut and undoubtedly lock you out.

Lily curses. Not today! As the door indeed slams closed she rams her shoulder into it and it bursts open. I'm still weakened but I can handle a puny door at least. she sniffs.

The woman, seeing how easily you've broken in, proceeds to scream and run across the room. You're surprised how frightened she looks actually. Meanwhile you also spot a man tied to a chair looking worse for the wear. It's the man from the shop who helped you! Cas is nowhere to be found though.

ooc: Hahaha, I forgot his name! I'll look it up when I get time!

"Wait..." Josephine paused, standing up straight, and looking at the woman, "You're not an intruder... did you see where they went?" she asked, suddenly flipping the script, and acting like they were on the SAME side...

Approaching slowly, but glancing around secretively as if searching for other opponents, she wrinkled her brow,

"We're the fixers... we were told there were intruders down here, and that we couldn't have our operation being toyed with..." she said, tilting her head towards the man from the shop, acting as if he were a simple pawn, "Have you seen anything amiss down here?" she paused, hoping that her little distraction would allow herself, or Lily, to get close enough to clamp a hand over her mouth...

Hell, if it worked well enough, she'd just take all of the woman's information willingly. That would work too...





Ok, trying to use my "trustworthy" trait, and convince her with a 35 rolled on diplomacy...

She's still completely terrified but your words at least stop her from running. F-Fixers? Really? I've not seen you before....but no. Nothing is amiss down here, I was just questioning the prisoner. Why, are there hunters about? she stands up straighter and looks around worriedly. Look, I'm not a demon, I need protection! Do you know what hunters would do to me if they went after me? I'm new at this!

Slapping her own forehead as if saying 'duh', Josephine nodded, and approached,

"Well its good we arrived then. Hunters running around means bad news." frowning, she placed her chin in her hand as if in thought, and then raised a hand,

"Hunters don't hunt humans, right? My friend and I here are demons, you're not." she paused again dramatically, next searching around until she found some rope and a handkerchief (she'd rip a portion of her own shirt if necessary).

Turning back to the woman, she pointed to a nearby chair,

"Sit down. Before we put our trick into play, we need to know your talents. Are you able to help us fight the hunters at all, or do we need to protect you completely?" she asked, pausing until the woman sat down on the chair.

Once she had, she indicated the ropes in her hands,

"The plan is simple: hunters never hurt humans. You're going to act like just another one of the prisoners. That will keep you safe until we've dispatched the hunters. Then, we'll cut you loose, and start in again on the real prisoners. Obviously we'll have to tie you up and gag you with this cloth, but once we're done, the hunters won't be able to tell the difference." she said, and since the plan made sense in theory, she bent down and immediately began tying the woman's ankles to the chair, individually.

As she worked, she continued to speak to her to keep her mind occupied,

"Alright, so has the prisoner told you anything valuable yet?" she asked, finishing wrapping and knotting the rope around her left ankle, "How about his allies, any weak points the prisoner has given up?" she asked, as she knotted and secured the second ankle tightly,

"Alright..." she continued, standing and moving to the girl's wrists, pulling her hands behind her back and behind the chair seat, snugly holding her back to the chair, "I'm going to guess the prisoner is tough, but not invincible. Have you tried pain to get more answers?" she asked as she tied the woman's wrists together tightly, knotting them. Next, she tied the rope to the bottom leg of the chair, so she couldn't pull away, or untie her own feet at all. Finally, she began wrapping another rope around her chest and the chair, to fully secure her basically immobile in place,

"Now... we're guessing the hunters are close. Do you have any traps we could set up really quickly before they get here?" she asked, as she rummaged around and found a sock (or similar item) and that cloth strip from earlier. She was fully selling the idea of jumping these 'hunters' before putting the rest of her plan in place.

I'm human, but I'm a witch! If they find that out they'll kill me!

A witch? Lily arches a curious brow and the woman rushes on with a nod.
Yes! But I'm new at this! I'm just tryng to work my way up the ranks!

As Jo's plan is revealed she eagerly accepts, just anxious to be safe. She seems to have absolutely no problem being tied up and answers questions readily. Meanwhile the hunter is doing a very good job of keeping a straight face as he waits out the little scheme. I can help you with the hunters if there's no choice, but I'm still learning so I don't know how much use I'd be. I can do some things though! I'll help as I can! And I did threaten to use pain on the prisoner. I was yelling at him when you arrived. I-I've never actually tortured anyone before though...I was just trying to intimidate him until Nolan got here. I sent word to him in one of the other buildings. He should be here in a half hour or so. Apparently they found another angel they're questioning! she informs you excitedly. As for traps, I could put something on the door. A ward if you like, so they can't open it? Or something that would hurt them, that's even better right?

Nodding, Josephine knew she had to get more information before ending this conversation,

"Witch's aren't able to cast spells while gagged, but is there something you can do to help if we do gag you, or do we need to leave it loose so you can spit it out?" she really wanted to know if the woman could cast without her speech, because if she couldn't, gagging her would remove her as a threat,

"Its alright that you're new, we'll protect you. I just need to know every capability of yours, so I can best use you to defeat these hunters. Are you able to somehow free yourself if we need you free?" easiest way to test the bonds was to see if the woman could free herself somehow, "And putting a ward on the door would just alert them to the fact that a witch was here somewhere... we can't give it all away or they might figure you out."

Pausing and remembering the name 'Nolan', she kept the information tucked securely away as she nodded, hearing about Castiel,

"Well, we have ways of making angels talk. Where is the fool being kept?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, "And how the hell did they catch an angel? We weren't here to help yet..." she said, curious indeed if Castiel was weakened or something.

Beyond that, she knew she had most of the information she needed, so once her questions were answered (assuming the woman indicated she couldn't free herself if gagged), Josephine walked behind her, stuffed cloth in hand, and spoke,

"Alright, I'm going to gag you so you look like a prisoner. Now that we know you're completely helpless like this, we'll make sure to protect you ourselves, and not expect you to do it, so just play your part, alright?" she said, waiting for the woman to open her mouth widely, before shoving the cloth into it fully, stuffing her mouth. Next, she took the longer strip, and wrapped it once around her head, holding the stuffing into her mouth, twice to ensure it was pushed in further muffling her even more, and then a third time, just so she knew she couldn't spit it out or move it with her tongue. Tying it tightly behind her head, she secured the gag so that the woman couldn't hardly move, and could barely make quiet sounds.


Assuming that went well, I'll continue if it doesn't, or she says something to give me pause, ignore this part!

Turning towards the prisoner, she immediately began untying him,

"Alright, stupid hunter... if you know what's good for you, you'll come with us. We're using you as bait in the other room..." she mockingly threatened, walking the hunter towards whichever direction the girl indicated Castiel was waiting, fully intent on freeing the hunter.

ooc: Hahahaha! For once something goes well for you!

The witch is indeed incapacitated through the gag, though she seems completely fine with it, obviously still very trusting of you. As for Cas, you know he is still somewhat weakened from being ripped through time, but apparently they also have a few angel traps littering the place due to Lily, though the witch apparently hasn't seen her and therefore doens't realize she's actually standing right next to her. She patiently watches as you take the hunter and leave, completely at peace.

As soon as you leave, the hunter (Milton is his name), gives you a big grin, the first you've seen from the surly man. Now that was really somethin girl! I've never seen a witch so easily taken in my life!

Lily nods in agreement, equally impressed. They do have some angel traps about. You'll have to do something about them if I'm going to be able to help you. You'll have to break the lines. But first we'd better make ourselves scarce before Nolan comes.

ooc: Ok, you have the general idea of where Cas is, you just need to roll another hide/move silently to see how hard the going is...

Breaking all of the lines in angel traps she could see, Josephine knew that if she didn't break the truth to the witch, she might be able, in the right situation, to pull a similar trick on the SAME witch in the future, if necessary. Even though one's ego might want to laugh in her face, she knew better... having everybody hesitate was key to her style, so she left it as is.

Busting every angel trap she could, she spoke with Milton once out of earshot of the witch,

"Alright, we've got to save whomever they are torturing and questioning... let's get moving, unless you think having a captive witch would be a better idea? Not like she could stop us at this point..." she said, obviously in a hurry from the way she was walking, but willing to hear Lily out about alternate ideas.


Yea right, lol. I rolled back to back 3's for hide and move silently. I might as well have brought a tuba!

Heading for Cas
This message was last edited by the player at 18:28, Sat 30 Mar 2019.

ooc: Ahahaha! I love the image of a tuba!

You are able to let Lily pass through with ease, and thankfully there are only a couple of traps. It would seem they had backups in case she escaped. They obviously very badly wanted her.

Cas is being kept at the far end of the building and you make it fairly close before you're seen. Lily and Milton are more sneaky than you, but you are absurdly obvious, even giving an involuntary squeak as you're startled by their sudden presence. Two men, both looking shocked to see you, but they immediately rush after you. It would seem lying will not be so easy this time...

25 rolled for bluff

Raising a hand, with an annoyed look, Josephine spoke flatly,

"Look, idiots, if you haven't broken the Angel yet, then let me have a shot at him. Nolan's given me some intel I can use to break him, hopefully, so we can get this information moving." she said, 100% bluffing her way in with these two men...




Oh god, Jo, don't mess this up!

ooc: Oh my gosh. You're so lucky. I rolled a general sense motive for them. This is what I got:

09:00, Today: Secret Roll: Artemis rolled 1 using 1d20. Hahahahahahahahaha!!

IC: To your relief the men stop short in their tracks, looking confused but you seem so completely sure of yourself that they hesitate. Uh....Nolan didn't tell us he was bringing anyone else in. One says uncertainly. But alright! Hurry up then, he's going to come back soon. If you can break the angel before then it would go a long way!

They turn and eagerly lead you to a store room filled with dusty boxes and crates. A very bloodied Cas sits in an angel circle in the center of the room. Unfortunately, the two demons have entered with you, eager to see your questioning in action.

As Josephine steps into the circle, she subtly breaks the circle with her foot, knowing that the demons would be too focused on Cas to notice,

"Alright, what have we here?" she sneered, sticking with her story. She was thinking quickly... how could she turn this on them? Holy water? Ahh... get them to leave and grab her some 'equipment'!

Turning back, she snarled at them,

"You imbeciles at least have garlic and turmeric around, yes? You at least received THAT message?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, "I swear to Hell, if you don't, the first thing I tell Nolan..." she hissed, her tone warning enough.

Hopefully they would leave in haste to grab some, and she could free Cas and they could run. Otherwise, she'd have to roll her eyes and keep playing the ruse until she and Lily got a jump on them.

The two men look well and truly alarmed. But, but I don't think we have any! one man confesses in a panic. What do we do? Is there something else you could use?!

Oooh! I could run down to that fried fish place on the wharf! the other demon offers. He might have garlic at least! He already turns and runs out but the other stays, looking frantic. Is there something else I can do? What else can I do?! Before you can answer though, a familiar voice in the doorway answers for you. You can leave us is what you can do Victor. And make sure we are not disturbed. I need some time with my daughter. Your blood freezes in your veins as you turn to see your father waiting expectantly. Victor scrambles away.

"Go, now!" she hurried the first one off, turning and spinning on the second one, another snarl on her face.

Then, she froze.

Her blood went cold as ice as she heard her father's voice, and she froze, stock-still, in place, unable to move...

"F..father?" she guessed hesitantly, feeling like it couldn't possibly be him, but unable to shake his voice, and familiar look, from her mind.

She was doomed, if this wasn't really her father, anybody that knew her knew that much, and if Lily were to ever help her in life, now would be the time, because she was shocked beyond belief, and unable to cope with the fact that her father was now speaking to her, after thinking he was dead all this time...

Cas is the one to speak first. Josephine! That is not your father! He's- His warning is cut off as he's suddenly slammed against the wall by an unseen force. Blood pours out his nose and he struggles uselessly. The angel was already weak before, you worry about how long he will last. You bastard! Lily snarls, rushing at him but with his other hand he too flings her against the wall. Yes, this is most definitely a demon in your father's skin. A very powerful one if he can take two angels, even weakened as they are. Ignore them Jo. Tell me, how's your mother? He says it with simple pleasantness, as though he's not harming two of your dearest friends. Your fellow hunter just stands still, obviously knowing that resisting is futile, though you can see he's struggling to come up with a plan.

Hearing Castiel's words, Josephine shook visibly, knowing that he was correct. Still, she couldn't bring herself to hurt her father, even if it was only a vessel for a demon.

As Lily snarled and attacked, Josephine watched, frozen, as she was flung against a wall. This demon was likely too powerful for them to fight no matter what the circumstances were, but Josephine couldn't let them die!

"You're... you're not my father, demon. You only inhabit his body." seeing him holding the other hunter, she steps forth, a hand outstretched, "Wait! Please... stop hurting them, and I'll give myself up. I know if you match with my father's body that well, then I would be the same, only younger, and healthier for you." she was guessing here, but it sounded good, because she didn't really have much else to bargain with. She wasn't even good enough in combat to handle those weak demons from earlier, so words were her only play here,

"If you let those three go, I'll come with you willingly, and tell you everything I know. And I know just about everything about the surrounding hunters here, and their defenses against you." she swallowed, trying to stomach what exactly she was agreeing to. Her mind was racing, thinking of possible alternatives... finding a crossroads demon and making a deal... running and coming back (but that wouldn't work well, since the witch might not be easily fooled a second time)...

"If I work with you, instead of fight you, then my silver tongue is yours. You won't find it difficult to talk your way places you need to, or to get things you want. Please, just let them go!" she pleaded, knowing she was doomed regardless, but at least this way her friends had a chance to try and rescue her. They were, after all, far more capable than she was...

Lily looks shocked, and Castiel does too, well as much as an angel like him registers such. Even your father looks surprised, but he shakes his head with a touch of sadness. Under other circumstances I would accept your offer. Your meat is so pretty. I could do much with it. But no, I have everything I want, including you. And the nephilim is too valuable to trade. I need her human flesh, she is susceptible. As for you...I really should just kill you now but there's just enough of your father left in here that I'll humor him and keep you alive. For now. Besides, there are experiments to be done child. On all of you. If they are as successful as I hope then perhaps you'll even join me willingly. Then your silver tongue truly will be mine. he smiles. In spite of his words, in spite of the awfulness of everything he has just said, you can't help but be most shocked by the revelation that somewhere inside him, your father is still alive.

Stiffening slightly at the demon's refusal, Josephine knew this was a moment she was going to have to dig deep, and put her skills to use.

Her ability to talk people into things had rarely been used against demons, but she hadn't gotten so good at it without practice. Placing a hand on her hip defiantly, she shook her head,

"You're a bigger fool than I thought if you feel like an enslaved version of myself would be able to do the things I do with my words." she laughed softly, baiting him into a bit of frustration, to set the hook for her pull in a moment,

"If you think you have everything, then why are you explaining your plans? Testing the waters I'd say... and that tells me you aren't as certain as you are pretending to be." she shrugged, pointing at her father's body,

"If my father is in there, as you've said he is, then he's strong, and he'll eventually work you out." she added, setting the grounds for her counter-offer,

"Now look: obviously you're talented at what you do: I can't blame you for not wanting to negotiate away everything, and I can understand how, in your position, you wouldn't feel the need to negotiate. It makes sense. The thing I would urge you to think about, however, is how much more valuable my information on the Hunters would be to your long term goals. Sure, if Lily is important to you, you're able to keep her... I'd want to be close to her anyways. But Castiel? What good is here, besides a nuisance? This other hunter? What good does he do you in a pinch? After all, if he manages to break free, you just have another annoyance on your hands to deal with. Why not let him leave? Send word of your terror and power, so you'll be unbothered by other hunters, because of reputation alone! After all Nolan..." she said, dropping the fact that she knew his name to bait him into revealing if it was him, or somebody else (as she needed that information to sew distrust in them!), "If your allies were as stoic as you assume, how else would I have all of this information?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and trying to steady her heartbeat so the fluttering would stop.

All she needed was for him to stop hurting the others, and holding them, so they would be able to reposition, and maybe escape. Then, she could negotiate, and try and sew distrust between him and Nolan, or if he WAS Nolan, she would sew distrust between him, Victor, and the witch. It would buy them all some time, at the very least...




Trying to use "Talk down" to at least get him to become indifferent and stop restraining everybody. That'll give us a shot to reposition at least.

Also, concealing motive if he is sensing motive, and planning on Sewing Distrust between him and Nolan if this isn't nolan, or between him, the witch, and Victor (the guard) if it IS Nolan. Something to give us a little wiggle room to escape, because Josephine is NOT a fighter, even slightly, and my inventory is still empty, so I have nothing else to use hahaha!

...well except that Tuba that keeps showing up whenever I try to stealth!

Clever girl, he smiles with amusement. Yes. I am Nolan. You are wrong to think I couldn't get information out of you on my own, but....I admit I am intrigued by your offer. The angel and hunter mean nothing to me. I would keep my word and let them go, as long as you keep yours and let me take you. I sense a ward on your skin though. You would have to do something about that. Cutting through the symbol would do. If you do that, I will let them go. You have my word. Lily, and you though, are mine. The smile widens.

Don't be an idiot Jo! Lily growls, struggling against his hold. Castiel is also trying, sweat breaking out on his forehead from the effort.

ooc: Hahahaha! I love the mental image of the tuba!

Looking towards her friends as they struggled, knowing how futile it was for them to fight, Josephine knew she had to sacrifice herself for them, and trust in them to rescue her as soon as possible.

Biting her lower lip, a brief showing of her inner turmoil, Josephine nodded her head, defeated, and reached out her hand towards Nolan,

"I will need something sharp, if you have it..." she requested a weapon from him to cut herself with, to remove the protection of the ward. Inwardly, she hoped one of them would break free and give her an alternate solution, but right now she saw it as a forced rescue,

"And I have your word that in return for simply turning myself over to you, they will be safe from you and others until they return home? I do not make deals with my life lightly, and I do not relish the idea of you having your goons capture them around the corner in a minute or two." she lectured, staring directly at him. She also subtly shifted the words of the 'contract' to not include giving him all of the information on the Hunters, to see if she could spare SOME of the people in her life from his rage...



ooc: HAHAHA

Yes, Yes, of course I will not harm them. They are nothing to me now. Just you and the nephilim are all I need anyway. I do not fear your puny resistance. He hands you a knife, waiting expectantly.

Just before you're able to sever the marking on your tattoo, which you do with your back to everyone considering it's on your upper thigh...Castiel makes his move. He drops from the wall as though dropped and Nolan lets out a shout of surprise. You glance to the wall and see he apparently made some kind of symbol in his own blood that you theorize must have countered the demon's hold. Get out. NOW! Cas snarls to you. As he lunges for Nolan, Lily is also dropped. Demons need concentration to maintain such things after all, and she hurls herself towards Nolan as well. Take the hunter and get out! We'll be right behind you! she barks.

Ooc: Ha! Cas got a natural 20!

Seeing Castiel drop, Josephine knew her glamour style words wouldn't be effective anymore, and she launched herself forwards, grabbing and shaking the hunter to wake him up. Leaning in, she whispered,

"If we leave them, they're dead. What can we do to handle him? We can regroup, and find somebody who knows how to counter this demon's hold. We need to go, now!" she said, prepping him to run before she took off, hoping he was right behind her.







OOC Oh thank God, because Josephine's personality... she was about to give herself up for them to escape!

Was that a good play, in your opinion? I figured I might be able to use my "Talk down" to get him to cease his combat actions (i.e. holds), but I'm guessing I just failed my secret roll or whatever. I'm good at negotiating, but terrible at knowing what my character is capable of, lol!

ooc: Actually I couldn't for the life of me find your roll! But don't worry, I just rolled for you for time's sake. So maybe that worked out in your favor! ;P

And yup! That's a good play, getting the hunter and getting him out is smart. Gaaah I keep forgetting his stupid stupid name! I hate that and I'm too lazy to go back, so unless you happen to remember, he'll be dubbed Thomas until I forget it again...

IC: Thomas nods, looking loathe to leave but something tells you this is more than he's used to and he bolts out the door with only a second's hesitation. Let's hope he leaves them alive! Come on girl! We're no good to them dead! He's pulling you hurriedly, and rather than run through the whole building he simply finds the nearest window and breaks the glass, his middle aged frame moving faster than you gave him credit for. He boosts you up, and luckily it's only a ten foot drop or so. We just need to get outside and get the heat off. We can always come back right? he pants.

ooc: I'm totally going to have to go back through several threads and find out, but isn't Marcus in the area investigating still? I feel like he brought several men with him so that's a real option, provided I'm not crazy...I'm going to go take a quick look right now. Maybe I'll even run across Thomas's real name!

ooc: Ha! Time warp! I just got back from looking and Thomas is supposed to be Henry. So Henry it is! Hahahahaha! And yes, Marcus was searching town for signs of Lily and such and you were searching on your own with Cas when you jumped the gun and did all this without him. So you could theoretically try to find him. It's a decent sized city so you'd have to try to narrow it down IF you went that route. It's a bit of a risk to wait of course but it's a very viable option. Also, Marcus has 12 hunters with him too. This was all back in November which doesn't seem that long ago but geez, it's been six months!
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:37, Thu 09 May 2019.

OOC: Yea, but Josephine isn't that SMART, she's intelligent, but she's also diehard loyal to her friends (Cas and Lily) so she's going to do something appropriately dumb, and send Henry to get Marcus and friends, and she's going to go back in and capture the witch, to use to figure out information on the evil Nolan. After all, nothing like an easily trussed up witch as a prisoner with some information on the bad guys to make a bad outcome turn mediocre!


BIC - As Josephine landed with an 'oomph', and Henry came after her, she nodded, thinking,

"Alright, Henry, you need to look for Marcus with the Men running around town. He's got over a dozen hunters with him... bring them back here as soon as you can! I'm going to grab something before we go... you remember that witch? I'm bringing back a prisoner for some information!" she said, turning and looking quickly for the way back in at the START of their journey, so she'd be able to return without seeing Nolan, and grab the tied up witch and bring her out.

Walking through, she kept her eyes peeled for the witch, searching quickly, knowing that she wouldn't have a lot of time...



OOC - Just pausing here early, as I don't want to ASSUME the state I find the witch in, etc. I tied her up really good, so she should be just hanging there, but this is such a funny scene, when Jo returns, and the witch realizes (as Jo begins re-tying her to take her with her) that Jo tricked her... it'll be a funny moment where I have Josephine convince the witch that hopping with her is actually what Nolan wants (LOL!). This would be a HILARIOUS scene in a movie if I pull off the trickery!

ooc: Hahahaha! If anyone can pull it off it's you! Trickery is about the only thing Jo is good at when it comes to rolls anyway ;P

Henry gets a quick description of Marcus from you and off he scoots. He doesn't try to convince you to go with him, but you can see he disagrees with your plan. Hopefully he's successful but you know it's going to be a while before they get to you. Oh dear.

You are able to find the entrance easily enough and as you sneak through you're grateful that there aren't too many demons running around that you can see. What few you do see are mostly heading outside, no doubt to try to track you and Henry. Hopefully the poor man makes it out alright.

You do have a near miss with a demon discovering you when you knock over a bottle on accident as you're sneaking towards the witch's room. Fortunately his companion pulls him outside, eager to find you first and not realizing about the bottle. Phew!

The witch is still tied up when you find her, and not very happy looking at all...

ooc: You know what to do! Work your magic and make your roll! :)

ooc: HAHA 31 bluff! It IS all I'm good at!

Slipping through the hallways carefully, Josephine knew that getting the witch captured, and in the hands of the Brothers was extremely important. She'd already captured the witch, so she wasn't a threat, but now the trick was convincing her to come with Josephine.

All she needed to do was convince the young girl to come with her, but the problem was, she was tied to a chair... quite securely.

Thinking quickly, Josephine realized that if she untied the witch's legs, she'd be able to re-tie her hands behind her back, and then convince her to move along with her, in a nefarious plot to 'catch these men of letters'!

"Oh thank God you're still here..." she started layering the lies on thick, scooting over next to the witch. Without hesitation, Josephine wrapped a rope around the elbows of the witch, so that when she untied her hands, her arms would still be trapped behind her, "These damned hunters are freaking everywhere! We've got two that will fall for our little ploy here, but I need to move you, rather quickly." she said, and while the witch was still legs-tied to the chair, she untied the witch's hands, and brought both arms behind her back, tying them securely together at the elbows, so the witch wouldn't have a chance to wave for Josephine to stop. It would seem more 'organic' since the witch is still (the entire time) securely trussed up.

Now that the witch's elbows were tied, Josephine brought her hands together, and tied them securely to one another. Once she'd done that, she wrapped another rope around her arms and her torso, securing the arms tightly against the sides of her chest, so the mobility of her hands were virtually none, ensuring that the witch couldn't put up a fight at all, or even run quickly,

"Here's the plan: we're still going to act like you're a captured innocent, and I'm going to use that to convince the Hunters in the building across the road that they should drop their guard..." she said, and as she spoke, she untied the witch's legs from the chair legs. As the witch was completely disconnected from the chair, Josephine slipped a noose around her neck, and held the other end, tugging at it for dramatic effect,

"This way you can run alongside me, but it'll look like I'm controlling you..." she said, knowing full well now that if the witch tried to pull away, she'd choke herself, so she won either way, but at least it could convince her that Josephine was still being legitimate with her. As she spoke, she tugged on the rope, urging the witch to quietly follow her back out the door, the way she came in,

"Now, remember: when we get there, you need to act scared, and pretend that you don't know me. Once they drop their guard, I'll un-gag you, and you can cast a spell to untie yourself... alright?" she said, because she knew that if she WAS being serious, they would discuss the action plan for later.

She hoped the witch would buy it, because now Josephine was making fast time through the little town area, trying to get to a safe place, tugging along a firmly bound and gagged witch behind her!




If, for some reason the witch DOESN'T believe her, she'd hobble the knees, and tug the rope, making her follow, but I'm hoping that literally all of my good rolls are bluff/diplomacy, she will fall for it, and actually work WITH me!

ooc: Hahahaha! The noose especially is hilarious! Though I should probably make you roll a use rope check to see how securely you are able to do all this. Luckily for you at the moment she does buy it, but when that ends we'll see if she's able to escape or not ;P

IC: The witch nods enthusiastically, but looks very confused, letting you do the ropes without resistance. Alright, alright.  Uh...what's going on again? What do we do after I take the ropes off? Should I kill the hunters? I can try to kill the hunters if you like. Just let me know what you need from me! She looks like she's desperately trying to please you but she's unsure of herself.

ooc: At the moment she's putty in your hands. Go ahead and move forward as you wish for now ;)

ooc: LOL She left the witch gagged. She's never going to unsecure that, and leave it so the witch can never cast a spell, so even when she does figure it out, Josephine already owns her and its too late :P We'll say she un-gagged her for the hilarious dialogue, and then re-gagged her tighter than before, abusing the fact that she wants to help!

Nodding at the woman's words, Josephine patted her neck comfortingly,

"Don't worry, you're doing great. We really have to sell this gag though, or they won't buy it. Open really wide, and lets get it in there good. Remember, once you need it out, I'll be pulling it out myself, so its ok for it to be tight now." she reminded her.

Leading the witch out of the underground passage, across the street, Josephine starts to try and remember the direction she knew they came from, and starts to lead the witch that way.

Josephine doesn't really talk much more, unless the witch needs attention. She ensures that the gag is still super tight, and makes sure she doesn't need anything, but just helps her hobbled captive along through the city.

ooc: Ooops! Sorry about that! Yup. She's definitely re-gagged! Ok, just because I want to be sure I understand your plans correctly, Henry goes off to find Marcus, Cas and Lily are still dealing with Nolan and you're hiding out with the witch in the little abandoned warehouse area where all this is going down right? There are several empty buildings you could take your pick from if you want to hide out. The witch, so far, seems content to follow you around like a dog on a leash. So let me know your exact plan now and we'll go from there. Sorry if I missed it, it's been a crazy last couple of weeks and I'm happily getting back into my routines again now that they're over! :)

OOC: Haha, no worries!

My goal with Jo is to keep the witch in tow, and slowly make an escape BACK to the men of letters. That way, she can use their talents to get information out of the witch. Otherwise, hide when necessary to ensure she isn't caught on the way out. She figures getting a witch that was THIS close to the evil impostor of her father would get them a LOT of information, which would help!

ooc: Thanks! Perfect!

IC: You do manage to avoid detection. Mostly because whatever is going down with Nolan, Lily and Cas, is causing quite a ruckus. You hear crashing and shouts coming from the building and about six people go rushing inside, not seeming to see you in their efforts to help. The witch looks quite confused but obediently goes wherever you tug her.

As you pull her along like a dog on a leash, you find yourself worrying about your friends and about the tricky situation you're now in. If this woman somehow got free, somehow suspected the truth, you'd be as good as dead.

She seems to get increasingly confused the further you go down the road. It will take about twenty minutes to get back to the city at this point, and with the moon shining down on you in the darkness, and the spring night chill about you, it's eerie indeed.

From time to time the woman will start to struggle slightly, making mumbles as though asking for explanation but each time you're able to assuage her fears until at last you are within the city itself. Out of sheer lack of options you decide to head back towards the inn and hope Marcus and Henry are somewhere there but fortunately as you creep down the dark and silent street, a familiar voice calls out to you. It's Henry! Marcus is with him and he runs to you, the other men following from around the corner on horseback. Jo! What? What is going on?! The witch is looking very antsy beneath her gag...

ooc: Did you ever roll your use rope by the way? If not do so now...

Turning towards the witch, Josephine smiled,

"Don't worry, my informants don't know what the plan is yet, but let me use them to secure our plans against those damned hunters." she said, turning back towards Marcus and Henry, Josephine waved them over, holding a tight grip on the witch to ensure that she couldn't slip free even if she wanted to now, but she maintained a "subtle" hold, so the lie would still be effective.

As Marcus and Henry approached, Josephine leaned forward, and whispered in Marcus' ear,

"I've tricked this witch into thinking I'm against the hunters. We need to maintain the lie until we can properly secure her more, and question her in safety. Let's maintain the lie until we reach somewhere we can chain her down for good, and keep her gagged, or she'll cast herself out of here." she whispered, waving her hand so Marcus could spread the word.

Turning back towards the witch, she 'whispered' conspiratorially to her,

"Alright, these fools are going to search for the information on the hunters for us, and then we're going to capitalize. Are you ready to put two notches on your belt for killing two of the greatest hunters in the country?" she tried to appeal to the witch's ego, to keep her distracted.

If Marcus and Henry led her and the witch somewhere, at all times she made sure the witch stayed gagged, and was unable to loosen her bonds. She had literally no priority other than making sure her extremely trussed up captive couldn't free herself. With the multiple bonds covering each limb, she assumed she wouldn't be able to, but she was now adding full-time watching and checking of her bonds and gag, to make darned sure the woman wasn't able to get free.



18 on use rope! Do I get a benefit since I've essentially used my skills to trick her into helping me make it more effective on her? I'd asked her 4-5 times how to make it "more effective, to sell it" so would that help at all? Or could we treat it like "taking 20" because of the fact that it wasn't under duress and she was helping?

ooc: 18 is good enough, especially combined with the fact that she was helping you so I'll take it! Yay!

Marcus's eyes don't even widen as you whisper your plan, he's that good of a liar apparently and he plays the part of ignorant hunter perfectly. Meanwhile the witch looks relieved at your communication, as though she's been properly convinced you're still with her, and dutifully plays her part. It's almost enough to make you laugh considering how outlandish everything turned out! Eventually you end up taking back alleys to the inn, not wanting to be seen by passerby, and Marcus slips in to prepare the room, claiming he's going to make sure it's safe. He's not gone more than two minutes before he gestures you inside one of the bedrooms. As soon as you step in you're surprised how quickly he's prepared it. Impossibly fast actually. The bed has been pushed to the corner of the room and in the center is a circular pattern in even more intricate symbols than the devils traps you're used to. How did he do this so quickly?! He gives a tug on the rope and the witch stumbles into the center, much as she tries to struggle. Immediately she stiffens, eyes wide as she holds perfectly still. Marcus, handsome in his smugness, snaps his fingers and the gag falls off. The witch says nothing, but is completely calm. Nice work Jo! Now, before we start questioning this little imp, would you mind telling me what the hell is going on?

"How did you prepare that so quickly?" she asked softly, pointing at the symbol in the middle of the floor with a confused look on her face. That needed to be asked, because THAT was random as all hell, and she was starting to get worried a little bit about the hunters.

"And why did you un-gag her?" she asked a few questions to make sure things were still going according to plan...

Marcus chuckles at your questions and raises a hand reassuringly towards you. It's alright Jo. No need to worry. Just a little trick I picked up in Egypt. I'm half Egyptian you know, he adds with pride. Magic there is much older and more advanced than anything this novice would know, he makes a face. I'd get into the details with you about it now but not with her listening. I guard my secrets jealously. Don't even tell other men of letters about half of them if I can avoid it. I worked hard, not gonna let just anyone piggy back off my years of sweating and bleeding! But I ungagged her because I thought the plan was to question her correct? She can't use her piddly powers to hurt you if that's what you're worried about. The circle prevents her from using any magic.

Nodding, and breathing a sigh of relief, Jo agreed verbally,

"Alright... I'm sorry, kidnapping usually isn't in my bag of tricks." she said, shrugging, "I just knew I couldn't fight off the demon inhabiting my father's body... I'm not able to handle something that strong, and I knew I needed to get some form of help to help us save Lily and Castiel." she said, launching into the details of the fight with Marcus, so he was up to date I don't want to manually type it all out, haha, hopefully that's ok!

When she was finished, she looked nervous, uncertain and pensive...

"What can I do to help? This seems like some pretty heavy stuff, and if you tell me to go shotgunning at the demon, I will, but I don't think that's the best move."

He takes you a bit further from the witch as you explain everything, and nods soberly. Well that is very bad indeed then. Hm. If either Castiel or Lily were at their full strength they would be more than enough for this demon, but weakened as they are...Yes. Your uses tend to be with your pretty little mouth. You can either stay here and question the witch while the rest of us go try to rescue our wayward angels, or you can come with us and see what use you'll be. I've seen your aim though. I wouldn't hold it against you if you wanted to stay... he gives a small smile. You get the feeling he's trying to lighten the mood. No doubt he realizes how terrible this all is for you, what with Lily in danger and your father in his particular situation...

ooc: No worries! Summarizing is a glorious thing!

"No way... I'm going, and that's final." Josephine said, hefting her shotgun, "Lily and Castiel need me, and that's all I need to know." she said, nodding towards the door,

"After you."

Marcus raises an amused eyebrow but gives a nod. Alright. Just make sure I'm not in front of you when you shoot that thing hm? his lips twitch with amusement.

From there he leaves two men with the witch as promised and the rest of you race back to the lake district, Henry coming with you too. By the time you return though, things have quieted down. You go into the building and find broken glass, shattered crates, bullet holes in the walls, and an alarming amount of blood, but neither Cas, Lily, or your father can be found. Plenty of dead demons, but you care little about that. Marcus orders his men to spread out and search all the buildings but they turn up nothing. You do, however, notice a trail of blood leading into the woods...

Marcus sees it too and forms a search party quickly, the two of you in front. You lose the trail a couple times but thankfully always find it again. Finally you run across a figure slumped on the ground before you. It is Castiel. He's unconscious and bleeding heavily. Meanwhile you notice the bloody trail continues on without him.

Before leaving, Josephine leveled a pointed finger at the two 'guards',

"She's already gone to the bathroom, she isn't sick or in pain, and she can breathe just fine." she said, thinking through all of the tricky things she would say for a chance to escape, "Just leave her there, and if she has issues, just tighten the bonds. Nothing else." she said, waggling her finger at them.

It was probably adorable, Josephine's tiny figure seemingly trying to lecture these fully trained and adult men, but she didn't see it. She was serious, when her friends were in trouble, and she marched off with Marcus in a hurry.

---

Moving with Henry and Marcus, Josephine is glad that they have the same fire she does about finding their friends.

When Castiel appears ahead, Josephine sprints forward in worry, rushing to his side,

"Oh my God, Castiel, are you alright? Where's Lily? Is my fath..." she paused, swallowing, "Is that demon still fighting her?" she asked a bundle of questions, all while searching him for injuries that she knew how to patch up...


20 on treat injury! This is great, except it means my next shotgun blast is DEFINITELY going into Marcus' eyeball, lol!

Ooh, but I have an excuse to rub Castiel! And get away with it! Mmmmmmm!

ooc: Hahahaha! That's probably true knowing you! Marcus had better watch out!

IC: It's difficult to know the extent of his injuries, but you do a good job of slowing the bloodflow and getting him stabilized. He sits up with a grown, and you prop him against a tree. Regarding your questions, he points the direction of the blood, still holding his head. He's....chasing her. Hurry. He looks ready to pass out again any second but he's obviously animated about you going after them.

Should you choose to do so, you find the trail is difficult to follow in the dark. Marcus seems to do amazingly well at finding it though and you keep at his heels as he tracks them like a bloodhound, Henry lumbering behind looking winded yet determined. At last you see them. They are several yards ahead and your father has just thrown Lily through several branches until she slams into a tree and collapses in a heap. Even from here you can see the blood clearly came from her. She's absolutely covered in the stuff. You have a decent shot from here, and thus far no one seems to notice you and the others yet, though that won't last long. Still, demon or not, you do know if you shoot the demon enough, the vessel that is your father's body may not survive. Even if the demon withstands it, will your father ever be able to repossess his own form again? You know that most demons have such rough lives that their meat suits immediately fall dead upon vacating them. Will your father be left to such a fate if you can ever extract Nolan from him?

Ooc lol the name I gave my dice roll took itself seriously. And my guarantee about Marcus would be bad if I wasn't alone at the front! 15:54, Today: Josephine Hartley rolled 1 using 1d20.  Pew pew please miss my dad


Josephine had her heart skip a few beats, but as she saw Lily being thrown, she lifted her shotgun, knowing she was alone and it was up to her, and through tear covered eyes she pulled the trigger at what used to be her father.

Maybe it was because her eyes were mostly on Lily, maybe it was because of the thought of shooting her father... Who knew? Either way the miss was likely to be horrifically bad. Her hands were shaking, she was crying openly and she was afraid for her friend, but one thing even the demon inside of Lily would recognize is that she chose to shoot her own father to protect her.

So, ineffective certainly, but she was making a hell of a statement as she shouted,

"Leave my friend alone!" she cried in desperation, at the very least wanting to change the demon's focus to herself so Henry could save Lily...

ooc: Hahaha! That's hilarious! Really nice post too by the way.

IC: The shot goes wide and in your stress you aren't prepared for the kickback and the gun slips from your hands. Nolan turns to face you, a smirk of amusement on his face. He starts towards you. You never did take to guns like I wanted, did you little Jo? he chuckles. It's unnerving, to hear him talk to you so. He's clearly mocking you, using your father's memories to taunt you, but it's the closest you've come to having your father back in years, even if only for a moment. Lily struggles to her feet then, swaying and bleeding heavily. It would seem I'm outnumbered. Interesting. Well then... he lifts Lily into the air suddenly, though it only takes a gesture to do so. Either you all lower your weapons and back off, or she dies. Right now. What'll it be Jo?

Her voice shaking in anger, Josephine shook her head and stepped towards him,

"No." she said coldly, leveling her gaze on the specter inhabiting her father, "You have lost your touch at negotiating, and you will not win this." she said, stepping closer, "She will not die, Lily's spirit simply won't let it happen. Instead, you will understand when you're playing a losing hand, and you will drop her, and discuss things reasonably." she said, leveling her shotgun at him,

"Now."



Psh, I don't know why I ever bother with rolls, lol. I rolled a 3 for intimidate, I guess it would be, so even with my +10, its only a 13. Screw it haha.

Nolan simply laughs at this, to your chagrin. Maybe if you were a better shot that would faze me my dear. But such as it is... He moves like lightning then, and to your shock he sends Lily flying towards you with a flick of his finger. She slams into you and you both go down hard. He starts running, and Henry raises his rifle but Marcus stops him, pushing the barrel of the gun to the side so that the shot misses. Jo's father's still alive in there! We've got to try to keep him in one piece! Aim for the legs. I'll see if I can't slow him down. he shakes his head as he tears off after him. It surprises and touches you that the man has the wits and heart to think of your needs at a time like this. Most hunters would have blown the demon away, knowing that the host was simply a lost cause. For some reason Marcus is showing mercy. Judging by Henry's look of surprise, it isn't often done.

As they tear off after the running man, Lily helps you to your feet with a look of apology. She's bleeding all over but as always she's determined. Sorry about that. He's a slippery one. Now come on. He's not the only thing to fear in these woods. Let's try to get around the side of them!

ooc: Go ahead and roll a general dexterity check to see if you're fast enough to pace them. You do have some clean shots you can try too, if you want to risk your father's health. Good luck!

Rolling over, Josephine felt like this hell was never ending for her, but she rolled on top of Lily and gave her a huge hug, grinning in her face, despite the horrific circumstances,

"Glad to see you alive, hon." she said, winking before she rolled painfully to stand up.

Once on her feet, she was a bit wobbly after the painful hit, but she shook it off, and took off with Lily. She wasn't intending on shooting him at all, she figured there must be another way, but she didn't want to hear her father was alive, and then let him get away completely!





OOC I'm not sure how to roll a general dex, but I rolled a 1d20+2 (my dex mod) and got 9!

Lily returns the hug gratefully, and as you race off to loop around, you find you're more tired than you realized. Lily always was the faster of you two anyway; even wounded and weakened with whatever experiments they did to her.

She tends to hold back for you though, not wanting to leave you by yourself, so by the time you loop around to the side to try to cut them off, two important things have happened. First. You see Henry, the hunter who you drug into all this, who you woke up in the middle of the night, begging for help, impaled on a tree branch, hanging about five feet off the ground. The branch has pierced his back and through the other side to his stomach and he hangs there, gurgling and shaking as blood drips heavily down his body. H-Help me.... he gasps. Second. You see two figures in the distance, no doubt your father and Marcus. They're too far off to make out properly but one aims at the other, shoots, and they go down in a heap.

Pointing towards her father, Josephine cries out to Lily,

"I don't know what we can do about my father... he's too strong!" she said, stating the obvious, "We need to help Henry and Marcus! Screw my father, let him leave if he's not able to fight the demon. We need to help these poor men!" she said, turning to look at both injuries.

She didn't honestly know how to help Henry, because as far as she knew, that was a mortal wound.

"Castiel!" she said, shouting his name at the top of her lungs, "I don't know where you are, but these innocent men are going to die for nothing, and I need your help!" she said, hoping that her prayer would reach him (if he was still alive).

Lily looks at you with grim agreement at your decision to let your father go. You're right. We'll find him later, when we've recovered. But go. Go to Marcus. I'll double back for Castiel. She turns to Henry then, her face turning sad as the man still hangs there, trembling. I think...I think if I pull you off you'll bleed out. Can you try to wait? In response he groans in pain, blood pouring out of his mouth but he manages to give a dry smile. Go on then. I'm not goin anywhere. She nods and tears off the way you came, shouting as you did for the angel. Before you can go to Marcus though he gurgles to you, If I die...my shop. Floorboard under my bed. There's a....box. Find Constance...please!

When you've finished with Henry, should you go investigate, you find Marcus bleeding heavily from his stomach, lying on his back and staring up at the sky. He's alive, but won't be for long. This is all such a mess. S-Sorry Jo, he gasps. I almost...had him but...didn't want to kill...your... he falls silent, still alive but fading quickly.

ooc: Roll a heal check.... please.

Rolled a flat 14, but no marker for heal skill on my sheet?

ooc: If you have no marker on your sheet that's fine, it's still something you can try to do anyway.

IC: You try to stabilize him and you do a better job than you anticipated, but he's still going to bleed out soon without help. The best you can do is keep pressure on the wound, the warm blood soaks your hands and clothes and he turns a deathly pale, just gasping and staring up at the trees. Time seems to stop and with each quivering breath you fear it will be his last. Then finally, you hear swearing several yards off. You glance back and see two figures by the tree Henry is hanging from. Lily. Then they are running towards you, well one is running and the other limping, but as they get closer you are relieved to see Castiel with her. He looks barely able to stand but he's there. Lily drops to the ground beside you, looking at Marcus with worry. Hold on Marcus! It will be alright! she orders, looking frantically to Cas then. He sinks to his knees and puts his hand on the man's forehead, closing his eyes in concentration. Moments later the man's color returns, his breathing strengthens, and though he looks incredibly weak, he struggles to a sitting position. Meanwhile Cas looks ready to faint himself, but Lily steadies him. I couldn't save the other one. I'm sorry. Castiel says quietly.

Seeing Castiel come, Josephine's heart jumped with joy, and she waited eagerly, nearly jumping up and down as she saw him approach,

"Oh my goodness, Cas!" she said, seeing the state of him.

As he dropped to his knees, and healed Marcus through his magical work, her eyes widened, and when he struggled to sit, she threw herself at him in a massive hug, wrapping the angel up in her comforting arms,

"Thank you so much Cas. I know you did everything you could. I'm just sorry I couldn't have done more to save you all." she said, a slight wet look appearing around her eyes. Kissing him wetly on the cheek, to further emphasize her point, Josephine didn't want Castiel feeling guilty. He did literally more than anybody else could have for Marcus, and she was glad he did, and thankful for his help.

The four of you sit there a while, the moonlight shining down on you and the dark forest full of sounds of the night. Crickets, frogs, the hoot of an owl. It would almost be peaceful if you couldn't see poor Henry's body several feet away. It seems Cas at least pulled him down from the tree, but it's a terrible reminder of your part in his death. You personally persuaded him to help you. You can't help but feel a stab of guilt.

Meanwhile Castiel gives a grateful nod at your attention, though as always his face is expressionless. Marcus sits up, weak and shaky but he thanks the angel sincerely, his eyes are also drawn to Henry though. He sighs, putting a bloody hand on his head as though exhausted. Well we lost him. All this, for nothing. Though we got you back Lily, that's something. Hopefully we can track him again but...he's strong. Too strong. I don't know if it's going to be possible to save him Jo. I think the demon inside him knows that's what's keeping him safe. Our hesitation to risk your father.

"Then we need to find some outside help. Maybe somebody from another time, or place, or something. There has to be something we can do." she said, not willing to give up,

"I've come to terms with the fact that my father is dead. That doesn't mean I don't want him to survive, but he will kill me himself if I let people die to save him." she said, gritting her teeth. She may not have believed what she was saying, but she knew it was correct,

"So we'll focus on finding somebody else more powerful to handle him, and we'll just look after the other Hunters until then. Let Lily and Castiel rest up, and then hunt again when we're healed." she said, putting the end to hunting her father's demon.

Marcus nods gravely at your decision, putting a comforting hand on your shoulder. I hate to say it, but that's the wisest course. I'm still sorry. I'm sure it's hard, losing him twice. he shakes his head.

After a few more minutes gathering your energy, you head back through the woods, Lily and Marcus carrying Henry's body, Marcus looking particularly unhappy about it.

You reconvene with the other hunters, who take his body back to town to deliver it to the mortuary. In the meantime your mind goes back to his final words about Constance and the box. Should you decide to act on them, you find yourself back at the shop, rooting out the box under the floorboards. There is a sealed letter to a woman named Constance Harrington...

ooc: Ok, you can open the letter and read it if you like etc and I'll post the contents for you, though she'll probably know you did that down the road. Also, if you want to try to find her you can roll a gather information check. Also let me know any plans you have the rest of the night/the next day while everyone is resting up.

I see Josephine as a bit more like "Dean" of all people, in the ways of super straightforward "Nope, we don't go through people's stuff unless necessary" so she wouldn't go through the letter. I hope that makes sense! Like "old fashioned manners".

Shaking her head at the day's events, Josephine looked at the box and shook her head again, and set it back down.

"Wouldn't be right." she said softly, mostly to herself.

Knowing she should search for Constance, she started poking around the city, searching for intel.



23 on the gather intel roll

ooc: How classy of you! ;)

It takes a bit of doing, but you manage to glean an address for the woman. She apparently lives about ten miles from town. She appears to be Henry's daughter and from what you gather, they've been estranged for years. Apparently issues regarding his wife/Constance's mother caused the rift, though no one knows exactly why.

The rest of that night you rest, and long into the morning. Should you wish though the next day, you can travel to her house, Marcus accompanying you. Lily and Castiel are still asleep. They've been so weakened throughout all of this, that it will take some doing to regain their former strength. Lily especially has been through much and you worry about what experiments were done on her.

Should you choose to go to Constance's house you'll find a small little farmhouse with a white picket fence and four children running around the yard. Henry's grandchildren no doubt. It is a sobering thought to realize he'll never see them again. A woman in her thirties sits on the porch, shucking corn. She looks up at you in surprise. Can I help you? she calls.

Approaching with a soft smile, Josephine held out a hand in greeting,

"Hello, I'm Jo, and I've come to speak with you about something a bit..." she glanced sideways at the children, "Distressing." she hinted, not wanting the children to see their mother react the way she was assuming she was going to.

Assuming she had the kids leave (or not), Josephine jumped into the thick of it,

"Henry has passed away. I know you two haven't spoken in some time, but I thought it would be right for you to know. He was a good man, at least to those he was around, and I thought it would only be right to let you know he went peacefully, and that we're going to miss him." she said, interspersing those words into her conversation with the woman.

She listens in shock, slowly registering what you've said. W-What? He...died? But how!? In his sleep? Who are you? How did you know him? she looks completely stunned.

ooc: Awww! How classy of you to lie to her so nicely! ;)

Nodding solemnly, Josephine placed a gentle hand on the woman's shoulder, responding softly,

"Henry was a hard-working man, and all of his friends always knew that. He mostly kept to himself, but what it looked like was natural causes in his sleep. Perhaps something in the men in his family, or something similar." she said, keeping it generalized, so she wouldn't ask too many questions,

"The important thing is that he died peacefully, which is the most any of us could hope for. He just told me that if anything had ever happened to him, to make sure you knew, and you were alright." she said, trying to soften the blow by making it seem like he'd cared.


OOC: Haha, thanks I try to be a classy liar :P
29 on the bluff roll

Peacefully? My father? That doesn't sound like him. she shakes her head drily. It's more than that bastard deserves. No. No, no, I told myself I wasn't going to let him do this to me again, she mutters, shaking her head. It's clear she has conflicted feelings towards the man and though she's obviously sad she has a great deal of animosity too. Look. I'm sorry to startle you but...well you have to know my father and I were not on good terms. Growing up he drank. A lot. He got sober later but by then well...I just didn't have it in me to forgive him. And then he started going crazy! Completely crazy! He kept saying demons were real and all kinds of rubbish like that. I couldn't take it anymore! But...peacefully you say? You probably knew him better than I, was he...happy? I haven't spoken to him in years! Did he live well? In spite of her anger there is a trace of desperate hope in her eyes.

Smiling sadly, Josephine nodded, and put on a show,

"He lived happily, and died a happier man than most." she said softly, grasping her hand, "He'd found a group of men who struggled with the same troubles he did, like the drinking and other things, and he found himself with their support." all technically true, just explained differently,

"He passed comfortably." she said softly, hoping this woman was satisfied with that, and not looking for money or something.

She looks bewildered but at last nods gratefully. I'm happy to hear that. I never knew how to forgive him myself, but I am glad he found some form of peace. You were very kind to tell me of all this. she smiles gratefully.

She's a liar. The voice from behind you startles you both, and Constance's surprise immediately turns to irritation. You turn to see one of the children, a girl of about five, looking at you blankly, face innocent. Melanie! Enough! This woman is our guest! Melanie is unaffected by the scolding. But she's lying mama. Grandpa had a tree branch stuck in his middle. I can see it. He hung there a long time, squirming like a worm on a hook.

Smiling understandingly at her loss, Josephine turned towards the little girl, and shook her head,

"I wish I had better news, and I'm sorry that your daughter seems unable to cope with the news, but I do come bearing the truth." she said, keeping her head on the woman.

She then handed her the letter, and sorrowfully took her leave.

Constance is shocked by her daughter's words, and gives her hand a little slap, reprimanding her. You'll have to forgive Anne! She's taking to telling such wild tales lately! At this the girl argues that they are most definitely not tales and an argument ensues. It does make you shiver, how accurate she is. Clearly the girl has some sort of gift. No matter her father's death, Constance has ties to hunting whether she likes it or not.

ooc; Ok, any plans before the storyline continues? Planning, scheming, shopping? ;P
What does Jo hope to do next? She has a lot of balls in the air. Her mother is back in New York, still tainted, you have Lily who's been messed with too, and of course her father somewhere on the loose. What does she want to do next?

OOC Chase her mother WITH Lily. She cares about Lily/Mom the most, and would want to keep them close in some futile hope of keeping them both safe!

She has confidence that her father will find her himself, so she'll chase her mother with Lily.

With Marcus on the mend, he's able to transport you all back to headquarters in New York. It's handy now that you don't have to take the time to track anyone, he can get you places with great speed. Castiel is especially grateful for this and he is taken to rest by Victoria, who does the best she can for him.

Meanwhile, Lily is questioned and, now that things have calmed down, she takes over control of her body once more, her angelic half going dormant again. She remembers nothing. Just injections of black blood and then waking up here. Needless to say it's not very useful, but it sounds a great deal like what they did to your mother. When Lily walks across a demon trap though, she passes it with ease. Does this mean they were successful with whatever it was they were doing? Or was it something else entirely?

Your mother, has been a very patient woman in the meantime. She's been poked and prodded, questioned endlessly and then prodded again. The man in charge of this process is named Benjamin Kirk, a severe looking fellow in his early fifties with white blond hair and a face made of granite. You immediately don't like him but he clearly has great skill judging by the way everyone seems to respect him. He begins the process with Lily too, experimenting and such, but she takes it far worse than your mother, slapping him when he tries to feel her body for abnormalities and swearing him out endlessly whenever he wants to poke and prod. It's only Victoria's pleading that gets her to cooperate at all. After days of this, Kirk frowns. From what I can tell, the demon blood is dormant for now. I imagine it can be activated though, otherwise why put it in? We know they've been using children's souls for their armies, and now they are recruiting actual human foot soldiers, whether they want to be or not. They're making an army. There's no telling if any of them could actually resist the call once it's been sounded. He sounds grim. Hearing this, your mother looks terrified. Maybe, maybe it would be better then to be rid of me. I won't be a tool for the dark like my husband.

ooc: By the way, you probably don't know about the children's souls thing right? So I imagine it would sound less than great to Jo.

"Children's souls?!" Josephine questioned, sounding absolutely sick at the idea, "I thought... like somehow, they were immune, or left out or something?" she questioned hopefully, really bothered by that fact.

Waving her mother's concerns away, Jo was NOT about to lose her too,

"Quiet, mother." she lectured sternly, "You are not becoming a quitter now. Absolutely not how a Hartley acts and you know it!" she said, lecturing her mother with the exact words her mother had said to her multiple times in the past, "We just need to figure out how to remove the effects... whether that means getting your blood cleaned, or an angel like Castiel to work on it, or something else entirely. We're not losing you for no reason." she said resolutely.

ooc: Hahahahahaha! I don't know why her reaction is so funny to me!

IC: If it makes you feel better Josephine, no child has died as yet. It would seem they are left in a sleeping state, no one is able to rouse them and amazingly they don't appear to need sustenance. Their souls are being collected though, to power the enemy. We currently have several members throughout the country, rescuing them and returning the souls to their rightful place. But yes, it is disturbing the lengths the enemy will go to. she shakes her head.

Meanwhile, your mother gives you a sad smile at your words. Alright, alright. I'll stick around a while longer. But if they somehow activate me, if they turn me into a weapon, I need you to promise me you'll kill me. I just...I can't let that happen, she shakes her head. Lily nods gravely at this. The same goes for me. I don't want to lose control either. Of course, I should probably be asking Marcus to do it. You couldn't shoot the side of a mountain three feet away from it, she grins, lending much needed mirth to the situation.

Kirk listens to all this without emotion. Well if you want any chance of reversing this, I'll need more time. Actually, since your father is the one who did this, my best chance would be to question him. I have ways of doing it. But I need him here first and I'm not going out to get him. My work is in New York. If you really care about your mother you should bring your father in. Alive if possible but I can work around that if needed. he sniffs.

Josephine didn't like the news about the children, but it wasn't that bad with this new intel. Shaking it off, she focused on the other three,

"Well, they're not going to turn either of you into weapons, so we'll plan on that instead." she said, shaking her head, "Nobody here is allowed to die, unless I say so!" she said resolutely.

"I'm the worst person, quite literally, in the world to catch my father. These two aren't great for the job either, since he'll know how to 'activate' them. We need a different plan Kirk." she said flatly, shaking her head.

Kirk looks annoyed at your blatant disagreement. You get the feeling he's not used to women questioning him. He seems to be one of the more unpleasant people you've had the misfortune to work with. A moment later his next statement confirms this hunch.

Well, you seem to be inept and the other two are liabilities. In my book they should be kept under lock and key until I can neutralize them. If you're so poor at fetching your father, perhaps you'd best stay here too, let more important folk take on the task. I'm sure there's something around here they can find for a spirited young woman. Wrapping bandages perhaps? Entertaining the hunters? he says the word hunters with a sneer, clearly thinking them beneath him too.

Nodding with a smile, Josephine agreed,

"Ok, perfect! I'll let Marcus know that you'll be heading the trip to chase down my father, while I manage to hold down your operation here. Thank you so much for being the brave soul that you are, it really helps poor ol' girls like myself." she said, trapping him with his own words.

She knew the type, though... the man was angry, probably judgemental because women had never given him the time of day. Walking suddenly super close to him, breathing softly, she looked at his lips, subtly, and back up to his eyes, her own wet... the air suddenly very intense and intimate as she whispered,

"Or I can help you... show you things you've never seen... Teach you about the hunt... the things you've always been afraid of." she said, although with her honeyed whispered tone, it sounded like heaven pouring from her lips, "I mean... I can tell you're not half as bad as the other guys say you are... not as weak... not as indecisive. You could really make this operation go smoothly if you were in charge of it, right?" she asked, gently fiddling with his collar just a bit, subtly manipulating him to her cause...



OOC: Mwahaha, I finally found my one area of strength! Bring it on, old-fashioned, creepy man with looking down on girls syndrome! I'll make you my puppet!

ooc: Hahahaha!

Kirk looks at you in surprise, though annoyance flashes across his features. As you play with his collar he looks like he wants to pull away, glaring at you but...he doesn't. He's the curmudgeony type, a man used to power, to getting his way. A man who takes nothing off of anyone. But clearly he must find you attractive, even grudgingly. Why else would he hesitate? After a moment, he does take a step back, face still stony and cold, but he's quieter than he was before. Yes. You may have a subtle pull on him, but it is there. So. You expect me to lead this catastrophe do you? And you think you want to come along is that right? He is clever, perhaps even seeing through your charade, but not enough to not be affected by it. I can see that I'm going to have to do everything myself. I always do. he shakes his head. Fine. But from here on out, what I say goes. If you want to come, and what's more if you want to live, you'll obey ME. I'm the only one here who actually knows what he's doing. And I'd appreciate it if you kept your hands to yourself young lady, he adds with a raised brow at you. Yes. He's not so easily manipulated as most men it seems, but then you must have done something right or he wouldn't be coming along. And I'll have you know, the last person who mistook me for weak, died. Painfully. Remember that. he sniffs.

Holding her hands up, palms out, with an obedient look on her face, Josephine nodded,

"Oh, of course, Sir!" she said, just sinking that hook a little bit deeper... the hint of power... control... she baited the hook like a professional fisher,

"I wouldn't make the mistake of taking you for weak, sir. I promise you that much." she reiterated, explaining her 'position' in no uncertain terms.

Pausing, just long enough to not make it obvious, she finally asked,

"So how can I best help you prepare for this arduous journey, Kirk?" she asked softly, at least fulfilling the role of 'obedient' for now...

Sucker...

He arches a brow but seems accepting of your sincerity after a moment. I don't need your help other than to prepare yourself. You wouldn't know what to bring anyway. Just keep Marcus in check. He's an arrogant fool and he doesn't know nearly so much as he thinks he does. We leave tomorrow. Be ready. With that he leaves, a scowling Lily looking after him. She turns to you with an urgent expression. I don't like this. He's worse than you think him. He's sexist, pompous and he can be...dangerous. There is no one stronger than he in the arts of the arcane. Don't try to toy with him Jo. If you get on his bad side, he can do things to you you wouldn't dream of. He's too powerful. Most of us hate him but he's such an asset...If it were up to me though we'd have shot him years ago. I want to go with you. I know I'm a danger with this tainted blood but...I just want to make sure you're safe!

Nodding her acceptance of his words, Josephine bowed her head in respect,

"Thank you sir. I will do my best with Marcus."

When she turned to Lily, and the man had left the room, she shrugged,

"Of course I want you along, but what if you can't control yourself? Do you want to be the one that kills me?" she asked her, bringing her hand to the side of Lily's face gently stroking her, "I want you there too, but I don't know if its whats best for YOU. I will get him to do what we need, and I will come back, safe and strong. I promise."

Jo was lying, of course... had no idea what lay in store for her, but she knew Lily needed to stay here for her safety, and so somebody could figure out how to help her.

Lily pales at mention of killing you and she give a slow nod. You're right. Of course you're right. I'll stay. But...you have to be careful! I know you're talented at manipulation but use caution. That man is immune to anything requiring a heart. He's cold as ice Jo. And so, so powerful. Don't you cross him. Whatever happens. Don't. Do you understand? You are stunned to see a flash of fear in her green eyes. Lily has never been afraid of anything that you could see. It definitely makes you hesitate. She continues. I'm glad Marcus is going with you. You can trust him, he's as good of a man as Ian. He's not so strong as Kirk but he can keep you safe. Watch each other's backs. It's not so much that I think Kirk is evil, it's just that he's used to getting his way. If he doesn't get it then he can be...dangerous.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:13, Tue 08 Oct 2019.

Leaning in conspiratorially, Josephine whispered,

"Him mentioning those who cross him dying is a sign that he's already falling for it." Josephine grinned, her impetuous troublemaking already showing its face, "But I'll be careful, I promise you that. I'm not trying to play him anyways... I just need his help, and I feel like this is the only way to get it. I'm not here to cross anybody, Lily, you know that. I'm here for the best for everyone." she nodded, hearing about Marcus. She knew that, and was glad he was coming as well to keep her balanced. She needed that.


OOC: Haha, perfect! I am glad to hear she'll be coming back to me soon! I already miss her!

Lily seems satisfied, wrapping you in a tight hug and telling you to be safe and stick with Marcus. After your goodbyes are through, you're left with your mother, who smiles warmly, though sadness is deep in her eyes. Well Jo. Looks like I'm gonna be stuck here a while. I hate leaving the bar so long, she sighs and shakes her head. It's killing me actually. Ah well. I'll pick back up when this is all over. She pauses then, her half smile disappearing as she tucks your hair behind your ear. Sweetie...what you're about to do...I need you to know. Your father is still in there, somewhere. You're going to want to try to get him back, I know you but...honey it's not going to work. I tried and tried, even thought I got through to him but his demon is too strong. When it comes down to it, because it eventually will, you're going to have to let him go. He knows that. He understands. He may be technically alive but, he died a long time ago. Can you do it, if it comes to it? Can you be strong enough to let him die again?

Placing her hand on her mother's shoulder, Jo leaned in closely at her words, thinking with a furrowed brow for a long, hard moment. Eventually, she nodded her head, a determined look in her eyes,

"Mama, I wouldn't be a Hartley if I couldn't handle hard choices. I don't intend on losin' both my ma and my pa in the same lifetime, so if you could: focus on getting yourself right, so we can get through this together, you hear me?" she asked, and although her tone was mockingly tough, she was clearly very shaken by the idea. Still, if there was one thing Jo was good at, it was putting on a good face when needed.

"I don't know how I'll do it, mama, but I'll find a way. Us Hartley women always have to, because the men are so gall-darned useless." she smiled, trying to lighten the mood a bit, patting her mother one last time,

"I'll be fine. Make me some of those cookies for when I come back, alright?" she asked with a smile, taking off and following Marcus out of there, barely containing her emotion.

Your mother puts on a brave face in return, but you can feel her watching you as you leave, her eyes sad.

The rest of that day you prepare and rest and come morning you head out. Kirk has already been able to track your father, or at least determine which direction he's headed. It would seem he's gone north. Very north. Canada.

You take a train and already feel cramped again. At least Marcus keeps your spirits up! He's very likeable and so handsome it's distracting at times. Kirk, mostly keeps quiet, glaring in thought and keeping copious notes about something. You travel two days like this and that's when you realize that all throughout the journey thus far, a man has been watching you. He's in his forties, a bit rough looking, and somehow seems to always be around. In the dining car, glancing at you over his newspaper, even when you get out for rest stops, he never stays far away...

Finally, Jo was never one to be called indirect, she approached the man in his forties, immediately curious about his doings,

"Hello. I noticed you were looking for me. Or at least, looking at me." she said flatly, hand on her hip (which was as dangerous a look as anybody could see, if they knew women), "Was there something I could help you with?" she asked, that one, dangerous, eyebrow raised in question.




Sorry for delay, I didn't get a new post notification! I missed you!

He actually seems quite surprised that you confront him and for a humorous moment you can see him wracking his mind for some kind of excuse. Finally he comes up with one, which he reveals in such a strangled voice that you almost think it might be true. Sorry. I uh...think you're pretty. Sorry. He holds up his paper in front of his face quickly then, desperately trying to ignore you. Considering his tough features, you're surprised at how awkward he actually is. It's so incredibly odd, seeing this thug blush and stammer, that you aren't sure what to make of it. You also note, glancing down at his socks, that they are a ridiculous shade of scarlet, completely at odds with his brown suit, and, come to think of it, none of his clothes match. They are all rumpled and poorly laundered too, though you can tell they were nice once. What sort of man is this? Then, even more strange, you see at his table he seems to be drinking a glass of milk of all things, along with three pieces of cake.

"I apologize, but I'm not pretty sorry..." she teased with a little smirk, playing on his phrasing, "But I would be happy to make your acquaintance. Who might you be?" she asked, watching his eyes for signs of deceit,

"If you don't mind, may I ask a question?" if she gets the affirmation, she continues, "Your clothes... was it recent?" she asked, sensing a recent divorce, or something similar, like a life-altering event, but with her slipperiness in words, she knew how to phrase it to seem like she knew exactly what had happened, to open him up.

He laughs at your declaration of not being pretty, heartily disagreeing. Nah, you're beautiful! he declares. It's laughable how different his personality is from his intimidating face.

At your question though he pales, straightening in his seat and looking over at Marcus's direction of all people. Marcus, eyes closed and seemingly dozing, appears not to notice. Uh....r-recent? he licks his lips nervously. I mean...well yeah. But... he swallows hard. Do you...know who I am? Another worried glance towards Marcus.

ooc: Roll bluff! Ha! Of course bluff and diplomacy are the only rolls I'm sure you really don't have to worry about ;P

OOC - And yet... I rolled a natural 4. At least I'm consistent!

"I have no idea who you are." she said, shaking her head, glancing towards Marcus, "And I'm starting to guess that you don't wish to share with me." she said, raising an eyebrow.

Indeed a massive, relieved grin spreads across his face. He looks laughably pleased you don't know, such an odd combination for such an otherwise intimidating man. His face truly does not match his personality. Uh...no. I'd rather not. But...I'm from the men of letters! I can tell you that much! I was uh...sent to help watch you. That's right! I'm here to protect you! It's completely obvious he's lying, but you also don't sense hostility from him either. My name is uh....Jooooohn..... the fact that it takes him that long to come up with the moniker means it's obviously false. He's so inept, so bumbling that you aren't sure at all what to think. So far though, all you know is he's a liar and he's nervous of Marcus for some reason.

ooc: Ahahahaha! I totally take credit for that. I jinxed you :)

"Stand up, come walk with me." Jo said softly, smiling to put him at ease.

IF he agrees, and joins her, she hooks his arm and walks slowly towards Marcus, keeping up idle chatter. Once she reaches his side, she taps Marcus, and speaks,

"Marcus, dear... why is this man terrified of you? He says he's with the Men of Letters, and was sent to watch me?" she asked, curious but not wasting any time getting to the bottom of things.

At first, he seems happy to follow you, but, seeing you are going towards Marcus, he looks panicked. Somehow, he continues to follow though, perhaps knowing that escape is futile on a train.

Marcus, stirs at your touch, then looks up at the man with a frown, as you speak. I don't know your face. I know everyone's face at headquarters. It is an accusation, and not a kind one. The glances around, as though he'd like to run, but sees there really is nowhere to go.

Yeah, well I'm...secret! Victoria sent me! Marcus says nothing, just stares at him, face unreadable. Then, he stands. Baggage cart. This is not the places to discuss such things. He ushers you all to follow him then, and John does so reluctantly, clearly wracking his mind for some excuse that you'll believe. Soon you are in one of the baggage carts, the place devoid of other passengers. As soon as you're inside, John starts to babble. Look, I really am here from Victoria. I know all about her, ask me anything! Marcus ignores the question, instead shoving the poor man against the wall roughly. If you don't start coming up with some believable answers, I'm going to throw you off this train right now! Out with it! The sudden roughness in his voice startles you, and John's eyes are wide as saucers. To your surprise, the massive man cowers, arms raised to protect himself as he shrinks away. I'm sorry Marky! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Marcus stops, fist raised to strike him but paused mid-blow. Marky? He repeats in surprise. Then his brows furrow in anger. Will, that had better not be you! In response, the man gives a wince of apology. Uh...maybe? Marcus lets him go, letting out a growl of exasperation. Idiot! I should box your ears for this! I can't believe! He runs his hands through his dark hair, beyond annoyed. Finally, he turns to you with a sigh. Josephine, I'd like you to meet Will. My fourteen year old brother.

Exasperated, Josephine asked,

"Your fourteen year old brother was hitting on me?" she asked incredulously, "Should've seen that coming." she said, glaring at Marcus before teasingly sticking out her tongue at him with a grin,

"We throwing him off?" she asked in a mockingly serious tone, turning to glare at his little brother, to allow Marcus a little fun.

We should throw him off! Marcus agrees with a nod. Will looks terrified. I'm sorry MarkyI I only wanted to help! Please, let me help! You wouldn't put me off all on my own now, would you? A boy my age, in this big dangerous world? He is clearly playing innocent, but it looks laughable with his scarred, older form. Marcus rolls his eyes. Will you get out of that ridiculous disguise? I can't take you seriously. Nodding, Will does just that, and with a muttered word, he morphs into his true form, a gangly young thing with dark wavy hair and copper skin, just like his brother. But Marky, aren't you impressed? It took you years to master that spell! I can help! I know it! He turns to you then, eager and desperate. Pretty lady, please don't let my brother send me home! Can I stay? He'll let me if you ask him, I know it!

Rolling her eyes, Josephine shook her head at the pleading, and tilted her head back towards Marcus,

"No way, bud. Marcus hasn't ever steered me wrong, so I'm not going against his decision. You'd better work on him before you worry about me. The man knows what he's doing." she said resolutely, knowing that Marcus would appreciate the backup. Plus, it was his little brother: he should be allowed to make the call on his safety.

Will looks quite disappointed, and what's more, surprised. I really thought that would work. He blinks. Nevermind. Marky, you can't really expect me to go home alone on my own, do you? What if there's robbers or demons or...or...skinwalkers! Lily always warned me about those! I think this area's full of em too. You think I'm ready for all that on my own? At least if I go with you, you can keep an eye on me, right? Right? I won't even go with you on any hunts. I'll just stay in the hotel room. I promise!

Marcus listens to all this, sighing. Nice try boyo. As soon as we get to a town, I'm calling someone to pick you up. Til then, you're under my thumb, got it? Will looks like he wants to argue, but shakes his head with a sigh. Fine. Got it. Geez, thanks for the help lady, he adds to you drily. On his side already? Guess I shouldn't be surprised. All the women go crazy over Marcus. He's almost as bad as Ian. You're not his girl at least, right? he adds with a suggestive eyebrow.

Leaning in close, teasingly, Josephine remarked back,

"The only bit of crazy here, young man, is you thinking you could get away with this. Now: listen to your brother, and let us focus." she said, laughing softly as she pulled away, not bothering to answer his silly little question directly.

Turning back towards Marcus, she shrugged,

"Thought his behavior was strange... spotted it from across the train. Figured it was worth bringing to your attention. Had no idea the way it would go!" she laughed again.

Marcus nods back, still a bit blown away by the situation.That's an understatement! Will's always been a tagalong, but I never dreamt he'd go this far. We're orphans, see. I've practically raised him the last five years, and when I got involved in hunting, well, he found his way into it too. Against my wishes, of course, he sighs. Boy's actually got the potential to be better than me someday. Better even than Kirk, and he's the best. But, as you can see, he's still a child in a lot of ways. He's not ready.

You know I can still hear you, right? Will arches an eyebrow. Marcus rolls his eyes. Just get your disguise back on. Don't want anyone wondering what's going on if a strange boy just shows up. You've really done it now.

ooc: Go ahead and finish up conversation here, and let me know what you plan on doing the next day or so, and I'll move things along.

Josephine nodded, knowing it was healthy for the boy to try, but be stopped and lectured by Marcus.

Over the next day or so, she relaxed, stretching her legs whenever possible, and walking the cars comfortably, relaxing before the storm hit. She knew she had a heavy set of circumstances coming up, so she was preparing herself for it, hour by hour.

Eventually, she took a quick nap.

The train ride goes well enough. Kirk mostly ignores you all, seemingly lost in writing his notes and glaring in concentration. Will's arrival doesn't affect him much. He just sneers in annoyance when told of the situation, and proceeds to ignore everyone again. Well, no skin off your nose. He's not exactly worth your time anyway.

As the day progresses, you get to know Will better. It's odd, seeing him in his disguise, now that you know what he is. On one occasion he tries to chat up a pretty young lady but Marcus grabs him by the collar and yanks him back to your train car, lecturing him the whole way. It's endearing, to see Marcus being the responsible one, and you find yourself amused by the pair's bickering on more than one occasion.

The next two days pass this way as you press ever northward. You're well into Canada by now, though not much is really different in comparison to the states that you can see. At last you reach your stop. A small town called Oberton Point. By the time you unload and head to find a hotel, it is dark. Kirk doesn't even bother to wait for you. Just grabs his case and wordlessly walks ahead, so fast that it's difficult to keep up with him, but then again, that seems to be the point. Eventually you find yourself in a pleasant, albeit small, hotel with a room across from Will and Marcus. Everything is clean and quaint and so much better than that rattling train.

You're just thinking about finding some dinner, when you hear crying coming from down the hall. Should you investigate, you'll see it's coming from behind a closed door at the end of the hall.

ooc: Give me two general rolls please, and I'll add the modifiers myself depending on what is needed. Just let me know what you plan to do and I'll apply them as needed.

Hurrying her smaller steps to keep up with Kirk's larger ones, Josephine was pleasantly surprised to find herself in a decent looking hotel. Thinking about some food, Josephine was put on high alert when she heard crying, though she stopped herself.

Can't imagine a demon around every corner, Jo... she could imagine her father telling her.

Still, she moved towards the crying, knowing full well she had to investigate. Coincidences rarely occurred in her experience, so she was fully ready to pounce if an opportunity presented itself. Approaching the sounds quietly, she tried to act nonchalant, as if she were simply walking down a hallway, but she kept her senses peeled, ready just in case.





LOL typical for me:

16:41, Today: Josephine Hartley rolled 17 using 1d20.

16:41, Today: Josephine Hartley rolled 3 using 1d20.

As you get closer, the crying increases, the sounds turning to shrieks, and you find yourself frantically scrabbling for the door. It is locked, but it's also old and thin. You are able to slam your shoulder against it and break it open easier than you expected. You rush inside, expecting blood, murder, something awful anyway, from the way the person was carrying on. What you do see, however, startles you. It is a little girl. About six. She's sitting in the middle of the room, smiling at you.

Josephine froze, immediately recognizing that something wasn't right here, and she frowned, looking around the room to be safe,

"Are..." she paused nervously, realizing if the girl was smiling confidently, it could already be too late, "...who are you?" she demanded, knowing full well that was likely a demon inside of that little girl or something similar!



Rolling a random die to see if she senses anything, just in case you can use it!

21 on sense motive

The little girl's smile broadens, and she starts to giggle, a truly chilling sound. Her eyes penetrate yours, and you feel the room seem to freeze around you, the air growing icy, awful. Then, with startling speed, the smile drops, replaced by a shrill, horrific scream. It's so loud, so awful, that you clap your hands over your ears in pain. And then...she disappears.

ooc: You don't know what kind of ghost this is, but you strongly suspect it is one. Still, you've never seen a ghost act like this. So erratic, so unstable. And the fact that it's a child is...disconcerting.

Grimacing as she clasped her hands to her ears, Josephine ducked instinctively, but then the ghost-girl vanished, and she stood up. She wasn't sure just what the hell that was, but it was time to let Marcus know, and perhaps relocate if necessary.

Turning, she headed for Marcus' room immediately, not even in the mood to play around with this sort of stuff. She was realizing quickly how naive she was in the ways of ghosts and monsters, and she needed to up her training!

You find Marcus in his room, one that he shares with Will, who is grumbling at him while the handsome man lectures the boy about something. At least now the young man is in his natural form, the need for his adult disguise has passed.

As soon as you tell them about it, Will's face lights up with excitement. A ghost!? A real, live ghost? He bolts out the door towards the room you mentioned, Marcus snapping at him to come back. I've never actually seen one! Will calls back, as though that's explanation enough. He bursts into the room at a run, excited and breathless and looking around wildly. The room, is empty, however, and though he starts examining the walls with something close to glee, you see no trace of the girl, though you're not surprised. What does surprise you, is the voice from the doorway behind you three. Guests are not allowed in this room. Exit immediately! You turn back to see a harsh faced middle aged woman who looks far angrier than you would expect someone to be under such circumstances.

Jo shot an apologetic look at Marcus about involving his little brother in her haste, before following him off to the room she had just left.

Spinning rapidly, expecting the worst at the sound of the voice, Josephine was surprised.

"Is this room occupied?" she questioned cautiously, not revealing anymore than that. The woman seemed aware that this room was perhaps 'haunted' or something similar, so this might not be a targeted attack, but a persistent "here only" thing, which would be a relief.