'Who? Who will she come for?' Penny had pressed, but it was too late, Mrs Turning had come back to herself. But not before imparting one final cryptic warning, perhaps in answer to her question, and it chilled Penny to the bone. Of course, she should expect this, Ian was a perfect target for the ghost, and he was a hunter accustomed to ghosts, she rationalised, but it worried her nonetheless.

'Oh, yes, it's lovely, thank you, Mrs Turning.' Penny answered. She tried a different tack, inquiring 'Tell me, Mrs Turning, have you met a young woman named Abigail on this train? I was looking for her.' Perhaps something might linger in the old medium's memories, however confused.

Alice stood by letting those with more knowledge speak about such things.

Mrs. Turning smiles at the question. Of course my dear! I've seen her many times. She's such a lovely creature don't you think? It's a shame she's so unhappy these days. Of course, an unfaithful lover can break even the stoutest of hearts she shakes her head. I fear it's soured her off men unfortunately. Of course, I can't really blame her.

'No, I don't suppose I can either...' Penny returned sympathetically, wondering if Mrs Turning spoke from experience too. 'Do you know where I might find Abigail? Or if she left anything of hers around here?'

Alice realized Penny had been right. The ghost was trying to protect her in a twisted way. She felt terrible that her seemingly harmless flirting had gotten the man harmed.

Mrs. Turning considers the question. Hm....I believe she's quite fond of the dining car, Jaffers is there you see, but she goes most anyplace she likes. As for anything she left, I think there's a locket she was very fond of. But I don't think she's missing it too much. She's happy with where it is she finishes with a smile.

The locket again! It had to still be on the train, for Abigail's bones surely would not be. But where? Penny reasoned her way through the issue. Hidden in some crevice, perhaps, undiscovered for years? Possible, but unlikely, and too difficult to prove if so. She must necessarily discount it. In the possession of someone still on the train? Someone who'd been close to Abigail in life as she was not displeased. Yes! The association with the dining car corroborated it. Once again, Penny was brought back to Mr Jaffers.

'Well, thank you very much, Mrs Turning. We'll let you have some peace and quiet. You have a good rest now, please.' she consoled, patting the old woman's hand.

If Alice and Ian had nothing to add, then Penny slipped out of the cabin for some discretion. 'I believe that clinches it. Abigail is haunting her locket... Ghosts are bound in death to either their bones or a treasured possession.' she explained for Alice's benefit. 'And I believe Jaffers has her locket. We must question him, get a hold of the locket, and salt and burn it. This will purify it, break the binding, and release her troubled spirit to Heaven.'

Alice shrugged. She did not think the Professor had any such item, but she could be mistaken. She stoped consoling him and made him look at her. "Where is it?"

Delapore looks at Alice with bewilderment. I don't know what you're talking about! he insists, still quite shaken with the matter. All I know is I nearly died from something that up until now, I did not believe in. Anything more you want to know will be pointless to ask! He is quiet distressed and shaking but trying to reassert his usual demeanor as best as he is able.



Ian nods at Penny's instructions. How blunt do you want to be about this? I could always shove him in a corner and make him tell us. Or do you want to go about this the proper way? he gives an amused grin.

ooc: He's not at the dining car, so you'll need to roll some gather information checks to find him. Let me know your plans on how you want to approach him and if necessary make bluff checks too. I'd say a DC 15 should yield where the man is, that way you're prepared.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:44, Thu 03 May 2018.

Alice leaned in and kissed him on the lips. It was the only thing she could think of to calm him down. "There now, better? I would really appreciate your help. I am willing to reward you, either with less teasing or more which ever you prefer."

Penny gave Ian a long questioning look that became a matching smirk. 'The proper way, of course. After all, we're British... We'll question him discreetly at first, then confront him with the issue. But if he is honouring the memory of the deceased, we must give him the chance to do the honourable thing and aid us.'

Moving swiftly along the train and through the dining car, Penny deftly questioned staff and guests alike on Jaffers's whereabouts. She used a trifling story of a lost cuff-link she thought might belong to him (Penny had already observed it, of course) so as not to arouse much suspicion as to why they sought him.


OOC: Gather Information 26 (I decided not to use the +2 from Profile I had in the roller, since I'm tracking Jaffers rather than Abigail) and Bluff 15.

Alice: Delapore looks at you with complete and utter shock. He backs away, blushing furiously though you get the feeling he's not wholly displeased, just not at all sure what to do with you. You're as forward as a soldier on shore leave! he gasps. Women are supposed to be demure, genteel.....! he sputters, unsure what else to say. At last he shakes his head. What exactly do you think I could help you with?

Penny: You are informed that the man is in his personal quarters, which likely consists of a car similar to your own, albeit more simple, however they are loathe to tell you where it is exactly as it would be indecent for guests to enter the staff's domain. However, he is due to take up his shift again within an hour or so should you wish to return the cuff link then. ooc: If you want to try to be brazen you're certainly welcome and you have an idea of where the servant's cars are, but it won't be easy getting in without getting in trouble. Of course, that could be fun too.... ;)

Alice said by way of explanation, "I lived in Europe. You can help us locate the barman."

With at least two attacks in the last hour or so, Penny simply could not wait another hour and risk a life lost. They had to see Jaffers immediately. But how? The carriages made an almost one-dimensional course, and climbing onto the roof and riding atop a speeding train seemed frightfully gauche. Pushing their way through would only add obstacles to the investigation, potentially get them kicked off later. She need a ruse...


OOC: Questions, questions... At which end of the train are the servant's cars? Would we go through them to reach the engine? Are the two brothers still around?

It doesn't seem that long ago since we spoke to Jaffers, before our dinner, so it seems a bit short for a shift change. Is he just on a break, or have you assumed more time has passed?

ooc: You get the impression he's on break but an unexpected one as his relief is grumpy about it. If you press it, you are told Jaffers is not feeling well. The workers' cars are directly behind the engine and there's about four of them. The brothers are still in the dining car, though uneasy about you approaching them should you do so.

Alice: Delapore looks hesitant at the request. I can try I suppose...though I don't understand any of this. Couldn't you just ask one of the workers? I suppose if you need someone with more clout though I can do that he adds, straightening up self importantly.

Penny was of course reluctant to get any more civilians involved in this case than she strictly needed to, so she discounted pressing the two coal-men into service. Besides, she would have much the same debate with them as any of the staff about gaining entry to the staff cars. They might even be rather less willing to show her the sites of various hauntings in there, if it risked inviting the ridicule of their colleagues. The story of the cufflink was a poor choice. No, she needed to try a different tack, one with an equally urgent need. Hmm...

She thanked the relief barman and, nudging Ian, continued down the dining car and on, until they came to the door to the staff cars. There, she lingered close to Ian, briefly intimating what she dared share of her plan, until she could flag one of the servants, a man for preference. 'Ah, excuse me, can you help us? My husband and I were wondering if it is possible for us to visit the steam engine? Just for a little tour, of course.' An innocuous enough request, but Penny would add a little oomph to it. 'I am quite a fancier of steam engines and locomotives, you see. We even met at an industrial show, and simply had to take a train journey for our honeymoon.' She took Ian's hand meaningfully. Penny had recalled Alice's lessons of earlier, and time spent with the ladies of Whitechapel, and thought that their techniques, if applied appropriately, could be useful here. She went on, speaking more breathily 'It's all so thrilling, isn't it, dear? Riding upon the iron horse, those big pistons sliding and pounding, all that steam making one so hot and flustered...' With her other hand, she touched her chest then tugged at her collar and slipped loose a button, as if eager to get out of her dress. She even licked her lips. With her anxiety at doing this, she didn't have to feign a rosy-cheeked blush and short breaths, seeming much like a newlywed bride wishing to get in the mood with a hot steam engine.

She squeezed Ian's hand, suggested he take the lead. Surely one man could help another out, perhaps for a bribe...?


OOC: 13:53, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 14 using 1d20+5. bluff.

05:52, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 29 using 1d20+12.  Gather Info.

Alice smiled, "Clout and distinction." She smoothed out his lapels. "Fret not, professor, your chastity is safe. I kissed you to bring you to the moment. It was that or slap you, and I chose the less painful of options."

Ian, after you give him more details of the ruse, looks incredibly amused but he slips into the role naturally as the servant looks quite surprised at such a fine lady's words. Ian laughs and pats the man on the back with his free hand. Isn't she darlin? You oughta find yourself a society girl too my friend. They seem all straight laced and proper, but they like nothin more than to roll around in some grease with a working man with calloused hands. Consider it a tip from me to you he winks and laughs again. His usual Scottish accent thickens, no doubt to relate to the lower class all the more. The servant breaks into a big grin of his own and points the way. I'd hate to have a passenger disappointed! Just head that way. You'll have to pass through the worker's quarters, but just tell em Bill sent you to "the spot" and they'll show you where to go. A nice cozy place near where they keep the coal. You'll get a little messy though, be warned he laughs all the louder.

It doesn't take long to reach the cars he mentioned and Ian whispers as you hurry along, Didn't expect a plan like that to come from the likes of you. It's been eight years in my mind since I've seen you but I remember you being pretty...proper.

ooc: It won't take long to find Jaffers and you will recognize him. Go ahead and finish up with Ian and proceed upon finding the man.

Alice:
He blushes as you touch his shirt, but his face stays determined not to react. Oh it is fun to bother him! In the meantime you get the answer from one of the servants that he should be back at his post in the dining car within the hour. Before you can decide what to do though you, Mrs. Turning's niece comes rushing to you both, obviously having searched high and low. Please! It's grandmother! She's having a fit! Help! Should you follow you will find the old woman on the floor, eyes wide open and muscles stiff as she jerks this way and that. She's killed him! She's killed him! She's killed him! she wails over and over.

Penny flushed furiously as she hurried away from the exchange, seemingly eager to get to "the spot", but in fact just trying to get away. She was hotly embarrassed and annoyed the conversation had turned so much more explicit than her planned insinuation. Still, she couldn't, or at least shouldn't, blame Ian for running with what had been her idea. 'I am proper. I just didn't expect it to become quite so improper. Nor there to be a spot.' she grumbled ruefully.

She debated whether to be defensive or pompous about this, and decided on the latter. Dignity was not what you did, but how you did it. 'And I'll have you know I worked often with the ladies of the night of Whitechapel to hunt the Ripper and less-human predators. I did learn some things from them... More recently, that Alice has been... giving me some instruction.' In other words, putting ideas in her head. Looking about, she scanned the servant's quarters, looking for where Jaffers might stay, while murmuring 'Not that I don't have some fancies of my own.'
This message was last edited by the player at 02:10, Tue 15 May 2018.

Alice looked worried, possibly scared, and absolutely frazzled. "Uh...ummm....who killed who nice lady?"

Ian laughs and shakes his head. Sorry, sorry, I probably went too far with it. But I'm sure you know more than I give you credit for. And sorry if I tease too much, it's just nice to have a distraction his smile fades. Be careful of Alice though. She might give you more instruction than you'd like. Besides, there's not a bloody thing wrong with being proper. His smile returns ever so faintly.

Alice: Mrs Turning barely seems to hear you but she manages to gasp, In the cargo car! She strangled him!

You are aware the cargo car is at the end of the train. Should you try to make your way there you will hear screams from some of the servants as they rush forward, fleeing from something. If you continue to investigate you'll find quite a scene. Three workmen gathered around a fourth who lies on the ground, eyes wide open.

'Nor in being improper occasionally...' Penny added with a slight mischievous smile. She returned a more appreciative look to Ian, glad to have a friend she could trust to back her up in such schemes. 'But the ruse worked perfectly, that's all that matters. Thank you. Now, let us find Mister Jaffers. And who knows, we may even find ourselves the Spot.' she added with her own teasing air.

She soon located Jaffers's room and rapped on the door, not calling out so as not to give him prior warning.

Alice turned to her Professor friend, "Find Penny and Ian, hurry. Bring them to the baggage car." Finding her way to the horrible scene. She knelt and felt for a pulse, hoping against hope that she might find one, even a weak one.

Ian looks startled at your last statement, but recovers quickly, especially since you already have started knocking. Jaffers opens the door quickly, looking haggard and tired but fully dressed save his shoes but then he is due to resume his shift soon. You do smell the air of alcohol about him, but he doesn't seem drunk yet, though his red eyes could be from whiskey but you get the feeling it's possible he's been crying. Ian sees this and you can tell he finds it awkward, waiting for you to take the lead. Jaffers squints at you both, turning irritated. I think you must be lost. This is the servant's quarters. You want the opposite end of the train he points.

Alice: Delapore scrambles off to obey, though he looks pale as a sheet and very unsteady on his feet. Meanwhile your search for a pulse proves fruitless. Upon closer inspection of the body you see fingermarks on his neck where he was strangled. His body is still warm enough you think this must have been recent indeed. In fact, the air is slightly cold. Around you the workmen are swearing and shouting, only semi aware of your presence. You hear one stammer, She'll kill us all! None of us is safe!

'No, I want Abigail's locket.' Penny returned quickly and firmly, throwing Jaffers off balance. Whiskey and grief could make the man unstable, so Penny softened her approach, but targeted the source of that grief. 'Mr Shaw and I are private investigators with the Pinkerton National Detective Agency.' Well, Ian had once been a Pinkerton, it was close enough. Penny was sure dropping the name would cover for many questions Jaffers might have and give them some legal authority. 'We're investigating the death of Miss Abigail Peyton and have reason to believe you know something of it. Please, Mister Jaffers, it would be very helpful if you tell us what you know. It would help lay her spirit to rest.' That part was very literally true.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:02, Fri 18 May 2018.