Penny's thoughts turn to any whistling monsters and they settle on the silbon, an angry spirit from South American lore who is particularly drawn to revenge on womanizing men, in which case both Peter and Ian could be in danger, but suddenly something about the tune stops you in your tracks. Alice too. The tune, now that you're closer, is very familiar. Is that...camptown races? Ian asks in bewilderment. And to your surprise yes. Yes it is. The whistler stops from time to time, muttering something unintelligible, he is still a ways up after all, and then continues on, the same song over and over. This most definitely does not seem like a silbon. No. It seems like a man.

Should you decide to investigate, Alice and Ian climb up easily, as does Lily, though she brings up the rear to help Emma navigate for the aging woman has a tough time of it. Peter stays back too for that matter, perhaps not keen on sticking his neck out for the likes of Alice.

What you find at the top is an odd scene indeed. The entrance to the cave is small, you'll have to hunch to get inside, and it's a bit treacherous footing for there's not much space. Still, at the top there is just enough flat ground for about fifteen feet of room. In the center of this is a chair, a cushioned one at that even, and sitting atop it is a man. He's stopped whistling and is instead eating a very generous piece of cake with white and pink frosting and a massive sugared flower. The plate is very fine porcelain and in his lap between his legs is a tall frosty glass of pink lemonade, unbelievably with ice inside! The man himself looks up, not in the least surprised and a bit put out at being interrupted. NOW you show up? Right when I have cake? You'll have to wait. I'm eating. he says with his mouth full. This is apparently his first bite.

He's in his mid to late thirties with light brown swept back hair that reaches the nape of his neck. He has brown twinkling eyes and thin lips that look ready to smile with ease. His narrow nose is long, sharp and dimpled on the end. His accent is American from what you can tell with his mouth full. Not everyone has reached him yet, Peter, Lily, and Emma still trailing behind a ways.

'The Silbón? In Palestine?' Penny had wondered incredulously, recalling the last account of a whistling monster she'd heard, but immediately discounted the notion, for they were on the wrong entirely continent entirely and the whistler looked little like El Silbón.

Shaking her head, she let Alice climb up after it, then set hand and toe to the rock-face and scaled it herself.

But what she found at the top was somehow even more unbelievable. But Penny was an Englishwoman, and immediately showed proper manners. She doffed her hat and said 'Good afternoon, sir. Do forgive our intrusion, but we were surprised to find we were not alone out here.' Penny didn't have to be a great detective to know this was no ordinary man: white, American, wandering alone in the wilds of Palestine, with a mostly unlikely meal of fine dessert and iced lemonade. Yes, there was something very unreal about this tableau. Could she trust any senses and clues? 'Yet I take it you were expecting us?'
This message was last edited by the player at 12:52, Thu 16 Jan 2020.

Alice kept back watching but not threatening. The whole thing seemed like The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party to her. She even said, under her breath, “If you knew Time as well as I do, you wouldn’t talk about wasting it. Time is a him.”

The man grudgingly finishes his bite and puts his cake down with a sigh, still more disappointed at the interruption than anything. Alright, alright, you don't want to waste time? Well neither do I. You guys are searching for a scroll right? he eyes his cake distractedly even as he talks. Well today I'm all about scrolls. Lucky you. So I say we just get in there and start-whoa, whoa, whoa! Hold up! he gestures behind you to Peter, who has finally emerged from the difficult trail. We've got ourselves a dick here. Yup. MEEP MEEP MEEP! My dickometer is bleeping like crazy! he points with a look of accusing amusement. Of course you are beyond confused, what in the world is this gibberish he's spouting? Meep? Dickometer? Peter is just as fuddled.
What the? How are you up here!? And my name is Peter, not Dick, Peter adds uncertainly.
Oh I forgot how stupid the eighteen nineties are, the strange man shakes his head as he mutters to himself. No fun words at all. You just say quite all the time don't you? Quite, quite, quite. Boooooring! Hm...how do I explain this? Another name for dick...another name for dick... Oh! Now I remember! he snaps his fingers in triumph, and to your shock Peter completely disappears. I don't give a damn!

When Peter disappeared her instinct took over and she pulled her pistol. She disliked Peter intently but he was sill on her team and she had to defend them. <yellow>”What in the SamHell did you just do, old timer?”</yelllow>

Old timer?! the man looks offended. I don't look a day over thirty five! He shoots you a disapproving look. And don't get all excited. I didn't kill him. I just thought your friend could do with a bit more exercise. Maybe sweat some of the douche out of him. He gestures to the trail going down the cliff. Lily, Ian and Emma are still making their way up and should you look down you see they are all quite animated about something. Crimwall, who is nearly to the top, gestures excitedly. How did Peter end up down there?! What happened? Did he fall somehow? You see then what he's talking about. There, at the base of the cliff, stands a bewildered Peter who slowly starts to climb back up. The strange man looks particularly pleased with himself. I could do that all day. He needs the exercise anyway right? They say hiking is good for you. He plops down and takes another bite of cake.

Alice kept her weapon trained on the fellow, even though he could obviously make her vanish on a whim. He seemed to now what was happening, even knowing Peter was a thorn rather than having one. ”You seem to know us. Do you know why we’re here?”

Throughout the man's bizarre behaviour, Penny had stood back, watching and waiting, and wondering at the truth behind these games. Penny only reacted in alarm when he made Peter vanish, fearing his capering was but a prelude to an attack, but was reassured when Peter turned up at the bottom of the cliff again. She might be a proper Victorian woman, but as a girl, she'd hunted pixies upon the Devonshire moor, mischievous jesters and tricksters who'd play games with mortals (and were a good entry-level monster for the child hunter besides, though frustrating for a serious girl like Penny). She recognised similar habits here, in the man's odd speech, odd habits, and odd pranks, and knew not to take the bait, but to be bold and witty, never the butt of a joke.

At last, Penny raised a hand to Alice's gun, suggesting she should lower it. It would do them little good here. Penny spoke up, her eyes on their peculiar host. 'He does, he mentioned the scroll... He's from the 21st century – 2013 or later – for he uses the crude slang of that age.' Penny had heard Dean Winchster use the French word for a shower, though it seemed an odd choice of insult. 'And you're not merely a time-lost hunter, are you? You have all the time in the world – and all the cake and lemonade to share.' she challenged him, but there was amusement twinkling in her blue eyes at the absurdity. She held out her hand as if holding a glass of lemonade already. 'Pretty please?'


OOC: Eep, sorry, losing all track of time.

Alison is surprised at the confidence of Penny’s answer. She wasn’t guessing the way she normally did it, she knew this. ”How do you...never mind...we’ll all about this later.” She stepped back and let Penny handle this, she seemed to know what she was doing.

The man looks at Penny and laughs and a second later indeed there is a glass of lemonade within it. He nods to Alice as if offering her one too and should she wish it she shall have one as well. By now Crimwall has made it up but space is becoming limited so the stranger gestures you into the cave just a bit. The walls within are smoothed and obviously man formed but it still isn't that large of a space. Crimwall is naturally confused and curious but he has the intelligence to keep quiet and watch rather than blather on with questions. The man ignores him for the most part, more focused on Penny and Alice. See, you're smart, he points to Penny. I like that. There are too many idiots in this time. Not all, but a lot, he makes a face. I guess you're wondering what I am though. All you need to know is I'm on your side and I'm not supposed to be here. Neither are you. You're looking for the copper scroll right? Well if you're going to do this without screwing up the universe, I have to supervise you. Not everything is meant to be found right now. So unless you have something better to do I think we should get- he's interrupted suddenly by Lily's voice at the entrance of the cave. Finally! I thought I'd have to drag Emma up by her ankles! Now what did I miss? she brushes the dust off her clothes, Ian and Emma trailing behind her. The stranger stops cold, looking at her in surprise. He just stands there, stunned and she locks eyes on him in confusion. Who are you? He says nothing, still unable to talk. Why do you look familiar? She asks with suspicion. He finally manages to speak, uncertainly. Uh....just one of those faces... he gives an uncertain shrug.But it's nice to meet you. Any hint of mirth is gone in those last words, the twinkle in his eye momentarily gone, and then Ian spoils the moment by entering with a look of concern. Anyone want to tell me why Peter just appeared at the bottom of the mountain? We got a problem up here? His instincts are clearly to be suspicious, his hand already hovering by his gun.

Alice slowly put her weapon away and made a motion to Ian which meant “be calm - under control” and returned her attention to th weird man who had made Peter vanish. “Are you the Devil?” She asked this question with a completely straight face.

The question takes him by surprise and he laughs, a mixture of amusement and relief to turn away from Lily for whatever reason. He shakes his head. Me? No, no. I do know him though. Like, really well. He has his moments but overall he’s a total tool. No, I’m much more trustworthy, He assures you, though something tells you he has his own set of codes that may not always mesh with yours. At least he seems benign enough for now.

'Thank you, sir.' Penny received her pink lemonade gratefully and took a long and much-needed drink, with her throat parched after the climb in the desert heat. Iced and sweet, it was just the thing. 'Ah, very refreshing.'

She might've said something on the matter of idiots and him pretending to be one, but wisely held her tongue and listened through the trickster's spiel, and the interruption of introductions. She was concerned by Lily's familiarity and the man's stunned reaction, wondering if it had something to do with her nephilim heritage. And who else but angels would realise and be so disturbed?

'We had a... Dick problem, I guess.' Penny answered Ian delicately. 'But the matter is in hand, really. Tell Peter all is okay and to keep watch outside... And perhaps not to bother climbing up again, unless he likes the exercise.'

After the man's exchange with Alice, Penny glanced to her, explaining 'He's not the Devil, Alice, but he may well be... a relative.' This last she said directly to the assumed angel. He was a far cry from humble Castiel, but surely angels came in many shapes and natures. 'So, what is it we need to do here, while neither of us are officially here?'

The strange man smirks at Penny's assertions, not confirming her suspicions but not denying them either. Lily studies him suspiciously but he seems to avoid looking at her more often than he has to. Well, none of this is supposed to be discovered for another sixty years or so. You're not supposed to even be here but it's either dabble with the timeline or watch the world end. I figured this was the better of the two options. The rest of the shlups I work with freaked out though and only agreed not to stop you if I kept you from interfering with things too much. So, you're allowed to find the copper scroll and nothing else. And you have to put it back when you're done, he adds with a wag of his finger. Lily frowns at this. Copper scroll? How do we know which one it is? He hesitates but answers her, still looking supremely uncomfortable. Uh, well they're in jars. See? he points into the cave and you do indeed see several clay jars deeper within. As for which one well, any of you ever play hot and cold?

Alice shrugged, ”Yea, I guess you’re right, if he were Lucipher, he would say there is no such thing as the devil.” She decided to remain quiet for the rest of this, it would be easier that way.

'If he were Lucifer, we wouldn't be having this conversation.' Penny replied to Alice.

Penny winced as the alleged angel once again described it as a copper scroll they were looking for, after Penny had purposefully mistranslated the scroll for the witches. But at this point, did it really matter. Since he knew the scroll was copper, this odd gentlemen had to be on the level, however crooked he might really seem. '"The caves of Qumran hold many truths. Copper shines brighter than the purest gold."' quoth Penny, truthfully this time. 'We must find the one that shines brighter than gold. A difficult feat when they're all in jars. But perhaps it will shine regardless?' She moved deeper into the cave, approaching the clay jars one by one.

The stranger looks amused at Penny's ponderings and he gives a thin, crooked smirk. You think it's actually shiny? That's adorable! he chuckles, seeming to mean it without snark. Though copper could be a little shiny I suppose. Well, why don't we see shall we? Who wants to be the seeker? How about you? he points to Alice. You look like fun. Alright. When you get close to the right jar I'll say hotter, got it? he gestures you to start. Should you take him at his game he indeed calls out with mirth, Cold, colder, cooooooold. Oooh, warming up a little. Temperature's rising slightly. Warmer, waaaarmer, yeah you're heating up now. Heating up. Today's forecast looks like a high of ninety and not a cloud in sight. Put on your sunscreen boys and girls, it's a great day for a picnic! Oh, uh sorry, that means hot. No, not that way. Colder, colder! There you go yes. Hot. Hot, hot, hooooooot! Yes!!! he claps his hands as Alice pulls out a bundle of thin, hammered copper from a large clay jar. It is unfortunately impossible to read though, as the metal is rolled up tightly and seemingly fragile. It bears a greenish patina from age and exposure. Definitely not the shine you expected. Whoa. It's rolled up? Guess I should have remembered that. Well, I can't unroll it for you. I'm not allowed to get directly involved like that. Uh...you want a pair of wire cutters or something?

Alice wandered around playing the game but not liking it a bit. When she found the copper scroll she treated it delicately, handing it to Penny or Lily for safe keeping. She shrugged, “How do we know he ain’t lying?”

With Alice chosen as scroll-seeker, Penny retreated reluctantly from the mass of dusty pots to give her space, but not without some mild complaints. 'I have extensive skills in deduction and evidence collection, should we need it.' she reminded everybody. Holmes would think this game absurd when she returned to England and told him and Watson of her adventures in America and beyond.

'We have the copper scroll, don't we?' she asked by way of answer to Alice as she received precious and delicate item itself. Penny rested it in a handkerchief. The poor state was disappointing, but should have been expected due to the great age. How many secrets of antiquity had been lost in this way, crumbled to dust and scattered to the winds? 'We must take incredible care, lest it disintegrate completely. It might years of careful conservation to preserve.' she sighed, knowing they were years they did not have.


OOC: Heh, I saw a documentary on this very scroll. :)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_Scroll
This message was last edited by the player at 11:43, Sun 09 Feb 2020.

ooc: Hahaha! Oh no! That means when I inevitably screw something up you'll notice!

The strange man watches Penny with interest and a pair of scissors appear in his hand. Meh, how fragile can it be, it's metal right? I say you just cut the mofo up. he opens and closes the scissors for emphasis. But you know. Carefully? Ian hears this and shakes his head with amusement. So what do you we call you anyway? You have a name? In answer, the man's eyes dart to Lily and then back again. She's been watching him uncertainly this entire time, no doubt sensing his mood towards her. Well, to some I go by Loki, he says carefully. So there's that I guess. Or hey! How 'bout Bob? Bob's always fun! he grins. Oooh! Oooh! I know, I know! Nevermind. Call me. Optimus. Prime. Coolest cartoon ever, don't waste your time with the movies. Between Michael Bay and Shia Lebouff, what a mess. Still, there was Megan Fox though...

I say we call you Iktomi, Lily interrupts flatly. The spider. You strike me as a spider. And a familiar one at that. He pales at her words and his good humor disappears. Another time Lily. Not now. He turns to Penny then, scissors extended. You should get to it. I'm going to have to fix whatever you do to it anyway so feel free to paint outside the lines so to speak.

Meanwhile from outside the cave you hear Peter's voice yelling...

ooc: Ok, roll listen and spot checks please. In the meantime if you decide to do anything with the scissors Penny, feel free to roll whatever you feel is appropriate :)

10:30, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 15 using 1d20+7.
Spot. 10:29, Today: Mary-Alice Reussoe Conner rolled 10 using 1d20+4.  Listen.

Alice commented, ”Spider? No but I could certainly see you as a Serpent. I’ve always wondered this, maybe you can tell me. Was it a Pomegranate, the way the Jewish people believed; or was it an apple the way the English translators of the Bible believed?”

'It is badly corroded.' Penny had pointed out to the peculiar man, her attention still focused upon the copper scroll. Yet there seemed nothing else for it, no way to unroll it without it shattering completely. Yet the provided scissors were woefully crude: too wide, too blunt, and they could crush the scroll before cutting it.

She turned to her host, waiting for him to stop speaking along enough for her to get a question in. While she did not know all, or indeed any, of the things and people he referenced, Penny did know the source, and knew a few of her own to play along with. She recalled one happy day in year 2013, spending time with Kate and with Sam and Dean Winchester, and watching a grand display of moving pictures titled Thor: The Dark World. Why did we see that movie? she wondered Why Loki, the Norse god of trickery? Is it really him? 'Loki – though I must say I preferred Mister Thomas Hiddleston in the role – I will require a small and very fine-bladed electric saw...' She trailed off at the commotion outside the cave.


OOC:
19:45, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 27 using 1d20+9. spot.
19:45, Today: Penny Dreadful rolled 16 using 1d20+9. listen.

The real Copper Scroll was cut with a small saw, and Penny will be cautious. :)
https://dornsife.usc.edu/wsrp/copper-scroll/
What should I roll? I can think of Dexterity, Craft (mechanical), or Disable Device.

Loki blinks at Alice's question and gives a shrug. I dunno, I wasn't there. For all I know it was a watermelon. Watermelons are better than pomegranates and apples any day. Especially if it was seedless, he adds with a grin. At Penny's words he gives a delighted laugh. You saw that? A fellow Hiddlestoner eh? He did a pretty good me actually, except I'm much more handsome. Oh, here's your saw, he adds, conjuring one out of thin air.

At the sound of Peter's cries, you all rush out of the cave, save Loki who takes his time, and you look down to see about twenty or so riders nearing the base of the mountain. They are on camels and wear the flowing robes of the Bedouin. It is Penny who recognizes the woman in the lead first. Yasmin of all people. Peter is calling, Uh...what should I do? What should I do? They don't appear to be in any massive rush, merely heading towards you purposefully at a trot. Crimwall frowns, his mustache twitching. Hm. Now that's curious. I don't imagine we should tell them about the scroll. I wonder what they're doing here?

ooc: Yeah, dexterity or craft would be best I think. Whichever you have more ranks in if any ;P

Alison doesn’t believe him but stopped talking to him. She looked out at Peter, shrugged, and went back inside the cave. She figured they might kill him and save her the trouble.

Drat! Cutting apart the copper scroll would be an exceedingly delicate and time-consuming task. A conflict with the Bedouin now could do naught but risk everything. Why now? What had brought them back, and in such numbers? 'Peter, if you know anything at all about this, or Yasmin, you'd best speak now.' she called down to him warningly.