Rome is a far cry from where you've been lately, and even though it's certainly not New York, it feels a great deal more at home than Africa or the desert has been. For one, there are things like hansom cabs, restaurants, coffee, pastries. Yes. You definitely feel as though you picked the right choice coming to Rome.

The spring morning is bright and warm, the people around you are bustling and busy, heedless to your rag tag group, save for Lily who they gawk at openly. She is every inch a Native woman, after all, and Rome does not see many such people. She seems irritated by the attention, giving menacing looks from time to time just to get them to move along.

Meanwhile, Ian seems to be having the time of his life. He's never been to Italy and he's forever pointing at everything with a big goofy grin on his face.

The plan is to take two days to complete your task and then Emma will be coming to get you, since Loki still refuses to get directly involved with his powers. The most he seems to be willing to do is conjure sweets and other things, though even he's loathe to do that much, instead buying practically every pastry he can get his hands on. I'm good, but I'm not actual Italian baker good, he says with his mouth full. These people know their way around a zeppole!

Soon you get yourselves situated at a very fine inn that seems at least three hundred years old, judging by architecture, and you end up at a rooftop cafe that overlooks the city. Loki has been here before, it seems, and he quickly points out exactly what should be ordered and why. At last you manage to get him to focus and he wipes the crumbs off his lap as he heaves a satisfied sigh. Alright, so remember, I'm not supposed to actually tell you anything. But you could guess and save us the trouble of playing hot and cold again. I mean, this place is huge. No way. So....if you were an important religious artifact in Rome, where do you think you would be? Hm? He smiles, as though the answer were obvious, taking a sip of espresso with a wink.


ooc; Feel free to roll knowledge checks, both religious and anything else that would remotely fit. If you get a 13 or more you can feel free to google as desired and utilize that information.

Since arriving in Rome, Penny had became rather distracted, looking around at the beautiful sights of the ancient city (while she'd toured and hunted through France and Germany some years ago, she hadn't come further south than northern Italy) and stealing more glances at Ian and the others, but saying little. It had been almost dizzying to go from Palestine to Ethiopia to Rome in the space of a day, and she found she missed the experience of proper travel via train, ship, or coach that let one adapt and anticipate, as well as recuperate, and she regretted not getting to see the famous rock-cut churches of Lalibela. But they had no time to spare, the quest drove them ever onwards. And the stress of it, from the weariness of constant fighting and research to the dread of Belial, was wearing her down. Yet Penny found herself with ever more reserves of perseverance. She simply must press on. She had no other option.

From gazing out over the Roman skyline and finishing her zeppole, Penny touched a napkin to her lips and at last replied Loki. An obvious answer, maybe, but under Sherlock's tutelage Penny had learned to think beyond the obvious. 'The obvious place would be the Vatican: it is holy ground and well defended by men of the church, the Swiss Guard, and others, and it has many other holy relics our scroll would be overlooked beside and no end of ancient buildings in which to conceal them. Few, if any, demons could have infiltrated it. The early Templars would have had the access, authority, and money to establish a vault. On the other hand, they were headquartered in Jerusalem, not Rome, and so any space they used here must have been granted by the Pope or Cardinals of the day.'

'But, the Vatican is a large district with many buildings, and Rome has no shortage of other churches and ancient structures outside the Vatican's walls. And they all have libraries with scrolls. So, on those terms, finding our particular scroll would be like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.'

Penny sipped her espresso, pondering her next words, then went on 'I do know we seek Rossal, one of the other nine founding Templars for whom history does not record a fate, while the others will find either Geoffroi Bisol or Gondamar of Portugal. Rossal's name suggests him to be a Norman knight of Shropshire or Lancashire, so at least we shall find an Englishman.'

She looked quizzically to Loki, finishing 'Now, perhaps you could give us a clue?'


OOC: Knowledge (History) 23, Knowledge (Theology & Philosophy) 20
This message was last edited by the player at 05:57, Sun 28 Mar 2021.

Alice could not help but think of her father, her real one, here in Rome. It was where the majority of the time she had spent with him had occurred. She knew the streets and many of the vendor, tipping her hat when she caught their eye. She kept quiet and kept her coat drawn over her weapons.

Wow. You really like to overthink, don't you? Loki shakes his head with a look of amusement. He takes a huge bite of his pastry, talking with his mouth full. Look, I can't give you hints, remember? So if you have to search this whole city, I guess I'll have to waddle around with you and hope you don't take too long. Even as he talks, you notice he holds up his index and middle finger, spread apart in the shape of a V....So you should really consider all the possibilities, all the options, before you make a decision.

Lily shakes her head at this, turning to Penny with a faint look of amusement. My vote is on Vatican. Too bad that doesn't narrow it down much. Unless...can you do that hot and cold thing again? she turns to Loki. He smiles, mouth still full, and simply winks. Well there you go. But something tells me we won't have free reign of the place. Any ideas how we can get away with this? Sneaking is one thing, but inevitably, someone will probably see us... she turns and gives Ian a wicked grin. You're still on about Jersey? he scoffs at the native. That was once. Once! And that wasn't my fault. It was a bleeding glass warehouse! What did you think was gonna happen? Lily laughs, facing the rest of you again. Regardless, we need to be ready in case someone spots us. Probably shouldn't go roughing up priests and the like if we can avoid it too. So a good lie is in order I'd say. I'm open to suggestions...