Arthur ran his fingers through his hair, turning after a long moment to help the Professor as well. "I don't think we'll find a casket here, either..." He afforded one glance back at Jake, since he thought maybe he was losing that bet after all.

Sully and Professor Wells remove the marble slab from Edward’s assigned resting place, lowering the heavy piece of marble to the crypt’s floor. Just as in the case of William Tapley’s place of internment, they find the space empty, occupied only by cobwebs and dust.

Sully peers into the empty niche, his head slightly angled to one side.

"Hm! I suppose the question is whether Edward has been removed or was never interred."

"Just a showpiece, then. I'll have to learn more about the Tapley family after this." Were they even real? If so, did they know about the empty crypt?

"Maybe we try our hand at the other place?"

In reply to Anthony Wells (msg # 27):

"It would seem a rather expensive sample. I'll see what the paper might have on the Tapleys."

"Yeah, let's go," shrugs Jake. "Nothing but empty cupboards here."

"To the Greenbergs, after all." Arthur spun about to leave with the others.

Jake will lock the crypt door as they leave.

Sully ambles along with the others to the Greenberg mausoleum.

Situated between two crypts of similar size, the Greenberg Crypt sits partially within a pool of shadow, its gray walls pale in the moonlight. The blue and gold hues that comprise its twin stained glass windows are muted in the evening dark. As the group of investigators draw near, they do not hear any noises arising from the within the structure. The tomb, like the surrounding cemetery, is eerily quiet.

OOC: Jake, if you want to attempt to open the lock on the crypt’s door, you can give me a Locksmith roll. You can also attempt to use the copied key for the Tapley Crypt on the lock, but if you do, please give me a Locksmith roll for that as well. Breaking one of the stained glass windows to gain entrance is also an option.

"Let's see if the same key works here as well," says Jake. He will try the key has had made in the lock on the Greenburg crypt.

16:03, Today: Jake Morris rolled 70 using 1d100.  Locksmith -- trying key in door of Greenburg crypt. BTW: Locksmith skill = 51%

"Not sure this is going to work," he mutters as he has trouble even fitting the key into the lock.

Next, he will try with his lock picks, his shaggy head cocked to one side and his tongue sticking out between his teeth as he concentrates on the tiniest of sounds and the feel of the picks inside the barrel of the ancient lock.

16:07, Today: Jake Morris rolled 35 using 1d100.  Lock picks in Greenburg crypt lock. Reminder: Locksmith skill = 51%

"Think I'm getting it," he whispers as something clicks inside the ancient mechanism.

After a few moments of effort, Jake’s work with his lock picks bears fruit, the door of the crypt unlocking with a dull metallic clunk.

Pushing it open, the investigators can see that the spacious crypt is lined with numerous places of internment on the wall opposite the entrance, many of which are occupied. Each individual resting place is marked by a brass plaque, with information about the deceased engraved upon it. On the left is a simple bench for seating. To the right is a large marble shelf, which holds framed photographs and family mementos. It appears to be in a degree of disarray, with several of the objects having been turned over or knocked onto the floor.

The crypt is completely still. Nothing stirs within the gloom.

OOC: Everyone kindly provide me with a Spot Hidden roll.

Jake smiles to himself and tucks the lock picks away. he's pleased he's still got his old skills. Then he looks around the tomb, noting the disarray of the funereal objects.

18:44, Today: Jake Morris rolled 45 using 1d100.  Spot hidden [65%].

Arthur crept in behind Jake, his eyes surveying the place quite closely as he scanned across the room.

OOC: "05:36, Today: Arthur G. Flatt rolled 50 using 1d100.  spot hidden (50)."

Sully steps into the crypt. "Nice work, Jake."

He stands aside by the entrance, waiting for his eyes to become accustomed to the gloom.

Sullivan (Sully) Quinn rolled 75 for Spot Hidden 50.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:38, Mon 28 Feb 2022.

"Yes, a job well done," he said quietly, clutching his cane in his hand so that it didn't tap down.

OOC:

08:40, Today: Anthony Wells rolled 29 using 1d100.  Spot Hidden (50%).

Outside, there is a lone crack, the noise of stone striking stone, from somewhere south of the collected crypts. It fades almost as quickly as it is heard, the sound of the breeze filling the quiet once more.

Hearing the noise, Sully turns to look outside, taking a couple of steps into the cool of the evening dark.

Trusting Sully to investigate the noise outside, Jake kneels down at the base of the wall where he can see the dirt on the floor.

"Looks like a loose panel," he grunts, feeling with his fingers along the edges of the panel for purchase and any wiggle room to pull it out.

Arthur, likewise, ignored the sound, thinking his fellow investigators to have an eye on everything outside.

"I suppose if you're right we'll know soon, Jake." Arthur moved in to assist with the loose panel, if he possibly could.

Peering outside, Sully does not see anything moving save for the branches of ash trees, shifted by the wind. Nothing stirs amongst the neat rows of headstones.

Jake and Arthur are able to move the loose slab to one side. Beyond it, the two investigators can see that there is a crawl space sized tunnel which has been dug in the earth beneath the crypt. It has the appearance of a burrow, the work of some manner of animal, though the hole is just large enough for a human adult to wriggle through.

The scent of decay arises from the burrow, quickly invading the stale air within the crypt.

At first Arthur was interested, and leaned forward, looking into the hole just a bit. Then the stench hit, and he recoiled, nearly gagging, as he put a hand over his face. "What in the world?"

Sully peers into the darkness for a while, cocking an ear to follow the activity inside the crypt as best he can.

Struck by a sudden thought, he steps inside and flicks his lighter to look at the inside of the door. Does he find an inner latch?

Even without the stench, Jake knows he has no intention of crawling inside that hole. He has mild claustrophobia and the very thought of wriggling into a tight space like that gives him the heeby jeebies.

Sully does find a latch on the inner side of the crypt’s door, though it appears that it has not been used on some time. Unlike the structure’s neat exterior, the latch’s handle is filthy, encrusted with dirt and what the reporter guesses to be grave mold.

Examining the burrow more closely, Jake and Arthur can see that several feet in, the crude tunnel appears to be partially collapsed, making any attempt to traverse it likely impossible without tools to clear the makeshift passage.