...the bus rolled to a stop and the driver opened the doors.

"Would you like some help with your luggage?"

"Yes, thank you," said Nicole.  Might as well take advantage of that while she could.  Easier than dealing with her Hands more.

The bus driver walked over and got your luggage down and carried it out of the bus.

"Which hotel are you staying at?"

"Gillman House," Nicole said.  "There aren't really a lot of other choices in Innsmouth..."

Some dark clouds were rolling in as you got to the hotel and they opened up as you stepped inside the hotel. Avery tall, but skinny man was behind the front desk, he had a series of three scars on each side of his neck.

"May I help you?" he asked.

"I'm Nicole Hellsmith," said Nicole.  "I have a reservation."

"Very good. Room 116," the man said, fetching a key. "We have no bellhop."

"I'll do it," the bus driver said.

"Thank you," said Nicole.  She went up to the room.

...this time, she let the bus driver see what was inside her sleeves as it handed him a quarter for a tip.

The bus driver's eyes went wide.

"H-have a good night."

You hear him move away down the hall and you are alone.

Nicole sighed-- you'd think, in Innsmouth, people would be more used to this kind of thing!-- and went to unpack.  She'd have to ask about options for dinner soon.  How distant was that place the driver had recommended...?

It wasn't too far from here, just a block down from here.

After unpacking and changing (such nimble tentacled demons!) Nicole went out to go get some dinner at that place.  Why not?

There was a knock on your door and a soft female voice.

"Ma'am, this is housekeeping, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," said Nicole.  "But I'd prefer to not be disturbed."

"Very well," the woman said.

Nicole went on to set up some protective wards before she slept.  This place was trouble, and nothing but.

You managed to have a restful sleep, clearly the wards worked.

She restored the room to its original condition and went out to grab a quick breakfast and find the old friend who'd written her...

The staff at the hotel gave you space, and set out into town. The home wasn't too far from the hotel and you manage to find it. The yard had plenty of ship wreck items in there.

Not surprising, in a town like this...

"Hey, it's me," she said.  "You in, kiddo?"

You see a small slot in the door open and a large eye appearing to peer out of it.

"Who is it?" a raspy voice asked.

"Me," said Nicole.  "Nicole Hellsmith, Esquire.  Obviously."

"Come in," the voice said, undoing locks on the door.

She did.

The house was dark and the female figure made sure to stay cloaked in shadow.

"What do you want?"

"Hell, lady, I was invited here!" said Nicole.  "I was told my talents were needed to deal with a weird situation.  Which means sorcery, witchcraft, demonology, something like that.  I don't get called to help someone match their dress to their wallpaper."

"It's been so long since I've had guests. I'm sorry," the woman said.

"That's okay," said Nicole.  "Some people already tried to do me in last night just for showing up here.  So what's going on?"

"My daughter has gone missing," the woman said. "I want her to come home."

"Well, sure," said Nicole.  "But help me out here.  What's her name?  What does she look like?  Was she kidnapped by the church here, or did she run away with her beau?"

The woman went into another room for a moment and brought back a picture of a girl who looked about sixteen and pretty.

"Here, her name is Tammy. I don't know where she went. She was in her bed one night and gone the next morning."

"Okay... any signs of a break-in?" said Nicole.  "Also, do you have personal items of hers around?  That would help me a lot."

"No, but she did have a room with a large window," the woman said. "Would her comb work?"

"Show me her room," said Nicole.  "It might be important."

"Down this way," the woman said, and heading down the hall.

The room was very clean and well kept.

Nicole investigated it carefully.  Notably, she examined the window, trying to see if there were signs that it had been forced from the outside... or if it had been opened from the inside.

"Is anything of hers missing?" Nicole asked.

It was difficult to tell, the window seemed to be able to be opened both ways.

"I know she was saving some money and that is missing," the woman said.

"What about clothes?" asked Nicole.  "Or personal items?"

It was important to have some idea if she had run away or been stolen, after all.

"None of that is missing as far as I can tell," the woman said.

"All right," said Nicole.  She went around to see if there were any traces left outside the window.

If that didn't work, she might just have to fall back on magic.

There were several footprints underneath the window.

Well, that was a start, at least.  Nicole set out to see where they lead.

They laid to a sewer grate.

...no help for it.  She moved the grate and went down.

The path went towards the ocean.

...well.  She went to follow it for a while, to see if there were any clues, but otherwise, she was going to have to go back to her room to try some magic.

As you get closer and closer to the ocean, you find lots of strips of what could be human skin, but you can't be sure.

...Interesting.  Nicole pocketed a scrap; it might be important.  And then she followed along the path.  Maybe she'd find something.  Maybe not.

The sewer led to the ocean.

(OOC: Perception check, please)

21:23, Today: Nicole Hellsmith rolled 11 using 2d10 ((8,3)).
1 success

You notice a glitter coming from some coins in the water, quite a few of them.

...possibly important.  Possibly income.  Nicole's demon hands gathered them up.

The coins appeared to be gold and quite old as well.

Nicole took a moment to study them further.  Were they Spanish gold?  Gold dollars?  Or something stranger...?

They did appear to be Spanish, maybe 16th or 17th century?

Odd... Nicole followed the trail to the ocean, to see if anything was there.

She gathered up the coins and headed back to her room at the inn; she didn't have a way to track someone underwater, if that was the real trail, so she'd have to attempt magic.

As you arrive back at your room, the maid was waiting outside of it.

"Are-are you still safe, madam?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" Nicole asked.

"We've heard that the Church has taken an interest in you," the maid said. "But you should be safe here."

"Well, good, then," said Nicole.  "What is this church, though?"

"It's a local religion," the maid said. "Not all of use follow it."

"So what's their deal?" Nicole asked.

"I can't go into full details with outsiders, but they worship things that are not gods and want to keep outsiders, well, out," the maid said.

"That last part's the awkward one," said Nicole.  "I don't care if they worship clear glass bottles on alternate Wednesdays if they don't make trouble for other people.  But glad to hear that this is safer; I'm going to do some work in my room, I guess."

"Are you expecting any guests today?" the maid asked.

"No," said Nicole.  "I don't really know anyone in town."

"We'll ensure you aren't disturbed," the maid said with a bow.

Well, she had to trust someone... she set out to perform a magical ritual to locate the girl, to learn what had happened to her.  The shreds of skin were going to be a part of it; it should show easily if they were hers or not.

(OOC: Give me a spirit or Ki roll. Your choice)

23:08, Today: Nicole Hellsmith rolled 24 using 5d10 ((3,9,2,4,6)).

1 Success.

A trail you can follow appeared.

Well, it was something... and there was no time to waste.  She headed out.

The trail led down to the beach, you can see that the sky is threatening to rain and rain hard.

Well, of course it was.  And if they'd gone underwater, as she suspected, she might be out of options.  But for now, she followed the trail.

The trail led down to the beach and then to a large church on a cliff looking over the ocean.

Better... and somehow, inevitable.  Nicole headed towards the church.

As you got closer, you started to see some residents patrolling around the church.

(OOC: Some stealth is needed if you want to continue.)

20:47, Today: Nicole Hellsmith rolled 9 using 2d10 ((6,3)).