Dec 20, 2024 9:34 pm
"No. Maybe. I don't know" Emma sighed "I don't know who you are. I don't know if you can protect me, like Elliot promised to. I just want to go home. Can I go home?"
The Arundel Information Caper (RP)
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Dec 20, 2024 10:23 pm
- Emma -
The Administrator sighs, and rubs his eyes and then pinches the bridge of his nose. His demeanor changes, and he does not even bother to address Benji's lie about being 'innocent bystanders'.
"I?" He says to Emma. "I am the one who decides what happens to you. Elliot Parry's protection, were he here, does not cover crimes committed against us. You came into my home and violated our most sacred and hidden spaces. If you are acting on Mr Parry's behalf that would be an act of war, so he will not acknowledge you now."
He studies you for a long moment. "It is curious that Mr Parry did not attend this function, despite the importance placed upon his invitation." He does not say, but might be implying, that Elliot is distancing himself from whatever is happening, letting his lackeys take the fall.
"You are not doing yourself any favours by refusing to answer our questions." He says sternly. "Do you know where Elliot Parry is? Who was with you in the church? It is just a matter of time before we find them." He has, possibly inadvertent, let slip that they have not yet found Jacob (strange, in a small, straight tunnel?). "And when we do, do you think he will hesitate to pin the blame on you? How much do you trust this man?"
What do you do?
The Administrator sighs, and rubs his eyes and then pinches the bridge of his nose. His demeanor changes, and he does not even bother to address Benji's lie about being 'innocent bystanders'.
"I?" He says to Emma. "I am the one who decides what happens to you. Elliot Parry's protection, were he here, does not cover crimes committed against us. You came into my home and violated our most sacred and hidden spaces. If you are acting on Mr Parry's behalf that would be an act of war, so he will not acknowledge you now."
He studies you for a long moment. "It is curious that Mr Parry did not attend this function, despite the importance placed upon his invitation." He does not say, but might be implying, that Elliot is distancing himself from whatever is happening, letting his lackeys take the fall.
"You are not doing yourself any favours by refusing to answer our questions." He says sternly. "Do you know where Elliot Parry is? Who was with you in the church? It is just a matter of time before we find them." He has, possibly inadvertent, let slip that they have not yet found Jacob (strange, in a small, straight tunnel?). "And when we do, do you think he will hesitate to pin the blame on you? How much do you trust this man?"
What do you do?
Dec 21, 2024 6:04 am
"That was a bit harsh, don’t you think?" The administrator’s accusations felt like a slap in the face, and she was tired of playing his games "Crimes? ‘Violating’ your most sacred spaces? I haven’t done any of that. I was invited into the chapel by the Servitors. I didn’t break into the crypts. I haven’t touched or taken anything. The only thing you can accuse me of, is staying close to those who had. And why is that?"
Her tone shifted, a flash of accusation in her voice "Had you sent someone to look after me the moment Mr. Parry failed to show up, none of this would have happened. I’d rather be sitting here facing your accusations than have someone else in my place, apologizing for some ‘oopsy’ that caused you the inconvenience of having to remove a body from your castle. If anything, you should be thanking me for getting myself out of a room full of ravenous vampires, sparing you a whole lot of a different sort of trouble"
Emma stopped for it to sink in, before allowing a sly smile to cross her lips "And if someone does try to pin this on me, I'm sure that you're smart enough to know that if I WAS the one planning this, none of us would be caught"
She went back to her more serious tone "Seems to me like you’re going to know who I was with by the end of the night, one way or the other. You have security cameras. Witnesses who have seen him at the party. All you’re trying to do is spare you the trouble of making a few calls, and dodging the legwork. Doesn’t seem reason enough to force me to put MY neck on the line. So I’m willing to call it even for your negligence to act as a proper host, and for not making sure I was safe tonight. I AM one of your guests"
The blonde got up to her feet, and looked into the man’s eyes "Call me a cab back home. Please."
Her tone shifted, a flash of accusation in her voice "Had you sent someone to look after me the moment Mr. Parry failed to show up, none of this would have happened. I’d rather be sitting here facing your accusations than have someone else in my place, apologizing for some ‘oopsy’ that caused you the inconvenience of having to remove a body from your castle. If anything, you should be thanking me for getting myself out of a room full of ravenous vampires, sparing you a whole lot of a different sort of trouble"
Emma stopped for it to sink in, before allowing a sly smile to cross her lips "And if someone does try to pin this on me, I'm sure that you're smart enough to know that if I WAS the one planning this, none of us would be caught"
She went back to her more serious tone "Seems to me like you’re going to know who I was with by the end of the night, one way or the other. You have security cameras. Witnesses who have seen him at the party. All you’re trying to do is spare you the trouble of making a few calls, and dodging the legwork. Doesn’t seem reason enough to force me to put MY neck on the line. So I’m willing to call it even for your negligence to act as a proper host, and for not making sure I was safe tonight. I AM one of your guests"
The blonde got up to her feet, and looked into the man’s eyes "Call me a cab back home. Please."
Dec 21, 2024 6:22 am
- Emma -
"My my. You are a feisty one." The Administrator says calmly, not raising to the bait. "Full of the passion of youth... and all its ignorance of the way the world works.
"You, Mrs Harper, are not my guest, I have no obligation to keep you safe if your put yourself in the lion's den. You are the guest of Elliot Parry, and Elliot Parry did not consider you valuable enough to be here to protect you. You then willfully ignored the warnings of your betters and placed yourself in a situation of great danger. And for what? Research for a book... of fiction? This is not one of your fairy tale stories, Mrs Harper, in this one Red Riding Hood gets eaten... if she is lucky. This the real world and you broke the law. The Commissioner of the Police may still be here, would you like us to get him involved, make this an official arrest? With the 'cameras' and all to corroborate your side of the story?"
"'Lured but The Servitors'?! I would like to see you try that one on in court. Hah!"
What do you do?
"My my. You are a feisty one." The Administrator says calmly, not raising to the bait. "Full of the passion of youth... and all its ignorance of the way the world works.
"You, Mrs Harper, are not my guest, I have no obligation to keep you safe if your put yourself in the lion's den. You are the guest of Elliot Parry, and Elliot Parry did not consider you valuable enough to be here to protect you. You then willfully ignored the warnings of your betters and placed yourself in a situation of great danger. And for what? Research for a book... of fiction? This is not one of your fairy tale stories, Mrs Harper, in this one Red Riding Hood gets eaten... if she is lucky. This the real world and you broke the law. The Commissioner of the Police may still be here, would you like us to get him involved, make this an official arrest? With the 'cameras' and all to corroborate your side of the story?"
"'Lured but The Servitors'?! I would like to see you try that one on in court. Hah!"
What do you do?
Dec 21, 2024 6:46 am
"Go ahead. Call the commissioner. Explain to him how someone managed to lift that massive stone slab without a forklift. Show him into your precious crypts and tell him exactly what’s missing. Then, play him the security tapes from the party. Many of the guests, I’m sure, would prefer to avoid any close scrutiny by the authorities."
Emma called his bluff, her eyes never leaving his as she leaned in slightly "You’re the one with secrets to hide, not me. I’ve got nothing to fear from the police, because there’s no evidence I’ve done anything wrong. I didn’t take anything, and I sure didn’t break into your crypts. So what will you to try to accuse me of?"
Her voice softened, after rising earlier in rightful indignation "I’m asking you again: Call me a cab. Let’s not resort to threats or make things uncomfortable between us. We wouldn’t want to sour any future dealings we might have, would we? You never know when our paths might cross again. Best to leave things on good terms."
Emma called his bluff, her eyes never leaving his as she leaned in slightly "You’re the one with secrets to hide, not me. I’ve got nothing to fear from the police, because there’s no evidence I’ve done anything wrong. I didn’t take anything, and I sure didn’t break into your crypts. So what will you to try to accuse me of?"
Her voice softened, after rising earlier in rightful indignation "I’m asking you again: Call me a cab. Let’s not resort to threats or make things uncomfortable between us. We wouldn’t want to sour any future dealings we might have, would we? You never know when our paths might cross again. Best to leave things on good terms."
Rolls
Keep your cool - (2d6+1)
(22) + 1 = 5
Dec 22, 2024 3:08 am
"If I may interject…" Benji tentatively interrupts Emma’s heated back-and-forth with Uskglass. "I’d like to reiterate that I take full responsibility for what happened. I broke the fancy table and I found the hidden tunnel. Miss Harper only followed me into it. There’s really no need to keep her here against her will or to involve the police."
Dec 22, 2024 3:53 am
- Benji -
"So you say. So you say." The Administrator replies. "But you won't say why nor who was with you, nor where Lady Halifax is —a fine woman and above reproach.
"You should know better." He says, and indeed, you have been around long enough that you know he is well within his rights to do almost whatever he wants with you. He is the wronged party and you are in the seat of his power. The fact that he is still talking means he probably does not mean to take immediate, terminal, action, but you may be well advised to not antagonise him.
What do you do?
"So you say. So you say." The Administrator replies. "But you won't say why nor who was with you, nor where Lady Halifax is —a fine woman and above reproach.
"You should know better." He says, and indeed, you have been around long enough that you know he is well within his rights to do almost whatever he wants with you. He is the wronged party and you are in the seat of his power. The fact that he is still talking means he probably does not mean to take immediate, terminal, action, but you may be well advised to not antagonise him.
What do you do?
Dec 22, 2024 4:57 am
Benji is doing his best to defuse the situation, although, privately, he thinks this Mr Uskglass person is being very rude and unreasonable in a way that makes his fangs itch. "Lady Halifax was exploring the tunnel with us," he explains, peaceably. "I think she must have run off when she heard the Servitors come back though. I didn’t see her after that. As for the other person who was with us, I’m not going to tell you his name because he’s my friend and I don’t want to put him in danger, but I am otherwise willing to answer any other questions you have about the situation."
Dec 23, 2024 5:36 am
- Emma and Benji -
The Administrator sighs. "All but the ones we asked?" He points out to Benji: "Why, and who your accomplice was."
He shakes his head sadly. "I tried to help you, Mrs Harper. Please remember that. Now I am washing my hands of the situation. Please leave."
He stands and moves to open the door for both of you. He does not call you a taxi, you are on your own.
What do you do?
The Administrator sighs. "All but the ones we asked?" He points out to Benji: "Why, and who your accomplice was."
He shakes his head sadly. "I tried to help you, Mrs Harper. Please remember that. Now I am washing my hands of the situation. Please leave."
He stands and moves to open the door for both of you. He does not call you a taxi, you are on your own.
What do you do?
Dec 23, 2024 10:25 am
Jacob can feel this is more than a storage vault for old papers. He can feel the power flowing in this room. If only he could take advantage of that to find a way to mislead the Servitors...
Rolls
Jacob: Study a place of power (Power) - (2d6+0)
(25) = 7
Dec 23, 2024 11:32 am
- Jacob -
You know what you are about when you think this is more than a simple storage vault. It takes many, many valuable moments for you to find it, but there is a hidden back entrance, leading out the far end and avoiding the church. It does not look like it has been used in decades, perhaps the Servitors and whoever is approaching do not know about it?
Can you open it quickly and quietly enough to Escape the Situation without them following? Roll and let's find out.
What do you do?
You know what you are about when you think this is more than a simple storage vault. It takes many, many valuable moments for you to find it, but there is a hidden back entrance, leading out the far end and avoiding the church. It does not look like it has been used in decades, perhaps the Servitors and whoever is approaching do not know about it?
Can you open it quickly and quietly enough to Escape the Situation without them following? Roll and let's find out.
What do you do?
Dec 23, 2024 1:06 pm
Emma didn't need to be told twice. She quickly stepped out of the Administrator’s office as soon as he showed her the door, offering only a curt ‘thank you’ before she left. It was bitterly cold outside, and she was hardly dressed, but she still preferred to wait outside for the cab she ordered to arrive, then enjoying the warmth of the castle for even a little while longer.
She had come looking for excitement, but this was not the kind of thrill she had imagined. The ‘party’ was boring, Elliot never showed up and left her to fend for herself, she got tricked into joining some mischief she didn’t want anything to do with, then left to bear the consequences while the true culprits got away. It all left a sour taste in her mouth, making her rethink every decision that had brought her here tonight.
The supernatural world, with all its secrets and excitement, seemed far too messy to be worth her time. Perhaps it was better to leave it all behind, to close the book on this chapter of her life, and keep those strange creatures confined to the pages of her books, where they belonged.
She had come looking for excitement, but this was not the kind of thrill she had imagined. The ‘party’ was boring, Elliot never showed up and left her to fend for herself, she got tricked into joining some mischief she didn’t want anything to do with, then left to bear the consequences while the true culprits got away. It all left a sour taste in her mouth, making her rethink every decision that had brought her here tonight.
The supernatural world, with all its secrets and excitement, seemed far too messy to be worth her time. Perhaps it was better to leave it all behind, to close the book on this chapter of her life, and keep those strange creatures confined to the pages of her books, where they belonged.
Dec 23, 2024 3:12 pm
"Aha, fortune always favours the patient... Or was it the bold? Anyway, let's get out of here, shall we?" Jacob tells Crowley, while checking the back entrance.
However, after many tries, Jacob seems unable to grasp the door's handle. He finally understands what's happening.
"A damned illusion. Crowley, I think I need your talents here"
However, after many tries, Jacob seems unable to grasp the door's handle. He finally understands what's happening.
"A damned illusion. Crowley, I think I need your talents here"
OOC:
Seems like a good opportunity to owe an NPC a Debt. Plus you get to choose another price from the Move's list. Last edited December 23, 2024 3:16 pm
Rolls
Jacob: Escape a Situation (+Blood) - (2d6-1)
(54) - 1 = 8
Dec 24, 2024 4:45 am
- Jacob -
Crowley has been focusing on other illusions, as you turn to face him you see that he was in the process of fading from view, as though making himself invisible, possibly to escape and leave you to your own devices.
Your hand is still reaching for the illusory doorknob, intent on using it to get out, and you see a moment of panic on Crowley's face. "No. Don't use that!" He says, giving up on his own escape and launching himself, bodily, at you, trying to tackle you away from the door.
At the same moment you feel the doorknob become palpable under your hand, and Crowley's tackle fights with the pull of the knob ... but is too weak, and you tumble out the door ... into the decorative garden the map indicated was behind the church.
You find yourself in a small stone room [streetview]. The door vanished before you.
You emerge into the light, and turn to look. The stags horns (is that what they are?) [streetview] on the building, give you the willies...
Wait? Light? It is daylight outside, and the blue sky has only the slightest hint of clouds. The air smells different. Where are you? At least you can assuredly say it would be inappropriate to say 'where the HELL are you', this is not hell.
Crowley, your rival, definitely gave up their chance to fade into the background and escape, all to try to stop you from passing through that door. Did you drag them with you, or are you alone?
What do you do?
Crowley has been focusing on other illusions, as you turn to face him you see that he was in the process of fading from view, as though making himself invisible, possibly to escape and leave you to your own devices.
Your hand is still reaching for the illusory doorknob, intent on using it to get out, and you see a moment of panic on Crowley's face. "No. Don't use that!" He says, giving up on his own escape and launching himself, bodily, at you, trying to tackle you away from the door.
At the same moment you feel the doorknob become palpable under your hand, and Crowley's tackle fights with the pull of the knob ... but is too weak, and you tumble out the door ... into the decorative garden the map indicated was behind the church.
You find yourself in a small stone room [streetview]. The door vanished before you.
You emerge into the light, and turn to look. The stags horns (is that what they are?) [streetview] on the building, give you the willies...
Wait? Light? It is daylight outside, and the blue sky has only the slightest hint of clouds. The air smells different. Where are you? At least you can assuredly say it would be inappropriate to say 'where the HELL are you', this is not hell.
Crowley, your rival, definitely gave up their chance to fade into the background and escape, all to try to stop you from passing through that door. Did you drag them with you, or are you alone?
What do you do?
Dec 24, 2024 5:05 am
- Emma -
Your cab indicates it is outside the castle gates, and you have to make your way down the winding cobble road (for the third time) to get to it. The Servitor who you believe is your driver watches you leave, if possible, his expressionless face shows a look of sadness at your rejection of his services.
As you pass near the church you see there is still a commotion and search (though, quiet and dignified, so as not to attract attention of the other departing guests). It has been a while and you did not see anywhere to hide in the church or the tunnel, but they still appear to be looking for Jacob and possibly Lady Halifax.
The two hour ride will put a dent in your savings. The evening was a bust... but the dress was worth it? Right?
• Is David waiting up for you when you get home? (Or was he, maybe, called out to work?)
• What do you tell him about your disappointing experience? Does it dominate the conversation, or does he try to distract you with good news?
What do you do?
Your cab indicates it is outside the castle gates, and you have to make your way down the winding cobble road (for the third time) to get to it. The Servitor who you believe is your driver watches you leave, if possible, his expressionless face shows a look of sadness at your rejection of his services.
As you pass near the church you see there is still a commotion and search (though, quiet and dignified, so as not to attract attention of the other departing guests). It has been a while and you did not see anywhere to hide in the church or the tunnel, but they still appear to be looking for Jacob and possibly Lady Halifax.
The two hour ride will put a dent in your savings. The evening was a bust... but the dress was worth it? Right?
• Is David waiting up for you when you get home? (Or was he, maybe, called out to work?)
• What do you tell him about your disappointing experience? Does it dominate the conversation, or does he try to distract you with good news?
What do you do?
Dec 24, 2024 5:39 am
After leaving the Administrator’s office and saying goodbye to Emma, Benji realises that he isn’t sure how he’s going to get home. He’d been planning to get a ride home with Jacob, but that might not be possible if Jacob’s been caught or if he had to flee. He doesn’t know where Jacob hid his car either…
He decides to walk down to the train station. Jacob can pick him up from there or, if not, Benji figures he can just wait at the station until the trains start running again and get a train back to London in the morning.
On the way, he sends Jacob a text:
Dear Jacob,
Please let me know if you’re safe and if you’ll still be able to take me back to London. Emma and I are okay. We did not tell anyone your name as they seemed not to know who you were and I thought it best to keep it that way, but we DID get in a lot of trouble. I think Emma was rather upset about the whole thing… Understandably so. They were very impolite. I’m going to wait for you —or for a train— at Arundel train station.
Sincerely yours,
Benji
He decides to walk down to the train station. Jacob can pick him up from there or, if not, Benji figures he can just wait at the station until the trains start running again and get a train back to London in the morning.
On the way, he sends Jacob a text:
Dear Jacob,
Please let me know if you’re safe and if you’ll still be able to take me back to London. Emma and I are okay. We did not tell anyone your name as they seemed not to know who you were and I thought it best to keep it that way, but we DID get in a lot of trouble. I think Emma was rather upset about the whole thing… Understandably so. They were very impolite. I’m going to wait for you —or for a train— at Arundel train station.
Sincerely yours,
Benji
Dec 24, 2024 8:42 am
Emma returned home in the early hours of the morning. David was already deep in sleep, though he stirred slightly when she slipped into bed and cuddled up next to him.
He was already gone by the time she finally pulled herself out of bed. It was late morning, though the sky outside remained pitch black, rain still falling relentlessly. As she looked out the window, a sense of unease settled over her; the weather had been this way for far too long, and now, after everything she learned last night, it felt much more…ominous.
She groaned when she saw the time, wishing she could sink back into the warmth of the covers, but she had already promised to meet David’s parents today, and she had no intention to back out of that commitment. After dragging herself out of bed, she went through her usual morning routine—brushing her teeth, getting dressed, and making coffee, and texting David back, telling him that the party was ‘ok’, and that she was looking forward to seeing his parents.
Sitting at the kitchen table with her coffee, she tried to keep herself from thinking about the confrontation with the Administrator last night, and what trouble might befall her as a consequence. She didn’t want to dig herself into even more trouble with him, but she did already pull the files from his laptop. There was an hour before she needed to leave the apartment. Maybe just a quick glance through the files, to sate her curiosity…
But first – there was something else she needed to do. Elliot was missing. There were a great many people who would prefer him to stay that way, be them rivals for the vampire lord’s ‘throne’, political enemies he has made over the year, disgruntled employees, or those he trampled upon in his callous pursuit of power. Emma was one of the few people who actually wanted him found. If there was anyone who could smooth things over with the Administrator for her, it was him. She had to find him, because right now, she felt like as if her life depended on it.
The call she made was to her contact in the police, someone she’d worked with before. Someone who knew just enough about the supernatural world to be useful, but not so much to get swept up in it. She dialed the number, and waited for the line to pick up.
"Hi, Kenedi, good morning. How have you been? Sorry to call you out of the blue like this, but I have a favor to ask of you"
He was already gone by the time she finally pulled herself out of bed. It was late morning, though the sky outside remained pitch black, rain still falling relentlessly. As she looked out the window, a sense of unease settled over her; the weather had been this way for far too long, and now, after everything she learned last night, it felt much more…ominous.
She groaned when she saw the time, wishing she could sink back into the warmth of the covers, but she had already promised to meet David’s parents today, and she had no intention to back out of that commitment. After dragging herself out of bed, she went through her usual morning routine—brushing her teeth, getting dressed, and making coffee, and texting David back, telling him that the party was ‘ok’, and that she was looking forward to seeing his parents.
Sitting at the kitchen table with her coffee, she tried to keep herself from thinking about the confrontation with the Administrator last night, and what trouble might befall her as a consequence. She didn’t want to dig herself into even more trouble with him, but she did already pull the files from his laptop. There was an hour before she needed to leave the apartment. Maybe just a quick glance through the files, to sate her curiosity…
But first – there was something else she needed to do. Elliot was missing. There were a great many people who would prefer him to stay that way, be them rivals for the vampire lord’s ‘throne’, political enemies he has made over the year, disgruntled employees, or those he trampled upon in his callous pursuit of power. Emma was one of the few people who actually wanted him found. If there was anyone who could smooth things over with the Administrator for her, it was him. She had to find him, because right now, she felt like as if her life depended on it.
The call she made was to her contact in the police, someone she’d worked with before. Someone who knew just enough about the supernatural world to be useful, but not so much to get swept up in it. She dialed the number, and waited for the line to pick up.
"Hi, Kenedi, good morning. How have you been? Sorry to call you out of the blue like this, but I have a favor to ask of you"
Dec 24, 2024 10:56 am
- Emma -
There is a pause, just long enough for Kenedi to be thinking 'who is this?' before she answers. "Ah? Emma? Good morning. What can I do for you?" She sounds hesitant, like she doesn't want to be swept up into the sort of troubles you bring.
What do you do?
There is a pause, just long enough for Kenedi to be thinking 'who is this?' before she answers. "Ah? Emma? Good morning. What can I do for you?" She sounds hesitant, like she doesn't want to be swept up into the sort of troubles you bring.
What do you do?
Dec 24, 2024 11:37 am
"I know this is a lot to ask, but I really need your help finding a friend of mine who disappeared into the ether last night. I’m worried something bad might have happened to him." She herself didn’t hesitate, despite sensing Kenedi was a bit reluctant to help "He left his apartment sometime between 4:00 and 6:00 p.m., driving a bright orange Jaguar type D, heading toward Arundel Castle. He vanished somewhere along the way. What I need is to know where he was last seen. Any footage from traffic cams, street cameras, anything that can help"
She took a deep breath, knowing her next request would be even harder, if not downright impossible, for Kenedi to accommodate "He's also unreachable on his phone. Is there any way you can track it, or find out where it was last detected before the signal went out?"
She took a deep breath, knowing her next request would be even harder, if not downright impossible, for Kenedi to accommodate "He's also unreachable on his phone. Is there any way you can track it, or find out where it was last detected before the signal went out?"
Dec 24, 2024 2:58 pm
"What the...?" Jacob takes a look around him. The horns above the threshold, the clear blue sky, the sun... Where (or when) is he supposed to be?
After a few seconds, Crowley emerges from the chamber too. He's not wearing Hali's mask now, maybe because he was not able to maintain his illusory powers, or maybe he has just decided he doesn't need a disguise anymore. He looks as surprised as Jacob.
"What was that, Crowley? Did I just get myself in trouble for following you again?
After a few seconds, Crowley emerges from the chamber too. He's not wearing Hali's mask now, maybe because he was not able to maintain his illusory powers, or maybe he has just decided he doesn't need a disguise anymore. He looks as surprised as Jacob.
"What was that, Crowley? Did I just get myself in trouble for following you again?
OOC:
I'll say I'm not getting Benji's text, at least for now. We'll see if it makes sense to receive it later.load next