"Right," says Cat, passing the bottle of JD back to Amit, "I'd best ring Angharad before I get completely trollied."
She opens up Contacts on her mobile, then thinks better of it. "I'm gonna do this outside. Can't have you lot giggling and pulling faces at me across the table."
"Cat," says Elgin, "you might want to put on your jacket."
"Can't feel my face, mate. Not worried about the cold."
Cat makes the call as she wobbles down the pavement. Angharad picks up almost immediately.
"Cat?
"Yeah, uh, hi. I was thinking maybe we could meet tomorrow. For coffee or summat."
"Splendid idea! I know a place. It's quite exclusive, so I'll need to text you the address. They'll let you in if you tell them you're there at my invitation. I'm sorry it can't be somewhere neutral, but they have a new cheesecake with which I am simply obsessed lately!"
The doorgirl in the rubber dress let Cat into the café without a word, but she still feels distinctly out of place. The baseline décor is that of a high-class lupanar from Victorian Soho, but with photos of latex models instead of oil paintings, and a bead curtain over the entrance to the Dungeon. It's weird but not her kind of weird. Of course, unlike the exhortation of the 'dungeon rules' placard on the wall, Cat's current kind of weird is neither safe, sane, nor consensual, so maybe that's not a bad thing.
Angharad is already there. She's just sitting at her table reading an old paperback novel, but somehow has the poise of someone posing for a painting. Cat's surprised for a moment to see that no one else is staring, but then she realises that it's simply not on here.
[Wis/Perception 10+ to notice anything strange (if there is anything): 2d6+1=11
Q: Anything strange here? unknown d6=1: O2 C4 - yes, but...]
Cat does note that one of the other punters is [Mysteriously / Fancy] a gothy bloke covered in occult tattoos but he doesn't seem to be paying Cat any mind. And he's left before Cat's even had a chance to read the menu. She and Angharad make small talk whilst ordering and waiting for their coffee and cake, giving Cat a chance to observe her. When the waitress has brought everything, Cat abruptly changes the subject.
[Q: Does Angharad seem her usual self? Certain (2+): O1 C6 - no
Q: How does she seem, then? Perfectly / Damaged]
"What's wrong?" asks Cat. "You seem... I dunno, off somehow."
"Just excited. And anxious. The fruition of my search is almost at hand, and every moment that passes seems stretched out to an eternity because of it."
[Wis/Perception 10+: 2d6+1=6, sounds legit]
"Makes sense. But why do you want me to come with you? I mean, we hardly know one another."
"I told you on the phone."
"Sorry, not buying it."
"I wasn't lying. I wasn't telling the whole truth, perhaps, but nothing I told you was false."
"And?"
"I had the idea you knew how to take care of yourself, that you've been to hell and back and came out of it reasonably intact." [insane - madness - campaign]
"Uh, yeah. Maybe in a literal sense, too."
"I don't fancy going in alone; I don't know these people I'm to meet, nor really anything about them. It would be safer if someone had my back."
"You'll go anyway though, even alone."
"I couldn't not. You understand obsession, don't you, Cat?"
"Of a sort..."
"Then my going alone, if necessary, needn't surprise you. But all the same, I'd rather not."
"You're asking me to make a major leap of faith. And it's your obsession, not mine, so I'm going to need more to go on than just an invitation. Especially since you don't trust the people you're meeting. Like, who are they, anyways?"
[Q: Will she say? unknown d6=6: O5 C8 - no.]
"I can't tell you. No outsiders are to know. They were very specific."
"So, is there anything you can tell me?"
[Q: Is there? Unlikely (5+): O3 C4 - no, but...]
"I really shouldn't. But, there's some... well, some nasty characters they keep on hand as go-betweens or servants or something. Them I've met in person. I don't like them. They give me the creeps. And I've had a lot of experience with creeps, mind, but these are something different. It's like they're only pretending to be human." [prejudiced - dislike - retainers]
"This is the part where I try to talk you out of it entirely."
"Oh, dear Cat, but then comes the part where you fail."
7 December 4:34pm
"...and so I said I need to sleep on it, and I'll ring with an answer tomorrow."
"And?" asks Elgin.
"And I don't know. I'm either in, or she goes on her own."
"We could follow her," offers Amit.
"I'm guessing that's not going to work."
"Anyone have any better ideas...?" asks Elgin
"Not especially," says Cat. "I already know what you'll say if I suggest bringing in the Chalice or the Star."
"What about that Frost character? We could try him."
"I don't think we can afford that," says Amit. "Even with the payout from Angharad. But we can almost connect the dots from him to the cannibal cult. What if we had Mary arrest him? Make him talk?"
"You think that'll work?" says Cat. "Even if she can take him into custody, she can't bloody well interview him about secret cults under caution."
"You've a better idea?"
"Not particularly."
"Ring her up then."
"You do it. You're best mates now and all..."
Amit makes the call.
[Q: Does Mary have enough evidence for a proper arrest? 50/50 (4+): O4 C7 - yes
Q: Does she have anyone she trusts backing her up? Unknown 1d6=6: O2 C8 - no.
Q: How does the arrest go down? Gladly / Nondescript]
Mary collects all the evidence she's accumulated on him and brings it to her boss straightaway, adding that a confidential informant has located ex-DI Frost's current whereabouts. It's been a fortnight since the discovery of the kitchen, so her boss agrees they'd best not delay the arrest.
Within two hours, Mary is following armed officers into the east London pub to make the arrest. It all goes down strangely by-the-book.
Mary needs a Luck save (12+) to get in for a talk: d20=14, ok]
7 December 10:47pm
Whilst Frost is sat in the interview room, still waiting for his solicitor to arrive, Mary sees a chance to get in a quick off-the-record chat. She tells her colleagues she's going to take him in a cuppa. Guys like him never take her seriously, so she's volunteered to be the 'good cop'.
[She needs 8+ Cha/Persuade to get a Clue: 2d6-1(unskilled)=10!
Q: What does he say about the Silver House? UNE: friendly - promise - enemy]
He barely acknowledges her presence when she sets the cup in front of him.
"So I hear you're the guy to ask if I want to find the Silver House..."
His head snaps up as if he'd had an electric shock, and his eyes stare right into Mary's, almost pleadingly.
"The Silver House is nothing you want to be messing about with, I promise you. Forget you've even heard of it. I'd like to."
* * *
Mary texts Amit later to tell him it's not looking like their plan has worked. Frost has a good solicitor, and possibly allies inside the police.
[Q: Any fallout? 50/50 (4+): O4 C1 - yes, and...]
The next day, Mary's boss puts her on garden leave. Explanations are vague as to why, but point in vaguely threatening directions. Mary hands over her warrant card, and rushes out of the office to have a cry in a nearby park. Once she's finally stopped sobbing, she rings Cat and suggests a pub.
A couple days pass uneventfully. Mary is pretty much pissed the whole time. Cat and Amit babysit her so she doesn't do anything stupid. she's constantly going on about justice and solving the case herself and bringing down the corrupt cops.
There's no word from Angharad; her phone goes straight to voicemail every time Cat tries it.
When Cat's mobile does ring, she jumps and rushes to answer.
"Hi! Oh... Elgin, it's you. I hoped maybe Angharad...
"No worries, Cat. I'm calling because I had an idea. A maybe dangerous one, but an idea all the same. Why don't the two of you come round to mine? First dinner, then a little magic."
"Can we bring Mary? I don't think she should be left on her own yet."
"Sure, why not?"
10 December 7:58pm
Elgin greets them at the door, and says there's a pub by the river that does a proper eel pie. Besides, his flat is set up for later.
When they return, they see his dining room furniture has been all moved aside. A magic circle of salt has been made on the hardwood floor, surrounded by incense burners and candles.
"Help me light the candles, but mind you don't mess up any of the sigils. They're a right bitch to draw."
"Thissh isn't partishipatory, is it?" slurs Mary.
"No. The three of you are my safety adults if things go sideways."
[Elgin's ritual is for the purpose of getting a Dark vision (SL p.173). He will be focussing on the manuscript text he copied in order to obtain a useful bit of information.
He automatically gains 1d8=6 madness (to 35).
The Dark Vision--
Sense (1d6): Smell. Something olfactory cues the possessor.
Insight (1d8): The place the PC needs to be for their purposes.
Side Effect (1d20): Any occult entities there immediately focus on the PC.]
Elgin sits cross-legged in the magic circle as the other three take up positions on the couch. Elgin spreads the transcription he made of the manuscript before him in the circle and begins a droning chant. Mary is more interested in the bottle she swiped from the kitchen, and Amit is soon bored and playing on his phone, but Cat is entranced with the ritual. She can almost feel the energy pulsing through the room and the subtle changes in vibration as Elgin's hands describe ever more complex mudras.
Elgin's eyes are tightly shut, and he begins to feel himself elsewhere in spirit. The damp smell of a forest surrounds him, then is banished by more human odours. He smells clean linens, a spotless bathroom, industrial carpeting, bland cooking, disappointing wine.
Then the shadows peel themselves off the walls. They ignore the others intent only on breaking into the circle to get at Elgin.
[Q: Can they break in? Unknown, 1d6=1: O4 C3 - yes, but... they don't do terribly much harm
+1d6 Madness for all, but E is capped at +2 points (suffered 4 from them earlier)
C 3 to 38
M 5 to 15
A 5 to 21
E d6=6, so +2 to 37
A is over 20, so needs to make a Mental Effect save or suffer his own vision: 1d20=11, just
Q: What effect do the shadows have on Elgin? d30=fog/mist]
The shadows breach the psychic barrier and flit round Elgin. His olfactory vision is abruptly ended. HE opens his eyes, but cannot see.
Cat is on her feet, running about the flat and turning on all the lights. The shadows vanish.
"Shit, mate, what happened?" asks Amit.
Elgin is already up and turning on his laptop. "Nothing. They tried to stop me, but I have all I need."
"All I need is another drink!" announces Mary.
"Can she crash here?" asks Cat.
"Yeah, fine. Have her pour me something whilst she's up," says Elgin.
Cat runs towards Mary when she sees her tottering out of the kitchen, two sloshing mugs in hand. She takes one over and puts it down next to Elgin, who takes a sip without tearing his eyes away from the screen.
"Bloody hell! D'ya mind mebbe putting a bit of mixer in't?"
Cat goes back to the kitchen and hunts down some tonic to add to the gin. Amit meanwhile has decided that someone has to watch Mary, so is looking for some bin bags in case (when) she feels sick. Cat fixes him a drink whilst she's there. And herself one for good measure, before returning to Elgin.
"Here, this should be potable."
"Ta, Cat."
"Care to fill us in on what just happened?"
"I know what it is -- the Silver House."
"Good. What?"
"It's an abandoned building -- in this case a hotel. On a hill, surrounded by forest."
"Where?"
"I'll let you know when I find it."
"Ummmmm... maybe I should go see how Mary's getting on..."
[finding an abandoned/bankrupt hotel in England which is on a forested hill will require a 10+ Wis/Research roll; Elgin will spend Expertise to activate his Deep Gnosis class ability, in order to succeed automatically]
The next morning... er, afternoon
Elgin is certain he's found the one place in England that meets all the criteria for the Silver House: an abandoned hotel, on a hill, surrounded by forest. None of his research revealed that it was the site of a terrible massacre, as the manuscript said it must be, but then the sort of people he suspects they're dealing would be more than capable of providing one.
And it's just in the Chilterns, so it shouldn't be too much of a faff to get there by train -- neither he nor any of his companions own a car, or even has a driving licence.
Elgin explains all of this (over a breakfast of coffee and plain baguettes, they're all a bit hung over) and then they formulate a plan to make a surreptitious visit. They're not sure what sort of trouble they'll run into, so they make a list of equipment they intend to bring: 2 knives, hammer, hiker's walking stick, gun, 4 torches with new batteries, ordnance survey map, compass, canteen, first aid kit, chalk, package of sea salt, 6m plastic cord, protein bars, bottle of mid-shelf whiskey, a lighter, loose tobacco & rolling papers ("Mary, I didn't know you smoked." "I quit." "Uhhh..." "Now that I'm sacked, I unquit.")
* * *
They make their preparations the next day, then set out the morning after.
[Q: Can they book a B&B in a nearby village? Likely (3+): O6 C3 - yes, but...
Q: Anything happen to impede them? unlikely (5+): O6 C4 - yes, but...
Luck save to see if there's a tourist attraction between the B&B and the deserted hotel (just noticed that all PC classes have same Luck save progression, so 12+): 12, yes]
They have a B&B booked in a nearby village. It's a little further out than they'd hoped, but should be a good base of operations if needed. Their early train form Victoria is cancelled. They are able to travel on next one, but it's crowded and they don't get seats. Bloody typical.
They finally arrive, drop off their bags at the B&B, set out with their equipment pack (mostly in Amit's backpack) by bus. They get off on a lonely forest road, and when they're sure no one is looking, head into the forest.
next post: guess who?
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