Episode One/c - Trinity

[Mr. Handy]

Rachel quietly fills in Nellie and Lord Roxborough on what she's learned. "I think Mr. Hornsbee could use a little assistance from you, Miss Bly," she whispers. "I'll head off to look for Professor MacMillan. Lord Roxborough, would you care to accompany me?"

[Priest]

Rachel (and Peter Roxborough?) –

With MacMillan’s room noted as ‘Nevilles Court’ it is a fairly simple exercise to find it. A long panneled corridor with leaded glass windows overlooking a night darkened courtyard leads you to a door marked ‘Professor G.A. MacMillan, Private’ and from the glimmer of gas light below the door it would seem that someone is at home.

A heavy knock elicits, after a few moments, the sound of a bolt being drawn and a lock being opened. The door opens to a middle aged gentleman whose wild red hair and beard frame an equally red but pleasant looking face, that you had seen earlier at dinner. That he is no doubt of Scottish extraction is obvious from the hint of a tartan kilt protruding just below the hem of his Chinese patterned silk smoking jacket, and the tall knee length plaid stockings. In one hand he holds a long stemmed pipe with an ornately carved bowl from which a thin wisp of perfumed smoke rises ceilingward, in the other, a glass filled with an amber liquid. “Aye, may I help you?” he asks with a broad Scottish accent...

[carnage_lee]

Nellie nods at Rachel's suggestion, "Try and get a list of any friends of Edward that are at the University, we might get some insight from them." she says as the other two head off.

Crossing the room, Nellie joins Hornsbee "Oh, hello, Nellie Bly, pleased to make your acquaintance." Nellie holds out a hand to Dr Chocker.

Jonathan, Mr Hornsby, and I have been engaged by the parents of Edward Ponsonby to locate their son, who failed to return home two days ago. We discovered, earlier today that Edward failed to board his train from Cambridge and was seen to leave the railway station in the company of an as yet unknown man. It transpires that they both then left the station in a Brougham, operated by one Rab McPherson, who is in your employ..." Nellie says. So, we were wondering if you would be able to put us in touch with Mr. McPherson so that we might ask him if he knows of Edward's whereabouts."

[Priest]

Nellie and Jonathan –

Dr Choker regards the American accented female with the same blue lensed, imperious stare as he had the bearded adventurer. “I see...Indeed Mr McPherson is in my employ, as I just informed your...associate here. However this...Edward Ponsonby is unknown to me, although I have contact with a great many students here, as I assume you are no doubt aware, so it is possible that he and I may crossed paths at some stage. However if so I am unaware of it. If, however, he is an acquaintance of McPherson then it is to McPherson that you should address your questions. As to his, McPherson’s, whereabouts, I would imagine that he is currently at the house in the Fens” he reaches into a waistcoat pocket and produces a rather ornate looking silver filigree pocket-watch. He flicks it open, “Now if you will excuse me I have important papers to mark” With an arrogant nod he turns on his heels...

OOC:   Nellie – you can try a Perception roll at df4 (Hard). Also Jonathan can assist by adding +2 to your roll. Remember you need at least 4 successes and as usual the more successes the better. Teamwork In some situations, characters may work together to complete a project. Each character must have an appli¬cable Skill rating of 4 or higher. The character with the highest Skill rating makes the roll with +2 bonus dice for each person assisting him (maximum of +10 bonus dice). If three characters are trying to fix a damaged steam engine, and your character has Mechanics 5 and the other two characters have Mechanics 4, you would roll 9 dice for your Skill roll (5 dice for your Mechanics rating with +4 dice for your two assistants). Also do not forget your style points!! At this point in time the groups style points are; Nellie - 5 Roxborough - 4 Jonathan - 3 Rachel - 3

[carnage_lee]

Nellie Bly - Perception (8 +2(Hornsbee Assist) +2 (Style Pts)),[dice]0[/dice]

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, thank you, I believe you can, Professor," says Rachel. "I'm Mrs. Rachel Steele, and I'm trying to help the parents of young Edward Ponsonby locate their son. Dr. Oswaldtwistle recommended that I speak to you, as you are his tutor. Would you mind if I asked you some questions? Anything you can tell me about him may help me find him."

[Priest]

Nellie and Jonathan –

As Choker turned away you both saw a nervous tick in the corner of his mouth. For those who understand the game of Poker, you recognise a ‘tell’. Choker knows more than he is telling, but about what?

Within moments the good doctor has made his way from the room...

Rachel and Peter –

The Scotsman purses his lips somewhere within the thick growth of flame coloured beard. “Aye, Edward Ponsonby, sad, he showed great promise. But where are me manners?” he steps back letting the door open fully to expose a small, well furnished room which screams bachelor in the simplicity of its décor.

He leads the way to a rather battered drinks cabinet with several half empty single malt whiskey bottles each labelled with some unpronounceable name. “Can I offer ye a glass o’ finest single malt? Ye’ll find no finer south o’ the border” As if in answer to his own question he pours two generous glasses of the amber liquid. He the passes both of you a glass, lifts his to an old painting that hangs above the cabinet and utters some phrase in an unknown language, obviously a toast of some kind.

“Now young Ponsonby, missing you say? Ask away if I can help, I’ll be glad to”

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you, Professor," says Rachel, gladly accepting the glass and raising it. She takes a sip, savoring the Scotch before letting it slide down her throat. "This is excellent whiskey indeed. Regarding Mr. Ponsonby, the first question I have is who were his friends here? It seems he may have fallen in with the wrong crowd, and that could have a bearing on why he disappeared."

[Priest]

Rachel and Peter -

MacMillan swills his drink around the glass, deep in thought the tosses the fiery liquid down his throat. “The laddie was quite popular, no doubt that was part of his problem, too damned popular...beggin yer pardon for ma blunt speak” He turns and refills his glass, holding up a half empty bottle, “Another wee dram? Now where was I? Oh aye Ponsonby’s friends. He was very pally wi’ that scallywag Carruthers, ‘Archie’ Carruthers”.

He quickly tosses down another glass of Scotch, that makes it at least two with no effect that you can discern.

“Aye he was closest to young Carruthers, he, if anyone, might know his whereabouts...The laddie’s sending down was a great shame he had fine potential. I blame it on all that damned socialist nonsense he had started to fill his head wi’. There are...” he rubs the side of his nose conspiratorially, “...Too many things to distract a young impressionable mind. If he had fallen in with the wrong crowd it will be those damned socialists, aye, mark my words”.

Again he pours himself a generous glass of whiskey, almost finishing the bottle, which he holds aloft, “Ah well, shame to waste it” he sighs and manages to squeeze the last drops into his almost overflowing glass.

“Now ye say the laddie has disappeared?”

Nellie and Jonathan -

As Choker leaves the room you catch a brief glimpse of him in conversation with a tall, overcoat wearing figure. As the door closes both of them turn and stare in your direction. The door closes...

[jaysun81]

Jonathan looks at Nellie and says, "I apologies for my lack of interaction with Dr. Choker. He unnerved me, so I thank you for the rescue. Nonetheless, I think he knows more than he's telling us. Something isn't right. Shall we follow?"

OOC:   Edited to add character photo.

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, he was supposed to take the five o'clock train to London two days ago," says Rachel. "He was seen at the train station in the company of a foreign man with a limp, perhaps one of those socialists. He never took the train. They left together in a brougham driven by a cabbie named Rab MacPherson, who is in the employ of Professor Choker. We don't yet know where it took him, where he has been since, or where he is now. It's possible that his being sent down is related to his disappearance, but I don't know the specifics of what he did, only that it was a case of breaking and entering. Anything specific you can tell me might help me and my colleagues find him. His parents are dreadfully worried about him."

[Priest]

Jonathan –

While you waste valuable seconds awaiting a distracted Nellies reply, you can but be aware that choker and his unknown companion could be soon lost within the corridors of the college.

Rachel –

“Aye, more than likely those damned socialists have some part in this, pardon ma words. But Choker?” he shakes his head and gives a wry grin, “Nay that Sassenach pansy would nay have the gumption, if Choker’s man is involved then I would guess that it is without the pansy’s knowledge...Although I seem to recall that the original complaint that saw the laddie sent down came from Choker, something to do with breaking into private rooms or somesuch”

He turns and reaches for another bottle of Scotch, you can tell something is crossing his mind...

OOC:   Please make an Investigation (interview) roll (df 1)

[carnage_lee]

"Indeed, he was less than forthcoming.." ]Nellie replies, patting the intrepid explorer on hos forearm "Nothing to apologise for the man was being deliberately rude and evasive." She starts moving across the room angling to get to the door which Choker used "We should follow...if only to obtain the home address of the cabbie."

Pausing to check that Jonathan is with her, she opens the door.

[jaysun81]

Jonathan follows Nellie to the door and says, "His companion, I wonder..." Once she opens it he proceeds through looking for both Dr. Choker and his unknown companion. As they burst through the door Jonathan can't help but think, perhaps this unknown tall man with the overcoat is THE tall man with an overcoat that was last seen with young master Edward prior to his disappearance.

[Mr. Handy]

Rachel gently prompts the professor to help him recall the information she needs.

OOC,Investigation roll (5 dice) questioning [b]Professor MacMillan[/b]: [dice]0[/dice]

[Papa Gateau]

Roxborough savours the whisky, sipping it more slowly than their host, he rolls it slowly around his mouth, inhaling and tasting the peaty notes.

Whilst his tastebuds concentrate on the whisky, he listens to the conversation unfold between Rachael and MacMillan

Connoisseur,I'll try and identify the scotch and possibly the area/highland/clan whatever I can about it. MacMillan seems friendly enough already but it may make him warm to us and open up more if I can impress him with my knowledge of some obscure small still/batch whisky producer. Connoisseur[5] + 2 style points = 7 [dice]0[/dice]

[Priest]

Rachel and Peter –

“Hmmmn. Ye say that he was last seen in the company of a foreign looking chap wi’ a limp? That sounds like the Russian researcher Nardnikov he has a wee limp and a stiff arm”
As he speaks he watches Roxborough down the last of his scotch, a far-away look of appreciation upon his face, “Aye laddie a finer single malt ye’ll no find outside o’ the isles...Now where was I? Oh the Russian Narodnikov, can’t say it is him for I’m not sure that he and Ponsonby ever crossed paths they may have, but I’m hard pressed to think of another who fits your description”

He pulls the cork from the bottle he is holding and pours another generous amount of the amber liquid into Roxborough’s glass, “Try that one laddie, I’m certain that ye’ll no be disappointed...Nardnikov was sent to me so that he might carry out more research into some medieval secrets regarding some Biblical nonsense. He is with me for a year, came highly recommended by DoctorVerkhsky the noted Russian archaeologist, though why such an eminent leader in our field be interested in such nonsense I do not ken. Narodnikov and Choker are certainly acquainted for he had me recommend him to Choker several months back regarding research into medieval medical esoterica” he picks up his glass and swirl its contents reflectively, “Could Narodnikov be your ‘foreign looking chap with a limp’? It’s possible”

Putting his glass aside he picks up a pencil and writes an address on a sheet of paper which he passes to Rachel, “Ye’ll find the Russian at this address” he writes another, “Here is the room number of young Carruthers, he might be able to tell you more. And this last is the number of Ponsonby’s room, ask Magsworthy the porter for a key. Tell him I sent ye...Now if you’ll forgive me I must away to ma bed”...

Nellie and Jonathan –

The door opens onto a short flight of marble stairs, the walls of which are emblazoned with a multitude of family crest. At the bottom of the stairs stand two polished suits of armour flanking large oak double doors.

As you step out of the masters lounge you catch sight of the doctor as he exits the double doors. A momentary blast of cold, damp air would seem to show that these doors give access to the outside, possibly the inner courtyard of the ‘Great Court’ from your reckoning. Of his companion there is no sign, either he left first or he is still within the building.

As you both rush down the stairs to the doors and pull them open...

OOC:   Please make Perception rolls (df3) and decide which of you exits through the doors first.

[jaysun81]

Jonathan not wanting to lose his prey moves past Nellie while saying, "Pardon me." He then opens the door and steps out into the cold, damp unknown.

OOC:   Perception: 5 [dice]0[/dice] Three successes!

[Mr. Handy]

"Thank you for your time, your hospitality, and that wonderful Scotch, Professor," says Rachel. "You've been a tremendous help." She turns to Lord Roxborough. "We should regroup with our colleagues and compare notes before we continue. I think our next stop after that should be Ponsonby's room."

[carnage_lee]

"Pardon me." says Johnathan as he opens the door to the outside.. Nellie peers past the burly explorer...

OOC:   Perception: 8 [dice]0[/dice]