Play@YSDC

Dr. Francis Preston
Preston is aghast but manages to remain calm. "I'm a doctor," he tells the policeman and steps closer to examine the body although he knows there is nothing he can do.

Reg goes pale when he sees the Major, whom they had just been talking with minutes ago. "The blighter can't have gone far," he says, shivering. "Look for tracks." Unfortunately, he isn't a very good tracker himself.

OOC,Sanity roll (current level 55) for seeing the body: [dice]0[/dice] Sanity loss: [dice]1[/dice] Track roll (10% base skill) looking for tracks: [dice]2[/dice]

SAN,Harry's roll is 70% and he rolls... [dice]0[/dice]

SAN Loss,[dice]1[/dice]

"Good heavens!"

Harry frantically clutches a handkerchief to his mouth and turns away, aghast. Struggling to avoid being ill, he attempts to divert his attention to looking for tracks through tear streaked eyes...

Track,Roll is 50% and he rolls... [dice]2[/dice]

Unfortunately, the ground is paved, and dry, and there are no footprints to be found.

OOC,Sorry, but it won't work here.

In the meantime, while the heroes are recovering from their shock, more bobbies have turned up, and two ladders have been acquired. They are put against the fence as the officers overcome their revulsion and see what to about extricating the corpse.

Suddenly, a low moaning sound issues from Gower – he’s still alive! Knowing he must be in unbearable agony, the seasoned constables gasp in shock. One of them can stand it no more and hides his face.

Everyone,Roll SAN again. If you fail, you appreciate what terrible pain Gower must be in, and lose a point.

"Oy!" says one of them, his face pale and taut in the light of the streetlamp. "I fink 'e's tryin ta say summing!"

Dr. Francis Preston
His experience treating wounded soldiers allows Preston to stay focused. He climbs one of the ladders to do what he can. "Keep talking, stay calm..."

Preston,Preston can see that Gower must have suffered major organ damage, and that lifting him off the spikes will surely kill him. Judging from the amount of blood loss, he likely doesn’t have long left anyway.

Gower is still moaning. More people are beginning to arrive.

”Oy! Wot you playing at, mate?” says the constable to Preston. ”This is p’lice bizness”.

"It's all right, he's a doctor," says Reg.

OOC,Sanity roll (current level 51) for realizing the Major is alive: [dice]0[/dice]

Reg's words seem to mollify the constable.

Gower is still trying to articulate something, but the sounds are being lost by the increasing noise of the gathering onlookers. Policemen have started to keep people back.

SAN,Harry's SAN is now 66 and he rolls... [dice]0[/dice]

Harry rounds on the public. In best military voice, he roars, "Everyone be quiet! Let the poor man speak his last words!"

Many of the surrounding people, including the police, are stunned into silence by Harry's assertive command.

Even so, it is very difficult to make out what the dying Gower is trying to say.

Everyone,Roll Listen. Reg and Harry get +5 'cause everyone shut up. Preston gets +25 as he is so close.

Listen,Harry's skill is 25 + 5 total 30% and he rolls...[dice]0[/dice]

In the brief silence, Harry is able to focus on the major's words.

Dr. Francis Preston
"Don't try to move him," Preston murmurs to the policemen. "He doesn't have long anyway."

He hears the Major's last words.

Reg is too far away to make out the words.

OOC,Listen roll (60% +5 = 65% skill) to hear the Major's last words: [dice]0[/dice]

Preston & Harry,"Abadan... but it was real... alive" are the words Gower manages to speak.

Gower shudders and stops moaning. Preston feels for his pulse, but there is nothing.

Harry wonders aloud, "How is this even possible, by God? How did he get up there?"

He sticks his monocle in his eye and scans the ground, then the fence near the major, looking for any strange thing that might offer some insight into this bizarre crime.

OOC,Track didn't work but can he make a Spot Hidden roll to search for any clues?

Dr. Francis Preston

"He is gone," Preston informs the policemen. Before climbing down from the ladder he examines the body for any telling marks of a physical struggle or other indications of disturbance.

OOC,Sorry Andy, there's no more clues. You've already had two!

Preston,It is difficult to see much due to the dim light and the amount of blood covering the body, but apart from the obvious wounds caused by the fence, there does not seem to be any other violence. At least, Gower’s face does not appear to have been touched.

The policemen almost seem to breathe a sigh of relief. Despite the tragedy, with the man's passing they don't have to witness his suffering. Now the scene must be secured.

The most vocal of the attending bobbies has begun to regard our heroes with a quizzical eye. He frowns as he looks at Harry while he is searching the locale.

“’Ere, what’s all this then?” he says sternly. “Do you blokes know anythin’ ‘bout wots goin’ on then"?

Reg thinks it best to let Harry do the talking.

Harry straightens up, turning to face the constable as he removes his monocle. He inhales deeply and his previously rather sick demeanour turns icey.

"I realise this is a terrible sight but I will thank you to keep a civil tongue in your head, constable. I am Captain Addison, late of the Somersets. You will address me as captain or sir."

"My colleagues," He points his cane in the direction of Reg and Preston, "And I were sharing a carafe of red with this gentleman at the Army and Navy Club not half an hour ago." Harry points his cane at the major.

"That poor gentleman is, or rather was, Major John Gower, late of the Buffs. That would be the Royal East Kent Regiment if you didn't know." Harry maintains a miffed face as he regards the unfortunate policeman.

“Oh, so you knew the poor blighter, eh?” says the constable, unimpressed by Harry’s bluster. “Mebbe you know who done ‘im in then, eh?”

But careful not to take it too far, he softens his tone. “Well, p’raps you’d like to talk about it wiv the detective. We’ve sent word fer ‘elp, so one should be on ‘is way. Would you gennlemen be kind enuf to ‘ang abaht a bit?”