[IC]Chapter 1.5 - Cold Tidings

[Silver Priest]

"Well you said he was pursuing a lead, right? He might just be a little delayed with that. But given the types we're investigating, I share your concern. I'm sure he's fine, but I don't think he'd fault us for checking his hotel room. We should probably tell someone here to let Jackson know what we're doing though; if he shows up looking for us and can't find us, he might panic. 'Specially if he can't find you, Amy."

[Leonulf]

Rebecca shuffles in her chair ready to get up and looks at Amy "It might be best if you stay here, theres a chance he could arrive late and I would rather one of us remain than get a staff member to call out to anyone arriving looking for us. As your friend said - he might panic if your not here. I am ready to go looking - it's public enough here that you should be safe but if your uncertain one of us could stay behind. But I don't think we should leave this chance - a delay means trouble."

[kabukiman]

"Don't forget that they always target lonely persons. Let's go quick".

[jp1885]

“Amy if you wanna wait here, I’ll keep you company.”

Cynthia pats her friend’s arm. “I’m sure he’s ok.”

[Raiko]

OOC:   Reconned the earlier post. Atauchi hasn't arrived yet, but let's say that both Marcus and Anderson know that he's arrived earlier to keep watch.

Atauchi positions himself two floors up on a fire escape, attached to the front of an apartment building directly across West 23rd Street from the Hotel Chelsea. It's further than he'd like from the Coffee Pot, but he can at least see anyone entering or exiting the café and anyone lurking outside on 23rd Street. He watches all of his friends enter the Coffee Pot, as well as a dark haired young lady who arrives at the same time. No one else enters or leaves the café until shortly after noon, when two more young ladies arrive from an office building across 8th Avenue. Nobody is behaving suspiciously outside the café.

Atauchi,[ooc]Firstly, I've decided to houserule that Survival is a single skill - it's already specialised enough IMO, and Marcus bought it as a single skill anyway - so Atauchi can merge his two survival skills, or keep 55% in survival and spend the other points elsewhere. The default is 10%, so I think that he has 13 points in desert survival, but it might only be 3. If you're not sure then just spend the full 13. :)[/ooc] Now that's done, please roll survival for Atauchi keeping his vigil in the snowstorm. Failure will mean that he has a penalty die for tests until he warms up. Warming up will need 15 minutes somewhere warm, like the café. In the event of combat occurring, he only suffers the penalty for one round after which adrenaline does the trick. Now as the only investigator with a good view of the Hotel please make a Spot Hidden roll, with a penalty die if you failed the survival roll.

Hotel Chelsea

[Mr. Handy]

"I'm going too," insists Amy. "I don't want to wait another minute to see him again, and if the rest of you go over there and I'm not with you, he'll worry. Besides, it's not good for any of us to be by ourselves. If anyone else wants to wait here, that's all right, but otherwise we can just leave a message with the owners that we went to his room."

[Zero]

Still at his second story perch, Atauchi watched the streets below. He produced his trusted binoculars from beneath his heavy fur-adorned coat and trained them upon the Hotel Chelsea. Unfortunately, as the man attempted to raise the ocular device into position, they slipped from his grip and dropped onto the metal grating beneath him. He muttered a curse in his native tongue, then recovered the binoculars. The lenses were caked with snow and would have to be carefully wiped clean before being of use to him again.

Spot Hidden (70%),[dice]0[/dice]

OOC:   Gotta warm these dice up soon or they're gonna ruin me. If there was something to see, the distraction caused him to miss it. 98 may not be a true fumble, but it was awful.

[Anatomist]

Realizing people is going to the Hotell Dr. Sánchez follow the others.

[jp1885]

Cynthia grins at Amy.

“I didn’t think for one minute you’d wanna stay behind.”

Finishing her coffee, she surreptitiously checks she still has her pistol before standing up.

“C’mon, let’s go.”

[Leonulf]

"To be honest, I wouldn't wait either. Sitting around waiting doesn't suit me. Don't take this the wrong way but he has a reputation with my office, so try not to worry - he can handle himself."

[Raiko]

The Hotel Chelsea, 222 West 23rd Street - New York
12:05pm - Thursday 15th January, 1925

Until twenty years ago the twelve story Hotel Chelsea was the tallest building in New York. Ever since its construction it has been home to many artists and authors, the most famous being Mark Twain who lived there in 1898. Some stay there for just a day or a week, others live in the famous Hotel's bohemian community for years or decades.

The receptionist in the spacious, but haphazardly furnished lobby doesn't bat an eyelid as the investigators walk in, he's used to strangers coming and going as they please. There are several residents lazing on the sofas and armchairs, chatting, reading or just contemplating life - none pay any attention to the new arrivals. The Chelsea's magnificent open iron staircase rises straight up through the heart of the hotel from the lobby. The walls of the staircase are decorated by paintings donated by guests, often in lieu of payment. Next to the staircase is an elevator with cage-type doors.

Hotel Chelsea Staircase

Marcus and Sánchez,You can both see Atauchi up on the fire escape across the road from the Hotel. So you don't feel that you've missed out too much by rolling an exceptional success on a 'worthless' Spot Hidden, I will award you a single bonus die each that you can spend on a future Spot Hidden / Listen / Psychology roll that I ask you to make (so you know it's needed).

Atauchi,Although he failed his spot hidden roll, Atauchi did notice Jackson Elias himself entering the Hotel at 11:39am (no successes necessary). Jackson looked like he was checking for tails, but Atauchi didn't notice anything unusual or see anyone following (not with that roll!). Jackson had plenty of time to go to his room, prepare and then make it back out to the café, but hasn't reappeared so far. Atauchi also sees his friends - and the dark haired lady - rushing to Hotel from the direction of the café (again no successes necessary). So he's free to either join them, or maintain his watch from the fire escape across the road.

[Anatomist]

The Hotel Chelsea, 222 West 23rd Street - New York
12:05pm - Thursday 15th January, 1925

chelsea_stairs.jpg

Dr. Sánchez walks to the reception 'Excuse me, im here for Elias, Jackson, black gentleman, room number please or call him up'

[Raiko]

"Oh yes, Jackson, wait a sec," the receptionist looks though the register book for a moment.

"Room four ten."

[Anatomist]

"Oh yes, Jackson, wait a sec," the receptionist looks though the register book for a moment.

"Room four ten."

Dr. Sánchez starts walking up the stairs to room 410. 'Thanks'

[jp1885]

Cynthia follows, one hand ready to grasp her pistol.

[Silver Priest]

Marcus follows as well, pointing out Atauchi location to the others.

[Mr. Handy]

Amy also heads upstairs with the others, excitement warring with concern within her.

[Leonulf]

Rebecca follows the group and nods at the receptionist as she walks past, as they start moving up the stairs s "I am so glad we are taking the stairs, not a fan of elevators - they tend to be noisy and we should try and make a quiet arrival in case he has company perhaps..."

[Zero]

Since by his timepiece, Jackson hadn't arrived at the cafe at the predetermined time, Atauchi inferred that something was almost certainly amiss. He anticipated that the others would soon be making their way towards the Chelsea Hotel to investigate their friend's absence. His supposition was confirmed moments later and when he locked his gaze with Marcus' he gestured to the other man that he would remain in place to cover the visible exits from his present vantage. The Quechua man quickly wiped the lenses of his binoculars off with a silk handkerchief and then scanned the building once more.

OOC:   @Raiko: I'll wait until you call for another Spot Hidden.

[Raiko]

On the fourth floor landing the winding central staircase opens onto two well lit corridors. The door to room 410 is on the right hand hallway. The investigators are surprised to hear the sound of trumpet playing jazz music as they arrive on the landing.

The music is coming through the open door to room 408, it sounds like a whole jazz band might be in there rehearsing.

Jackson's door is closed, and nobody is about other than the rehearsing band.

OOC:   Post what you're doing, but also make a listen roll. If you get less than a hard success (half skill) then you hear nothing over the noise of the trumpet.

HARD Listen Success,You hear a scream from inside room 410.

OOC:   @Zero: You can roll another spot hidden now if you like, ready for when there's something to see. Atauchi is too far away to make a listen roll.