Ch.12b. Caught somewhere in time

[Bullfrog]

Lawrence couldn't tell if Detective Reynolds was brave, crazy, or stupid to grant Brophy control over his body; those three concepts frequently overlapped, it seemed. Nevertheless, it was the detective's choice and there weren't any better options available to get home.

Silent with frustration and thought, Lawrence combs through the underbrush in search of the cellar door.

https://www.orokos.com/roll/908165

[jp1885]

[41] = 41
Spot hidden 60 d%: [ 41 ] = 41

Sean pokes around the ruins, not only for the cellar door but, frankly, anything that will help him get out of this mad mess that he’d got himself into.

[Philulhu]

Clearly the house had once been of some size but little now remained. None of the walls were more than a couple of courses high and the whole site was covered in thick, twisting brambles that snagged the men as they searched. After more than three-quarters of an hour, in the north-west corner of the plot, Lawrence and Sean found what looked to be a wooden trapdoor. The timber was mostly rotted away and the hasp and heavy padlock that secured it were pitted with rust.

[Mr. Handy]

"Do you have a key?" asks William. "Or do we break the lock?"

[Bullfrog]

"Break the wood; it looks just about rotted through." Lawrence answers, seeking out a rock or other heavy object to smash through the decaying wood.

[Philulhu]

Brophy made an exaggerated show of patting his pockets. “Do you know,” he said, “I think I left the keys in my other body…”

He rolled his eyes. “Just break it,” he hissed.

[Mr. Handy]

"That branch should do the job nicely," says William, pointing at the one that Lawrence had.

[Silver Priest]

"You could be helping," Alex tells Brophy. "You have as much desire to get out of here as we do." He offers Lawrence any assistance he can.

[Philulhu]

Brophy shrugged. “Why have a dog and bark yourself?” he said.

The cellar doors didn’t take much force to open. The timber had virtually rotted away so a couple of sharp blows were sufficient to break through. Beyond were some rough stone steps that lead downwards in the darkness of the cellar.

“Who would like to go first?” asked Brophy as he peered down the steps.

[Bullfrog]

"Why don't you show us in, Brophy? It's your house." Lawrence disdainfully suggests as he looks down into the darkness. He definitely would not be entering that place without some illumination."Has anyone got some matches or a lighter on hand?"

[jp1885]

Wondering why he isn’t running for his life, away from these nutters, Sean produces a battery torch from his bag.

“Here y’are, will this do?”

[Mr. Handy]

"Thanks, that's perfect," says William. "It's a lot better than my lighter."

[Philulhu]

“We could set fire to your wooden head. That should burn for a while!” retorted Brophy to Lawrence.

He looked at William. “Lead on, MacDuff!” he quipped, standing aside to let the lawyer go first.

[Mr. Handy]

William lights the flashlight and reluctantly leads the way into the cellar.

[Silver Priest]

Alex will go last. Pointing at Brophy with his gun once again, he motions for him to proceed.

[jp1885]

Sean holds back, his nerves telling him that climbing down into the cellars with these crazies might not be the best idea.

“Y’know, I might take my chances out here, if it’s all the same to you.”

[Bullfrog]

"Where's your sense of adventure, Sean? Wouldn't you just love to descend into a dark basement with some potential lunatics?" Lawrence sardonically remarks, holding off the urge to shove Brophy down the basement stairs.
"Sorry you had to get caught in all of this, and if it's any consolation, we aren't here by choice either. I imagine you'll have quite a story to tell, if anyone will believe you."

With that, Lawrence cautiously descends into the cellar.

[Philulhu]

Monday May 2nd, 1973 10.30am.
Brichester, England.

Sean - go here: http://www.callofcthulhu.org.uk/pbp/vie ... 81ee61bd0b

The long-neglected stone steps were mossy and slick with water, making the descent into the cellar particularly hazardous…

Can I have a climb skill to see if you make it down safely? If you fail, you will slip on the steps and fall, losing 1d3 points of damage (you can try jumping etc. to avoid the damage). If you fall and are carrying anything (torch, gun, etc.) make a luck roll to see if you drop it.

[Mr. Handy]

William slips on the steps and lands badly below, but at least he is able to hold onto the flashlight.

Climb roll (40% base skill) going down the steps:
d%
Jump roll (33% skill) to land unharmed:
d%
Damage from falling (1d6/2):
1d6
Luck roll (65% stat) to hold onto the flashlight:
d%

[Bullfrog]

Lawrence slips on a patch of moss, but miraculously manages to land with minimal injury. He brushes himself off and helps William get up off the floor.

Climb roll (40%):https://www.orokos.com/roll/908901
Jump roll (25%):https://www.orokos.com/roll/908902