Ch.13a. All Unquiet on the Western Front (Alex, Lawrence, William)

[Mr. Handy]

I'd like to go find the Major and tell him about the new murder and the escape.

[Silver Priest]

Catching up with the others, Alex quickly realizes the severity of their problems.

"Damn it. Are we assuming Carter is involved in this? We still have to find him, but we should probably put the word out. If nothing else, this should convince the Major there's a wider conspiracy at play here, and maybe give us some help. Though I'd suggest trying to position Gibbings as a German spy than talk about anything that could get us thrown in here ourselves.

[Bullfrog]

"William, you go and alert the Major, then run back to the ruined chapel as fast as you can. Tell him whatever you want about Gibbings; you're a better talker than any of us, and whether he's a spy or a lunatic, Gibbings still murdered a guard." Lawrence breathlessly commands, before turning to the detective.
"Reynolds, we're going to get into that crypt under the church, and we're going see if it's even possible to stop this ourselves. I've seen what those lunatics can do, using rituals to call up their demon-gods; we can't spare any time to let that happen. Do you still have your gun or any other weapons on you?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Hobble, more like," says William, indicating his crutches, though he starts heading for the Major as fast as he can.

[Silver Priest]

"Unfortunately I don't," Alex says. "Lost it back in the 70's." An unhinged giggle escapes him at the absurdity of that statement. He glances down at the corpse to see if it still had any weapons on it.

[Philulhu]

William returned to the hospital but as he crossed the threshold, he realised that he didn’t actually know where Major Parker slept…

The soldier guarding the gaol had earlier been armed with a rifle but there was no sign of that now. The only weapon that Alex could see was a bayonet in a scabbard on the soldier’s belt.

[Silver Priest]

"This will have to do," Alex says, retrieving the bayonet. "Though we should expect Gibbings to be armed with the guard's rifle."

[Mr. Handy]

William heads for where they had heard voices, reasoning that whoever is there would know where to find the Major.

[Philulhu]

William made his way into the hospital where he saw a nurse sat at a desk in the corridor, with a solitary lamp burning that seems to cast more shadows than light. ”Major Parker?” she said, in response to William’s question. “He’s with a patient right now.” As she spoke, another nurse emerged from a room nearby with an armful of bloody bandages. “Fetch more bandages please, Mary. The Major’s doing his best but he’s bleeding quicker than we can get blood into him.”

As Alex and Lawrence left the cover of the hospital, they could see the entrance to the crypt in the distance, near the ruins of Father Pombal’s church.

OOC: Spot hidden, please.

[Bullfrog]

"That means we'll have to get it out of his hands as soon as possible. I'm a good shot with a rifle, myself, so if we can get the drop on Gibbings and take the gun, I could hold him and Carter at gunpoint until the Major sends some men over." Lawrence states in a low whisper, looking at his stolen fireplace poker; it had seemed like a much better weapon when there wasn't the possibility of Gibbings having a gun, but it would have to do.

Spot Hidden 26%:1d100

[Silver Priest]

"Sounds like the best plan we have at the moment," Alex says, looking around.

1d100

[Mr. Handy]

"Maybe I can help, I've had some first aid training," says William. "I need to talk to him anyway. There's been another murder. Someone killed the guard outside the lock-up and sprung Gibbings. Then they headed for the ruined chapel. We need to get some soldiers down there fast."

[Philulhu]

“I think we’re beyond first aid!” the nurse said sharply, stepping to one side so William could see into the room. Major Parker was on the other side of one of the beds, his hands and forearms slick with blood, barking instructions to another doctor who had just removed a dressing from a patient’s leg and recoiled in shock as arterial blood spurted across the room…

As Alex and Lawrence moved closer to the crypt, as sudden flared light near the entrance gave them pause. It seems that there was a guard at the entrance, who had decided to light up while no one was watching.

[Mr. Handy]

"I can at least bring him bandages and such," says William. "Just tell me where to find them."

[Bullfrog]

"He must be the one with the gun." Lawrence speaks in the smallest of whispers, his voice scarcely raised above a breath. He crouches down and looks around, searching for some cover he could hide behind. "I'm not sure how to deal with this, but we've got the numbers advantage here. If he spots just one of us, the other can still come up and get the drop on him."

[Silver Priest]

"While exposing the other one of us to a risk of getting shot," Alex points out. "But I suppose we don't have a choice.

"Perhaps one of us should flank him and cause a distraction. He turns around to investigate and then I'll take him from behind."

[Philulhu]

OOC: It’s clearly a medical emergency and no real place for William but if you want to try to get in there, you’ll need to make a Persuade roll at -20.

OOC: For clarity, as you approach the area the standalone entrance to the crypt is off to your left, with the church and the ‘secret’ entrance (via the altar) to your right.

[Mr. Handy]

"You can use every pair of hands you can get," says William, but his pleas fall on deaf ears. "Who's second in command, after the Major?"

Persuade roll (65% - 20 = 45% skill) to convince the nurses to let him past:
d%

[Philulhu]

“That would be Mrs Ogilvy,” replied the nurse. “Now the best thing for you to do would be to get to bed and let us get on.” There was a shout from Major Parker and the nurse hurried into the room, pushing the door closed behind her.

[Bullfrog]

"I'll see what I can do. Best of luck, Alex." Lawrence gives a sober nod and picks up a handful of dirt, rubbing it on his face in a crude attempt at camouflage, before he begins his slow approach towards the guard's position.

How clear is the guard's line of sight from where he is?