Track Three: A Whiter Shade of Pale

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Lew squeezes his way through the bars and takes out his handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his head and neck. Just being out of that cage makes him breathe easier.
"The secret isn't inside the trapped room. There's got to be another way down." He mutters to himself.

OOC,Wis 10 [dice]219339:0[/dice]

Just outside the room Lew finds a door, disguised as part of the wall. As luck would have it, it opens easily. Within is a set of stairs, leading down into darkness. Perhaps they are intended as emergency access in case of power failure. In any case, judging by the sound of the rapidly descending elevator which took Zara away, it would be a very long walk down to the level where she now stands, if indeed the stairs reach that far.

[jp1885]

Abandoning the idea of cutting the glass (for now at least), Tony listens again to the whirring sound behind the wall. Locating the precise spot, he hits it hard with his stick.

If nothing else, perhaps the vibration will set the mechanism off-kilter.

[SunlessNick]

With a chuckle, he replies "By hook and by crook, my curious little cat. Are you quite ready yet?"

Zara swallows at the implication that she is in the room with Jack the Ripper, but answers "I'm sorry, it isn't easy taking a wetsuit off." But fearing that she's running out of time to stall, she finishes and puts the minidress on, keeping the penknife hidden in her hand. "Will- will it hurt?"

VictoriaSilverwolf,I assume his line about "unsullied by the touch of man" means virgin. Zara isn't, though she's not about to volunteer that.

VictoriaSilverwolf,If it gets to the point where he's injecting her with the same machines as Moonflower, Zara's nerve will break - she'll try to stab him and run - if he catches or overpowers her, she will start screaming for help, both from the other characters and her dark patron.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz follows Lew outside and sees the stairway. "That'll do nicely," she says quietly. "It's like in deep stations in the London Tube. There are lifts going all the way down, but they have stairways too in case of emergencies. We've got to get down there to save Zara, but I doubt I can manage all those stairs in my condition."

[jp1885]

Tony stops hitting the wall once he realises that a more suitable avenue of exploration has been found.

"Perhaps Bill could escort you out Liz, then you can get medical attention and alert the authorities." He scribbles a phone number on a piece of paper. "If all else fails, ring this number and ask for 'Auntie'. That'll put you through to a chum of mine in British Intelligence."

He grins at Lew and Agent Carson.

"There is a damsel in distress to rescue gentlemen, so let us away! I don't fancy the elevator - shall we take the stairs?"

[Rooter]

"This is nuts," Carson mutters but heads down the revealed steps with pistol drawn as fast as he can.

[Mr. Handy]

"Right," says Liz. "Good luck, chaps." She lets Bill help her back to the surface.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

When Bill helps the badly injured Liz outside, they see that there's quite a commotion going on. Several police cars, ambulances,and fire engines, with lights blaring, are parked outside the ballroom, which shows signs of having recently been ablaze. It seems to be under control now, judging by the water everywhere and the absence of flames, although there's plenty of smoke. Police and firefighters are talking to a group of men in dark suits and sunglasses, apparently with some animosity. As soon as one of the ambulance crew spot the newcomers, she rushes over and begins first aid treatment, preparing to take Liz into the vehicle. More to Bill than Liz, she ask "What happened? These aren't fire injuries."

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

The flight of stairs in long, dark, and slippery. It will take quite some time to reach what must be the lowest level.

Spoiler:

[dice]0[/dice]

Zara and the Embalmer will have four more "actions" before you reach her.

Spoiler:

carson dex = 9 + 1 danger bonus = 10[dice]1[/dice]

Lew dex = 9[dice]2[/dice]

Tony dex = 13 (due to injury) + 1 danger bonus = 14[dice]3[/dice]

Due to the treacherous, rough, slimy surface of the stairs, both Carson and Lew slip during the descent and are slightly injured.

Spoiler:

Take one hit point and reduce dex by one point until out of this place.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

Zara swallows at the implication that she is in the room with Jack the Ripper, but answers "I'm sorry, it isn't easy taking a wetsuit off." But fearing that she's running out of time to stall, she finishes and puts the minidress on, keeping the penknife hidden in her hand. "Will- will it hurt?"

"Not at all." From one of the many deep pockets of his heavy jacket he pulls out what looks like a small perfume bottle, filled with a white liquid. "If you will please ingest this, all sensation will be dulled. Then, after a brief test for purity -- a mere formality in your case, to be sure -- we shall begin."

[jp1885]

Tony helps his companions up.

"On your feet chaps, time is of the essence. As much as I detest firearms, I suggest you fill the Embalmer full of lead the moment we clap eyes on him. I'll try to free the girls in the meantime."

As he presses on, stick at the ready, he hopes that they're not too late. 'Hang in there Zara...'

[Mr. Handy]

"It was the Embalmer," says Liz. "He's still got my friend down there." She gives directions to get to the stairway leading into his secret lair.

[SunlessNick]

"Not at all." From one of the many deep pockets of his heavy jacket he pulls out what looks like a small perfume bottle, filled with a white liquid. "If you will please ingest this, all sensation will be dulled. Then, after a brief test for purity -- a mere formality in your case, to be sure -- we shall begin."

"What if someone finds me?" Zara asks. "Undoes what you're giving me," she adds, hoping he will interpret her desperation as fear of losing his "gift." (And hoping it might provide a clue as to whether the women above can be saved).

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

After some time reporting the situation to the authorities (who are also busy with the aftermath of the fire, and more concerned with treating Liz for her injuries than anything else), a pair of cops are sent to investigate.

Spoiler:

[dice]0[/dice]

Spoiler:

They will arrive two "actions" after the other investigators arrive.

As Bill and Liz head off to the local emergency room in a wailing ambulance, no doubt they'll be listening closely to the transmitter for news of what's happening below . . .

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"What if someone finds me?" Zara asks. "Undoes what you're giving me," she adds, hoping he will interpret her desperation as fear of losing his "gift." (And hoping it might provide a clue as to whether the women above can be saved).

"Not to worry. The transformation is permanent. Now, drink. I admit that the taste will be somewhat bitter, but that will soon be all over. Meanwhile, I will prepare for the test."

Procuring a leather strap from another pocket -- who knows what else might be contained therein? -- he begins to strop the straight razor.

[jp1885]

Tony continues to race down the stairs, hoping against hope that he and his chums will make it in time.

[SunlessNick]

Zara takes the mixture and pretends to drink it, trying to pour it aside without him seeing while his attention is on the razor.

OOC:   Dexterity = 13 Rolled: 11

She thinks to pour it onto the wetsuit, which is already wet from the sewer.

[Mr. Handy]

Liz listens on the transmitter, hoping and praying that her friends will get there in time.

[VictoriaSilverwolf]

"Now you are unable to feel any pain," the Embalmer explains. "As the sight of the examination for purity may possibly seem unsettling, however, I suggest that you close your eyes while I make the incision. Please extend your arm."

[SunlessNick]

Zara extends her arm, visibly trembling. She tries to keep any sign of pain off of her face.

OOC:   Charisma = 13, Constitution = 8, don't know which applies. Rolled: 18, failure either way.

She lets out an exclamation of pain as he cuts her. The jig being up, she tries to stab him with the penknife.

OOC:   Dexterity = 13, -1 injury/pain. Rolled: 3, success.