IC - 20 - The Church - Everyone

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn checks the open Bible to see to where it's open, though she expects it's to the same passage in Exodus. "I don't see a holographic projector anywhere," she says.

[Silver Priest]

"There's talk here of a need for a' great sacrifice' on Tuesday." Simon reports. "No doubt Regina, though hopefully we can convince others of that." He glares at Jocelyn. "Yes, well, I'm sure we'll find something of the sort around here. Failing that some sort of hallucinogenic drugs; they're common in many cults as a way of accessing the divine."

[Mephistophilis]

As predicted the Bible on the lectern is open to Exodus 11.

There are no projectors, no audiovisual equipment of any kind actually. The hall is incredibly sparsely furnished without even any flowers or other decorations. There is nothing on the walls except for the cross.

I think I've probably let Simon's madness run too long. So let's say he is now able to entertain supernatural explanations if the evidence demands it - I expect he'll still be pretty resistant to it unless the evidence is overwhelming. I think his residual insanity is an extreme aversion to religion and religious paraphernalia. He's still vulnerable to becoming insane again if he sees anything disturbing

[Silver Priest]

Simon casts a leery look at the cross. It left him feeling uncomfortable, likely due to knowing that behind all the faith were Balfour's disturbing intentions to kill thousands of people. "We should keep searching." He tells Jocelyn, wanting to get away from the cross-- though he doubts there were many places within this place without any.

That's fair. I think Simon is still skeptical, though evidence is piling up and if he doesn't go insane I think he might start taking this seriously if he sees something else like he did at the hotel.

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn nods. "Let's check under the altar cloth," she says. "Could be a secret compartment or something."

[Philulhu]

At one time, Kris would have made a flippant comment about Scooby Doo and finding secret passages in the unlikeliest of places, but now he wasn’t so self-assured.

He moved forward to help Jocelyn, but made sure Ollie Gray was close at hand too, just in case…

[Mephistophilis]

Jocelyn and Kris slide off the altar cloth. There is no secret compartment underneath, just a wooden altar that looks like a narrow but chunky wooden table. On the surface of the altar is a symbol, it's been drawn in a red pigment, maybe blood.

Give me a Cthulhu Mythos and/or Occult roll to try and identify it

[Mr. Handy]

Jocelyn has seen something like this before.

Occult roll (20% skill) about the symbol:
d%

[Silver Priest]

Simon goes over to check the alter for himself.

1d100

[Mephistophilis]

Jocelyn and Simon both recognise the symbol. They saw it when they visited Oxford and Prof Brock, it was in the book Africa's Dark Sects. Neither can recall exactly the context or what it represents.

Ah, what a pity Jocelyn doesn't have any Cthulhu Mythos!

[Philulhu]

Gui looked from the alter to his colleagues. ”You’ve seen this before, I take it?” he said. “What is it?”

[Mr. Handy]

"We saw it on our trip to Oxford to see Professor Brock," says Jocelyn. "It was in a book he showed us, Africa's Dark Sects. That's S-E-C-T-S. It's not what it sounds like. Well, actually it kind of is. Maybe we should go talk to him tomorrow and get some context on the symbol."

[Silver Priest]

"She, but correct." Simon notes, amused. "Perhaps I could text her if I can recall her number."

Simon was said to know her quite well. Can I roll to see if he'd have her number handy?

[Mr. Handy]

Oops! I'd forgotten who she was, it was so long ago.

[Philulhu]

”So does that tell us anything we don’t already know?” asked Kris. “Or just confirm that the sect are involved.”

[Mr. Handy]

"It's evidence," says Jocelyn, taking a picture of the altar with the symbol. "There's a big difference between knowing something and being able to prove it. This could be a conclusive link between Balfour and Red Trumpet, if Professor Brock can verify its origins."

[Philulhu]

”That’s good,” replied Kris, “But I’d like hard evidence of Balfour’s plans to keep him locked up.”

Are there any other rooms we haven’t searched?

[Mephistophilis]

Simon checks his phone, he still has Annabelle Brock's mobile phone number, but he does note it is about 2am.

Room wise you've done the lot except the bathrooms and a storeroom/closet

[Philulhu]

Kris heads over the store cupboard to check it out, being sure to check it for any unusual signs before he opens it.

(40%) 1d100

[Silver Priest]

A courteous individual would have noticed the time. Simon is not one.

He snaps a pic of the symbol and shoots Brock a text.

I seem to recall this symbol in that book you showed us, Africa's Dark Sects. Can you verify it's meaning?

Then he rings Brock's phone, hoping to wake her. This was important,and they needed her expertise now.