Chapter 5: October 27th

[HoneyDog]

Mephistophilis,Dialogue please. This is role-playing!

[Mephistophilis]

'Excuse me sir, I couldn't help but notice you were at the inquest earlier. It is a remarkable coincidence as I am visiting the asylum to check up on two rather rough fellows who attended previously, I presume they are employees here.

Harry knows it is a desperate throw of the dice but something about the man suggests that he is also concerned about the murders.

'My name is Harry Brown, I am an inquiry agent commissioned to look into these grisly murders in the East End. You look to me like you could be one of the doctors here. I must ask, what is the connection between the asylum and these murders. Do you suspect someone?'

[Mr. Handy]

"It must have a meaning," says Alexander. "We just don't know what it is yet, but it must be significant to the killer or killers. V could stand for Victoria, but it could stand for any number of things. We need to consider all of the symbols in their context. Perhaps they all spell a word. What were all the other symbols?"

[Philulhu]

“Should we ask the coroner?” asked Vic.

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye, it's worth a try," says Alexander.

[HoneyDog]

Harry,The man turns, startled, and listens silently to Harry’s explanation. He hesitates before answering. “Yes, I’m a doctor here. I attended the inquest out of professional interest. I can’t speak for anyone else.”

Everyone else,The coroner will need a Law, Fast Talk or Credit Rating roll with a good explanation of your interest.

[Philulhu]

Vic approached the coroner. “Mr. Partington-White - may I have a word?” She didn’t wait for confirmation but ploughed on. “My name is Victoria Miller. My colleagues and I have been employed by The East End Citizen’s Committee to investigate these murders.”

“Now, if I have this right, Clark had an ‘X’ within a circle carved into his chest. Rodrigues had a square within a circle. Vernon had a ‘V’, again within a circle. Does this pattern suggest anything to you?”

OOC,I think I got them all. Credit Rating (55%) - [dice]0[/dice]

[Mephistophilis]

Harry gives a cynical smile, 'Ah doctor, I think we both know it is more than professional interest, it seems the whole asylum has something invested in these crimes and I need to know why that is'

OOC,Can Harry roll anything to try and Fast Talk/Persuade any info out of him?

[HoneyDog]

Harry,Can roll Psychology.

Everyone else,Partington-White looks taken aback, but confronted with a respectable young lady, not one of the usual thugs, he relaxes somewhat. [color=#800040]“Well, miss, you would have to ask the police about the significance of these symbols, it’s their job to investigate. I just determine the lawful cause of death”. [/color] He lowers his voice. [color=#800040]“Between you and I though, they don’t have a clue.”[/color] He tips his hat and strides off.

[Mephistophilis]

Harry is pretty sure this doctor knows more than he's letting on and studies his face for any tells to suggest he is deliberately lying. But his expression is inscrutable.

Harry Psychology 13%,[dice]0[/dice]

[HoneyDog]

Harry,[color=#004040]“I bid you good day, sir”.[/color] The doctor turns and continues down the track toward the asylum.

[Mephistophilis]

'Good day to you doctor, I suspect we will be seeing each other again, you may contact me through the Seekers of Enlightenment.' Harry is sure that this is not the last he will be seeing of the doctor and the asylum, not by a long chalk.

OOC,Harry will return to the others

[aine]

Isolde watches the departing man. “Well!” She turns to the others, “I don’t think we found out about the first victim’s markings; the inquest was interrupted if you remember. We have an X and a V. They could be Roman numerals, I suppose. Are we sure that the murderers made the signs and not some person who happened on the bodies later?” She sighs, “It is a mystery to be sure!”

To Melody she says, “It is a rough old place; it might be best if Harry went with you but you might find something interesting there.”

[Mr. Handy]

"Aye, they could be Roman numerals," says Alexander. "Some sort of mathematical pattern, perhaps? Could also spell something, such as Vox, which means 'voice' in Latin. I'm not sure what the square would mean, though."

[HoneyDog]

Harry manages to rejoin the other companions as the inquest crowd begins spilling out into the street. He fills them in on what he found.

OOC,You can read each other’s conversations now. Is there more you’d like to do or shall we move on to the next day?

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,I can't think of anything else.

[Snapper]

OOC,Last item on Crozier's agenda for the day is dinner at the club.