The weather today is better, but the business at hand is still sordid. The companions fill each other in on the events of the previous day as they wait for the session to begin.
OOC,Feel free to read the other sub-thread to catch up on what happened.
Again, coroner Stephen Partington-White, looking increasingly frazzled, is continuing the Rodrigues inquest, with Inspector Cleveland giving testimony. Most of the details are comparatively trivial, relating to Rodrigues’ position and standing in the community, and there are several interruptions from an impatient crowd, leading to several ejections by the attendant police officers. Looking at the crowd, it is clear that the mood is growing more sullen at the slow pace of the investigation, and Cleveland comes in for some abusive heckling, which he stoically ignores.
Eventually, Partington-White calls an end to the proceedings, with the announcement that the Vernon inquest will continue in the afternoon.
Melody & Alexander & Harry & Vic,Looking at the men in the audience, roll Spot Hidden.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 5:23 am
by Mr. Handy
Alexander instantly recognizes someone.
OOC,Spot Hidden roll (67% skill) looking at the audience:
[dice]0[/dice]
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 8:45 am
by Philulhu
OOC,Spot Hidden (25%) - [dice]0[/dice]
As did Vic.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Wed Oct 28, 2020 11:35 pm
by Raiko
ooc,Melody: Spot Hidden(60%) [dice]0[/dice]
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 12:07 am
by Mephistophilis
Harry Spot Hidden 66%,[dice]0[/dice]
OOC: Success
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 1:04 am
by HoneyDog
Alexander & Vic & Harry & Melody,As he rises to his feet, the companions see a handsome young man of medium build, with sandy hair. He is unshaven and looks very tired, and his face is taut with anxiety. His suit is of good quality, but it looks dirty and rumpled. He looks familiar somehow – yes! He got on the same train as the companions at Hackney Wick the night before.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 3:38 am
by Mr. Handy
"Do you see that lad?"Alexander asks his companions. "He was on the train with us at Hackney Wick. I wonder if he's following us?"
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 1:40 pm
by Philulhu
Vic nodded. ”It certainly looks like the same fellow,” she said. She studied him intently, to see what his response would be when he noticed her attention.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2020 2:41 pm
by Mephistophilis
'I doubt he's following us but he might work at the asylum' says Harry. 'Good suit, could be one of the doctors.'
Harry resolves to try and follow the man.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 1:13 am
by HoneyDog
OOC,If Harry follows the man, does everyone else want to attend the afternoon session?
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 1:27 am
by Philulhu
OOC,Happy with that.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 3:07 am
by Mr. Handy
OOC,That's good for me too.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:20 pm
by aine
While they wait for the afternoon inquest, Isolde fills the others in about The Blind Begger Inn . It might be worth investigating it further but one would have to look lower working class to fit in; it might require a disguise.”
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:37 pm
by Snapper
Crozier:
Crozier will remain for the afternoon session of the inquest.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 2:32 am
by Raiko
When Isolde talks about the Blind Begger Inn, Melody offers to investigate. "I could do me best ta appear workin' class Miss," she says with a wink.
When the inquest is about to begin, Melody slips away from the others to keep an eye out for suspicious activity as Harry has done at previous inquest sessions.
ooc,In case it is needed - Spot Hidden(60%): [dice]0[/dice]
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:41 pm
by HoneyDog
Harry,As the young man leaves, Harry follows. He wends his way through the crowded streets, intent on his destination. As he walks he is looking around as if searching for something or someone, but he doesn’t notice Harry, or if he does, he doesn’t seem to care. Eventually, he reaches Liverpool Street Station and boards a Hackney Wick-bound train.
Everyone else,The companions grab some lunch and return for the afternoon session of the Vernon inquest. Inspectors Cleveland and Spaulding, together with Dr. Raffin, are giving evidence. Estes Hackett and his group of ruffians are muttering amongst themselves. Melody spies the disguised Sgt. Craig in attendance too.
Cleveland is giving details about the injuries suffered by the unfortunate Vernon, at the request of Partington-White, who has had enough of Raffin’s gory descriptions.
[color=#0000BF]“The victim was found with his shirt and coat unbuttoned”[/color] intones Cleveland in his level-headed way, [color=#0000BF]“and his trousers were around his ankles.”[/color]
A loud wolf-whistle is heard in the audience, and several members begin laughing in delight.
[color=#800040]“Enough!” [/color]shouts Partington-White in exasperation. [color=#800040]“For God’s sake, behave yourselves!”[/color]
Cleveland flicks some lint off his jacket.
[color=#0000BF]“The victim’s throat was slashed, and he had also been stabbed in the chest three times, twice in the heart. The weapon we believe was a knife. A symbol was carved into his stomach.”[/color]
[color=#800040]“Well, of course it would be”[/color] Partington-White despairs. [color=#800040]“And what was this symbol, Inspector?”[/color]
[color=#0000BF]“A V, in a circle. All points of the enclosed letter, or shape, contact with the outer circle.”[/color]
[color=#800040]“Something resembling a V, enclosed in a circle?”[/color]
[color=#0000BF]“Yes. The victim’s wallet and watch were missing. We found no money on him.”[/color]
Some more minor details follow. The session ends with the announcement that the Rodrigues inquest will resume at the same venue the next morning.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:44 pm
by Mephistophilis
Harry decides to follow the man to his destination and boards the train.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:47 pm
by HoneyDog
Harry,At Hackney Wick, the man departs the carriage. With Harry following, he reaches Temple Mill Road, and eventually turns off down the lane towards Malbray Asylum.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:52 pm
by Philulhu
”What do you make of the symbol?” said Vic to the others. “What might the ‘V’ stand for? Assuming that it has a meaning?”
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:54 pm
by Mephistophilis
Harry decides to take the risk and catches up with the man to ask him about his interest in the murders and the connection with the asylum.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:58 pm
by HoneyDog
Mephistophilis,Dialogue please. This is role-playing!
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 5:09 pm
by 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?'
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:34 pm
by 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?"
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2020 11:35 pm
by Philulhu
“Should we ask the coroner?” asked Vic.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 12:06 am
by Mr. Handy
"Aye, it's worth a try," says Alexander.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 7:35 am
by 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.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 11:38 am
by 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]
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 11:43 am
by 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?
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 4:01 pm
by 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.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 4:04 pm
by 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]
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 4:09 pm
by HoneyDog
Harry,[color=#004040]“I bid you good day, sir”.[/color]
The doctor turns and continues down the track toward the asylum.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 4:14 pm
by 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
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2020 5:20 pm
by 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.”
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 12:26 am
by 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."
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 1:26 am
by 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?
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 2:36 am
by Mr. Handy
OOC,I can't think of anything else.
Re: Chapter 5: October 27th
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 3:43 am
by Snapper
OOC,Last item on Crozier's agenda for the day is dinner at the club.
