Play@YSDC

Eugene continues to hang on, preferring to stay in what little light shines in the hospital rather than risk going out into the dark.

"H-how do we know it's not a trap? Surely Mrs. Cruckshank would be able to telephone herself? And do you think air raid wardens would happily speak about 'hunting in the East End', just like that?"

He retreats into a pool of moonlight.

"I-I'll stay here if it's all the same."

Benjamin pauses for a while. "Hmm, you might have a point there. We indeed do not know if it's a trap... But what if they have Phyllis?"

Archie casts a weather eye over Eugene, not unsympathetically though. "Well, some could stay here to keep this establishment safe. And if the rest of us get to St James' and find Phyllis safely there, that rather answers the question."

Archie holds up a hand. "Generous to a fault but no thank you, old boy. I actually think it would be safer to walk than drive someone else's vehicle at night with black out lights on. And besides, this way you have your car yourself in case you need it later."

“I don’t trust that message,” says Elizabeth, thinking as she speaks. “We know the Steadmans are targeting Anna and myself. We’re on their hit list. This sounds like a trap, to split us up. Though, yes, it might mean they have Phyllis. I would rather stay here, and in a good number.”

Anna Jerkins says "I'm worried this could be a trap too, god knows I don't want to take any unnecessary risks with my own safety, but we can't just abandon Phyllis. St James's is pretty near and I don't think driving is a good idea so maybe someone, or a few of us could sneak down and check it out?"

OOC:   Greetings everyone, another newbie

Taking a moment to gauge the mood in the room Anna notices Eugene's change in demeanor: "Eugene, are you okay? You're looking a little pale."

Anna psychoanalysis: 90,[dice]0[/dice]. Alternatively she has psychology 75 if the initial assessment that something is wrong is not psychoanalysis

OOC:   Right, let's see if I can get this to work

Eugene calmed down somewhat after Anna talked him through his fears, and the darkness did not seem quite so frightening any more. However, from outside came the crump of bombs starting to fall nearby.

OOC,That will do nicely. [b]Charles[/b] already succeeded at a Psychology roll, so that will give you all the information you need to make a diagnosis without having to roll it yourself, and the Psychoanalysis success temporarily suppresses [b]Eugene[/b]'s indefinite insanity. For the next 24 hours, he will be able to function normally. Of course, after that, it will return. Over the long term, therapy sessions will enable him to overcome it permanently and perhaps even recover some lost Sanity.

After his brief conversation with Anna, Eugene feels a lot less panicky and tentatively steps out of the pool of moonlight.

"Thank you Miss, I feel much better now."

He takes stock of his surroundings, as if seeing everything clearly for the first time.

"I think splitting up might be the best way forward. If the phone call was a trap, then I'm sure the hospital has enough lamps and torches to see off the creature. Therefore anyone who goes out can have the flare gun."

"Who wants to stay here and who wants to go into town? We need to act fast before Jerry makes up our minds for us."

Archie looked up at the sound of the bombs falling. "I would like to walk back to St James' but not I think during the air raid. Perhaps we should adjourn to this hospital's shelter for the moment? It doesn't seem there is much point staying above ground."

"I'd like to check on Phyllis, just to be on the safe side..." Benjamin says.

Archie looked to Eugene. "Actually, I might take you up on the offer of the flare pistol, old boy."

"'I am the light of the world', said our savour. 'Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life'." Archie seemed to be talking to himself.

"Now, I really think we should get down to a shelter."

OOC,I think [b]Eddie [/b]has the flare gun :)

Eugene doesn't look convinced, is new-found bravery giving him some backbone.

"If we all hide in the shelter now, there's no guaranteeing that Phyllis will be safe. Whoever goes out to look for her will need the flare gun, just in case they meet the Steadmans. Benjamin, I'll come with you to the church and we'll take the flare for protection, if that's alright by you Eddie."

Having observed the erratic behaviour of the others and had the chance to get back into the mindset of a psychiatrist Anna is starting to have second thoughts about all this talk of flying monsters. Yet it seems like there is some commonality between the experiences people have had, perhaps the ideas of Carl Jung about archetypes, the collective unconscious, and the shadow might have more relevance than she had previously given them credit for. Getting up close to observe someone having one of these psychotic experiences could be instructive. She says "Look, I appreciate the Steadmans are dangerous, and I don't want to put myself in harm's way, but if no one else is going to go and look for Phyllis I will, air raid or no. I'll come with you Eugene"

Archie looked momentarily surprised by the determination of the others. "Well, who can doubt the bravery of Londoners in the blitz? If you are determined to go straight away, I shall come with you."

"Shall we make a start?" Archie looked positively cheery.

OOC,a couple of quick questions before we go a huntin. St James's Church - is that the one we were in some time ago? What do we know about it, does it have a shelter? Historical telephony - I received a call on the reception phone, could I call back (maybe ask the operator to patch me through) and get more info, maybe a psychology roll, or could I call the church directly, perhaps talk to Phyllis?

OOC:   Edited to correct error

"Before we go I'm popping down to reception to call the operator to see if she can give me any information about where that last telephone call came from, perhaps ring them back and get some more information. After that I'm going to see if they can put me through to St James's and maybe I could talk to Phyllis directly" says Anna.

OOC,If I get through I'd like to roll psychology against either/both. Not sure if there would be any penalties doing it over the phone. Looking for whether they're telling the truth,whether Phyllis is under duress. I'll put in two rolls against my psychology 75 that could be used in the order I get through (if I do): [dice]0[/dice], [dice]1[/dice]

The operator was able to connect Anna with the original caller, who had called from an ARP warden's post. The woman who answered said that she was in fact the same warden who had found Phyllis lost in the blackout, and that she had escorted her to St. James's Church, which she knew had a shelter in its basement. "She'd wanted to call you herself, but it was too dangerous for her to be out and about, so I insisted on calling for her." Anna sensed that this woman was telling the truth.

OOC,You only need one Psychology roll, so I'll count the first roll as a Luck roll, which I was going to ask for anyway in order to see if you got through at all. That succeeds, and so does your Psychology roll.