IC-Ep 3-Trainspotting(Archie/Phyllis)

[Mr. Handy]

Reverend Archie Pennyfeather,[b]Archie[/b] saw [b]Major Steadman[/b] slip his hand into his left front pocket, the same one he had been glancing at earlier. He also could hear the drone of airplane engines in the distance behind them, which he knew to be to the east. They were heading west, back the way they had come, toward Liverpool Street Station.

[aine]

Rolls,listen [dice]0[/dice] success navigate [dice]1[/dice] Success spot h[dice]2[/dice]idden fail

[Mr. Handy]

"Very well," sighed Major Steadman, turning to face Archie and Phyllis. While he tried to sound defeated, both of them could tell that his confidence was unshaken. "I presume you mean this."

Phyllis Cruckshank,[b]Phyllis[/b] could hear the drone of airplane engines in the distance behind them, which she knew to be to the east. From the engine sounds, she could tell that it was a squadron of German Dornier 17 bombers. They were heading west, back the way they had come, toward Liverpool Street Station. From the sound, they were a few minutes away.

Reverend Archie Pennyfeather,[b]Major Steadman[/b] slowly removed his hand from his pocket, a small object in it. It looked vaguely coffin-shaped and matched the description [b]Archie[/b] had been given of the stone's container.

[Snapper]

Archie:

"And now we are finally getting closer to the truth," Archie says. He draws his Colt 45 and points it at the Major.

"That thing you are holding was not made by human hands. Do you understand that? Or that the creature you worship will betray you, and be unleashed on all humanity. You are trying to light the fuse to a bomb you have no conception of."

"Put the jewel on the ground and step away from it. Make no move to use it to harm the boy, Phyllis, or me."

[aine]

Phyllis said nothing about what she could hear; this moment was too important to interrupt. But she fervently wished the men would hurry up.

[Mr. Handy]

"So it's armed robbery, then?" said Major Steadman. "The stone cost me a thousand pounds. After all your talk, you're no different than you accuse me of being. How do you justify this? Are you doing it for the greater good? Do the ends justify the means? You, sir, are a hypocrite. What are you going to do if I don't surrender it? Are you going to shoot me?"

[Snapper]

Archie:

"Spare me the theatrics. That thing is a weapon and you know it. A weapon far more dangerous than your Webley. I will not shoot except to defend myself or others. And, trust me, the last thing I want is to be in possession of that item."

"But make any move to harm us and I will do everything I can to stop you. So drop it and step away."

[Mr. Handy]

"Would you go so far as to shoot me in the back?" asked Major Steadman. "I'm not going to harm you. I'm just going to turn around and walk away from you." With that, he turned his back on Archie and Phyllis.

[aine]

Phyllis rolls her eyes at Archie and glances at the sky. Surely he could hear the approaching aircraft by now.
“I expect that jewel would be worth a lot on the black market if one knew the right people.” She says, looking hard at the young lad.

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,[b]Phyllis[/b], please roll Fast Talk.

[aine]

Fast talk,550

[Mr. Handy]

The boy's eyes went wide, and greed won out over fear. He made a grab for the small object in Major Steadman's hand, but the Major held it out of his reach and tightened his grip on him. "Don't try that again," he said, glaring at him. Then he and his wife began walking away, dragging the lad with them.

There was a distant crump from behind. The air raid had begun.

OOC,Boy's Grapple roll (25% base skill) to grab the coffin-like container: 0

[aine]

“I was rather hoping the boy would stealthily pick pocket the coffin.” Muttered Phyllis quietly to Archie. “I suppose we’ll have to go with them despite the air raid?” She looks at the sky worriedly.

[Mr. Handy]

OOC,He would have, had it been in his pocket, but it's still in his hand.

[Snapper]

Archie:

Archie puts the pistol back in his jacket, casting a quick, nervous glance at the sky. He says to Major Steadman, "You're right, I have no intention of shooting you in the back. But I will punch you in the face, more than happily. So put them up, or are you afraid of a middle aged chaplain?" All of five foot nothing, Archie balls his fists and holds them close to his face in the traditional boxing pose.

[Mr. Handy]

Both Steadmans stopped, looked back, and turned around. James Steadman was smiling. In his left hand, he held the small sarcophagus-like object, only now it was open. Within was a black gem-like stone, though one with crimson striations through it that looked oddly like blood. The thing was no more than four inches across, but it transfixed Archie's and Phyllis's gaze.

OOC,[b]Archie[/b] and [b]Phyllis[/b], please roll against POW x 3 on 1D100.

[Snapper]

Archie:

POWx3 54%,0

OOC:   Fail.

[aine]

Roll,POW x3 39 0

[Mr. Handy]

While Phyllis managed to turn her gaze away, Archie remained transfixed by the stone. Madeline began to chant, pulling a snub-nosed .32 automatic pistol from her purse.

Reverend Archie Pennyfeather,A montage of alien vistas overwhelmed [b]Archie[/b], and he could not tear his eyes away from it. His will was wholly consumed by them. They filled his vision, and he barely even noticed [b]Madeline[/b] chanting. He saw... [i]An icy world with mountains and strange rock formations, where indistinct forms flew in the distance... A bizarre city with a castle on the shore of a yellow lake, with two moons in the sky overhead... A barren wasteland reminiscent of the battlefields of the last war, where strange machines that looked like the deranged offspring of a miniature tank and a pepperpot trundled across the terrain...[/i] [spoiler]Contact roll (10% chance): 0[/spoiler]

OOC,[b]Phyllis[/b], it is now your turn to act. [b]Archie[/b] cannot act this round.

[aine]

“We’ll have none of that Mumbo Jumbo, Madam!” Cries Phyllis. She takes her heavy iron umbrella, opens it and runs at Madeline with it, iron spike first, hoping it will at the least shield Archie’s view of the stone and possibly knock the gun or stone from Madeleine’s hand.

Roll,0