The Eyes of a Stranger

Victorian Horror. A fashionable London party, a murder in mysterious circumstances...

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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by Victoria Silverwolf »

Gordon shrugs. When in Rome . . .

He takes his seat.
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Image

Diane also takes her original seat and joins hands, curious to see what will happen this time. Of course, not everyone is here now that was the night before. She misses the presence of Ann Veronica. Bidwell, not so much.
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Clergyman.jpg
Absolom Peredue Somerhayes

Absolom gazes wonderingly around the room noting the set places, he almost jumps as the door closes behind him. Then following the lead of his companions finds his seat, nodding thoughtfully at the empty seats.
We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.
- Anais Nin
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Mr. McKerry, Reverend Somerhayes, Professor Powell, Mr. Copeland and Miss Siddons:

At that moment all the gaslamps suddenly extinguish and the candles on the table spark and flicker to life, seemingly of their own accord.

Then the door to the adjoining den opens and a robed and hooded figure steps into the library, moving slowly to the head of the table.

"Welcome. I am glad you could come," the figure utters in a familiar voice.

He throws back the hood of his robe, revealing a gaunt, pale man whose black hair and goatee are streaked with white, and whose eyes seem to burn with an infernal passion: a man you last saw lying dead upon the floor.

It is John Bidwell.
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Meanwhile...

Ann Veronica Poole:

"Certainly, Miss Poole," the concierge replies.

The requested arrangements are made and within the hour you are back aboard a hansom cab heading north through the fog-shrouded night streets of London.

It is the best part of another hour before you draw to a stop once more outside the Bidwell house. From outside, the building stands dark and silent. No light shows from any window.

The door is closed but not locked. Inside the foyer, everything appears as you last saw it this morning: still in disorder from the previous night's party.

All is quiet and still.
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Ann Veronica


There’s no doubt an ominous atmosphere hanging over the house. The quiet and silence unnerves Ann Veronica and she starts to question why she came. She’s even beginning to wish she was back in Chatham.

She creeps quietly through the house in the direction of any noise.
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Clergyman.jpg
Absolom Peredue Somerhayes

Absolom is unimpressed by the lights and candles show, more trickery to fool the susceptible, he thinks. Also the appearance of a hooded figure does little to change his anticipation of the forthcoming theatrics. However, the sudden uncovering of the figure to reveal the supposedly demised Mr Bidwell causes him to gulp audibly. He begins a desperate search of his pockets for his handkerchief, only to aware of the tickling sensation at the back of his throat, while the words of a simple prayer begin to swim within his mind. Oh Lord protect your humble servant from evil that walks by night...
We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by Victoria Silverwolf »

Gordon tries to think about this strange phenomenon scientifically. There is much evidence that the nervous system is electrical in nature; the strange cube may be some sort of device which passes the electric pattern of one brain to another. Fantastic, but not beyond imagination.

He decides to try boldness.

"Welcome back, Mister Bidwell, if indeed that is who you are. I trust you will be remaining in that body for a while?"
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Image

"But it's impossible!" protests Diane. "That body was dead!" She completely glosses over the fact that body swapping is likewise impossible. "Or was it? It could have been a stage trick. I've seen actors die on stage plenty of times. Done it myself too. But how could the police have been fooled? Or perhaps Mr. Bidwell had a twin brother."
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by Pastiche »

James.png
"John, is that really you? Tell me, do you remember where we first met?"

James is a bit suspicious that the entity in front of them really is his old friend, and wonders it he will recall that faithful day during the rowing match on the Cam when their boats collided...
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Mr. McKerry, Professor Powell, Reverend Somerhayes, Mr. Copeland and Miss Siddons:

"There are forces greater than life and death," Bidwell says, laughing at the guests' various expressions of disbelief.

"I have summoned you back here to show you the fruits of your labor. The seance, you see, was indeed a success." He produces the crystal cube from a pocket of his robe and displays it in the palm of his hand. "This," he says. "This is the key."

Suddenly the smoke from the candles swirls and thickens, forming a funnel-shaped cloud above the table. Blue flashes spark through the cube and the smoky funnel twists, the narrow end pressing against, then through the library wall. The funnel now forms an impossibly long, black tunnel that stretches through the wall and off into infinity.

Bidwell steps to the wide mouth of the funnel, now over ten feet across. Within the vortex can be seen odd shapes moving down the black, swirling tunnel. The shapes move closer, growing larger until they are revealed to be enormous, multi-legged worm-like creatures.

"May I present your new masters," Bidwell chuckles. Behind him, several of the worm-things crawl out of the smoky tunnel. One of them holds a glowing sphere that appears to be made of metal or energy, yet seemingly sentient. "Behold, Juk-Shabb the Great Old One, god of Yekub!"

The worm-creatures swarm toward you with tentacles lashing.

Mr. McKerry, Professor Powell, Reverend Somerhayes, Mr. Copeland and Miss Siddons:
Spoiler:
OOC:   These sights require a Sanity roll for a cost of 0/1D4 please.

Unfortunately for you the lowest DEX of any of the worm-creatures is 16 which, being higher than any of the investigators', means they act first.

Mr. McKerry:
Worm-creature Tentacle = 40%[dice]0[/dice]
Professor Powell:
Worm-creature Tentacle = 40%[dice]1[/dice]
Reverend Somerhayes:
Worm-creature Tentacle = 40%[dice]2[/dice]
Mr. Copeland:
Worm-creature Tentacle = 40%[dice]3[/dice]
Miss Siddons:
Worm-creature Tentacle = 40%[dice]4[/dice]
The attacks all miss!  
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Meanwhile...

Ann Veronica Poole:

Downstairs, the house appears to be deserted.

Heading upstairs, each of the main rooms leading off the hallway -- the library, the study, the conservatory, the master bedroom -- is seen to be empty.

Reaching the guest bedrooms you at last find your companions. Each is sound asleep in their bed, having evidently retired for the night. Your own bed beckons...
Spoiler:
OOC:   You may make a Listen roll.  
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by HoneyDog »

Ann Veronica
Listen,Listen 25: [url=http://orokos.com/roll/540788]Listen[/url]: [u]1d100[/u] [b]52[/b]
“Something strange is happening here” she thinks. Would they really all be in bed? She cocks her head, attuned to any strange noises, but hears nothing.

Nonetheless, she needs to warn the others. They’re all vulnerable if those Chinese come looking for them. The young actress, Diane Siddons, would be the best one to wake. Ann Veronica heads to her room.
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

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Miss Siddons:
Spoiler:
For a moment your vision clouds and you hear a faint sound like a voice very far away, calling your name.
OOC:   Please make a POWx5 roll.  
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by Victoria Silverwolf »

Spoiler:
[dice]0[/dice]
Gordon screams in terror as the nightmarish creature lashes out at him. His only thought it to run away as quickly as possible.
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by Priest »

Clergyman.jpg
Absolom Peredue Somerhayes

For a brief moment Absolom stares with a bug eyed disbelief as the wormlike creatures swarm towards them. Then realising that he is the target of one of the things, he lets out a diminishing scream of terror as he pushes himself backward to avoid the lashing tentacle. At his moment all he can think of is fleeing the room, but doubts he has the strength to avoid the creature long enough to gain the door. As he topples backwards his hand gropes for a small bible he carries in his jacket pocket. Dear Lord grant me strength his whirling mind screams...
SAN Roll,[url=http://orokos.com/roll/540874]Sanity Roll 60%[/url]: [u]1d100[/u] [b]88[/b] [url=http://orokos.com/roll/540876]San loss 1d4[/url]: [u]1d4[/u] [b]3[/b]
We do not see things as they are, we see things as we are.
- Anais Nin
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by Mr. Handy »

Image

Diane lets out a scream of terror more sincere than anything she has ever done on stage and tries to flee for the door.
OOC,Sanity roll (current level 75) for seeing the creatures: [dice]0[/dice] POW x 5 roll (75% stat) hearing the voice: [dice]1[/dice]
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by Pastiche »

James.png
Spoiler:
OOC:   Sanity 44%: [dice]0[/dice]
Potential loss: [dice]1[/dice]
(Note my character sheet still says 45%)  
James stares in disbelieve at the mass of tentacles, his mouth wide open and with eyes the size of saucers. He is so transfixed that he doesn't think to do anything sensible, like fleeing, for example...
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by Rooter »

Bidwell laughs mockingly as his guests react in terror. Inside the library, Reverend Somerhayes, Professor Powell and Mr. Copeland look on as his face seems to shimmer -- then suddenly changes to that of Hanson Bartlet. Then another shimmer and it changes again, this time to the Chinese woman, then to Constable Baker. Then he screams and falls to the floor, his body ripping open as one of the worm-things squeezes out of the writhing, fleshy shell.

The creatures surround the guests.

Reverend Somerhayes, Professor Powell and Mr. Copeland:
Spoiler:
OOC:   These sights require a Sanity roll for a cost of 0/1D4 please. Mr. Copeland you also have the previous Sanity roll for 0/1D4 to make.

Reverend Somerhayes:
Worm-creature Tentacle = 40%[dice]0[/dice]
Professor Powell:
Worm-creature Tentacle = 40%[dice]1[/dice]
Mr. Copeland:
Worm-creature Tentacle = 40%[dice]2[/dice]  
Reverend Somerhayes and Mr. Copeland avoid the lashing tentacles but Professor Powell is not so fortunate...

Professor Powell:
Spoiler:
OOC:   If you wish you can attempt to fight back or make a Dodge roll; a fighting roll must beat (less than or equal to) 23 to succeed.  
Fleeing from the house into the night, Mr. McKerry and Miss Siddons are met with a still more terrible sight: an army of the worm-creatures is swarming the streets of London, effortlessly killing all they meet, and destroying buildings with strange light- and sound-emitting devices. The slaughtered lie everywhere. The city is overrun.

Tentacles crushing, the creatures advance.

Mr. McKerry and Miss Siddons:
Spoiler:
OOC:   These sights require a Sanity roll for a cost of 0/1D6 please.

Mr. McKerry:
Worm-creature Crush = 35%[dice]3[/dice]
Miss Siddons:
Worm-creature Crush = 35%[dice]4[/dice]  
Miss Siddons escapes a crushing blow however Mr. McKerry is caught...

Mr. McKerry:
Spoiler:
OOC:   If you wish you can attempt to fight back or make a Dodge roll; a fighting roll must beat (less than or equal to) 12 to succeed.

(You can also make a Sanity roll for the previous 0/1D4 loss if applicable; apologies for not being clear, have amended the wording accordingly.)  
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Re: The Eyes of a Stranger

Post by Rooter »

Meanwhile...

Ann Veronica Poole:

Miss Siddons does not stir despite your efforts to wake her.

Closer to, you can make out the sound of what seems to be a frightened, fitful whimpering under her breath as she slumbers on.
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