[d20 Cthulhu] What Rough Beast... (Part I)

[Karl Green]

Sam will glace at the drawing and make a face and think to himself That is what they call art these days?

 

[Anabstercorian]

Oh.... kay....

Alex looks at Miles curiously, maybe even nervously. Maybe it's him, but the people who buy his art are always so... fanatical about it. "I'm flattered, truly. I don't know if it's really THAT good, but... thanks." He scratches his head, bemused about the cockroaches. "Freaky," he murmurs, talking about the cockroaches, not Miles. "Randy, you want to see? It's like cariacatures, I can whip em' out on the drop of a hat."

 

[Spoof]

Randy Morrison

Randy will look over at the sketchpad and the picture drawn on it. After studying it for a minute Randy will nod. “It is a very good likeness of me, but what in the world is that”, he says pointing to the tentacles. “Also do you have a fascination with cockroaches or did you just find them fascinating on Mr. Alister?”

Randy will turn back to Julia, “Mrs. Pickman, Julia, where do you want us to get started? We do not have to get to it right away, but an idea of where you would like us to assist you would be great. Also now I am pretty interested in seeing some of the other work that Mr. Higgens here has done that your husband found so interesting.”

 

[The Crimster]

Julia comes over to the kitchen table and nods. "Might as well get to it, hmm?" She takes a rather large set of keys from a pocket.

"It's time for me to go as well, Julia," says Miles. "I have some business I have to attend to before my flight." He once more extends his hand, grasping each of yours in a slightly moist grip. "It was a pleasure meeting all of you. If you don't mind Alex, I'll get your number from Julia later. I am interested in buying your work." He gathers his coat and looks out the window. "Quite a storm heading our way." As if to punctuate his statement, a jagged fork of lightning illuminates the kitchen for a moment, followed by deep thunder. Miles smirks and embraces Julia. He murmurs the same words that everyone does in a time like this, and she nods gratefully. Within moments he is gone.

Julia rubs at her eyes. "Well then. Let's get to the study, shall we?"

She begins to lead all of you through the house, towards the back. "Alan did like his privacy. He always had two studies... the one where he commonly played chess or met friends... I'm sure you're familiar with that one, Ray. Then there's this study." She stops in front of a rather ornate wooden door, which looks rather secure. A plaque hangs on the door, cheaply made and looking nothing like what Alan would like. It is, for all intents and purposes, a stylized tree branch.

Julia begins looking for the right key. "Truth be known, I've only been in here a couple of times. I learned early not to bother Alan when he was in his study." She finds the right key and inserts it into the lock. A queer expression fills her face.

"Odd," She says. "It's not locked."

 

[Karl Green]

Sam's cop instincts kick in, and he will say in a quit voice "Julia, please step away from the door… have you had any break-ins lately. Everyone please stand back I don't want any of you getting hurt or in the way." He will then move to the door and listen +5 if he hears anything suspicious he will draw his gun (assuming that a police officer is always armed, especially in LA) and ready an action. If he doesn't hear anything he will open the doors only slightly and peek inside...

 

[Spoof]

Randy Morrison

Randy will quickly put his hand on Julia’s shoulder, keeping her from entering the room.

“Julia, you say your husband kept this room locked all of the time?” After she nods Randy will gently move her back from the head of the group and pass her off to Sam. “I know it is probably nothing but still if someone has been here then it would be best if either I or Sam went first.”

At this Randy will move to the door and look for signs of disturbance. (The wood being warped, a gouge, footprint where someone kicked it. He will also listen at the door, to try and determine if anyone is there.)

If he cannot tell if anyone is there he will remove a handkerchief from his jacket and use it to open the door, making sure that any fingerprints that are there are not disturbed. Randy will also reach in his jacket and grab his weapon, but not pull it out, just in case.

Without taking his eyes off the door Randy asks Julia in a quiet voice, that sends a shiver up your spine. “Julia, where is the light switch in this room?” While Randy’s voice is easy to hear, you know that if there were anyone on the other side of the door they would not be able to hear it.

 

[Isida KepTukari]

*Ray blinks twice at the caution of Sam and Randy, but doesn't argue. He takes several steps back with Julia, and presumably Alex and Kristof.

He look idly at the tree branch symbol on the door and wonders what in the world it could be. Maybe Professor Faulken would have a better idea. He makes a mental note to ask him once it's been asertained that there is nothing wrong.*

 

[Spoof]

Randy Morrison

Randy will nod as Sam comes to the door with him. He points to himself and then nods his head off to the right, and down. Signaling that he will sweep to the right of the room and kneel to as to not impede Sam while he sweeps to the left.

When both are ready this is how they will enter the room. If Sam has no objections that is.

 

[The Crimster]

Sam puts his ear close to the door and listens. Nothing. Silent.

"I'm sure Alan just forgot to lock it," Julia whispers. "We do have an alarm system. We've never been broken into." Sam, something in your cop's gut triggers here. The type of system that you talked with Nathan about years ago and just a... feeling. Maybe it's just your mood today but again you think Julia is lying. Or hiding something.

Just as Sam is about to open the door, Randy puts his hand up and inspects the door. No visible signs of forced entry, as far as you can tell. You hear nothing either.

Without taking his eyes off the door, Randy asks Julia in a quiet voice that sends a shiver up your spine. “Julia, where is the light switch in this room?”

"J-just to the right." She replies.

Sam and Randy nod to each other, and slowly open the door. Sam's hand darts in and flicks on the light.

Alan's office is big and spacious. A large mahogany desk sits against the far side, and behind it is a large bay window that overlooks the street. Outside, rain splatters against the window, but all you can see are a few tree branches and the darkness of the storm. The desk, the chair, the tables - everywhere - is filled with clutter. Paper, books (some still on various shelves all over the room), and even a pizza box are scattered all over the place. Pinned to the wall in various spots are pieces of paper, with mathematical formulas that are difficult to read from this distance. Two tables are against the left and right walls, each covered in paper and files that reaches almost two feet high. An armoire stands next to a table, one of its doors open, revealing more paper and files. There are other, unidentifiable pieces of junk that sit on shelves and tables - but you see no one here. The place is empty, although you can smell a faint whiff of Alan's pipe, as if he only just departed a few minutes ago.

Julia, straining to look over Sam's shoulder, gasps a little.

"Oh Alan. I didn't know it was this messy!" She shakes her head. "I'm sorry, if I knew it was this bad I would have called more people!"

 

[Anabstercorian]

Alex walks in to the room, eyes wide. "Man... what a mess! even my studio isn't this bad... Well... This is a pretty cramped space to be organizing things..." He looks at a few mathematical formulae and files confusedly. "Guess no one's here - He really did just forget to lock it." He looks around to see if he can find any of his paintings - He'd like to put them in a safe place before anything else.