Resurrection City IV: Et In Arcadia Ego

[Andrew D. Gable]

"Seems clear enough a case then, doesn't it?" Vaughan turns to the patrolman. "Warren, why don't you get a few more men and go round up Sosostris?" After the patrolman leaves, Vaughan paces around the room to the shelving along the wall. "Disgusting mess this is," he says, peering at the jars of eyes. "So, have you men got any ideas as to why this Sosostris would have killed our Mr. Ferencz?"

 

[JimAde]

Trevor shakes his head. "I believe they had some sort of business dealings," he says. "They were involved in some sort of project with an acquaintance of mine. A mister Edward Langdon. We were trying to find Edward as I suspect he doesn't really understand the sort of..people he's dealing with," Walsingham adds, his gesture taking in the body as well as the odd and disturbing paraphernalia in the small space.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

Vaughan chuckles. "Quite a business it is, too," he says of the jars. "What do you Englishmen call 'em, 'resurrection men'? I wager that's what these fellows are." He takes a seat and sighs. "Since you're a policeman, Diggory, do you think all this mess is mixed up with some crime in London? This question's for you, Baron -- do you think Langan's in danger? Or do you have any ideas on where he might be?"

A resurrection man was a criminal who robbed graves and sold the bodies to surgeons, sort of like Burke and Hare. Finally, I get to use Victorian street-slang!

 

[Old Fezziwig]

"Well, I'd say that it would be, more 'an likely. I mean, everything finds it's way into or out of London at some point." Diggory shrugs. "More specifically, there'd been a few deaths and such — Inspector Longtree knows about them — that Ferencz was more than likely involved in."

 

[JimAde]

Vaughan chuckles. "Quite a business it is, too," he says of the jars. "What do you Englishmen call 'em, 'resurrection men'? I wager that's what these fellows are." He takes a seat and sighs. "Since you're a policeman, Diggory, do you think all this mess is mixed up with some crime in London? This question's for you, Baron -- do you think Langan's in danger? Or do you have any ideas on where he might be?"

A resurrection man was a criminal who robbed graves and sold the bodies to surgeons, sort of like Burke and Hare. Finally, I get to use Victorian street-slang!

Trevor shakes his head. "I'm afraid I don't know where Edward is. As to whether he's in danger...well you can see the sort of people he's associating with." Turning to Diggory he adds, "The sooner we can get after him the better, I think."

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

"London," says Vaughan. "I was there for a while. I used to be in the New York police, but in '89 I was sent over here to consult with Charlie Warren. Seems he thought the Ripper got to New York, and I was picked to save face and convince him it just wasn't so. Then, well, once I got over here I found your country more to my liking than New York - though, of course, that also explains why I'm working a fair in Avebury rather than a beat in London. I wanted to get away from the city, you know?" The American continues on, conversing with the three. "You know though, given these things here, I think you're right and we'd best find Langan before he gets himself into any more trouble than he's already in."
After a time, he draws back his shirt-sleeve and glances at his watch. "Those men have been gone awhile," he says. "Perhaps we better be going down there and seeing what's keeping them?"

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Diggory raises an eyebrow and nods. Past experience indicates to him that this cannot be anything good.

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

"Probably nothing good," Vaughn says, agreeing with Diggory's suspicions. "The Avebury constables will be by soon, I'm presuming with Inspector Longtree. Make certain you keep the guard up here," he says to the Gypsy as the group passes. Gorgo nods and you proceed down the plank road towards Sosostris' wagon. The byways of the fair are now mostly vacant, save for fair workers of various stripes, the sky darkened and patrons gone home.

Vaughn draws his pistol and holds it ready at the sight of a darkened wagon, its door shut. He peers inside and quickly withdraws his head. "I can't see a damned thing in there. Entirely too dark." He cautiously opens the door, fumbling to retrieve a match from his pocket. He strikes it as you enter, but it is quickly extinguished as a chill breeze blows through the wagon. In the brief flare of illumination it engenders, two bloodied and mangled corpses can be seen lying in a pool on the floor.

"Well now we know," Vaughn says dourly as shadow engulfs you.

[sblock]
I'll put OOC footnotes in this code from now on. Make a Will save, DC 14. Diggory and Hewitt have a +1 on the save. Spot and/or Listen checks may be made.
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[Old Fezziwig]

Jamison draws his gun and his Bowie knife (gun in right hand, knife in left) and follows Vaughn into the room. He sighs as he sees the bodies. "Bloody hell. Where does it end?"

[sblock]Will save (+5 Will, +1 bonus) 15, success; Spot check (+6 skilled) 7; Listen check (+2 unskilled) 3.[/sblock]

 

[Andrew D. Gable]

The men are momentarily repelled by the sight of the bodies in the darkness, but rapidly regain their composure. Richard bends down and feels their necks, confirming what you already knew to be true. You are in a small space, in the dark, with two dead bodies. Their killer may still be in the room...

"Look!" whispers Trevor harshly. In the shadows of the far wall are visible two greenish pinpoints of light, like a cat's eyes. Vaughn strikes another match and by its dim light you see a massive cat, only a bit smaller than a lion, its fur tawny with black spots. A leopard.

[sblock]
Just moving things along. Initiatives everyone, and first-round actions.
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