(Skeleton Keys) Skeletons in the Closet

[West]

A cacophony loud enough to deafen and stun just moments ago fades, bouncing away on echoes until all that remains is the soft sounds of pain and dying. The dead are still and silent; silent as death, even the undead have no need to gasp for air from the exertion. No blood drips from their wounds.

Two of the CHiPs officers twitch and moan, lying in pools of their own blood and defeat.

Nearby, so too does Rina lie. Mutilated and missing flesh make her seem even more doll-like with her unblinking eyes, for what else besides a doll could survive such?

Let's get goin', y'all...

[Josephine Sterling]

"Dear God, Ducard," Josephine snapped, turning to face the Nosferatu with fangs extended. "Must you always be such a righteous bint? Have you forgotten who charged us with this task? Have you forgotten what might happen if we fail? Then there will be no laws, not under the current authority, so do us all a favor and either help us act or kindly stand in the corner with your mouth shut."

The fangs retreated and the ambulatory corpse known as Sterling shivered in suppressed anger and then bent to begin gathering the officers weapons, ammunition, and badges. Her part wouldn't come about until someone was conscious, after all, and that might be a while, even with the morticians surprisingly deft work.

[Hildegarde Bingen]

Hildegarde slank back, still bearing her bestial aspect. She knelt by one of the fallen cops as the altercation raged, blanks eyes dark and shiny like a shark's, staring at the gaping wounds and the pooling blood. It is only the sound of the Grand Wyrm's voice that rouses her.

"Of Course," the Lord says, rising. "I have a few contacts in city hall; would they be sufficient." For a brief moment, her face wrinkles in distaste. She does not wait for a reply, instead starting a careful search of the slimy walls.

  Wits + Composure with WP

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2015-06-19 03:12:32		Hildegarde investigates! rolls 8 to Wits 2 + Composure 3 (10 Again, WillPower)		3, 5, 9, 7, 1, 4, 2, 8		2 successes

  Wits + Composure extended

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2015-06-19 03:13:09		[04] Hildegarde investigates! rolls 5 to Wits 2 + Composure 3 (10 Again)		4, 8, 8, 8, 6		3 successes
2015-06-19 03:13:09		[03] Hildegarde investigates! rolls 5 to Wits 2 + Composure 3 (10 Again)		10, 2, 10, 8, 6, 8, 8		5 successes
2015-06-19 03:13:09		[02] Hildegarde investigates! rolls 5 to Wits 2 + Composure 3 (10 Again)		8, 7, 2, 7, 10, 8		3 successes
2015-06-19 03:13:09		[01] Hildegarde investigates! rolls 5 to Wits 2 + Composure 3 (10 Again)		9, 9, 4, 1, 4		2 successes

Hildegarde will activate her inherent Heightened Senses and focus on touch

[Kenneth Gilroy]

Kenneth took the tube containing the print out from David. He cleared and righted the table as needed so he had a place to work and started pouring over the maps. Gilroy did his best to ignore the arguing between his Priscus and his Bishop. It reminded him a lot of when his parents fought all those years ago. Or when his Sire and Grandsire got into it. He would have to try to mend that gulf between his two new mentors before it became too large to bridge. For now though he didn't get into it. There was the very familiar task in front of him of finding his way through a sewer system.

  9 successes

Date		Action		Roll		Result
2015-06-19 10:31:19		[05] Kenneth Gilroy rolls 5 to Int+Crafts (10 Again)		3, 2, 4, 3, 9		1 success
2015-06-19 10:31:19		[04] Kenneth Gilroy rolls 5 to Int+Crafts (10 Again)		7, 9, 1, 10, 1, 9		3 successes
2015-06-19 10:31:19		[03] Kenneth Gilroy rolls 5 to Int+Crafts (10 Again)		10, 5, 8, 2, 3, 9		3 successes
2015-06-19 10:31:19		[02] Kenneth Gilroy rolls 5 to Int+Crafts (10 Again)		7, 1, 2, 5, 2		failure
2015-06-19 10:31:19		[01] Kenneth Gilroy rolls 5 to Int+Crafts (10 Again)		4, 10, 3, 8, 4, 2		2 successes

As he worked he did mention "I know some people in the sanitation department that could have some information. I'll see if they can help once I'm finished here." Assuming there's some cell phone reception to contact them.

[West]

Amidst the bickering, much is still accomplished.

Even without proper tools, the mortician is surprisingly effective at preparing someone to remain living rather than preparing them for death. Bleeding is staunched, albeit not without covering David's hands and forearms with blood. The coppery tang of blood hangs thick in air, and wet sounds accompany the work*. Slowly, the breathing evens out and Rina's most vicious attacker hovers on death's door rather than crossing the threshold.

Sometime during the grisly work, the other officer lurches; once, twice, then ceases to move. He'll never move again**.

Josephine collects All The Things.

The Puppet moves, though, animated with purpose. Fingers trail over concrete walls; here, there, until she finds a block which is oh so slightly smoother than the rest. Worn smooth by the pressing of hands, perhaps, over years. It's nothing that the naked eye would ever notice, maybe not even preternaturally sharp sight.

Kenneth Gilroy

Each roll encompasses 10 minutes. Kenneth will be on his first roll for quite some time.

* Ah, yes, the asterisk

Some of you fangers are hungry, and there's all kinds of blood. Everywhere. (VtR p.179)

Any Vampire who is defined as Hungry (4 or less Vitae) rolls for Wassail at -1, needing two Successes.

Any Vampire who is defined as Starving (1 or less Vitae) rolls for Wassail at -2, needing two Successes.

Please note: I'm going to go through all of these threads and track your Vitae (which you should have been doing in your signature lines). If any of you have miscounted and don't roll when you should, you'll auto-fail and Frenzy. Fair warning.