Chapter House

[DaevaDude]

Narration:

After checking the areas around major museums and the public library and coming up short, Headstrong and Gideon start looking for more obscure locations. A check of local Yellow Pages reveals a "Center for Geneology Studies" in the northern part of the greater Sacramento area. Heading there, they notice about a block away a large house - more a small mansion, really - with gothic-style archetecture and some subtle design elements - a certain sort of tile, dragon door knocker - commonly used by the Dragons to indicate a Chapter House. It is located across the street from a large cemetery.

[Jmiland1]

Gideon murmurs in the back of his throat. It's a sound which is equal parts unimpressed and disappointed. "A bit on the nose. I suppose given the popularity of Victorian style architecture in post-Gold Rush California, this is somewhat excusable, but still, it's rather obvious." He ignores Stephen's comments, but its clear from his tone that he rather agrees with the Carthian.
Eyes turn to Headstrong, and he asks, "I assume you want to go first and make sure nothing kills us all?"

[Headstrong]

Headstrong grunts in agreement to both Stephen's and Gideon's assessment while scanning the grounds.

"That's the way it's going to be, sorry to hog all the fun." Headstrong says absentmindedly while scanning the Chapter House's exterior.
"It's foolish to assume that whatever hit Sacramento spared the Dragons entirely. So who knows what we'll find in there. Basic approach. Give me a good thirty seconds before following me in, once inside keep ten feet between us at all times. "

Glancing back to the foreboding cemetery and scanning the street one last time Headstrong adds.
"And Stephen, please do stick to Gideon while I explore."

[DaevaDude]

Narration:

Headstrong notices nothing amiss regarding the cemetary, and nothing interesting happening on the street, but she does notice the Chapter House looks awful dark... no visible lights are on at all, even through those upper story windows not fully covered by curtains and drapes.

[Headstrong]

Meaning either no one is home or someone is lying low or waiting. Either way, she was screwed since it meant she'd have to use the flashlights until she could turn on the regular lights. She was giving her presence and position away the very moment she entered and was at a distinct disadvantage if the regular lights couldn't come on.

The duty to go first and protect the even more vulnerable Dragons like Gideon. At times like these it was a goddamn crappy job. But she wasn't Axe-Sworn for nothing and without outward sign of hesitation or fear she decisively walked up to the house, took out her flashlight and tried the door.

[DaevaDude]

As she tries the door, it easily swings inward a few inches. She can see that the door jamb has been shattered, indicating that the door has been kicked in.

((ST Note: Make a Wits + Perception check and a Wits + Survival check; if you don't have dots in Survival, the second would be Wits -1 for nonproficiency))

[Headstrong]

[spoiler]2009-06-18 11:43:51 Headstrong rolls 6 to Perception (10 Again) 3, 4, 8, 7, 2, 7 1 success[/spoiler]
[spoiler]2009-06-18 11:48:31 Headstrong rolls 1 to Perception-y (10 Again) 2 failure[/spoiler]
[spoiler]2009-06-18 11:48:46 Headstrong rolls 1 to not Perception-y (1s Subtract) 4 failure[/spoiler]

[DaevaDude]

Narration:

Headstrong notices a long, thick pile of greasy ash spread across the floor and carpet right inside the open doorway.