The Resurrectionists: Laurel Hill

[Seryna]

CR-ACK
THUMP Heavy thuds as pieces of the walled in entrance crumble under the efforts of the Ventrue and Nosferatu. The noise seems to carry. Connor dislodges a large square shape that thuds down onto the ground. The crack of Jack's widens. Now big enough for one to peer through into the dark building, two hand spans across. The vampires are certain that another ten minutes will see them create an opening wide enough to enter.
Milton hears a small scuffling off towards the pops and cracks of the fire. As he studies the area, he is hindered by the poor visibility. Tendrils of mist seem to stretch out into the night. Perhaps shrouding the dead in their obfuscation, hiding their misdeeds.

Dim voices sound, too far away to make out more than '-hear that?'
"(undistinguishable words)... fire."

Several yards away, two ghouls stand with their backs to the noise, scanning the night. Dark eyes narrow as a handsome vampire comes into view from the direction of the Millionare's Row. The ghouls slowly crouch, trusting the dark. A radio is lifted and a low voice goes out over the frequency.
"Someone's hearing the noise, direction of Millionares."

Goal to break through: another 10 successes

[Milton]

Milton is conflicted: to keep watch or to help with the demolition?

Lending his (vitae-augmented) strength to the efforts of Jack and Connor would ensure a faster result. But, what would it matter if they are caught off guard by the nearby homeless or something worse... Milton's already had an encounter with the local Haunts. He does not wish to be taken unawares again.

So, he keeps up his watch. This time, focusing his heightened senses in the direction of Millionaire's Row. At least, as far as he remembers from his scrutiny of the cemetery's layout.

Remember graveyard Layout, 4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-11-24 13:15:42	Milton rolls 6 to Intell + Comp (10 Again)	9, 10, 9, 4, 6, 2, 9	4 successes

The Lord strains his supernaturally sensitive eyes and ears to discern if anyone is approaching from the quarter identified by the voices over the radio.

Perception, 2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-11-24 13:19:51	Milton rolls 5 to Wits + Composure (10 Again)	7, 9, 8, 5, 4	2 successes

[Connor OBrien]

The voices catch Connor by surprise. Though they're still a decent distance away, it means that they'll have to be quick. Quietly enough that the owners of the distant voices can't hear, but loud enough that anyone in the nearby vicinity might, the Haunt speaks. "If any of the Arkwright Haunts followed us, a masquerade breach overrules the right to your herd. Handle them before we have to, please." He's entirely unsure whether any of them were watching, but they were haunts so it was always a possibility.

He then turns his attention back to the task at hand, now focusing on breaking out the area in between the two holes that currently exist.

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-11-28 22:45:14	Connor OBrien rolls 9 to Break Down Wall (Str + Stam + Vigor + Equip. 1) (10 Again)	5, 7, 10, 2, 10, 4, 1, 9, 6, 6, 7	3 successes

[Jacque]

Sturdiest brick wall I'd ever dealt with, the Lord thought to himself. It was annoying, the mundane obstacle though to be fair it wasn't a habitual thing he had dealt with.

The news of someone headed our way perked the Lord's ears, and he listened as Connor addressed the surroundings. It seemed he had accumulated some would-be allies as well. That begs the question- who was approaching that no parties knew? Still, Connor forged forward and so Jack made his own attempt- not wanting to waste the squandered quiet.

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-11-29 11:00:16	Jacque rolls 12 to pry at brick and mortar (Str+Sta+ Augment + EQ3) (10 Again, WillPower)	10, 1, 1, 6, 6, 8, 1, 8, 2, 7, 3, 9, 9	5 successes

The wall was nearly done in now. One more strong pry and it would be ready for the key once Quinn retrieved it. He handed the pry bar to Connor and quietly positioned himself forward from the crypt towards Millionaire's row. He wanted to know what was coming their way, and intercept before they got near the crypt as needed.

[Seryna]

The two Kindred make good work, although still not quite wide enough for a grown person to fit themselves through the opening. Certainly not the chest entrusted to Quinn and Jack, or any other human size recepticle such as a coffin that the Liar may be entombed within. Do the Kindred intend to follow through with relocating Pope, defying the Invictus coterie that seems to think Pope needs the chest that was thrust upon them?

More work is needed to break through and that crowbar could do the job nicely.

Milton is the first to spot the interloper at the direction indicated by Vincenzo's ghouls. He is still quite a distance away at forty feet from the demolition, made visible from cresting a hill. The figure is presenting as male and wears a tailored, reinforced grey suit. He carries a backpack, a long cloth wrapped item tied atop of the pack, concealing what it may be. Vitae assisted eyes allow one to see further than one normally would, revealing this man is stunningly handsome, with high cheekbones and sapphire blue eyes. Striking Looks 2. Milton, Jack and Connor would recognizes Mr. Elijah Holden, first met in Elysium.

Holden is glancing about the area where you are working. He does not appear to be aware of your presence.

[Milton]

Milton spots the familiar face. How could he forget such striking features?

Connor's words make sense: he's hoping for aid from the Haunts of this place. Milton doubts they will provide assistance even if they have continued their...observation.

During a pause in the demolition, he turns to Jacque and Connor. Very quietly, he informs them of the new player on the field: "Soldier Holden approaches."

His attention now turns fully to Jacque. "Allow me to take your place at this work, Seneschal." He says it humbly, of course, so as not to appear in any way commanding. His meaning is clear: it would be best if this soldier of the Invictus were met by someone with more stature than Milton himself.

The Lord steps to the wall, calling on his blood, and begins to work on the hole they've already created in the brick.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-01 20:22:11	Milton rolls 6 to Str + Stam + 2 (Vitae) (10 Again)	4, 2, 6, 7, 4, 1	failure

And fails to make a dent. Pathetic, but not unexpected...

[Connor OBrien]

The haunt continues his work as he listens to Jack and Milton, looking over briefly as Milton tries and fails to make progress on the wall. At least he tried. The haunt thinks as his beast roars with dominant pride. With his blood fueled strength, the haunt forces the crowbar into any crack in the wall he can and begins prying away, trying to break enough bricks loose to allow someone to enter the area.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-02 11:00:14	Connor OBrien rolls 11 to Break Down Wall (Str + Stam + Vigor + Equip. 3) (10 Again)	1, 3, 10, 7, 1, 4, 10, 9, 4, 4, 8, 5, 6	4 successes

[Jacque]

Hearing Milton's proclamation, Jacque eased himself- well, as close to ease as you could get doing a secret mission in a graveyard with so many parties interested.

The last crack from Connor assuredly would bring down what remained of the barrier. Now all that remained was for the key to arrive. Heightened senses once more, he scans the scenery mainly looking for Quinn's return and keeping an eye on Holden's trajectory.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-12-02 16:10:18	Jacque rolls 7 to staying alert (Wit+Comp+1 HS) (10 Again)	9, 2, 8, 9, 10, 7, 5, 6	4 successes

Jack will intercept greet/approach Holden only if he approaches directly.

[Seryna]

Over in the direction of the Millionaire’s Row, a handsome vampire turns his head towards the sound of the demolition. He studies the inky black, his eyes passing over where Connor, Jack and Milton stand. Will he come to see the deed done himself? The vampires scanning the grounds do not see the Mekhet's approach, nor any of the Haunt's cows approaching. The night is eerie. Silent. Yet the demolition shatters this.
Somewhere over on Connor’s left, a shadow seems to move out of the corner of your eye. When you look again nothing is there. The handsome Holden walks another ten feet closer to the Grave of the Liar. He seems to be walking towards the sound, his eyes still scanning. Suddenly, he stops. Holden looks behind himself, at the way he had come. He cocks his head, listening. He appears to be feeling eyes on him, searching for an unseen watcher of his own. His body shudders silently and his handsome face is transfixed in silent horror.

The sound of metal on brick rings out, echoing off mausoleum doors and tombstones into the night. Somewhere far off a dog barks. There's just no subtle way to bring down a brick wall. The last of the brick baring your path thuds to the ground, affording you access into the Liar’s tomb. He has been waiting here for decades. Shall you enter?
Inside, the air is clogged with brick dust. The round gothic windows are just spots of purple moonlight in the walls. They throw huge, X-shaped shadows onto the floor, but offer almost no light.
Even still, you can see that there is no body here. No coffin. Instead, the walls are lined with a half-dozen metal urns. The ceiling is painted midnight blue and studded with glass stars. The floor is made up of huge squares of dark slate… and a black metal trapdoor held to the floor with a studded iron padlock the size of your hand. This is no doubt where the key comes into play. Where is the Mekhet with that key?

How do you enter the building? How do you walk across the floor?

[Seryna]

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