(SK) Gathering At Reverence

[West]

As Chris pries with his knife, long blades hidden under the lip of the coffin suddenly swing out in an arc -- much like a needle on an odometer. Although the Mekhet isn't entirely caught off guard*, one connects as he is withdrawing his hand.

The blade is razor sharp, slicing cleanly through his hand at mid palm, littering the coffin with his fingers.

Someone slower would most likely have lost their hand at the wrist; someone still alive would most likely be bleeding to death right now.

The blades silently disappear under the lip again, their damage done, and the trap presumably reset.

Chris Wooding takes 2 Lethal, and loses his hand below the thumb.

* 1 PER failed, 1 PER passed

[Aileen McFarlane]

The soft sound of the blades slicing through flesh were a stark contrast to the harsh look that appeared on Aοleen's face at the sudden sight and smell of Vitae. Her fangs protruded before she knew it, and the female Shadow was taking half a step toward her Priscus's bloody hand before getting a grip on herself again. Her features changed to a look of concern as she approached Chris Wooding.

"Priscus Wooding, are you alright ?"

Of course he wouldn't be alright, but she academically knew such wounds should normally be only inconvenient to one of their kind. Admittedly, to witness it was another matter entirely.

[Martha Villiers]

It seemed like a nasty punchline to her request about lock-picking.

Her mouth formed an O as Chris' fingers scattered over the coffin whilst the sound of sliced flesh and bone filled the air.

Martha dropped the lock-pick and immediately began to take off her tie with the intention of using it as a tourniquet for Chris.

"Blood! Make sure no Blood gets onto the skeleton!" she orders to anyone near enough to comply.

Things could unravel pretty fast.

One thing Martha was confident of: the last thing anyone needed right now was a 1000 year old Kindred getting the uncontrolled taste of Vitae for first time in 300 years.

[Daniella Sage]

Daniella was looking more closely at the box, and possibly how to open it, when her ears pick up on the sound coming from the coffin. Her grip tightens on the box as the sudden smell of vitae fills her nose. Pausing for a moment, she composes herself before setting the box down and moves towards the coffin and the gathering Kindred. She stands back enough to be able to observe, but not close enough to be in the way. She remained quiet, Aileen already asking the first question that came to mind.

[Chris Wooding]

When the blades appear and cut his hand apart, Chris gasps and jumps back.

'Crap.' He says from behind his clenched teeth.

When Aileen steps closer, the wounded Beast shows his own teeth, telling her to stay to fuck away. Then Chris closes his eyes to regain composure. He releases the useless breath taken with the gasp.

'I'm fine... sort of.' Clenched teeth form a thankful smile to Aileen, then the Mekhet Priscus also nods to Martha. He steps back and starts to heal his hand. As he is still in pain he does another step back, looking at Daniella.

'Feel free to continue, carefully.'

Spending two vitae to heal my wounds over time.

[West]

There's a soft thump as Chris' knife rolls off the body and lands in the bottom of the coffin. His pale, dead fingers and half of his palm lying on the body look like an Alien face-hugger waiting for prey.

[Swift]

Dr. Swift observes quietly as the compartment is investigated. When the blade suddenly lashes out he physically jumps back half a step in shock before regaining his composure. He remains quiet, though, as activity and response erupt in the aftermath of the trap. There were already enough people trying to help out, his added attempts would only get in the way.

When Mr. McCann speaks he is compelled to answer, however. "While deadly traps waiting for hundreds of years is mostly a conceit of Hollywood and the Indiana Jones franchise, it isn't totally unheard of for cultures to set traps and tricks to protect their dead. Given that this is one of the Kindred we're dealing with it isn't terribly surprising...." he trails off thinking about his own reaction before continuing, "at least not in hindsight. Given that, though, it would not be at all surprising if his possessions were likewise trapped. I would recommend extreme caution."

[Aileen McFarlane]

Having received her Priscus's order, Aοleen stepped back out of his way. Out of harm's way too. She wondered if it was a trap meant to keep the thing in, or to keep interference out, though, but surely smarter minds than hers had already answers to that question. And so she remained silent.