[oneshot] Bert says, "Log on."
FelixLechat has arrived.
FelixLechat says, "In hindsight, I should have picked a name which did not already belong to a MUDder."
GM asks, "You want me to toad Lechat for you?"
FelixLechat says, "lol"
Ricardo says, "Funny, because Felix plays a cat elseMU* :)"
FelixLechat exclaims, "Par mes moustaches, how startling a coincidence!"
[oneshot] Sarge returns.
[oneshot] GM asks, "Is everyone here?"
FelixLechat exclaims, "Where has Sarge gotten to now? Il est en retard? Anormal!"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "I am where I am, which is here."
FelixLechat asks (of Ricardo), "What dazzling tricks have you got up that sleeve of yours, mon ami?"
Ricardo says, "Perhaps you shall see."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Did everyone read about the 'Doom Clock' thing in recap, or should I reiterate?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I did."
FelixLechat exclaims, "J'en suis certain. Wonders never cease!"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Reiterate for the folks at home."
[oneshot] GM says, "In order to encourage succeeding at this investigation, I'm introducing a new way to 'succeed at a cost' on overcome rolls related to investigating things."
[oneshot] GM says, "The Doom Clock! If you don't have a better cost, you can succeed by advancing the Doom Clock. If it reaches three, Something Bad will probably happen."
[oneshot] GM says, "And I get to compel the Doom Clock as an aspect, without Fate Points, to ensure that it does."
[oneshot] GM says, "Speaking of which:"
GM sets his current fate point total to 4.
[oneshot] Sarge says, "I kind of think we should do one further and say that all Overcomes to the investigation *must* either succeed or succeed at a cost."
[oneshot] GM says (to Sarge), "I'm good with that, if everyone else is."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "(the cost doesn't have to be the doom clock, but something.)"
FelixLechat sets their current fate point total to 2.
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Hm. Sounds ok to me."
Ricardo sets her current fate point total to 3.
Sarge sets their current fate point total to 3.
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "sounds legit to me"
FelixLechat sets their current fate point total to 3.
Moonshine sets his current fate point total to 3.
GM says, "It's now a warm Friday early evening in August, some time during the early-to-mid 20th century. You've all been invited by your dear old friend Jessica B. Feather, famed (semi-retired) mystery novelist and amateur sleuth, to spend the weekend at her mansion in the mountains of New England."
GM asks, "Tell me, how do you all know Jessica, and how do you know (and trust) each other?"
Ricardo says, "Jessica interviewed me once to create a character for a book, and we've been good friends since."
Sarge says, "Back before I retired, she used to help out with some of the investigations I was working on."
Moonshine is the assistant vice-president of the official Jessica B. Feather fan club.
GM says, "(And if you'd like to describe yourselves as well, feel free.)"
Ricardo is a raccoon. Short, stout, permanent eye mask, bushy tail. Dresses kind of flamboyantly.
[oneshot] GM asks, "For narrative convenience, I'd like to have you arrive as a group -- do you think one of you might be driving the rest? Or perhaps you shared a cab?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I am probably not the driver ;)"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "we take Furry Uber, which is Fuber"
GM says, "As the car wends its way up the narrow mountain road, a little bit of light rain begins to fall."
GM says, "You eventually pull up to a large house surrounded by woods. The driver lets you out by the front door."
Ricardo tips his hat at the driver.
Sarge gruffly thanks the driver and complains about something and leaves a nice tip.
FelixLechat is a sleek black and white cat. Cheaply dressed in sensible clothes, with a notepad and a pen in the breast pocket of his jacket and a camera slung over one shoulder. He interviewed Jessica once thanks to knowing Sarge from previous journalistic scoop-hunting, and got on well with the novelist/sleuth.
[oneshot] Sarge says, "If someone wants to be my son-in-law, that could work, too."
FelixLechat hops out of the car.
FelixLechat exclaims, "Oh, par les cieux. Rain!"
GM says, "After the driver has been paid and tipped (and smiles at Sarge), he drives off, leaving the four of you standing in front of the house."
Ricardo strides right up to the door to knock.
Sarge glares a little at the rain, as it spots the back of his trenchcoat.
FelixLechat pulls his jacket over his head to protect himself from the rain. 'Why did I leave my parapluie at home?'
GM says (to Ricardo), "The door is answered by a matronly, late middle aged cow dressed in a housekeeper's uniform. Those who have been to the house before will probably recognize her as Emma Bova, JB's housekeeper."
Moonshine says, "The rain falls on the umbrella'd and non- alike."
Emma says, "Oh, come in. Miss Feather is a bit late -- she had an errand to run in town -- but please make yourselves comfortable."
Moonshine nods amiably.
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "tea with fresh milk, you say"
FelixLechat says, "Ah, Emma! Merci infiniment."
FelixLechat hurries inside.
GM says, "She leads you into a parlor, in which there's one other person, sitting on a couch. He's an aging, thoroughly grey wire-haired dog dressed in black, with a priest's collar."
Sarge mutters under his breath something about '...perfectly fine shell... why Dorothy insisted on this coat...'
GM says, "He puts down the book that he was reading and rises to greet you."
Ricardo nods to the dog. "Evening, Father."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "You're gonna murder a priest??? :D"
Francis says, "Oh, you must be more of Jessica's friends. I'm Francis O'Terrier. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Ricardo shakes paws.
Sarge shakes hands. "Sargent Low. I think we've met under sadder circumstances; Mrs. Hazel, am I right?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Oh, and as it happens: two aspects on the setting are Warm August Evening and Relaxing Weekend Retreat."
Francis says, "Ah, yes. That was a tragedy. But I believe she's in a better place now."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Are those aspects we can tag for free once, or just Truths and we can spend a fate point to tag?"
Sarge exclaims, "Fortunately, nothing like that today!"
Emma says, "Miss Plumaire -- Miss Feather's neice -- is upstairs getting ready, but I'm sure she'll be down soon. Can I get anyone anything to drink while you're waiting?"
[oneshot] GM says, "The latter."
[oneshot] GM says, "(Or to compel!)"
Ricardo says, "Whiskey, please, Emma. On the rocks."
Francis already has a cup of tea on the end table beside him.
Sarge says, "I'll have an alfalfa sunrise, if it's available."
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "I was going to ask for a glass of milk"
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "but then it occurred to me that Emma is a cow"
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "haha"
Moonshine says, "Still water, if you please."
[Crows-Nest] Moonshine says, "So fresh"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "I believe the consensus was 'anthropomorphic animal people aren't actual animals, and actual animals are a perfectly appropriate source of food'."
Emma nods politely and leaves the room.
FelixLechat says, "I'll have milk with a dash of cognac"
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "We'll pretend she heard that"
FelixLechat was distracted by the furnishings and nearly forgot he also needed a drink.
Francis says, "It's nice to meet some of Jessica's other friends. Church work keeps me fairly busy, so I don't get to spend much time socially with people from outside of the parish."
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "Members of his parish have a disturbing tendency to perish."
FelixLechat exclaims, "I personally spend almost too much time socially, pour ma part. Sometimes I lose track of all the people I've met!"
FelixLechat says, "That's what journalism entails, after all."
GM says, "Just then, there's flourish of feathers at the door as a young woman of perhaps thirty enters. She's a peahen, and her brightly-colored plumage (yes, peahens have colorful plumage too in this world) matches her blue sequined gown and blue boa."
Dottie says, "Oh, you're here! Wonderful. We can get this party started soon!"
Ricardo smiles broadly at Dottie.
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Ha ha ha"
Dottie says, "But look at my manners -- let me introduce myself. I'm Dorothy Plumaire, Aunt Jessica's niece. But everybody calls me Dottie."
Ricardo says, "Nice to meet you, Dottie. I'm Ricardo."
Moonshine says, "It is well that we flock together."
Dottie says, "It's a pleasure!"
Dottie says, "I do hope old Father Francis hasn't been boring you too much."
Francis just smiles quietly.
Sarge asks (of Dottie), "Sargent Low. Nice dress. You perform in that?"
FelixLechat says (to Dottie), "He has barely had the time to bore us, charming mademoiselle."
Dottie says, "Oh, no, I don't do that kind of thing. I just like something nice to wear for a night out on the town, you know? Or even a night in, sometimes!"
Sarge says, "Nice. Well, it works for you."
Dottie does a little spin.
Dottie says, "Thank you!"
Sarge asks, "What keeps you busy, then?"
Dottie says, "Do you know the Club Calibano? It's just a treat!"
Dottie says, "And then there's Luciano's. And the theatre, of course! I just adore the theatre."
Sarge says, "I do! It's had a mixed reputation, but the new owners seem to be making a good run of it."
Dottie says, "And the new bartender is such a sweetie!"
Ricardo looks a little embarassed at mention of Calibano, but says nothing.
Emma returns soon with a tray of drinks for the four of you.
Ricardo says, "Ah, thank you!"
Ricardo sips his whiskey.
Dottie says, "Oh, we're doing drinks? Emma, could you be a dear and get me a gin rickey?"
Emma says, "Oh course, Miss Plumaire."
Dottie says, "I told you, you don't have to call me that, even in front of guests. It's just 'Dottie'!"
FelixLechat drinks his milk. 'Just the right amount of cognac. Ah, tant de bonheur dans un simple verre.'
GM says, "As they're speaking, there's a knock at the door."
Emma says, "Oh, excuse me. That must be another guest."
FelixLechat asks, "Now what delightful guest could that be?"
FelixLechat says, "They would have to be quite special to top Dottie, certainement."
FelixLechat says, "Cela va sans dire."
She exits to the hallway and returns soon with a gentleman. He's a snake wearing a nice suit. He mostly anthropomorphic from the waist up (e.g., he does have arms), but is just snake from the waist down.
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "A green snake, perhaps?"
Arthur says, "Oh, I see I'm one of the last to arrive! I'm Arthur Adderson. I've been JB's literary agent for years."
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Sure!"
Moonshine says, "Very good to see you again, Mr. Adderson."
Dottie says, "Arthur! You made it! Emma was just getting drinks for everyone."
FelixLechat says, "And very good drinks they are too."
Arthur says, "Oh, then I'll have a scotch, neat. Thank you."
Emma exits again with the empty tray.
Arthur says, "Where's JB? I assumed she would be here."
Sarge says (to Arthur), "On her way, we hear. Sargent Low; good to meet you.""
Moonshine says, "A writer is never late, they say."
Arthur shakes Sarge's hand. "Likewise!"
Sarge asks (of Moonshine), "Do they? Who says that?"
Moonshine says, "Mostly other writers, it would seem."
GM says, "You hear the sound of the front door opening and someone coming in."
FelixLechat asks, "Is that our host I hear?"
GM says, "A sweet old chicken appears at the door to he hallway. She's probably close to seventy years old by now, but still healthy, active and sharp. You all know her well: it's Jessica Feather herself."
GM says, "Right behind her is a young ginger tabby in a US army uniform, looking a bit sheepish."
Ricardo stands and says, "Jessica!" He goes in for a hug and cheek kisses.
FelixLechat exclaims, "My conjecture was correct! Quelle joie!"
Jessica engulfs Ricardo in a big hug.
Sarge asks, "Jessica! A pleasure, as always. And Colonel, is that you?"
Jessica says, "You're all here already!"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "that is, sheep-like"
Billy looks even more sheepish. "Uh. Private, sir. Billy Katzenberg, PFC."
Jessica says, "Oh, yes, let me introduce you. This is Billy. I found him sitting in the rain outside the train station."
Ricardo says, "Oh gosh. That's no way to spend an evening."
Jessica says, "He's on leave to see his family, but his train doesn't leave until Monday, so I told him of *course* he could spend the weekend here with us."
Ricardo says, "Excellent."
Ricardo extends a paw to Billy.
Billy salutes. "And I am very grateful. Thank you, ma'am."
Billy shakes Ricardo's paw readily.
Ricardo smiles. "I'm Ricardo. Jessica and I go way back."
Billy says, "I do hope I won't be a bother to anyone."
Ricardo says, "Oh, not at all. The more the merrier."
Billy smiles.
Sarge peers at Billy. "Ah, right; sorry, my eyes aren't what they used to be. You reminded me of a Colonel I once knew. Maybe your dad! Anyway; good to have you here; mansion is large enough that more people always makes it more homey and less rattle-y.
Francis says, "It's always a blessing to have an opportunity to help someone in need. I'm happy you could join us."
Sarge says (to Billy), "Tell me about your family; are they very far from here? A train ride, I take it, but hopefully not one that takes two days."
FelixLechat shakes Billy's paw. 'I'm Felix. I write for the newspapers, and dear Jessica here seems to be a positive magnet for all sorts of stories. Not unlike those she writes, haha'
FelixLechat says, "Oh, I'm sorry for cutting in while you were talking, Sarge, toutes mes excuses"
Billy says, "Oh, yes, they're down in North Carolina. I got shipped up here for basic training."
Billy says, "I'm their only child, so my parents were awfully distraught about it, but you can't argue with the army."
Sarge says (to Billy), "Ha! True enough."
Billy says (to Felix), "She's certainly awfully nice. I'm not surprised if she meets all sorts of nice people."
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "And one not so nice person. Dun dun dun."
Emma looks around the doorframe. "Oh, good. Everyone's here." She then sees Billy. "Everyone plus one."
Emma says, "Just in time -- if you'd all come to the dining room, dinner's just about ready."
Ricardo oohs, to cover up the rumbliness in his tummy in reponse.
Ricardo is first into the dining room.
FelixLechat says, "Mes moustaches fretillent deja d'impatience. Lead the way, Ricardo."
[Setting the zoned flag.]
FelixLechat strides in and takes a seat.
GM says, "As you all find your seats around the large dining room table -- Jessica at the head, Emma at the opposite end (closest to the kitchen), Francis, Adderson, and Dottie between them (in that order), and the four of you on the other side of the table -- you notice that the storm outside the windows has picked up quite a bit. The wind has begun to howl, and rain is rattling against the window panes."
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "And a seat for Billy?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Replacing the aspect Warm August Evening with Summer Rainstorm."
[Crows-Nest] Sarge says, "I'm going to imagine that it's Jessica that's wearing scarlet for the occasion."
Moonshine says, "We've got cats and dogs both inside and out"
[oneshot] GM says, "Er, right, sorry. Between Francis and Arthur."
FelixLechat says, "Il fait un temps de chien dehors! I'm so glad we're not outside right now;"
FelixLechat asks (of Moonshine), "Oh, amusant. Tell me, did I miss your name?"
GM says, "Emma serves the meal, and also dines with you -- they don't sit on formalities like making the help eat in the kitchen here. The first course is a fresh garden salad, which is followed by leek soup."
FelixLechat says (to Moonshine), "There was so much greeting and paw-shaking and feather-ruffling, I may have lost track of who you are"
[Crows-Nest] Sarge exclaims, "We arrived together!"
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "Made from one Inspector Leek? :D"
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat asks, "Did we?"
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "yes!"
Moonshine says, "Just a fan of our dear hostess."
[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Ricardo), "I mean, it *might* not be *entirely* a coincidence."
FelixLechat says (to Moonshine), "Aren't we all? *wink*"
Francis says, "Emma, your leek soup is divine, as always."
Emma blushes and thanks him.
Jessica says, "We know it's your favorite, so I always make sure she makes it when you visit."
GM says, "After the soup and salad, the entree is baked salmon, along with rice pilaf, grilled asparagus and a bean casserole."
FelixLechat says, "Salmon! Ah, le poisson, quel ravissement gustatif."
Moonshine says, "Truly, one cannot have too many red herring"
GM exclaims, "As everyone is starting in on it, you hear a CRACK of thunder from outside. And the lights go out!"
Sarge asks, "So, Arthur! What's new in the literary world?"
Ricardo eats heartil-- oh.
Dottie screams!
Sarge says, "oh."
GM says, "You see shadows and shapes moving in the darkness."
Ricardo crunch crunch crunch in the dark.
Sarge says, "Now, now."
Arthur says, "What? What the devil is--"
Sarge gets up to go to the candles.
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I guess none of those things really crunch."
FelixLechat exclaims, "Par tous les diables! The power must be out!"
GM says, "Sarge meets Emma in the kitchen, and together they light some candles and bring them back to the dining room."
Jessica says, "Don't worry. This happens from time to time."
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "Magic trick: Ricardo eats off other people's plates in the dark ;)"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "I regret not bringing a fainting goat"
Jessica says, "It's just the storm. They usually fix it after a few days. In the meantime, we'll just have to manage by candle light."
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Yay."
Sarge exclaims, "There we go! Good thing the food was already cooked!"
Sarge opens the window shades to let in more light from outside, such as it is.
Moonshine says, "The mystery behind your prediliction for manual typewriters may be solved"
GM says (to Sarge), "And fortunately, it being summer, there is still a bit of light left outside."
Jessica says (to Moonshine), "Oh, I should show you the new one I just picked up today! It's the latest model. I'm sure it won't break down nearly as much as the old one."
Sarge counts heads, just to make sure everyone is still present.
GM says (to Sarge), "Fortunately, they are."
Dottie pushes back her plate. "Well, that was just delicious. But I think that I have had just *enough* excitement for one night."
Dottie says, "The sun is almost down, so I suggest we make an early night of it. There should be more sunlight tomorrow morning, and we'll actually be able to see each other!"
Arthur says, "That's probably a good idea. Emma, I'll help you clean up in the kitchen."
GM says, "Emma and Arthur start clearing the plates."
Jessica says, "Oh, you'll all need candles to see upstairs -- here."
Jessica hands out the candles that were on the dining table.
GM asks, "And so one by one, they all make their way upstairs -- do you do the same?"
FelixLechat hums 'Au clair de la lune' while holding his candle, and goes upstairs.
Ricardo follows behind with his candle.
Moonshine finds his way to his room.
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "I have an idea--can I create an Aspect, 'Knows who had which candles' with Careful?"
FelixLechat says, ""...ma chandelle est morte, je n'ai plus de feu...""
GM says, "You find that all of your bedrooms are on the top floor, near Jessica's own. Each one has a bed, a dresser, fireplace, wardrobe, table and chair, etc."
[oneshot] GM says, "Yes! +1 opposition."
Sarge rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 0 +1 -1 | Fair (2)
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Success!"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "w00t."
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat asks, "Is he being careful or flashy?"
Sarge's ingrained instincts take note of which candles everyone carried up to their rooms.
Sarge stays up a bit chatting with Jessica before retiring.
Moonshine drags his bed around so that its head points north, as is his people's way.
FelixLechat looks inside the furniture, snooping around idly. One never knows: perhaps there's a secret diary or some curiosity to be found...
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "I have no idea of whether to be careful, or clever, or sneaky"
GM says (to Felix), "Alas, your own rooms seem fairly bland as far as salacious secrets go."
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "hehe"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "I'm going to consider that an automatic success of 'there wasn't anything to find there'."
GM says, "Eventually, once you've all gone to bed, the white noise of the storm outside lulls you to sleep. Morning comes soon, as daylight filters in from outside -- but the power is still out, and the storm still rages on."
[Crows-Nest] Moonshine says, "I don't know how much longer I can resist implying that Jessica is really into big black cocks"
Ricardo wakes up hungry.
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Oh my."
GM asks (of Ricardo), "With your nose, can you smell bacon from two floors away?"
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says (to Moonshine), "Well, *now* you know."
Ricardo can!
GM exclaims (at Ricardo), "And you do!"
Ricardo gets washed and dressed in a hurry.
GM says, "When you get downstairs, you find the three men -- Arthur, Billy and Father Francis -- playing Go Fish at the dining room table."
Ricardo says, "Good morning, gentlemen."
Emma peeks around the kitchen door, saying "Breakfast is almost ready! Bacon, eggs, hash browned potatos. But help yourself to the fruit bowl on the table in the meantime."
Taleslinger arrives from the east.
Ricardo takes a handful of oranges and apples and juggles them for a moment.
Francis says, "Good morning! Would you like to join us? I'm afraid I'm not doing very well this hand."
Sarge snags a few pineapple pieces.
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat asks, "The murderer has arrived?"
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "I didn't kill him / her / it !"
Dottie comes down last, no longer dressed quite so flamboyantly as the night before.
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "Relax, no one's died yet."
Dottie says, "Where's Aunt Jessica? She's usually the first one up."
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "Uh oh"
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger asks, "is the mystery why nobody is getting murdered?"
Ricardo was about to take a seat with the others, but pauses. Hm. "Should someone check in on her?"
FelixLechat says, "Bizarre, bizarre."
Emma comes out with a large tray of food. "Sometimes she likes to go for a walk in the morning before breakfast." She glances at the storm outside the window. "But... maybe not this morning."
FelixLechat says, "De plus en plus bizarre."
Dottie says, "She might be in her study writing again. She always loses track of time when she's doing that."
[Crows-Nest] Sarge says, "Also, https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1cpFHYBviEOfLFWChZy_vTd5QaGYS4WnGkYSbzOlbJ_I/edit#gid=0"
Dottie says, "Well, it's not *my* turn to go get her this time."
Sarge says, "Sure, I'll go check on her."
Ricardo says, "Oh, of course. Well, we should let her know breakfast is ready. It's one of the most important meals of the day."
Sarge heads upstairs and knocks on her door.
GM says, "You go down the hall (the study is on the first floor, as it happens), and... there's no answer when you knock."
Sarge exclaims, "Jessica? You still asleep? There's bacon!"
Sarge knocks again, and if there's no answer, tries the door.
GM says, "Inside, you see Jessica's bookshelves covered with books, her large writing desk, the antique globe next to the door, and... Jessica Feather, lying motionless on the floor."
Sarge gasps!
Ricardo eats breakfast while this goes down elsewhere.
GM says, "There's blood around her neck, and a small puddle of it on the floor."
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat exclaims, "Colonel Sanders, you fiend!"
Ricardo is like, surreptiously nibbling on a piece of bacon, since it would be rude to eat without everyone prsesent.
Sarge pokes his head out into the hallway, to see if anyone's following.
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "And now we replace the aspect Relaxing Weekend Retreat with the aspect Murder Most Fowl!"
Moonshine comes out of his bedroom, as a late riser, hears the slight commotion, and walks over towards Sarge.
Moonshine says, "Good morning, inspector"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "YEEAAAAA"
FelixLechat asks (of Riccardo), "Did you hear that?"
Sarge says (to Moonshine), "Moonshine? Jessica's dead. Make sure nobody comes in while I examine the scene; she may have been murdered."
Sarge shakes his head.
Sarge examines Jessica, trying to determine the cause of death.
Moonshine asks, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN MURDERED?!?"
Moonshine says, "Sorry that was louder than I intended"
Sarge rolls his eyes.
Ricardo heard *that*.
Dottie gasps.
Francis says, "What?"
Francis gets up and goes straight down the hall.
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "I would not turn down a fate point for that"
Francis says, "Surely it's nothing, I can't imagne that--"
Ricardo sticks some bacon slices in his coat pocket and follows.
FelixLechat rushes upstairs.
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "Ah, Ricardo must be ggg"
[oneshot] GM asks, "Is that based on one of your aspects?"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "well not really"
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat asks, "Because of the food cravings?"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "although I could take an aspect for it, I suppose"
Francis stops when he gets to the study. "Oh no. No no no. No..."
Moonshine says, "Please everyone stand back and let policeman Sarge do what he's good at"
Ricardo arrives soon after. His eyes go wide, and he loses his appetite for a short period of time.
Sarge mutters "*Now* he does his job..." under his breath.
[oneshot] GM asks (of Moonshine), "If Father Francis tries to push past you, are you going to stop him?"
FelixLechat says, "Quelle tragedie..."
FelixLechat says, "I cannot believe it."
Dottie eventually catches up with the rest of the group.
Ricardo asks, "Who would do this???"
Dottie says, "What's going on around--"
Dottie screams!
[Crows-Nest] Sarge asks (of GM), "Do I find out anything?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Except here."
Dottie runs back away from the room.
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "hmmm yeah I think I would try"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "mostly by trying to stare him down rather than physically"
[oneshot] GM says (to Sarge), "Oh, right, I missed that."
Ricardo goes after Dottie to try to calm her.
GM asks (of Sarge), "You find several puncture wounds around her throat. Are you doing a more in-depth examination than that?"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "but that's probably all Forceful, so"
[oneshot] Ricardo presumes someone will fill him in with details when the time comes.
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Yes! Carefully, I think."
[oneshot] GM says (to Moonshine), "OK! Forceful overcome from Francis, and Forceful defend from you."
GM rolls Average (1) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 -1 | Mediocre (0)
[oneshot] GM says, "OK! +2 opposition."
[oneshot] Moonshine asks, "how is fate dice rolled again?"
[oneshot] GM says, "'fudge +X'"
Moonshine rolls Average (1) + 4dF: 0 -1 +1 +1 | Fair (2)
GM says, "Father Francis tries to get in to see Jessica, but Moonshine stops him."
[oneshot] GM says, "(The +2 opposition was to Sarge.)"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Oh! OK."
Moonshine says, "She is beyond your care now, Father."
Francis says, "Jessica... oh, Jessica..."
Sarge rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 -1 0 -1 | Average (1)
Francis sobs.
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Hmm, let's advance the doom clock, I think."
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "OK! Doom Clock is now at one!"
FelixLechat is stunned.
GM says (to Sarge), "As you look at the puncture wounds, and the blood on the floor, you notice something:"
GM says, "You've seen a lot of injuries before in your line of work. And a puncture to the neck, that close to the arteries? They bleed. A lot."
GM says, "Much more than this."
Sarge's eyes narrow.
Sarge looks around on the floor for wax splatters.
Moonshine can't resist looking over his shoulder at the grisly scene.
GM says, "You find some, and they match Jessica's own candle, which is burnt down to nothing on her desk..."
GM says, "...alongside her typewriter, assorted papers, and a bloody ice pick."
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "it's the rare locked-door murder that doesn't involve a locked-door"
Sarge examines the pick to see if it matches the wounds.
GM says (to Sarge), "It seems to."
[oneshot] GM asks, "What's everyone else doing?"
Sarge examines the rest of the room, including the papers.
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I went after Dottie"
[oneshot] GM asks (of Sarge), "OK! I'm assuming you're going to do a slow, careful search?"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Oh! I almost forgot!"
[oneshot] GM says, "https://www.webwhiteboard.com/board/etv8rg37"
[oneshot] Sarge exclaims, "Yup!"
[oneshot] GM says, "Now that you're investigating, this might come in handy."
[oneshot] GM says (to Sargent), "+1 opposition."
Sarge rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 -1 +1 -1 | Fair (2)
GM says (to Sarge), "On the desk, you don't notice anything special about the content of the papers that are there -- but you *do* notice that there's a gap in them, as if they had been pushed aside to make room for something that's no longer ther."
GM says, "And also, as you're examining the bookcase -- but we'll come back to that in a moment."
GM says (to Ricard), "You find Dottie upstairs, on the second floor, pacing up and down he corridor."
GM says, "She's extremely flustered."
Ricardo says, "Dottie! Can I get you something? Tea? Whiskey? I promise we'll get to the bottom of this horrid crime."
Ricardo says, "Sarge is one of the best."
Dottie says, "Whiskey! Yes! How could this happen? She can't be -- she can't really be dead, can she?"
Ricardo says, "I.. I'm afraid so. Please sit down, I'll get you a drink."
Ricardo heads down to wherever the liquor is stored and pours a stiff drink for Dottie.
[oneshot] GM asks, "By the way, is anyone with Arthur, Billy and Emma? And has anyone told them what's going on?"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "I presume I'll see them?"
Dottie sinks down to the floor in the hallway.
GM says (to Ricardo), "As you pass by from the stairs to the kitchen, Arthur hails you."
Arthur says, "What's going on?"
[Crows-Nest] (from Ricardo) Ricardo says, "I meant in a chair, but that will do, too."
Arthur says, "Why's Dottie so upset?"
Olly has arrived.
Ricardo says, "She's dead! Jessica is dead. Someone in this house killed her!"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Also: are there cell phones? Someone should call this in if so."
Arthur says, "What? That's terrible!"
Billy says, "D-dead?"
Emma is just silent. Frozen in place.
Ricardo says, "Sarge is looking for clues. Please stay away from the study. Especially you, Miss Emma."
Ricardo says, "Nobody is to leave this house."
[oneshot] GM says, "This is several decades before cell phones, but there's a rotary phone on the desk in the study."
Arthur says, "In this weather, I don't think we could if we wanted to, without breaking our necks in the storm."
Sarge asks (of Francis), "Father, I think I saw a phone in the study--can you call the police and explain what's happened?"
[oneshot] * FelixLechat has joined the channel.
Ricardo says, "Now, I need to get a drink for Miss Dottie."
[oneshot] GM says, "You might want to recap a bit :)"
Francis goes into the study, then comes out a moment later.
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Oops! Is that everyone?"
Francis says, "It's dea-- I mean. It's not working. The storm must have taken it out."
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Aren't y'all in the study?"
Sarge says, "Damn."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "That just felt weird. Carry on."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I feel so silly for not realizing that I wasn't on #oneshot"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "We're in Jessica's room."
[oneshot] GM says, "Jessica's in the study..."
[oneshot] GM says, "(Did I misinterpret where you had intended to go to check on her?)"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Oh! I thought she was in her room."
[Crows-Nest] Olly says, "Cursing in front of a priest."
[oneshot] GM says, "OK, let's roll everything back and re-do it from breakfast..."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "noooo"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Hee"
Ricardo brings the drink back to Dottie and tries to encourage her to join Emma downstairs. With a warning and a reminder that SOMEONE in this house is the murderer.
[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Felix), "Y'know, I *had* been wondering why you never reacted to the setting aspect Murder Most Fowl."
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says (to GM), "haha"
Dottie gulps it down.
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "I would have definitely expressed amusement"
Dottie says, "Thank you... alright..."
Ricardo says, "No one should be alone right now. Just.. be careful."
Dottie says, "Do you know who? Or *why*? Or even how someone could do something like this?"
[oneshot] FelixLechat asks, "So where is the body on this webwhiteboard?"
Ricardo says, "I have my sus.. no. I don't know who could do such a horrible thing. Or how. Jessica was loved by all of us."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I tried to draw a body. I can't draw."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "Thank you"
[oneshot] GM says (to Felix), "In the Study, lower right room on the main floor."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "(also, I'm ready for the bookcase when you are ;-)"
[oneshot] GM exclaims (at Sarge), "Right!"
GM says (to Sarge), "You notice that in the complete works of Shakespeare, one of the books looks a lot more worn than the others."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Oooh."
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger asks, "Not Shakesbear?"
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "haha"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "Ha ha."
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "That is now retroactively what I said."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "She must have really loved that one sonne--- Oh. I get it."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Yes, that's better .Thank you, anonymous artist."
Sarge's eyes narrow.
[oneshot] GM asks, "Also, is there anyone else who's doing something that I missed or forgot?"
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Who all is in the study right now? Moonshine and Francis?"
[oneshot] GM says, "(Feel free to keep reminding me if I miss/forget something.)"
[oneshot] GM says (to Sarge), "That sounds right."
[oneshot] Ricardo is probably heading back.
[oneshot] FelixLechat says (to Ricardo), "itsa me MArio"
[oneshot] GM says, "With Dottie, Billy, Emma and Arthur in the Dining Room."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Oh, so graphic. *covers his eyes*"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Also: Mare-io?"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "yeah, Moonshine is sort of in the doorway"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I would be right at the entrance to the study, trying to get a good look over Moonshine's shoulder"
Sarge leaves the book for the moment, and tries to figure out if Jessica was carried here or dragged.
Ricardo arrives right about now.
GM says (to Sarge), "You find no evidence that she was dragged or moved here."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Is there carpet in the room or hardwood floors?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Let's say hardwood with a nice rug."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Is she on the rug?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Yeah."
[oneshot] GM says, "That blood is going to be hard to get out."
Moonshine says (to Felix), "It's okay, I trust _you_. Go on in if you want."
Sarge looks under the rug.
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says (to GM), "You know there's an eraser button for that ;-)"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Luckily it was a rust-colored rug."
FelixLechat exclaims (at Moonshine), "Merci, mon ami!"
GM says, "Father Francis is kneeling near the body, but out of Sargent Low's way. He's praying quietly."
[Crows-Nest] GM says (to Felix), "Hee."
FelixLechat asks, "This looks like murder... Sarge, do you suspect foul play?"
Sarge says, "Yes."
Sarge sighs.
FelixLechat says, "Quel dommage."
Sarge says, "That means that someone in the house murdered her. Wherever you go, make sure there are at least three of you."
Sarge says, "You don't want to be alone, and you don't want to be alone with the murderer."
Ricardo asks, "Well, it clearly wasn't the four of us. I mean... right?"
Sarge searches Jessica herself for anything she might have been carrying/holding.
FelixLechat says (to Ricardo), "The only thing you are capable of murdering is a sandwich, mon ami."
GM says (to Sarge), "Jessica is still dressed in her pajamas and a dressing gown. In one pocket of the gown, you find a large keyring with many keys on it."
Ricardo says, "Oh. Right. I didn't get to finish breakfast." He pouts a little, distracted for a moment.
[oneshot] Sarge asks (of GM), "Can I estimate time of death?"
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "last evening/midnight/this morning?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Sure! That seems like it would be Clever, +2."
[oneshot] FelixLechat asks, "Might I assist?"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Sure!"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I too have seen my fair share of dead bodies."
[oneshot] GM says, "That gives Sarge a +1."
[oneshot] GM says, "(Assuming you have more than a +0 in Clever, which you do.)"
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Can I just have Felix do it?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Sure, you can ask him to do it."
Sarge says (to Felix), "Hmm, you've seen dead bodies before, right? Can you estimate when she might have died? I'll help."
Sarge mutters about not having a proper coroner here and the dreadful conditions
[oneshot] Sarge says, "(which gives you a +1)"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "(since I have just enough Clever to help)"
FelixLechat says (to Sarge), "Well, I do have some knowlege on the subject"
[oneshot] GM says, "That's still a +2 opposition."
FelixLechat says, "It feels strange, but c'est la vie."
FelixLechat kneels down and examines the body.
Sarge says, "Or la mort, as it happens."
FelixLechat says, "Well said, Sarge."
FelixLechat rolls Good (3) + 4dF: -1 +1 -1 -1 | Average (1)
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "So overal 2."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Phew."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "That was not the best of rolls."
[oneshot] GM says, "Ooh, a small cost."
Francis looks offended. "What are you doing? Stop prodding her! Have you no respect at all?"
GM says, "Despite Father Francis' protestations, after your examination of the body, you estimate that she died roughly around midnight or so."
Sarge fixes Francis with a steely gaze. "It is precisely *because* we respect her that we are attempting to discover what happened, and how to get justice for her."
Francis looks at Sarge, then at Jessica, then he looks away and doesn't say anything else.
[oneshot] GM asks, "Are Ricardo and Moonshine doing anything right now?"
Sarge's voice softens. "I'm afraid circumstances have changed to match our previous meeting. It is tragic, but do let me do my job."
Francis, from being tense, suddenly droops, defeated.
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I guess I'm just watching. I missed Sarge finding the book (and then ignoring it, ahhhhh), but I did see the key ring."
Francis says, "Very well."
Francis leaves the room.
Ricardo gestures to the keyring Sarge found. Is anything locked?
Sarge picks it up.
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Let's pretend I said that second part out loud"
GM says, "There are maybe a dozen keys on it, some large, some small."
Sarge says, "Presumably they unlock other rooms in the house; perhaps drawers."
Sarge says, "OK, I'm deputizing the two of you. Between us, we need to get statements from people, and examine the house."
Ricardo says, "Ok!"
Moonshine says, "One moment"
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "What would interrogation fall under? Flashy?"
[oneshot] GM says, "It depends on how you're doing it."
Moonshine says, "As you might recall from her book 'Kill Your Darlings', one can see what has been written on a typewriter by examining the ribbon"
Moonshine says, "So let us examine it"
Sarge says, "Good idea."
[oneshot] GM says, "But Flashy is definitely an option."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Is Forceful an option? That seems a *bit* out of tone for this situation, but maybe."
Ricardo wanders around the room, looking for anything Sarge may have missed, while they're investigating the ribbon.
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Is it just the three of us now?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "If so, I'll pull the book."
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Four?"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Felix is still here?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Oh, all four? Perfect."
GM says, "You look closely at the typewriter ribbon, and you find that it matches the last lines of one of the papers on the desk -- it looks it's part of the latest book Jessica was working on."
Moonshine says, "Well that's in order."
GM says (to Ricard), "You see the same things Sarge did -- the ice pick, the body, the desk, the bookcases, etc."
Moonshine says, "Does one of those keys match the lock to *this* room? Might as well lock up before we go."
FelixLechat says, "What was her latest book about, I wonder..."
GM exclaims (at Felix), "It appears to be a murder mystery!"
GM says, "Sadly, the last chapter hasn't been written yet, so you may never know who did it."
[oneshot] GM exclaims (at Sarge), "Oh, you siad you pulled the book!"
Ricardo says, "Should we, uh, dust for fingerprints? Does anyone know how to do that? I read it in a book."
GM says (to Sarge), "You take it down! It's a copy of Romeo and Juliet."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "YES!"
GM exclaims, "...and behind it, at the back of the bookcase, there's a small keyhole!"
Sarge tries keys!
GM exclaims, "One of the small keys fits!"
Sarge turns the key!
GM exclaims, "And the entire bookcase swings away, revealing a passage behind!"
Ricardo oh my.
Sarge looks for blood on the floor in the passage.
FelixLechat exclaims, "Un passage secret! This thickens the plot!"
Ricardo asks, "Did you know that the odds of a house having a hidden passage is *quotes something from memory*.?"
Sarge says, "Well, sure, but this is *Jessica's* house."
Sarge says, "The odds there were practically 100%."
GM says, "The secret passage is surprisingly clean -- no blood, not much dust (although more dust than in the rest of the house)."
Sarge looks at the passage. "I mean, I guess they *are* 100% at this point."
GM says, "And inside there are stairs leading up."
Sarge looks in the dust for footprints.
GM says (to Sarge), "There are fairly fresh looking prints in the dust on the stairs."
FelixLechat says, "Hm. No blood. I wonder if the murderer wrapped her body inside a rug or something before carrying her through the passage."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "One set?"
[oneshot] GM says, "That sounds like an Overcome! Clever, probably. +1"
[oneshot] FelixLechat asks, "For who?"
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Who else is Clever?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I have a +2"
Moonshine asks, "That is the question. Where did the blood go?"
[oneshot] GM says (to Felix), "Also, you might have missed it earlier, but Sarge didn't see any signs of the body having been dragged."
Ricardo asks, "In a bottle?"
Ricardo shrugs dumbly.
Sarge asks (of Ricardo), "Can you tell how many sets of footprints there are here?"
Ricardo looks intently at the dust.
Ricardo rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: 0 -1 0 +1 | Fair (2)
GM says, "Tie: success with a minor cost."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says (to GM), "Dragged? Perhaps not. But could it have been carried."
[oneshot] FelixLechat asks, "?"
GM says, "You find two sets: one smaller, and one larger."
Sarge hands Jessica's slippers to Ricardo to see if they match.
[oneshot] Sarge says, "(assuming she was wearing slippers)"
Ricardo holds a slipper above each sized print, gauging without touching the dust.
[oneshot] GM says, "To avoid accidental red herrings, I'm going to say that your earlier examination makes it look like it probably *wasn't* moved (carried, dragged)."
GM says, "They do match the smaller set perfectly."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Also, what's a good minor cost?"
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "But that the blood was... collected?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "No, that was Ricardo saying something stupid, but which I strongly believe OOC"
[oneshot] GM says, "There certainly was less blood than a lethal stabbing to the neck should have caused, yeah."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "That there's a bottle of blood somewhere, being used in a crazy ritual :D"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "My assumption about the 'there's no blood' was that she must have been moved."
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Minor cost, um.. ?"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Thoughts?"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "minor cost: the bookcase door closes and now we're locked in the dark"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "YES"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I love it"
[oneshot] GM exclaims (at Moonshine), "Perfect!"
GM exclaims, "As you all gather around the footprints, the bookcase closes!"
Ricardo says, "Welp. Upwards, I guess."
GM says, "And it's suddenly pitch dark in here."
Moonshine says, "Stop touching me"
Sarge says, "Sorry; thought you were the handrail."
[oneshot] GM says (to Sarge), "Also: there's *some* blood. Just not as much as you would think there should be."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Also, did the slippers match one of them?"
FelixLechat asks, "There's a handrail? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "The smaller"
GM says, "You manage to make your way up, and now you're on a second landing. Also in the dark."
FelixLechat says, "This passage is so cramped, I'm tripping over my own tail."
Ricardo does not step carefully.
Sarge says, "Try to stay on the outside, everyone, so we don't trample over the other footprints."
Ricardo feels around for a way out or up from this landing.
GM exclaims (at Ricardo), "You feel around where the door was downstairs, and eventually you find a knob!"
[oneshot] Ricardo might have some flash paper or something in his pockets-- oh, ok. Knob it is.
Ricardo turns it?
GM asks, "You open it, and find... more darkness! And hanging clothing?"
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "The potential for homoerotic subtext here is staggering."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Did the stairs continue up, too?"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "They do!"
Ricardo tries to shove open the wardrobe door.
GM says (to Ricardo), "You emerge from the wardrobe into a second-floor bedroom."
Ricardo says, "Let's get some light maybe before we go any further."
Ricardo looks around for whose room it is and if there's a candle and matches.
GM says, "It's outfitted similar to your own. There's a suitcase on the floor, a book on the table, etc. But otherwise the same basic furnishings."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Should be the priest's."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "OOC, the map suggests it might be the priest-- timing"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "But Ricardo doesn't know this."
GM says, "You do find a candle, and it's Father Francis'."
GM says, "And the book matches the one he was reading yesterday."
Ricardo says, "Hmmmmmmm."
Ricardo takes the candle. "Should we poke around?"
FelixLechat picks up the book and flits through it.
Ricardo says, "He was acting a litle odd."
GM says (to Felix), "It's a treatise on European history. As you flip through, a folded paper falls out."
FelixLechat asks, "Ha! What's this?"
FelixLechat unfolds the note.
Sarge says, "So. We need some people to get statements from people, and some to investigate the house. Any preferences? I should probably be the one to take statements, but I'll need someone to listen for inconsistencies, etc."
Ricardo says, "We should also follow the rest of the stairs up."
Ricardo peers over felix's shoulder.
Ricardo says, "And maybe back down to see if we missed anything. And uh, look at everyone's shoes."
FelixLechat reads the note out loud (unless it's in code?)
GM says, "It appears to be a handwritten letter! 'My Dearest F, I count the hours until we can be together again. I know that we won't be alone, but no one has to know if you use our little secret. Meet me in the Study if I'm alone. -J'"
Ricardo says, "Oh boy."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Is it in Jessica's handwriting?"
Ricardo says, "Bad priest. Bad."
Moonshine says, "Well well well"
[oneshot] GM asks, "Do you know Jessica's handwriting?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "I assume we've gotten notes from her before."
[oneshot] GM says, "Then yes, it is."
FelixLechat says, "Well, that explains how emotional the poor man was."
Ricardo asks, "Though maybe that's why he was acting weird. Where else do the stairs lead?"
FelixLechat says, "Dog"
FelixLechat says, "Sorry, just thinking out loud."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Who wants to talk to people with me?"
[oneshot] FelixLechat exclaims, "I do!"
GM says (to Ricardo), "Now that you have a candle, you can see better that they do indeed lead both up and down from here."
[oneshot] Ricardo wants to keep exploring and poking through people's stuff :D
[oneshot] GM says, "(AFK a moment while you decide things.)"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "I'm not sure..."
FelixLechat says, "As a journalist, I am uniquely qualified to ask questions."
Sarge says (to Felix), "Let's go talk to people, and Moonshine and Ricardo can investigate the house."
Sarge exclaims, "Hmm, true!"
FelixLechat exclaims, "Parfait!"
Ricardo mmmm, parfait.
Moonshine says, "It is well"
Sarge heads out and gathers the rest of the guests in the Dining room (if possible)
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "I love how much you can tell who is who here :-)"
[Crows-Nest] Sarge says, "Ha"
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "We do have unique voices that seep through our RP"
[oneshot] GM says, "Back."
GM says (to Sarge), "That is indeed possible, and you do."
Sarge explains that he's deputized the other PCs, and that everyone is to stay together, or at least in groups of three. In the meantime, Felix and he will be taking people's statements one at a time in the Parlor.
GM says, "It's getting on around lunchtime now, but no one seems terribly interested in cooking any food."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Should we alternate between playing one interrogation, one search?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "That works"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "yeah that should be good"
[oneshot] GM asks, "OK! Who's going first?"
[oneshot] Ricardo nibbles on some pocket bacon in the meantime.
[Crows-Nest] Sarge asks, "Start with Felix, and have people search the next person's room?"
[oneshot] GM says (to Ricard), "Yay."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Except here."
[oneshot] FelixLechat asks, "Moi? A suspect?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Sorry; Francis."
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "OK!"
[oneshot] GM says, "(I'm waiting for you guys to start roleplaying something...)"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "hee"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "we can queue up searching Francis' room too"
[oneshot] GM says, "(So...?)"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "Interviewing Francis is delicate."
Sarge sits down with F&F in the Parlor, and pulls out a notebook. "Thank you for being here, Father. We just need the basics. Can you describe what you did and where you were, starting with when the lights went out last night?"
Francis says, "Yes. When the lights went out, of course, I was at dinner with all of you. I stayed in my seat until the candles were lit."
Sarge nods and takes notes.
Sarge asks, "Did you see what anyone else was doing?"
[oneshot] Sarge says (to Felix), "Also, feel free to jump in."
[oneshot] FelixLechat exclaims, "Certainly!"
GM says, "I saw two people get up and go into the kitchen -- I assume those were you and Emma, since you both came back with candles."
Sarge nods.
Francis says, "After dinner, I went up to my room. And then I read for a bit, by candlelight."
Sarge asks, "Anything good?"
Francis says, "Oh, yes. I was reading about the Germanic wars. Are you interested in history as well?"
Sarge says, "I've lived most of it."
Sarge sighs.
Francis nods.
Sarge asks, "Did you hear what anyone else was doing at the time? Anyone walk by your door or knock?"
Francis says, "I didn't really notice. But it was a fascinating book, so I could have missed something. I don't know."
Sarge nods. "OK, so what next?"
Francis says, "Well... *eventually*, I went to bed. I didn't go back out into the hallway until I got up this morning."
Sarge says, "Eventually."
Francis says, "...yes."
Sarge sighs.
Francis seems a bit uncomfortable.
[Crows-Nest] Moonshine says, "It's time to spill the beans, see"
[oneshot] GM says, "It might be time for an Overcome roll, even."
Sarge asks, "Francis, Jessica is dead. We need as much information as possible in order to find out who did it, and bring them to justice. You want that, right?"
[oneshot] GM asks (of GM), "How are you approaching this? Dramatic flourish? Intense intimidation?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "I'm kind of thinking of a steady drip."
[oneshot] GM says, "That seems Careful to me -- +1 opposition."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Can I enlist Felix's help?"
[oneshot] GM says, "If he has a > 0 Careful approach."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "Nah, I'm not careful"
[oneshot] Sarge exclaims, "Ha, OK, just me, then!"
Sarge rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 +1 | Good (3)
Father Francis suddenly starts sobbing. Tears roll down his face.
[Crows-Nest] FelixLechat says, "Puppy eyes"
Sarge moves over to sit next to him and pulls out a tissue.
Francis says, "You're right. You're right. I'm so sorry, Jessica. I've been selfish. This is no time for secrets."
Francis says, "I went to see Jessica during the night. We... we were close. There's a secret way to get between rooms in the house."
Francis says, "But I didn't go in!"
Francis says, "When I go there, I was about to open the door, but I heard voices."
Sarge asks, "You didn't go into the study?"
Francis says, "No! I didn't want to interrupt. I didn't... I didn't want to get caught."
Francis says, "So I went back upstairs, and I went to bed."
Sarge asks, "Whose voices were they? And did you hear what they were saying?"
Gunther disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.
Gunther has arrived.
Fracis says, "One was Jessica's. The other was a man. He was speaking softly, so I couldn't tell whose it was."
Francis says, "I didn't make out any words, but it sounded like they may have been arguing."
Francis sighs.
Sarge leans back. "Hmm."
FelixLechat says, "Mysterious."
Francis says, "Thank you, Sargent. I feel better for having told this."
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "Sargent, eh"
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "That's what his character sheet says."
Sarge nods. "Jessica was dear to us all; I'm glad the two of you brought each other joy."
Sarge asks, "So, you went back upstairs and heard nothing the rest of the night? You didn't try again later?"
[oneshot] GM says, "No, I fell asleep. I'm not as young as I used to be."
Francis says, "No, I fell asleep. I'm not as young as I used to be."
Francis says, "And that was it until I went downstairs for breakfast."
Sarge nods.
Francis says, "I hope that what I've told you can help you find Jessica's killer."
Sarge asks, "What can you tell me about the other guests? Arthur? Billy?"
Francis says, "I've known Arthur for years, but only passingly. He doesn't attend my church, but he's been Jessica's agent for as long as I've known her."
Francis says, "And last night was the first time I've met Billy."
FelixLechat asks, "Could he be... you know... jealous? Arthur, I mean?"
FelixLechat asks, "Did he suspect?"
Francis says, "I... if he was, or did, I never knew anything about it. He's a married man."
Francis says, "Although I admit, I don't often see him and his wife together."
Sarge takes notes.
Sarge asks, "And Dottie and Emma?"
Francis says, "Dottie has always been a bit of a... wayward soul. At least since her parents passed away."
Sarge says, "Oh, I hadn't heard."
Francis says, "Jessica was supporting her for a while, but she eventually had to cut her off."
Francis says, "But she seems to be managing well enough on her own now, somehow."
FelixLechat exclaims, "That reminds me!"
FelixLechat asks, "Did she ever mention a will?"
FelixLechat asks, "Or express any wishes about what should be done after her...passing?"
Francis says, "She did -- I tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted she wanted to split everything three ways. Emma, Dottie, and myself."
Francis says, "I insisted that she didn't need to leave me anything, but you know Jessica."
Francis says, "Oh, and you asked about Emma."
Sarge asks, "Do you know if the will was filed anywhere?"
Sarge says, "And yes, do continue."
Francis shakes his head about the will.
Francis says, "I gather that Emma's always been a friend of the family. But she was mainly Ida's friend, originally."
FelixLechat asks, "Ida?"
Francis says, "Oh, Ida Plumaire. Nee Feather. Dottie's mother and Jessica's sister."
Francis says, "I don't know how she fell into being a housekeeper, while Jessica was so successful."
Sarge asks, "Ida, or Emma?"
Francis says, "Emma. Ida was married."
Sarge asks, "How did Ida and her husband die?"
FelixLechat asks, "Was... foul play suspected?"
Francis says, "Cholera. There was nothing suspicious about it, no."
Francis says, "They both picked it up while travelling abroad."
Francis says, "Fortunately for Dottie, she wasn't with them on that trip."
FelixLechat says, "Red herring, then."
Francis says, "Is there anything else you need from me?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Or should we let the other team go? :)"
FelixLechat asks, "I don't think so. Sarge?"
Gunther has a damsel we don't care about, and is using the damsel to access a machine we don't understand to summon a re-run boss monster we need to defeat so we can push three buttons and win the game.
Sarge says, "I think that's it. Thank you for your candor, father. We'll figure things out."
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "I'll just assume the red herring is a literal character here."
Sarge walks Felix back to the dining room.
GM asks, "And we cut to upstairs! Where are you going to look?"
Ricardo takes everything carefully out of the wardrobe, looking through pockets for anything suspicious. (The intention being that he doesn't want to light anything on fire when we go back in with the candle).
Moonshine says, "Since we're already in the good Father's room, I suppose we might as well start here"
Ricardo looks to see if there's another pair of shoes to compare to footprints (since he knows nothing about that conversation)
GM says (to Ricardo), "You do find a pair of slippers -- and they're a match."
Ricardo comments on this, but supposes it makes sense if they were... friends.
Moonshine examines the bed. Was it slept in? Are there any feathers in it?
Olly goes south.
GM says, "It is slept in, and... I think no. No feathers in the bed. Emma is a very good housekeeper."
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "Good enough to.. clean up a ton of blood without a trace? ;)"
GM says, "In fact, between the letter you found earlier, and the secret passage, it seems like that might be all there is to find in this room."
[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "Perhaps!"
GM says, "(And given how long that interrogation was, I think you can probably manage several rooms before we switch back.)"
Moonshine says, "If the staircase still ascends, I think we should follow it to its end."
Ricardo says, "Indeed."
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Also is the repositioning of the wardrobe on the map a hint?"
[oneshot] GM says, "I just wanted the secret passage to be in the right spot."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Ok."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "But like, if I examine really hard, I won't find an exit to Dottie's room? :D"
GM says, "You get to the top level, and you find another doorknob -- this time, on the opposite wall."
Ricardo hmmm. He tries the doorknob.
[oneshot] GM says (to Ricard), "Ha."
GM says, "It opens into a large master bedroom."
Ricardo says, "This must be Jessica's room."
GM says, "Big four-poster bed, nice art on the walls, expensive rugs."
Ricardo asks, "Makes sense she would have a secret passage to her study, right? Should we look around?"
Moonshine says, "We should."
Ricardo looks under the bed!
GM exclaims, "You find... a book!"
Ricardo takes it and looks at it, and also flips through it for secrets.
GM exclaims, "It's hadwritten, and the pages have dates on them... this is a diary!"
Ricardo says, "Oh. This.. seems to be her diary. Um. I don' tknow if we should.."
Ricardo appears flustered.
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "It's her handwriting from before?"
[oneshot] GM asks, "Have you seen her handwriting before?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Oh, right, you were all there."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "We just had this conversation. I was there for the note."
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Yes!"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Sorry, sorry!"
Ricardo says, "Well.. " he flips to the last entry.
GM says, "The last entry is from yesterday morning."
Ricardo skims it.
[Crows-Nest] (from Ricardo) Jessica writes, "I think someone is going to kill me, and it's... "
GM says, "'Progress is going well on Death Comes By Airship -- another two hundred words last night. And Emma is trying her hand at writing again too! She was hiding it from me, but I saw her putting it away when she didn't know I was coming.' (continued)"
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger asks, "Dottie ???"
GM says, "'I think she's embarrassed, but there's no shame in needing practice. I put the manuscript in my Study. I'll read it later so I can give her some pointers.'"
Moonshine says, "Hmmm..."
Ricardo says, "We.. didn't see that manuscript, huh? Sarge said it looked like something was missing.."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I'm going to take the liberty that he said this aloud :D"
Moonshine says, "We should probably let Sarge take a quick look at this before he interviews her."
Ricardo says, "Yes, I agree."
Moonshine says, "Let us, then."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Yeah."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "You want to also examine Dottie's room?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Wait, no, Emma's room."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "And Emma's since it's right-- yes."
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Just wondering if we should brin gyou the diary first?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Or quickly go through Emma's room"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Just in case, you left us the keys, yeah?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "I think this part takes place when we're talking to Francis."
[oneshot] GM says, "Yeah."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "And yeah."
Ricardo squirrels the diary away in a jacket pocket and heads next door
Moonshine says, "Excellent plan."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Also, I had a thought that maybe there's a secret basement *under* the study, where the blood drained? Maybe?"
GM says, "Emma's room is smaller and much more simply furnished."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I was gonna look behind artwork and under rugs, but that's probably overkil"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Nah, might as well be thorough."
Ricardo does so before we leave the room.
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Maybe we'll find the will"
GM says, "You give the rest of the room a search, and you do find a cardboard box, about the size of a shoebox."
Moonshine says, "She did have a good eye for art."
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo asks, "WHAT'S IN THE BOX?"
GM says, "Inside is a pile of letters of a very personal nature which corroborate what you discovered earlier in Francis' room."
Ricardo oh. Oh, ok. Um." He blushes. "We don't need to read all of these.
Moonshine says, "Indeed, but perhaps it would bring Francis some comfort to have them."
Ricardo says, "We can discuss that with him privately later."
Ricardo asks, "Nextdoor?"
GM says, "Next door is, of course, Emma Bova's room."
Ricardo heads right in, unless the door is locked, in which case, we probably have the right key?
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "I wouldn't bova with this one"
GM says, "It's not locked, and you find a simply furnished room. Very tidy and clean."
Ricardo looks under the bed again, because that worked so well last time.
GM exclaims, "Not even a speck of dust!"
[Crows-Nest] (from FelixLechat) Susan puts a hand on Taleslinger's shoulder. 'Good, good.'
Moonshine says, "As one might expect."
Ricardo looks around for anything out of the ordinary or searchable. A wardrobe? A bookcase?
GM says, "There's a wardrobe, and there's also a dresser."
Ricardo asks, "Wanna take the dresser, and I'll look in the wardrobe?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Let's say a Careful overcome, +2."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Oh no."
[oneshot] GM says, "With one of you doing the roll and the other one assisting."
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "What's your careful?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I have a +1"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Ooh, a +3?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I'll assist."
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "yeah I'm at +3 as very careful"
Moonshine rolls Great (4) + 4dF: -1 +1 -1 +1 | Great (4)
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Success!"
Moonshine says, "We are greatly careful."
GM says, "In the wardrobe, you just find ordinary personal effects. And the dresser seems that way as well, at first -- until you discover in the bottom drawer, undernath some old sweaters, several packets of paper, tied up with string. And some loose pages as well."
Ricardo peruses some papers.
Moonshine says, "I suppose we have good cause to pry"
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "What's she gonna do, kill us? Oh. Maybe."
GM says (to Ricardo), "They're handwritten, with a lot of bits scratched out and corrected, but they seem to be notes for a story."
GM says, "About a cow named Emily, a chicken named Jessie, a snake named Artie and a lizard named Beth."
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo asks, "And does the cow kill the chicken?"
GM says, "And about Beth's tragic death, and how it affected all of them."
[Crows-Nest] Ricardo says, "Aw"
Ricardo asks, "Do we know any lizards named Beth?"
Ricardo says, "Or something similar to Beth."
Moonshine says, "I don't, but perhaps later we could ask around."
[oneshot] Moonshine asks, "is the writing any good?"
Ricardo says, "'Cause this seems awfully.. based on real people."
Moonshine says, "Indeed"
GM says, "There are various notes that the author has written to him or herself, like 'need to remember what the car looked like' and 'rewrite the garage scene, it makes him seem weird' and 'is it egotistic to make me prettier than i really am?'"
Ricardo asks, "Do we take these as possible evidence for Sarge, or hide it again?"
Moonshine says, "Let's hold onto it"
Moonshine says, "Might as well apologize for everything at once, latr"
Ricardo says, "Ok. Let's go pop in on Sarge before he talks to Emma."
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "That seems like a decent hunt scene for now?"
Moonshine says, "Yes let's"
[oneshot] GM says, "Yeah, this seems like a good place to hand it off to the other team."
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "huzzah"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Perfect."
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "always split the party"
[oneshot] GM says, "Also, how are people on time? I have plenty, but I don't know about everyone else."
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "especially when there's a murderer about"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "I'm fine"
Sarge hears the information, and returns and picks up Emma.
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I'm good."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "At some point, I need to bake cookies,but I have nothing else pressing this evening."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I can keep playing"
Emma sits down quietly in the Parlor, looking at her feet.
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Oh, hmm. Yeah, I think I'm good for an hour or so more."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Need to get ready to head out a little after 4 my time, so an hour:15-ish."
[oneshot] GM says, "Alright -- we'll see how things are then, and whether or not we'll be able to wrap up today."
Sarge asks, "Thank you for being here, Emma. We just need some basic information. Can you tell us what you did, where you were, and what you saw, starting with when the lights went out last night?"
Emma says, "I got the candles. And I ate dinner."
Emma says, "I went to bed. I got up and made breakfast."
Sarge takes notes.
Sarge asks, "Did you see anyone moving around in all of that time? Or leave your room for any reason?"
Emma says, "No."
Sarge exchanges a look with Felix.
Sarge asks, "What do you know about the other guests here? Felix, Arthur?"
[oneshot] GM asks, "Felix?"
FelixLechat says, "You mean Francis, Sarge"
Sarge sighs. "I'm getting to old for this."
FelixLechat says, "He's a dog, I'm a cat."
FelixLechat shrugs.
Sarge says, "Enh, mammals."
Emma says, "Father O'Terrier is a friend of Miss Feather. And Mr. Adderson is her agent."
Emma swallows. "Was her agent."
Sarge asks, "Do they get along?"
Emma says, "I guess so."
[Crows-Nest] GM says, "(Man, a racist cop? What a stereotype.)"
Sarge asks, "Have you talked to Mr. Adderson yourself?"
Emma says, "Yes."
Sarge says, "About..."
Emma says, "Different things. He's been to the house. We play cards sometimes. He sells books for writers."
Sarge asks, "Are you a writer yourself, then?"
Emma says, "I..." Her eyes flick up to meet yours for a moment, before dropping again. "I haven't had anything published. Not like Miss Feather."
Sarge says, "Oh, that's OK! Everyone starts somewhere."
Sarge says, "I remember Jessica's first story. Or, uh, and attempt at a story."
Sarge exclaims, "But she got better!"
Sarge asks, "Where are you at?"
Emma says, "I finished one. I was going to-- but--"
[oneshot] GM says, "It looks like you want her to open up."
[oneshot] Sarge exclaims, "I do!"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "That seems like an Overcome!"
[oneshot] Sarge exclaims, "OK!"
[oneshot] GM asks, "How will you approach that?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Friendly, I think."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I'm a smooth talker."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Sure, I'll let Felix take over."
[oneshot] GM says, "Smooth talking could be Flashy, or Sneaky..."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "Can I sneakily induce her to open up"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "(I took the stunt)"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Probably!"
[oneshot] GM asks, "Oh, you're going to Create Advantage first?"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I could if it's really worth it"
[oneshot] GM says, "Sounds good. Roleplay it, then roll for it. +2 opposition."
[oneshot] GM says, "Oh, I was just assuming that since your stunt mentioned it."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I think I'll just Overcome"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "OK!"
FelixLechat rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: -1 -1 0 +1 | Average (1)
[oneshot] GM says, "Ooh."
[oneshot] FelixLechat exclaims, "And spend a fate point!"
[oneshot] GM says, "For the overcome, it's +3 -- a fate point is a tie."
[oneshot] GM says, "So, a minor cost."
[oneshot] GM says, "Feel free to introduce it in your roleplay."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "yeah, I'm a Journalist, so I've got this covered"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "hm, minor cost"
FelixLechat spends a fate point, leaving them with 2.
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "How dooes a minor cost come in? Spending a fate point at all?"
[oneshot] GM says (to Sarge), "If you tie at an Overcome, you succeed with a minor cost."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "But it's a +3 vs. a +2?"
[oneshot] GM says, "He rolled a +1, then spent a fate point."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "And you did originally say +2 opposition"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "And then changed it to +3 :)"
[oneshot] GM says, "That was for Create Advantage."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Oh, you had said +2 opposition, but that was for create advantage?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Ah"
[oneshot] GM says, "The Overcome was +3."
[oneshot] Sarge exclaims, "OK!"
[oneshot] GM says, "Sorry for being unclear."
[oneshot] GM says, "I assume Felix is typing right now."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "Sorry, I'm thinking"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "she really slanders you in her next fanfic"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Hehe"
FelixLechat says (to Emma), "You intrigue me... Tell me more about this story you wrote."
Emma says, "It's about a woman. Named Beth. She dies."
Emma says, "It's very sad. Her friends are all very sad."
Emma says, "It's a tragedy."
FelixLechat says, "Great art is often tragic."
Emma says, "She died in a car crash. She was so young and vibrant."
Emma says, "And then Artie and Jessie and I-- I mean, and Emily all had to go on without her."
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Did she actually die in a car crash in the manuscript we found?"
[oneshot] GM says, "Indeed, she did."
[oneshot] GM says, "(Well, the notes you found.)"
[oneshot] GM says, "(You haven't seen the whole manuscript.)"
FelixLechat asks, "This story seems to mean a lot to you. Sometimes art finds its greatest treasures rooted in personal experience. If I may ask... was this too the case?"
Emma nods. "How did you guess?"
FelixLechat says, "I have a certain intuition for these things. That is why I became a journalist."
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "damn he's smooth"
Emma says, "Emily is based on me. And Jessie is based on Miss Feather."
Emma says, "Artie is Mr. Adderson, and Beth is Miss Iguanatowski."
FelixLechat says, "Miss Iguanatowksi. She was a dear friend of yours, I imagine."
Emma says, "Yes. She and Mr. Adderson used to come up to the house all the time."
Emma says, "He was closer to her than I was."
FelixLechat asks, "Were they -- comment dit-t-on deja? -- romantically involved?"
looks startled at the suggestion, as though the question had never occurred to her before.
Emma says, "But... Mr. Adderson is a married man."
Emma says, "So that wouldn't make any sense."
FelixLechat says, "Was he already married then? I had falsely assumed this was a long time ago."
Emma says, "Yes. This was six years ago."
FelixLechat says, "Voyons donc..."
Emma says, "But we all had to move on eventually. I think it took Miss Feather the longest."
Emma says, "Mr. Adderson took it well. He was able to get over it more quickly than me."
FelixLechat asks, "Was Miss Iguanatowski alone when she... ? When the accident happened, je veux dire?"
Emma says, "Yes, she was driving home from the house."
[Crows-Nest] Taleslinger says, "Gonna go to sleep. Happy slothing! I mean sleuthing."
Emma says, "They said it was her brakes. They couldn't take the steep roads..."
[Crows-Nest] GM exclaims, "See you next week!"
Taleslinger shouts, "You havent seen the last of Taleslinger! Now goodbye forever."
Taleslinger has disconnected.
FelixLechat says, "Did she take care of her own car, or did she get someone to take care of it? Like a mechanic, or..."
Emma says, "Oh, no. Mr. Adderson knew all about cars. He was always working on it for her."
Sarge asks, "So, the woman in your story who died was based on a real woman who also died in the same way? In real life, you think it was an accident, but in the story, do you implicate someone?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Oh boy."
Emma says, "Oh, of course not. Why would I want to make anyone look bad? I just wrote things down just the way I saw them."
Sarge ahs, and nods.
Sarge asks, "Who all have you shown your manuscript to, if anyone?"
Emma says, "I was going to show it to Mr. Adderson last night. He's an agent, and he told me he would read it for me. But..."
Emma says, "But Miss Feather found it, so she decided she would read it first."
Sarge gestures for her to go on.
Emma says, "She put it in her Study. I told Mr. Adderson that he'd have to wait. I guess it must still be there."
Sarge asks, "So, you talked to Mr. Adderson last night? When was this?"
FelixLechat says, "Bizarre..."
Emma says, "Oh, after dinner. In the Kitchen. When he was helping me with the dishes."
Sarge asks, "What did he say, if you can remember?"
Emma blushes.
Emma says, "He said... he said 'damn'."
FelixLechat exclaims, "Language!"
Emma says, "But I told him that it might be good if Miss Feather read it. Maybe she'd see things that I missed."
FelixLechat asks, "Did Mr Adderson seem particularly agitated?"
Emma says, "A bit. He didn't say anything else after that."
Sarge asks, "Where did he go after you finished the dishes?"
Emma says, "I think he went to his room, like everyone else."
FelixLechat says, "Thank you for telling us this. I have a feeling it's yet another piece in the puzzle."
Sarge nods.
Emma nods.
[oneshot] GM asks, "And do we cut now to a Meanwhile?"
Sarge says, "Well, thank you, Miss Emma. If you remember anything else you think might be helpful, be sure to let us know."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "We can"
[oneshot] FelixLechat exclaims, "Yes!"
GM exclaims, "Meanwhile, upstairs!"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "My money is on the black(hearted) Adder"
Sarge asks, "And, I want you to stay very close to Father Francis. OK? Don't leave the room without him, and don't let him leave without you, at least not without letting us know. OK?"
Emma says, "OK."
Ricardo had finished with the top floor, so we headed up to the second floor, and.. let's say we went to Artie's room first, because why not? (Maybe Sarge told us Francis said she was arguing with a man.)
Sarge walks back to the Dining Room with Emma, and has a quiet conversation with Francis, telling him the same thing.
Moonshine says (to Ricardo), "Quite so my good man"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "For the sake of moving things along, not trying to really meta game too hard. Sorry."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "But we do have limited time."
GM says (to Ricard), "OK! Inside, you find the usual furnishings -- bed, dresser, fireplace, table, etc. -- along with his suitcase and a briefcase."
Ricardo eyes the briefcase. Is it locked?
[oneshot] GM says, "If we have to, we can try to slip it in next week -- Taleslinger said Bastafore would only be a half session, and we were going to do a half session of Crownsford."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Ok"
GM says, "It is."
[oneshot] GM says, "But we can swap Crownsford for finishing this if necessary."
Ricardo grumbles. key or combo?
GM says, "Key."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I would be sad to give up on Crownsford"
[oneshot] Sarge, in a brief private conversation with Felix, tells him his suspicions: that Emma saw something significant that she wrote in her manuscript, gravely implicating Adder in the death of Miss Iguanatowski. Miss Feather realized this, confronted Adder, and he killed her, taking the manuscript.
Ricardo pfft. He knows all about opening locks.
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "My thought exactly"
[oneshot] GM asks (of Ricardo), "Do you have any tools?"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Putting Emma in danger; hence the doom clock ;-)"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Can I find, say, a bobby pin in one of the ladies' rooms, if I went back to peek?"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Yes!"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "And is this a clever, or maybe I do it with a flourish, because it's a flashy magician's trick?"
[oneshot] GM says, "With the bobby pin, it's a +2 Sneaky Overcome (instead of +4)."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Oh crap."
[oneshot] GM says (to Ricardo), "I can buy that."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Woo!"
[oneshot] GM says, "Clever works."
Ricardo rolls Fair (2) + 4dF: +1 0 -1 0 | Fair (2)
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Another tie!"
GM exclaims, "You succeed in opening -- and jamming -- the lock!"
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "The lock breaks, leaving it clear that we broke in?"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Exactly!"
Ricardo breaks the lock, leaving behind evidence that-- (timing)
[oneshot] Sarge says, "(timing!)"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Great minds think alike."
[oneshot] Sarge exclaims, "And so do ours!"
[oneshot] josh_g says, "ha ha"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "So clever~"
GM says, "Inside, you find business and financial paperwork."
Ricardo swears quietly and digs through the paperwork, skimming it for anything important, or anything mixed in.
GM says, "Publishing contracts, ledgers, etc. Some of it looks like it's professional, some of it looks personal."
Ricardo goes for the personal stuff.
GM says, "One of the ledgers that looks personal seems to be a list of considerable sums of money, all being paid out to some unnamed individual, over a period of the last couple years."
Ricardo shows this to Moonshine.
Moonshine says, "Hmm"
[oneshot] Sarge exclaims, "Blackmail!"
[oneshot] FelixLechat exclaims, "Give me a B! Give me an L! Give me an A, C, K, M, A, I and L!"
Moonshine says, "Not, as they say, a smoking gun."
Moonshine says, "Perhaps the suitcase."
Ricardo pockets it. He already knows we've been in the briefcase anyway.
Ricardo nods.
Ricardo tries to open the suitcase, if it isn't also locked in some way?
GM asks, "The suitcase contains ordinary clothing and such. Are you searching the rest of the room?"
Moonshine says, "Surely"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "One thing at a time! But yes. That was our intention."
GM says, "That would be a +2 Careful overcome."
Ricardo will help.
Moonshine carefully rifles through the joint.
Moonshine rolls Great (4) + 4dF: -1 0 +1 -1 | Good (3)
GM says, "The bed seems normal. The wardrobe seems normal. The fireplace has recently been used..."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Oh no."
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Anything we can make out in the ashes?"
GM exclaims, "You find several scraps of burnt paper in the ashes!"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Do they appear to be, I dunno, a manuscript?"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Or can we not tell?"
GM says, "They have handwriting on them, with phrases like 'in the garage' or 'fresh apple pie' or 'Artie and Beth'."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "If this was a video game, there'd be a puzzle"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Put these pieces back together, and it'd be stupidly precise"
GM says, "(And yes, the handwriting *does* match.)"
Ricardo collects the pieces. "Welp. I think this matches the story notes."
Moonshine says, "Indeed."
Moonshine says, "Perhaps the cumulative weight of it all will convince our friend to do the right thing and confess"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "Now Emma is in real danger"
[oneshot] Ricardo asks, "Yeah. We should probably skip other rooms to talk to Sarge and Felix, I think?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Or say we did those first, and do it quickly."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "To fill time that he's talking to Emma."
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "I agree; I don't want the ending to be entirely rushed through, but it feels we near the end."
Moonshine says, "Let us confront the blackguard."
[oneshot] GM says, "I would be OK with finishing next week."
[oneshot] GM asks, "Since I think Sarge said he has to go in ten minutes?"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "works for me"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "Can't we finish this today? It seems like all the pieces are falling together."
[oneshot] GM exclaims (at Felix), "If everyone is good to keep going, I am too!"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Finishing next week is OK by me, but I do have a little flexibility."
[oneshot] GM says, "I just don't think we can finish in ten minutes."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "fair enough"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I'm ok with whichever. I was more thinking that IC, we'd take the burned manuscript as something pretty damning."
[oneshot] GM says (to Sarge), "If you can spare a bit longer, I'm happy to keep going."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "And go straight to talk to the others, but he finished his conversation with Emma without us interrupting, so something should fill that time."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "I feel like Dottie probably also has a bit more story, too, which would be nice to see just because you probably worked on it ;-)"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "True!"
[oneshot] GM says (to Ricardo), "Well, you might have just taken a long time searching Arthur's room."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Maybe."
[oneshot] GM says (to Sarge), "Hee."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "If we had a lot of time, I'd say that we do a Dottie interview, then an Adder interview."
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "sounds good to me"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "And then maybe set a trap for Adder and catch him about to murder Emma or something."
[oneshot] GM asks, "OK, so you want to resolve those bits next week?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Yeah"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "sure -- cliffhanger away"
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Sure, let's do that."
[oneshot] GM asks, "For now, do you want to search one more room, or cliffhanger now?"
[oneshot] Sarge asks, "Maybe search Dottie's room?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Yeah"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "OK!"
Moonshine says, "We're starting to get rather good at this."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Maybe we say we did Dottie's room before Arthur's, if that makes things flow better, assuming we don't find evidence against *her* :D"
GM says, "Dottie's room is a mess. Makeup is strewn across the table; clothes are crumpled on the floor; her suitcase is half-open in the corner."
Ricardo oh jeez.
GM says, "At first, you might think it was ransacked. Then you realize that no, this is just what it's like."
Ricardo wonders if there's anything even made it into the wardrobe when he opens it
GM says (to Ricardo), "Some clothes that are a couple years out of date that she probably hasn't even looked at since the last time she was visiting here."
Moonshine sniffs around for the smell of alcohol, or worse.
Ricardo mutters, "Women."
[oneshot] Sarge says, "Hee"
Ricardo starts in the corner with the suitcase and makes his way across the room, maybe meeting Moonshine halfway-ish?
GM says (to Moonshine), "Oh, definitely. There are two bottles under the bed. One of them is full. The other, maybe about half."
Ricardo eyes the bottles. Good stuff?
[oneshot] GM says, "If you're doing a full search, that's another Careful overcome, +1."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I'll help again."
GM exclaims (at Ricardo), "Very good!"
Moonshine searchs about, oh so carefully.
Moonshine rolls Great (4) + 4dF: +1 0 +1 0 | Fantastic (6)
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Nice!"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "That is a success with style!"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "told you we were getting good at this"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Or should I say. Fantastic."
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "we find clues and also tidy up"
GM says, "You search every nook and cranny, until you eventually realize that there's something interesting right there on the table: a letter half underneath a set of curling irons."
Ricardo reads it?
[oneshot] Sarge says, "(since this is the end, I'm going to head out to take my shower now; I'll recap later. Thanks! This was a lot of fun, the scenes were well paced, and the mystery has been unfolding very satisfactorally. Yay!)"
[oneshot] Ricardo reads it outloud, he should say.
GM says, "Well, more of a note, really: 'Heya, Artie. I need another quick thou, but I'm sure you're good for it. I'm sure if you can't find it, I can always talk to your wife about it, right? Wink wink!'"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Woo!"
Ricardo says, "Well."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "CLIFFHANGER"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Dun dun dun. "Next time on...""
GM says, "(And she also drew a little winking face after 'Wink wink!'.)"
[oneshot] GM says, "So, as they say, TO BE CONTINUED."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "That Dottie is plain dotty"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I recently played Darkside Detective, and the characters say "wink" out loud, and when the PC calls them on it, they're like "yeah, yeah, pixel art""
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "hehehe"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Yay! This was fun."
[oneshot] GM says, "So next week, we'll start with Bastafore, and then assuming that wraps up early like Taleslinger expected, we'll finish this up."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I struggled a little (for some reason, my RP skills weren't quite up to scratch)"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "And now I need to go bake cookies and go sleep at a reasonable time."
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Sounds good."
[oneshot] FelixLechat exclaims, "Cookies!"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Vegan, gluten-free cookies!"
[oneshot] GM asks, "Meanwhile, could everyone update the schedule for December, so we'll know when we really can start Crownsford back up again?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "I'm up to date."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "me too"
[oneshot] GM asks (of Ricardo), "So December 7 is still uncertain?"
[oneshot] Ricardo says, "Yeah. I don't know what I want to do for my birthday yet."
[oneshot] GM says, "Fair enough."
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "But December 21 looks good!"
[oneshot] GM says, "Provided lps can make it."
[oneshot] GM says, "Hopefully he'll update when he reads this :)"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "good times"
genericgeekgirl disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "a bit bittersweet though"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "and not just the story, but the fact that Crownsford's return must be postponed"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "ah, well, still better than nothing"
[oneshot] GM says, "Agreed. But I'm glad the ending to this doesn't need to be rushed."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "it wouldn't be fair on poor Jessica"
[oneshot] GM says, "(My fault for creating a little bit too much mystery for a single session.)"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says (to GM), "You did it! *accusingly*"
[oneshot] GM exclaims (at Felix), "Curses! And I thought that by writing every NPC and every location to give clues that pointed away from me, it would be enough to cover my tracks!"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "Perhaps the Crusaders' greatest enemy is one with incredible metatextual powers... the sinister and enigmatic GAME MASTER"
[oneshot] GM asks, "Out of curiosity, did everyone have a pretty good idea of who the victim was going to be, or did it come as a surprise?"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "maybe just one less character (although I did notice that PFC Kitty kinda got put in the fridge, so which I approve)"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "I was at about 50/50"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "I was very surprised she didn't die during the power outage though"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "yeah"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "I suspect that this is some sort of red herring which is actually a clue"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "like the dog who didn't bark in the night"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "Some of my favorite murder mysteries are those where the guilty party becomes obvious early on, but where the challenge is proving their guilt"
[oneshot] GM exclaims, "Columbo!"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "my hunch is that there was an identical-twin switch during the dinner darkness, but maybe not"
[oneshot] genericgeekgirl says, "Still wondering what happened to all the blood. Was seriously expecting some occult shit."
[oneshot] GM says, "After everything is done, I'll be happy to explain any clues that didn't get resolved."
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "yeah, that was a puzzle that, ahem, puzzles me still"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says (to GM), "nice"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "anyway, it's very late here in Europe, so goofnight everyone"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "thanks for not being too frustrated by my occasionaly deficiencies RP-wise"
[oneshot] Moonshine says, "vampire snake"
[oneshot] GM says, "Goodnight! And no worries, there were four of you, so there were generally enough people to take up the slack :)"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says, "hehe"
[oneshot] FelixLechat says (to Moonshine), "thank you for the nightmares :-D"
Quarion goes home.
Roger disappears through an invisible gap in the MUD. You think you may have heard the sounds of chatting before the gap closed again.