CLOSED ♔ hell won't tolerate hymns

[flyingsolo]

WHO || Jaina, Lydia, Astrid, Adam, Mars
WHAT || The Knights investigate several ritualistic murders
WHERE || Los Angeles, California
WHEN || April 8th, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

A string of ritualistic killings has the LAPD calling the Knights in, as there are suspected ties to magic or Shadowkind. Two new bodies have been found recently, and the murder scene is a back alley in a nightclub called the Alchemy Room. It's located in a rough part of town, known for its clubs, bars, and extravagant nightlife. The lights of a patrol car illuminate a gruesome tableau. Among the garbage that litters the alley lies the body of a young man in a trenchcoat, covered in body. Hanging from a fire escape some 10 feet above him is the body another young man, dressed in the latest fashion and dripping blood from the ears and mouth. His legs are caught in the bars of the fire escape, and his face is twisted with shock. How he could have ended up in that position is a mystery. An empty autoloader pistol lies beneath his outstretched hands. A single officer is waiting for them when they arrive, and she tips her hat to them, pushing herself off the car where she's leaning.

"Seen a lot of things in my day, but this..." She shakes her head and clucks her tongue. Jaina's eyes narrow in the darkness as she looks past her at the scene.

"What made the police think this was connected to the other murders?" she asks.

"Its a tentative link, I won't lie to you about that," the officer admits. "All the other bodies were missing at least their hands, and these are both in one piece. But there's some kind of knife on one of the bodies." She nods towards the one on the ground. "We haven't touched it yet, just in case. To be honest, we've heard plenty of stories about what touching magical artifacts can do to a person. But it's covered in markings, definitely some kind of ritual thing."

Comments

the lemere residence

[flyingsolo]

[ lemere's home is located in one of la's older, more upscale neighborhoods. this once-grand mansion has definitely seen better days. it's obvious that no one has taken care of the exterior in a very long time, and most of the windows are boarded up. a rusted sign reads "No Solicitors" dangling from the front door. there are no cars in the driveway and the place seems vacant. a couple other upscale homes flank it on either side. ]

[immuno]

[ well lydia critfailed her spot check so she's apparently aggressively texting stiles right now about getting bitten by a snake and having to third wheel with astrid and adam. ]

[pathology]

This so looks like a place that would have drug deals. [on that cheerful note, she makes an attempt to scope out ... idk drug deals i guess. or more snakes. (spot 26)]

[ex_psionic439]

[Adam's basic-ass spot of 8 tho. I guess he's too busy making kissy faces at Venus or idk wearing her around his neck like a feather boa to actually pay attention to what he was supposed to be doing rn.

Lydia you had it wrong, gurl. All of y'all are playing third wheel to Adam and his cat gf sry.]

[flyingsolo]

[ the entire house is dark, and next door a man is walking to get the mail, giving them all the side-eye. ]

I wonder why it's boarded up, if he's really been living here. Because he had something to hide?

[immuno]

Probably didn't want anyone to know he was living here. [ Lydia will go ahead and try the door! ] I wonder who he was running from.

[flyingsolo]

[ the door is locked and jaina moves to pick it with practiced ease (disable device 28)... but it doesn't budge. ] There's something wrong with it. It should be opening but it's like it's blocked somehow.

[pathology]

Do you want me to throw acid at it? [SO PLEASED WITH THIS PROSPECT.]

[charismapotion]

Give me a second, okay? If this doens't work, I say we break a window and go through that way.

[ He spoke as he cast Read Magic, seeing as Jaina picked that lock and it didn't budge he has a feeling it's warded or there's something in the way.

and Kitty is being very affectionate to Adam, tbr, totally kitty scarf.]

[flyingsolo]

[ there aren't any visible magical inscriptions on the door... does he have detect magic? ]

[charismapotion]

[ His player is an idiot, and typed the wrong thing. Totally meant Detect Magic, yes he has it, opps.]

[flyingsolo]

[ the door is covered in a weak abjuration aura, indeed ] Well?

[charismapotion]

it's weak, but this door is protected. Going through may not be easy. I'm pretty sure I dont have a spell to take it down, but just be careful because it could be bad.

[immuno]

[ Lydia rolls her eyes. ]

We don't need to be careful if we don't have a way in past it. [ She turns to look at Astrid. ] You said something about acid, right? Try it.

[flyingsolo]

Might as well try. Otherwise, maybe we can get through a window.

[pathology]

[well she touch attacks the door with a 13 which i assume hits bc it's ... a door. and then 3 acid dmg. she really splashed acid on the door y'all. look it's acid splash not acid typhoon idk what u were expecting.]

[flyingsolo]

[ yeah no that doesn't do more than leave a little scar on the door. sry to say. ]

[pathology]

[only momentarily disappointed, she claps her hands together at the prospect of getting to climb through a window.] Time for a B&E!

[immuno]

If we're going to break in, we'll need to get the boards off the windows. [ Expectant, she turns to look at Mars, eyebrows raised. Magic bro. ]

[charismapotion]

Or throw a brick or gnome through the window?

[ He offered with a shrug, sighing and feeling like he's wasted time already, he took a stupid chance and cast a Magic Missile at the window ( Dmg 5 ). ]

[flyingsolo]

[ the windows are boarded up so that breaks the board, and then jaina raises a hand and does a force shove at the window part, shattering it ]

[immuno]

Someone climb inside and unlock the door from inside.

[ It won't be Lydia, who showed up in a skirt and heels. ]

[pathology]

[well astrid is also wearing a skirt and heels today bcuz she thought it was going to be spring break, which is why she's all reluctantly like] I guess I could ...

[flyingsolo]

I've got it. [ she heard that reluctance, ok. she climbs in like its nothing (climb 19), and they'd hear noise as she makes her way towards the door. there's a crashing sound from within, however, and she'd loudly hiss: ] Sithspit.

[immuno]

That didn't sound good.

[ Good thing they sent in the only fighter?? Expectant look around. ]


... Well, I'm not going in after her.