black rock ♔ with my sad bones and my soiled throne

[sternshield]

WHO || Erky, Maxwell, Liam, Thoster
WHAT || The Knights track down a message from a mysterious woman in trouble
WHERE || Black Rock, Utah
WHEN || April 22nd, 2015
HOW || Actionspam

It's after noon when they arrive, a bleak, dreary day, and an ominous blanket of low, gray clouds hangs over the landscape.  A recent rain has left everything damp, giving the scenery an air of decay.  It seems there is no end to the parade of empty fields and derelict farmhouses flanking this stretch of road.   As they drive towards the coordinates of Black Rock, Thoster's phone abruptly rings.

Comments

[bluffcheck]

[startled by the sudden noise, Thoster fumbles to get the phone out of his pocket at first. He answers it, frowning a bit.]

Hello?

[beatemup]

[Sorry Thoster, but you get a blurted chuckle from Max. Who lives in modern world and doesn't know how to use a phone? He doesn't say anything though. Just smiling without any care.]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the sound is masked by static, but he can still catch the tentative quality of the woman's voice. ]

Hello? Hello? Oh, God, can anyone hear me? [ it sounds as if she's close to tears ]

[bluffcheck]

Aye, lass. I hear you. Where are you? We've come to help.

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the voice cuts in and out again, and she's clearly so panicked that she can barely register what he's saying ] Oh god, please-- please, you have to help us. Please. I don't know - I don't know where we are--

[ex_boning176]

[Liam, meanwhile, is straining to listen to Thoster's phone conversation. Which is sort of difficult with Max chuckling beside him (listen 12). This tag is mainly meant to serve as proof of life because he is also present.]

[bluffcheck]

Shh, it's alright. It' alright now. We'll find you. What's your name, lass? [He's trying to help calm her down?? Idk if that is diplomacy or something. He got a nat 20 so he's just doing that big brother thing he does.]

Tell me what you can see. What you hear. Anything.

[behindcloseddoors]

I-I... my name is Marilyn. I don't know where I am. All I see is... is this room, and it's so dark. There are... shelves, and the ceiling-- it slopes down one side. It can't be more than five feet long. Please--

[bluffcheck]

Marilyn. Beautiful name. I'm Thoster. Got a crew here that just wants to help you, lass.

Max and Liam

[ex_boning176]

[As the two groups break off, Max and Liam head into one of the buildings placed on the opposite side of the street from where the minivan was located, since it will probably be easier for each group to stick to sweeping one side of the street. He's keeping pretty alert as they enter (spot 23), but he's honestly not sure what to expect--baby's first mission and all).]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ the first building they encounter is fresh lots market. some groceries are visible on the shelves inside the market through the glass windows, but the doors are locked. ]

[beatemup]

[Max peers inside to see if there any sign of life before trying to open the door. Since there are some groceries, someone probably lives there.]

Anyone inside? Open the door or I'll open it myself.

[He roughly knocks on the door.]

[ex_boning176]

[Liam watches Max momentarily, but he's not so sure anyone is inside the market building. Or like, anywhere in town.]

I think they're closed. [He's all for plan: bust that shit open tbh. But he's keeping alert in case he hears something (Listen 23).]

[behindcloseddoors]

[ they don't hear a thing. the place looks - and sounds - abandoned tbh ]

[ex_boning176]

I don't think there's anyone inside. Should we go to the next one?

[Max you are the big leader on campus here. You have to decide. Dx]

[beatemup]

[He takes a quick glance inside once more through the window, making sure it's really abandoned. Though he probably doesn't see anything. (spot 3)] Yeah, sure. Let's check the next house.

[He steadily walk toward the next building.] There's something off with this town. Like it's unnatural. [He keeps thinking about it but can't seem to pull it off. (wis 8)] What do you think?

[ex_boning176]

[Liam is honestly sort of surprised to be asked at all. He's more used to his opinion not really mattering.]

It's kind of weird that there's no one else around. I mean, there were groceries and stuff back there. Whoever owns that place must have just left it all there. Like maybe they left in a hurry or something.

thoster & erky

[sternshield]

[ on the opposite side of the road, there's a large building that looks closed down. thoster finds the remains of a covered sign that identify it as an ex-bank. erky tries the doors, but they're also locked. ] Do ye think we should try to get in?

[bluffcheck]

[Thoster rubs his chin for a moment.]

Let me see what I can do. [He tries to rush the door to bust it open (str 15 i dont see that working out but I may be surprised??)]

[sternshield]

[ actually that does shoulder it open, what do you know???? into the dark and silent lobby of the bank they go. spot checks?? ]

[bluffcheck]

[Thoster pushes open the doors as they give way to his AWESOME MANLY STRENGTH. Or something. Anyway, he starts to look around (spot 26)]

[sternshield]

[ the place is eerily abandoned, but not as if it's been closed down - more like it was closed for the night and never opened the next day. as they're looking around, thoster notices movement out a front window - by where the knights' car is parked, a rapid blur. ]

[bluffcheck]

[Turning quickly as the movement catches his eye, Thoster steps towards the window.]

There's something out there.

[sternshield]

Something? Or someone? [ erky moves to look out as well, but there's no more movement for now...until abruptly the car starts to visibly sink. ]

[bluffcheck]

[Thoster's eyes widen at the sight (bardic knowledge 25 to see if he's ever heard or seen something like this before??)]