london ♔ the turning tides are coming from you

[allaboutme]

♬ empty threat - CHVRCHES

WHO || Cordelia, Alec, Val'drin, The Doctor, Kate, Phineas [Closed]
WHAT || The Knights investigate a man named Estavan, whose Trade Consortium is linked to a series of mysterious attacks
WHERE || Estavan's Estate, London suburbs
WHEN || April 12th [back dated]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

The Knights have spent a couple of years now attempting to trace the source of a series of mysterious deliveries of crates to local businesses that contained monsters, marked 'PTC'.  They learned last year that PTC is a Trade Consortium, run by a man named Estavan, but that there was some kind of internal conflict between the Executive Officer and other partners, who were attempting to wrest control of the Consortium from him and might be sending the crates to customer who were remaining loyal to him.  Estavan has refused to meet with the Knights, and so Wynn has decided the Knights must take this into their own hands, and is sending a force to infiltrate his Estate while he is out of it.  Hopefully, they can find some paperwork that will help get to the root of the problem.  The isolated home is surrounded by a 12 foot high iron fence, which they know to be electrified, and the area is quiet as they approach.

Comments

[killmypatience]

[Kate takes a moment to study the scene as they approach, letting her eyes wander over the gate in particular as that's there first obstacle to the rest of the house, as well as listening for unexpected security (spot 31, listen 26).]

I think we should either try and pick the lock on the gate first or try and find a way to kill the power to the gate somehow.

[monticora]

Well, given that I don't relish being electrocuted I'm thinking maybe lock picking isn't wise.

[ Alec may be joking, but he's definitely keeping his eyes and ears open (spot 31 and listen 30). He doesn't really like getting shot at either. He glances at Kate. ]

I've jumped higher than that fence. [ He thinks. ] I could jump it and get inside the perimeter to shut off the power? [ He tilts his head. ] Your call.

[bowtimeandspace]

[ Did someone say lock picking? ]

Oh locks are ten a penny. Literally actually-- they can be very cheap, you know. If you know the right bloke. H[ e pulls his screwdriver from his pocket and tosses it once in his hand. ]

Probably best to make sure there's nothing nasty with sharp bitey teeth on the other side first though eh?

[allaboutme]

[ there are no trees near the fence, nothing to climb onto that rises higher than the top of the iron barricade. there's also no visible signs of life or other security milling about. cordelia folds her arms and stares past the fence at the big manor. ] This looks like the kind of place where they're likely to release the hounds the second we get in. [ a beat ] So yeah, I think Alec should check first.

[killmypatience]

[Kate smirks a bit at that, before turning to Alec and eyeing the height of the fence.]

Are you sure you'll be able to clear that?

[You may be a little too cocky for her taste but that doesn't mean she wants you to get electrocuted.]

[cabot]

Oh do let him try. It seems entertaining, if nothing else.

[monticora]

[ He looks at Val'drin like bitch please. ]

Yeah. Manticore had higher fences than this douchebag. I hopped those. [ He side steps away from them and rolls his shoulders. ] I got this. FYI--any furry friends that try to bite me are dead. [ As in he will so kill some dogs. ]

[allaboutme]

I feel like someone should be recording this. [ a beat... and then she pulls out her phone. ] Ok, go ahead.

[monticora]

[ He gives her a look and manages to flip off the camera because whatever. You people have no faith. He steps back and looks up at the fence. Then he jumps (jump 25). If he electrocutes himself to death make sure that someone hot cries over his body. ]

[allaboutme]

[ annnnnnnnnd a 25 jump only gets him... halfway up before he slams into the fence :| which jolts him intensely before he slams back to the ground and takes 14 electricity dmg, although he can make a fort save DC 15 to take half instead. ] Oh my god! You better not be dead!

[thesleeper]

That looked like it hurt...

[Phineas is just hoping no-one suggests climbing. Historically speaking, that's never gone well for him - and also always seems to lead to dragons.]

[He'll go help him up...]

You alright, dude?

[monticora]

[ That did hurt, but Alec isn't like about to die (fort save 19, 7 dmg). He sits up with the help of Phineas because fuck him that was not fun. He blinks and looks at Cordelia because that's not help, woman. He flexes his fingers. ] Do over. [ He gets to his feet on his own. He rolls his shoulders and tries for it once more (jump nat 20 after spending two action points BECAUSE THAT FENCE WILL BE CONQUERED, 27 total). He's getting over this stupid fence. ]

[killmypatience]

[Kate is about to stop him because this ISN'T NECESSARY when she can just shoot out the security box, but apparently there's no stopping Alec, so she's just going to watch as he tries again, hoping that he actually makes it this time.]

the conclusion...

[allaboutme]

[ after fighting through the orcs, the group continues on. moving through the open vault doors, they find light from powerful electric lanterns filling the area on the far side of the chamber there, illuminating four figures and another set of vault doors. arcane runes etched upon the doors glow softly. one of the figures towers above the others. it's a frightfully gaunt, 9 foot tall humanoid with fire-red skin, a horned head, and arms that end in serrated bone blades. the four smaller figures appear to be dwarves; one of them works to unlock the vault doors while the other three stand around guarding the area. the three guards pack pistols as well as waraxes.

they hear a great click as the locking mechanism disengages and the runes upon the vault doors flare once and then stop glowing. with that, the tall fiendish creature shouts: "We've done it! Now Estavan's secrets will be ours!"

a simple door off to one side catches their eye, and val'drin nods at it. alec nods back and then cracks his neck, winking at kate to indicate he'll handle the gang - and probably relish it. val'drin lowers his gun towards the dwarves and says to kate: "Go on then. We'll hold them off."

cordelia doesn't need to be told twice, and makes a break for the door, gun in hand. ]

[killmypatience]

[Kate nods and goes to follow Cordelia towards the door, taking the opposite side of the door on instinct, because once the door opens Cordelia can use the door for cover while Kate takes the lead.

She holds up a hand indicating they should wait for a moment, listening to see if there's any movement on the other side (listen 22).]

[allaboutme]

[ it's quiet behind the door, and cordelia raises her eyebrows expectantly at kate ]

[killmypatience]

[Kate nods and steps back to let her pull the door open. Look, they've been walking into all kinds of trouble, better to be safe than sorry. Once Cordelia opens the door, she'll take the lead, scanning the room/hallway to get the sense of it (listen 25, spot 19), leading the way gun first.]

[allaboutme]

[ the door opens into a short corridor that in turn, opens into a chamber beyond. eclectic yet expensive furniture decorates said chamber: an ornate Oriental throw rug, a leather recliner, a louis xiv side table, a high-end stereo system, an elephant-foot ottoman, a small refrigerator/freezer. ornate and rune-encrusted vault doors fill the far end of the room.

as kate steps forward, cordelia behind her, the runes on the double doors begin to glow, softly at first, then with more intensity. a line of brilliant white light appears between the two doors, starting in the center and spreading toward both the floor and ceiling simultaneously. when the line of light fills the crack between the doors, there is an audible click as though a lock were disengaging and then the doors swing wide. blinding light spills forth from the open doorway, and it is impossible to see what lies beyond the portal. then, a tall figure appears in the midst of the light, a silhouette of muted gray against a canvas of pure, featureless illumination.

"Oh good," a booming, pleasant voice proclaims, "you made it. I thought I might be late, but I can see that I'm right on time. But where are my manners? Please, feel free to call me Estavan."

the figure who steps out is powerfully built, and wears an impeccable suit - but his race is decidedly not human. the doors swing shut behind the ogre, sealing with a crackle of energy. "I hurried back as soon as I heard what was happening."

cordelia looks him over, unable to really hide how gross she finds him. ]

You're Estavan?

[killmypatience]

[Kate isn't as thrown as Cordelia is by his appearance (will save 23), but she is surprised all the same. She wasn't expecting to meet Estavan here - nor was she expecting Estavan to be expecting them.

She lowers her weapon slightly, but she's not putting it away either until she can determine more about the situation (sense motive nat 20).]

You were expecting us?

[allaboutme]

[ "Ken'lyl kept me abreast of your... interest, if you'll recall." He smiles mysteriously. "It's for the best. It seems I could use your help after all. My newest partners, who helped me fund my business... expansion, so to speak, have decided to try to take control of the company." He sighs. "That's what I get for making a business deal with a trio of demons." ]

[killmypatience]

[Kate could have told him that one, and she doesn't actually know all that much about demons. But that's not the important thing, right now, the important thing is getting them all out of this alive - and keeping the demons from getting what they want.]

What are they after in the house?

[She doubts they would have gone through the trouble of so thoroughly searching through everything if they were just looking to claim a business - they would have probably just killed Estavan.]

[allaboutme]

[ "I will make certain they don't cause any further trouble here. But you must go to my warehouse and keep them busy for awhile. They can destroy me if all of them come after me at the same time. If you can keep them busy for a short time, I cam make certain that the three of them are returned to whence they came before the day draws to a close. I must dissolve this partnership permanently and try to make amends for the trouble they've caused. I want to thank you for the help you've provided by the way. I owe you my gratitude." ]

Damn right you do. We fought a dragon.

[killmypatience]

[Kate definitely agrees there.]

We can handle that. Where is the warehouse?

[And having a trade consortium owe them a favor definitely seems like it would be a good thing to have in your back pocket.]

[allaboutme]

[ "Here's the address," he says, passing her a piece of paper. "Keep them occupied and I'll meet with the Consortium's ruling council to reestablish dominance. Then I'll make sure that trio of fiends are dismissed with extreme prejudice and cause." he glances over their shoulders. "They'll see it my way. After all - my way is just good business." ] Great. While you work your art of the deal, we'll be happy to get out of here.

[killmypatience]

[Kate nods, taking the address and ready to head back to collect the rest of their team to get the job done.]

I take it we'll know when it's over?