sagebrush ♔

[sirstickuphisass]

♬ the good, the bad, and the ugly

WHO || Abigail, Barry, Jo, Sawyer and Eric [closed]
WHAT || Investigating a series of attacks in an old fashioned town
WHERE || Sagebrush, Nevada
WHEN || May 2016 [ backdated ]
HOW || Actionspam

The Knights arrive in the small town of Sagebrush and find it's almost like they've stepped back in time. Many of the buildings have been preserved for historical significance, and there's not even a paved main road - everything is just well trodden dirt. The marshal has agreed to meet them at the latest murder scene, and they'd seen him leaning against his police car outside the fence where cattle graze.

Comments

[sirstickuphisass]

[ just a clarification also that it is TWO separate sets of tracks, but both of them abigail can follow about forty feet before the ground becomes incredibly hard and most of the tracks are swept clean by some sort of past windstorm or something.

abigail, however, can still make out the barest traces, and starts leading out of town. eric stops to turn back to the marshal. ] I think we'll take it from here. We'll let you know if we find anything.

[supertardiness]

[Barry will gather up his kit and make his way after Abigail, following in step next to her as she follows the tracks and keeping his eyes up to make sure nothing else was going to come at them (spot 20 total).]

[theminotaur]

[ VERY STUDIOUS TRACKING IS HAPPENING. ]

Anyone else waiting for the Sheriff to say it happened at high noon?

[incantatio]

[With a spot check to match Barry's (20), relieved to put the bloody mess behind her, Sawyer follows along with the rest of the group. Trying to keep an ear out for any movement beyond that of their group. (Listen 22).]

[sirstickuphisass]

[ the tracks lead them to a relatively new building outside the town in the countryside. heavy wooden doors are the only visible access. a small hand-made sign reads "Fellowship of the Common Path Church", but is the only thing that would denote the building as a church otherwise - neither barry nor sawyer notice anything resembling a religious symbol anywhere. ] Why is it always a creepy church?

[supertardiness]

[Barry wrinkles his nose a bit, before glancing around to scan the rest of the area for anything interesting (spot 36).]

Do you want to check out the inside or snoop around the back first?

[Because the end goal is to snoop around, right?]

[sirstickuphisass]

[ there's nothing really worth seeing on the grounds, but barry is at least very sure of that. ] Might as well try to get inside.

[incantatio]

Anyone else getting that... cult headquarters kind of vibe? [Church? Seems fake tbh.]

[theminotaur]

[ abigail's gonna look for traps and then try the door! (search 28) and if it's locked she's gonna try again! (disable device 20 total) ]

[huntersdaughter]

[Jo didn't feel the need to pipe up about tracking when Abigail mentioned she had a good handle on it. Jo follows the group, taking in the area and trying to make sure she keeps up with the group. (Listen 14, Spot 19)]

I'm wondering what the Common Path is meant to be. [Her head cants, staring at the sign.]

[sirstickuphisass]

[ the door isn't trapped, but it is locked solidly, and abigail can't even get it to budge. ] I'm not sure we're gonna like the answer to that.

[theminotaur]

[ after a bit more struggle, abigail rocks back on her heels before standing up. ]

I can't do this. My teenage delinquency only goes so far, I guess.

[supertardiness]

[Barry glances over to Eric.]

Want me to do a quick run around? See if there's another way inside?

[sirstickuphisass]

Might as well. If there's not, we might need to do a stakeout.

[supertardiness]

[Barry nods and quickly darts off to zoom his way around the building, trying to learn as much as he can, which turns out to be a lot, apparently (investigate nat 20, 38 total). He'll basically be checking for open doors or windows, or trying to see if he can sneak a peak at what's going on inside.]

[sirstickuphisass]

[ there's no visible access - not so much as a window - and the only doors are out front. he doesn't notice strange scratch marks on some of the outer walls however... ]

[supertardiness]

[And he will zip back around to the front to report all of that:]

This is the only way in or out. There aren't even any windows around the back. There are these weird scratch marks on some of the walls, but other than that, it's pretty much just a wooden box.

[So sorry, he doesn't really have a better way in.]

[sirstickuphisass]

Scratch marks? [ he glances at abigail ] That thing we tracked here.

[theminotaur]

Probably. But unless someone can pick the lock we can't get in. [ she really doesn't want to stake this place out so she also offers, ] I could take an ax to the door though.

[huntersdaughter]

[Jo cants her head to the side, she hasn't picked a lock in a while and she had seen the attempt happen. She's pretty sure she wouldn't do any better than that.]

If we use an ax... and someone gets upset, we can just have them bill us, right? [She shrugs.] It's not like we aren't trying to make sure no one else gets hurt.

[supertardiness]

[Barry gives a small shrug in return. He really isn't good enough at picking locks to give it a go and while he can't phase through doors like he used to - thanks, Veil - chopping it down seems like the best option they have left beyond:]

Or we could just knock first? See if anyone's around who will actually talk to us?

[theminotaur]

Spoilsport.

[ but look. abigail is stepping forward... to knock. you're no fun, barry. jo knows what's up. ]

[sirstickuphisass]

[ Eric looks relieved, at least, and after an extended pause, there's the sound of the doors being unbolted. It's opened by a blonde middle aged man in flannel, and a stetson, and those who glance within see three similar generic white southern guys hanging back.

Two rows of wooden pews lead up to a dais surmounted by a podium at the opposite end of the room. The high ceiling is vaulted in the manner of a great cathedral. A
door is built into each of the diagonal walls to either side of the dais. A red rug runs between the pews and up onto the dais; the rest of the floor is covered by a thick, black carpet.

"Church is closed today," the man drawls, eyeing them up ]

[supertardiness]

[Barry is quick to speak up, not wanting to hold them up but wanting to keep them talking long enough so that he can try and get a better glimpse at what's inside (spot 21).]

No, we're not here for a service. My name is Barry Allen and we're with the Karthur Institute. The sheriff brought us in to investigate some of the incidents happening in town and we were wondering if we could ask you a few questions.

[It's said simply and earnestly, Barry's experience as a CSI coming to the forefront and keeping his tone casual. He's made this request many times before, so it's practically old hat (diplomacy 17).]

[sirstickuphisass]

[ the men behind him exchange significant looks with each other, and barry would notice the end of a 12 gauge shotgun poking out on one of the pews.

"Someone give you an invitation? Let's see it," he responds. "Otherwise you come back with a warrant." ]

We don't have an invitation. And if this a church, isn't it public property?

[ eric raises one eyebrow challengingly at the guy, who stares back at him, chewing on some tobacco.

"Ain't that kinda church." ]