[IC] The Gaslamp Shadows, London's not going to be the same... Options

[ludomastro]

So far, so good. Indeed better than expected.

Jacob picks up the phone and dials his own office number as he takes in the surroundings.

Yes, hello? I need to speak ... yes, I'll hold. ... Yes, Moneypenny, please alert Mister Dewey that we shall be late. ... I would say, about 15 minutes. ... Oh, thank you.

GM

[ Spoiler ]

Does she stick around or leave? Is the boy listening?

[Meriss]

Baker Street, 1:27 PM, June 16th, 1870AD

As Spencer begins cataloguing his sensations of the Molson home, he notices that the house itself appears to be fundamentally normal. A simple normal home. No wards no anything. Just normal, strange. The lady of the house takes Spence's breath away on the astral. Literally. She is a mess of fatigue and stress. Her aura ooozes bone tiring energy. As he enters the office he spots the astral barrier worked into the walls. Definately enough to keep out most magicians and any spiritual watchers. It was more than likely erected by a mage of the Hermetic path. He spots the young boy easily as he is glowing with curiosity and bafflement. He is in genral good health and as Spence watches the boys astral form smiles and waves.

Alex chatters nonsense into the phone for a few moments until the lady departs the room. The young fellow listens for a moment then proceeds to return to his book. "The Basics of Sorcercy" reads the large ornate cover.

Regency Warehouse, 9:06AM, June 16th, 1870AD

Code name Bismarck activates his steam powered muscles and charges at the desk that the cowardly person is hiding behind. Flipping the desk over with a powerful toss the machine man uncovers a pathetic mouselike man covered in urine. He holds up a small boxlike device with a small red button on it. They'll be here in a few minutes, you monster. weeps the man. The bell at the end of the floor begins to sound stridently.

[fistandantilus4....]

Interesting. The young man has the Talent, no doubt, and a new book on Sorcery. Speaks of money, which may be why the woman is stressed. Perhaps their pocket book is stretched by their financial needs to aid in his education. However, to have a magical son, she would have to have a magical husband. Where is he I wonder?

Spencer busies himself wandering about the room, not lingering at any one thing for too long. Showing enough interest to be polite in his respect for the room, but not so much as to be takem for prying.

[ludomastro]

Jacob tries to absorb as much of the room as possible. He then smiles as he hangs up the phone. Excuse me young sir, what are you reading?

GM

[ Spoiler ]

He's looking around the office for anything of interest. He doesn't want to do it in a way that is suspicious. What should I roll?

[ludomastro]

Jacob glances at the desk allowing his eyes to drop as well, waiting on the young man to answer. He will wait as needed until an uncomfortable silence opens, then a moment more. He will then repeat his question.

[Meriss]

"I am dreadfully sorry sir. I wanted to finish this page. It is extremly difficult. The book is the Basics of Sorcery by Sir Edmund Fowler. Written in 1860 of our common era. My schoolmaster reported that I have the potential to be a majician but, sadly we lack the means to pay for the special training nessecary to teach me properly. The good sir kindly loaned me this book. Was that all sir?"

As the lad speaks it is clear he is showing off.

[ludomastro]

Jacob smiles brightly at the young man. Excellent my boy! Keep at your studies and I am sure that you will make a fine magician some day. Please excuse a man's curiosity.

With that, Jacob falls silent but continues to smile. He waits to see if there is any further interest from the boy and then quietly tries to open the main desk drawer muttering about needing a quill.

[Meriss]

The boy seems uninterested but, as Jacob tries the main drawer he feels a fairly sturdy lock. The rolltop section also seems locked.

The boy pokes his head over the book. "Sorry sir, Father always locks that before he goes to bed at night, and doesn't open it till after he eats dinner. I have a quill if you like."

[ludomastro]

Yes please, thank you. Jacob takes the quill, scribbles some notes on a scrap piece of paper, tucks it into his shirt and then leaves the room beckoning "his associate" with him. He pauses, turns to the young man and says, Please keep up your studies. Shall we wait for your mother or shall we let ourselves out?

[Fresno Bob]

Bismarck growls.

"Stupid man!", he hisses, kicking the prostrate fellow in the side of the head.

After that, he begins tearing around the room, looking for the key.

[Meriss]

Baker Street, 1:27 PM, June 16th, 1870AD

The boy pipes up "Well sir, I know she was waiting for some tradesmen to fix the stove, I think. I can escort you out if you like."

Saying this he wipes the quill on his handkerchief and uses it as a book mark. He then procedes to show the two men to the door. He waves cheerfuly as they walk down the steps and away.

[ludomastro]

Turning to Spencer, Jacob says My dear sir, do you think that Mr. Dewey will be angry with us? Jacob smiles lightly at his own joke. Tell me, what did we learn of value?

[Meriss]

Regency Warehouse, 9:05AM, June 16th, 1870AD

As Bismarck rifles through the desk drawers and after twenty seconds comes up with a envelope bearing the words DO NOT LOSE THIS!!!!!.

Opening it the machine man finds a shiny key, stamped with a strange logo.

As Bismarck examines the key two men burst through the far door way. Neither seem armed.

The leading man shouts "Oi! You stop right there!"

[fistandantilus4....]

Spencer takes a moment before replying, thinking things over. Actual retrieval of the item should be rather simple. Which, I must say, somehow seems wrong. "A little too easy" as they say. I'd point out that it may be easier to simply offer the boy tutoring in exchange for the key. The crux is that first , we would have to know the purpose of the key to be reasonably sure that the exchange would be beneficial. Were we to offer it, we would have to be reasonably sure they would take the bargain. Or be prepared to respons appropriately if they refuse our offer.

It has it's own difficulties of course, but it seems a much better approach than "second story work" to my mind.

I wonder how the others are doing.

[Fresno Bob]

Bismarck shoves the key into his coat as the men burst in.

What do they think they're doing? Not even armed... I'll show them what happens when they face me... he thinks, smiling viciously.

He reaches into his coat and produces an HE grenade, pausing only to throw it at the feet of the men before running back out the door he came in.

[ludomastro]

Perhaps. I don't think that we can offer services for a key we don't know exists ... or at least one that we aren't supposed to know about. Perhaps we can agree to set up lessons for the youth, have one of the others perform the second story work and then we can continue to teach so as to remove suspicion from ours elves.

Jacob muses in thought for a moment.

I don't know how the others are doing. Shall we inquire?

[fistandantilus4....]

Sharing the intelligence we've gathered seems the natural next step. Then we should set to investigating these aristocrats.

[Meriss]

Regency Warehouse, 9:06AM, June 16th, 1870AD

The two men glance at the grenade helplessly before the older one pushes the younger out of the way.

Bismarck feels the explosion as he exits the building and crashes down the stairs.

He reaches the street and hears the sweet music of burning wood and ringing alarms.

[ZenZen]

Bickle's Steamcab, 12:00 Noon, June 16th, 1870 AD

As he embarks the steamwagon, Alexander Dorn is relieved to find that his friend Travis had already switched to yet another 'topic of the day', his supply seeming as endless as his sources mysterious. Seeing that it hadn't been a good day for interpersonal communication so far, Lex knew that statistically the chances for improvement were encouragingly good - and rising.

"Yes, Mr. Bickle, it's always a pleasure driving with you.
And we're going to do an extended sightseeing tour this time, as I need to gather some data at various places around town. Specifically Baker Street, Charles Street, West Chantry Lane and St. George Road. I'll trust you with finding us a quick route as the sequence doesn't matter, just inform me when we're getting close to each locale.

And do tell me more about these 'mushroom men', they must be a tremendously underrated problem as I can't seem to recall ever hearing about them."
How very strange.
For some reason I can't help thinking about immigrant plumbers being the optimum solution to a problem like this. But why?
And where do turtles figure in this whole issue, I wonder...

[Meriss]

2001 West Chantry Lane, 2:04PM June 16th 1870AD

The Johansenn residence is indeed by the Palace. Buckingham Palace, the structure sits at the end of West Chantry lane dominating the view of the horizon. It is huge, and the neighbourhood reflects the posh environment. All the homes are late Georgian structures. In the country these would be mansions or multiple family dwellings. Here though they are merely homes for the wealthy or the nobility.

Spence and Smith arrive outside the large home indicated by Brookes address. The difference in surroundings is clear to both of them. They can see at least one bobby strolling the street twirling his truncheon.

Near Regency Warehouse 9:45AM, June 16th 1870AD

After finally checking twice more behind him, code name Bismarck is sure that the pursuing coppers have been lost by his more powerful steam driven legs. The German smiles with the peices of flesh left in his mouth and goes off towards his next destination.

Bickle's Steam Cab "Huff 'n Puff" 12:00PM June 16th

"Right you are guvenor!" Bickle sets the mighty apperatus in gear and then he and Dorn are off. Steaming through London at break neck speed.

Bickle's mood is as transient as his sources, they both seem to have no clear issue. "Well guv, ya see these mushroom men, started showing up jest last year. Somefing ta do with the risin' mana level said a Prof from Cambridge sittin' right where you is not more than two hours ago. I say's, why'd the proper author'ties not be tellin uz? And he says, the posh set 'er keepin' em secret like till there's enough off em so's they kin eat all the low born folk. Whups slowin' down, heres Baker."

Despite his erratic driving and his more erratic theories, Bickle is in fact a man of his word as he pulls up Baker Street.

[Fresno Bob]

A little bit of explosive solves anything... I'm clear and the office is wrecked.

Bismarck stops in place and vents out some excess steam built up by his running, letting a long jet hiss out the back of his neck.

I wonder if the building's burning down... Better not risk checking. Mmm, where to now? I've got one of the keys, should try to find the others.

He stands still for a moment, then begins heading back to his doss.

[fistandantilus4....]

Spence speaks quietly to Smith as he admires the structure. For such a buidling could never simply be called a "house".

I do not think any simple "may we use your phone" ploy would get us through that particular ingress . Perhaps we should simply observe and leave?

Spence couldn't help but be a bit nervous at the sight of the place. Not new to the ways of the aristocracy, he had no doubt the officers would come running if there were the slightest disturbance. A turn in the tower was not on his to do list for today. Instead, he let his senses shift to the astral, giving the place a thorough once over.

[ludomastro]

You are perhaps right.

[Meriss]

2001 West Chantry Lane, 2:04PM June 16th 1870AD

In contrast to the Baker home this palce is a fortress on the astral. A powerful ward wraps protectively around the resisdence. And there is at least one watcher spirit lingering nearby. The minor spirit soon makes way for a medium sized human figure wrapped in flame.

[ludomastro]

I suggest that we move along for now and plan something else. My mind is a bit swimming at the moment.