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

[Meriss]

Near Bickle's Steamcab "Huff 'n Puff" - 12:50, June 16th, 1870 AD

Lex finishes his brief on foot inspection of the impressive example of Victorian achitecture. When he turns around to head back to the steam carriage, it is gone. Mentally Lex curses his shiftless, irresponsible, incompetent ... Oy, guv! over here! Bickle waves from the drivers seat of his cab which he has moved to accommadate Lex's small legs.

Dashing across the rather busy street and after being somewhat ignominously pulled into the steam cab, Lex finds his seat. Sorry, guv. Got me lunch and had ta swing round the block after ya jumped out. Ya find what ya want?

Not waiting for a response the Cockney pulls away from the curb, without even signalling intent. He manhandles the tiller in his now greasy hands, Want a few guv? He offers a impossibly greasy brown paper bag filled with objects which might, only after careful inspection, resemble food.

He balances the mess between himself and Lex so that he can gesture in his normal fashion while still eating. Yer never gonna belive this one guv, some crackerpot in line says there's somfing *snicker*, get this haunting Hyde Park. They figure its the ghost of some sod who was kilt when they put in the Crystal Palace. They says he kin move the mowers and the gardening tools. Ain't that a laff? I tell's some folk 'll beleve anyfing iffin enough folk say it. Whups missed ma turn, half a tick. Then this ghost is supposed ta be eating the folk who stay overnight in the park. I tell ya it's a great big laff. And here we be guv.

The carriage had indeed arrived. In the middle of what could only be described as a war zone. Bickle slows his overexcited chatter to stare in amazement at the warehouse which Lex indicated.

The top story is gone as though burnt by fire. The street passing the structure is filled with emergency vehicles of every size, shape and description. The firemen are carefully and tiredly collecting their hoses and other gear. As they pass the ambulance wagon, Lex clearly hears a smoke rasped voice cry out, I tell you a giant metal man! He was huge! He belched smoke and fire! He was ten feet tall! I am not lieing! Why would I lie? What possible..... as they pass beyond the vehicle the man's voice becomes unclear but his volume remains the same.

[ZenZen]

Bickle's Steamcab "Huff 'n Puff" - 12:50, June 16th, 1870 AD

"A strange tale indeed. So when this ..'ghost' moves the gardening tools and mowers around, does ..he ...actually ....?"
Alexander Dorn's voice trails off as the smoldering ruin that was supposed to be a warehouse comes into sight.
"What in...?"
"That's..."
The fire... an explosion... chaos... death... Hagen!

The dwarf takes a couple of seconds to reassemble his composure.
Get a grip on yourself! This is just some warehouse. It has nothing to do with you. Just do your job and leave it behind!
Yes...
Right.
Yes, of course, this is nothing but a warehouse that I happen to pass by.
And buried under the ruins are nothing but burnt boxes and crates, maybe some furniture, documents, a key...
Oh, damn the luck! The key.
This job might prove to be more troubling than expected...
Yet there's nothing to be done about it right here and now.
Guess I'll just procure what's left of potentially useful data and then leave this ..ruin behind.

With that, Alexander Dorn focuses on his Prognosticator for the last time today, his brain aching to memorize the chaotic arrangement of wreckage in the half-collapsed structure.
Being done, he lets out a small sigh, addressing his trusty driver:
"Alright, Mr. Bickle. I guess I've been around enough for today. Let's drive back to my shop, shall we?"

Upon leaving the site, a smoke rasped voice reaches their ears, causing the dwarf's brain to add 1 and 1 and a vivid memory together.
Bismarck!
Oh, this insolent fool! Didn't we all agree on not taking any action yet? Really, why do I have to put up with this level of ignorance and disobedience? Did the cooling on his head fail?
His body may consist of advanced machinery already, but quite obviously his human brain is a critically weak link.
Maybe I should complete the upgrade...




The Bull and Bear, 12:20AM June 18th 1870AD

A sharp knock sounds on the door of the room where 3 men and 1 metal abomination (that allegedly used to be a man too) are gathered to scheme their heinous crimes.
Two seconds later it opens to reveal a familiar sight: the dwarf known here as 'Lex' takes a step inside the now silent room, again carrying his heavy attaché case and walking cane but this time accompanied by a big cardboard tube slung across his back.
Quickly closing the door behind him, he inhales deeply (as if he held his breath on the way through the bar) before removing his hat and announcing:
"Good evening, gentlemen."

"I'm sorry to have inconvenienced you with my delayed arrival," glancing around the room "albeit it seems that I were not the only one."
"How long are we to wait before starting our joint assessment then?"

Not giving anyone the chance to answer, Alexander Dorn commences with his monologue as if to make up for his unpunctuality:
"Regarding our common project, I have with me structural drawings of some of our target locations and their immediate surroundings. Oh, and I researched some general information on the White Star Lines."

Stepping up to the table, he notices the brass key embossed with the White Star Lines logo lying there.
It seems our steam-powered accomplice at least managed to secure the key before devastating the warehouse and alerting half the city.
I guess I should be 'relieved' then, as having to dig through smouldering rubble because of some hothead would have been more than just inconvenient.
"Ah," indicating the key,
"I take it that this acquisition is the result of Mr. Bismarck's premature visit to the late Regency Warehouse on Charles Street, then?
What else have we got?"

Climbing on a chair, he unslings the tube and retrieves several large sheets of paper, spreading them on the table.
As promised, they show not only the precise layout of the houses but also the surrounding area - streets, power and telecommunication cables, water and sewage pipes, the occasional medieval ruin - everything.
They even include detailed annotations on thickness and material of walls, diametres of tubes, supposed purpose of rooms and some acerbic comments about structural inadequacies and shoddy work.
Strangely though, despite the painstaking detail these plans were drawn with, one room on the first floor of the Molson residence and the complete Johannsen mansion were left blank.

[Fresno Bob]

Bismarck turns his mask towards the dwarf, and laughs softly.

Now who's the smart one here? Inferior humans, the lot of them can't manage a fraction of what I did alone.

"Ja. It vasn't too much of a bother... he says, nodding. No vun who saw me snatch za key is still alive, und za office is kaput, no? It vill be days before zhey even realize its missing.

[fistandantilus4....]

Spence, again more than a bit intimidated by the new company he's keeping, steeles himself before speaking.

We were able to locate the key in the small residence, and have two possible means of removing it. Neither should prove particularly difficult, so I believe we have relegated it to a lower level of importance.

The other, in the ... 'society' home, may prove more difficult. Their security is excellent, including a guarding elemental, which would likely detect a stealthy night entry. Desturction of the guardian spirit would alert the summoner, which would in turn alert the residences, and the 'law'.

Therefore I believe our best course is ti simply walk up in full day light, talk our way in the door, then over come those within with sorcery before they can sound an alarm. I can utilize an incantation to force compliance from whom ever we need, and with a little research, remove their memory of the event as well, buying us precious time, and remoing the memories of our faces. I am unsure of what technological defenses may be arrayed against us, but your... timely ... arrive with schematics should prove invaluable.

Spence seems to shrink as he speaks, almost as if he's going off of one long breath of air, carefully controleld and regulated to not sound as if he's rshing through his oration. His little speech finished however, he seems to need a moment to cllect himself again. Absently, he wipes away a bead of swet from his brow with a kerchief.

[ludomastro]

Jacob nods with Spence's words. I believe he is correct on all accounts.

[Critias]

The Hand simply waits, silent and still, in a shadowy corner. His hands are tucked into his sleeves again, his sharp features inscrutable and alien. He feels, and not for the first time, his skills are being squandered here in the West. If no one tells him who to kill, how can he kill them and do his share?

And so he waits.

[ZenZen]

The Bull and Bear, past midnight, June 18th 1870AD

Replying to the machine-man, Alexander Dorn feels slightly distracted by the ever-present gas mask hiding what might be a face and ends up looking more through than at the giant in front of him:
"Kaputt...yes, the warehouse is indeed destroyed. Nearly burned to the ground, for what it matters.
Yet, about your involvement in this incident: there is an eyewitness and he gave a vivid description of a person matching your ..rather unique appearance.
I don't know how much he's seen, but when this depiction spreads it can swiftly cause significant trouble for us all, as you, Mr. Bismarck, tend to ..stand out ...a lot."

The dwarf's gaze wandering upwards as he speaks those words, his eyes finally lock with the metallic glint in the shadow behind the towering man's mask.
Continuing his speech, Alexander now speaks with the resolution and determination of somebody totally oblivious to the physical threat this steam-powered war-machine presents, sounding more like a teacher lecturing a pupil:
"Which is exactly why we all agreed on a plan detailing us to actively keep clear of this kind of rash actions during this phase, Mr. Bismarck.
The best plan is but for naught when its execution lacks the necessary skill and focus.
Consider this: had the constructor of your splendid body shown the same lack of discipline and inability to follow a plan that you evinced, you would not be ...as you stand before us now.
Indeed, seeing how a deviation of a mere millimetres' fraction in the fabrication of even the most simple high-pressure valve results in either a significant loss of power and efficiency or prohibits it from functioning at all, the resulting limb would hardly be mobile, let alone superhuman.
Alas, the kind of disregard you have diplayed would be more akin to completely omitting the impulse resonator. And I don't think I have to spell out the consequences of that..."

Making a dramatic pause... that for some confounding reason failed to have the desired effect on his audience, netting him blank faces (and the equivalent on a gas mask) instead,
Lex clears his throat: "Ahem."
"But I disgress..."
Now where was I?
"...ah, yes, of course: Your impetuous act must've caused a substantial amount of money to be consumed in this inferno as well. Money we were authorized to take. Money to fund our project."
Letting the painful truth settle in for a second before finishing:
"I expect your lacking discipline to improve shortly, for the sake of this venture."

With that, Alexander Dorn breaks eye-contact with the machine-man, trying to face all the people present instead (including those loitering in shadowy corners).
Really, from the sophisticated machinery he's employing you could've expected him to be a professional ..at something...
It's honestly disenchanting to witness how all that fine hardware is put to waste on such an inferior, ungrateful creature.

Processing what the man known as 'Spence' mentioned
An "incantation to force compliance" he says...this so-called "expert in the matters of Arcanum" claims to command some devious magicks...
And I don't even want to think about this curse to "remove their memory" - maybe I underestimated the potential danger this sorceror presents...not that it couldn't been overcome by sufficiently sophisticated technology, of course.
he reassured himself before speaking again:

"Yes, I agree that breaching the Johannsen's mansion will be the most difficult of our tasks.
Of course I wouldn't know much about these ..'elemental' things about the premises, but if disposing of them indeed raises an alarm, we'd find ourselves in an undesirable situation all too soon.

As you mentioned being able to talk your way inside in full daylight, that in fact sounds like the adept route to take. Would you mind letting us in on the details of your plan and how we could support your effort?

Oh, and another point springs to mind:
What about the plans from the office building downtown? I think we should not forfeit our last remaining chance to get a bonus this time around."
the dwarf finishes with a sharp sideways glance at Bismarck.

[fistandantilus4....]

It takes Spence a moment to realize that he is being addressed, so intent is he on the metallic monster that was just, effectively, put in it's place. He didn't think it was wise to try to put anything so dangerous in any place except exactly where it wanted to be. Quickly, he pulled his eyes away to respond.

Uhh.... uh. yes, well, I thought for the actual... ermm.... approach.. 'tactic', Mr Ned might have something in mind, as he was so adroit with on our last expedition.

If you can get us in the door sir, I believe I can make our way easier. And of course Mr. Hand will be on ...erm... hand.... to ...deal with any unpleasantries that might come up.... discretely of course. Which would leave you, Mr Lex to assist us in coping with any technological barriers, and Mr Bismarck as the figurative 'calvary'.

If we could quietly locate this personage who has seen Mr Bismark, it may be possible to alter their memory, that is to say, remove it entirely , of the events involving him. It may perhaps be a bit past time however, not being able to put the cat back in the bag, as it were.

What do you intend specifically for the downtown buidling Mr Lex? And do you also have the layout of the Johannsens?

Stay calm. Stay calm. Breathe steady. no different from dealing with an elemental. 'Calm and confident', that's the key. Just stay steady ...

[ludomastro]

Jacob smiles at the group. I do believe that we can simply walk up to the front door and let ourselves in as it were. I have found that the aristocracy, as a general rule, overlook two things. Those being, first, anyone appearing to be a figurative peasant who knows his place and second, menial tasks that have no apparent bearing on their life. Thusly, we could potentially gain entry based on the perceived need to repair something in the house, a delivery from the office while the gentleman is out, or something of that nature. Does anyone present have the skills to induce a mechanical failure, or the appearance of one, in some household system?

[fistandantilus4....]

Spence shakes his head and looks to Dorn Lex, then adds a thought.
We need to be able to find the key's location, likely a safe, or have the lord of the house present, so that I may coerce him to show us it's location. That could make matters complicated. I may be able to utilize a summoned spirit to find the key however, with Mr Bismark's as an example.

[ludomastro]

Jacob has a puzzled look on his face for a moment. Would said spirit be able to move freely in the house with the other looking on from outside?

[fistandantilus4....]

If I was able to summon it from inside the house, then it likely would not be a problem. If it was summoned outside, it would have to contend with the guardian, and the wards. Few like having spirits patrol inside their bedrooms however, so I doubt that there would be any elemental guardians inside.

[ludomastro]

I hope that there are no water elementals.

[Critias]

It's a trick Han has used before. All you had to do was keep your head low, wide-brimmed hat pulled over your features. Bob your head subserviently quite a bit, insult them in Mandarin -- no one else here speaks it, the arrogant Westerners just assume you're being polite or trying to explain the reason for your errand -- keep yourself looking humble, try to sound apologetic, and wave some sort of envelope, or a bundle of clothes, in their faces. Half the households in London get some herb or another from Chinese apothecaries, and the other half used Celestians as launderers. It was easy as pie to sneak your way in, in plain sight. Minorities were invisible in London, especially to the wealthy.

Until the Seven Thunders fist was released, of course, and every kind of Hell broke loose inside their fancy house. Then all of a sudden everyone paid attention.

[Fresno Bob]

What is this speck talking about?

Bismarck steams silently, spooling and unspooling his actuators as Alexander lays into him.

Splendid body... lack of discipline... impulse resonator?

With a sudden crash, Bismarck slams one of his metal claws onto the table, splintering a good chunk out of it.

"Vhat do you know about my so-called 'splendid' body! You think this is splendid!? And discipline? BAH! Vhat have you managed to accomplish vith your incessant talk and planning? NICHT!" he screeches, his voice box grinding and squealing with a rise in volume it wasn't designed to accomodate. As for the money, vhat of it? You vould have planned und planned until zhey moved it somevhere else! All I had to do to get zhat vas to take action, somezing vhich I have noticed ALL OF YOU are unvilling to do! I thought this vas a team of cracksmen! More like a team of school-professors und engineers! Mein gott, it took me vun morning to do more zhan any of you did all day!"

Bismarck rip his claw free from the table and blasts a long jet of steam upwards.

[fistandantilus4....]

Spence reflexively jumps back a step, hands up in what he hopes is a placating gesture.
My uhh... apologies sir, but our actions were merely in line wth our intended approach to the situation. We thought it more prudent to gather a group ... err.. consensus.. since that is what we had decided in our preliminary discussions. If such is as you say, well, 'no harm, no foul', as they say eh? hehe.... If I could have a day or so to ...' bone up' as it were, on the incantation I mentioned, I think we can go a long way to helping conceal our trail, and finish up this messy business. No need to get violent. Just a simple, civilized discussion between chaps... working out the kinks, as it were.

[ludomastro]

Jacob thinks to himself, This damn brute will be our ruin!

My dear gentleman. ... I can't believe that I am calling this ... lump ... a gentleman. However, when the devil asked me to hold his candle I knew what I was in for. Please, let's not explode with anger at one another. It would appear that we each have a very different methodology for dealing with things. I assume that each of us walked away with a different impression of our objective. As the young man here has said, let us not allow our endeavour to collapse under the weight of disagreement.

[Critias]

The Hand seems as uninterested in the placating apologies of these Westerners as he was blissfully unafraid of the towering steam-borg's outburst in the first place. He merely stands, still and silent, in the corner of the room.

[fistandantilus4....]

Might I suggest then that we retire for the evening? It will take me perhaps two days to properly study the incantation, during which time perhaps our esteemed scholar and technical expert could study the plans of the House of Johanssen, and perhaps find some weakness we may exploit. We could all stand to ... erm... let off some steam I think...

Spence winces as the words leave his mouth, as if picturing a thrown ball, and realizing as it leaves it's hands that it won't go to it's intended destination, but rather smash into the head of a very large and brutish man who's greatest joy in life may well be the return of a hard ball in a particularly violent manner.

[Critias]

The Hand nods quietly, content to call the day's meeting adjourned before blood is spilled. This continues to be his easiest, if perhaps most irritating, assignment yet; all he has to do is continue to let the Europeans handle all the work, and collect his paycheck at the end of the day.