[IC] Behind the Shadows, First Iteration Options

[pbangarth]

Invisible Professor will check out the "corpse" (sic) of trees, the bush in the family garden, and Karkoff's door.

Perception rolls, in order: (I'm estimating dice, as I am at the library)

5 hits

4 hits

5 hits

[Chrysalis]

There is a dog loosely buried under some branches and earth by the trees. Judging by the stains and the odd angle the throat was cut and then the neck was snapped. In the bushes of the family's garden is the blood wet collar that was seen on the dog in the image. There is even a shoe print from a trainer next to it, size 10, male.

[pbangarth]

Professor sends images of the scenes, including the shoe print, via secure commlink to the others.

"This could be the work of a disgruntled jogger tired of being harassed by a neighbourhood dog, but I don't think we can ignore this coincidence. Anybody in the group do fingerprints? I have the collar.

"Let me ramp up the paranoia a notch. Anyone know of a possession tradition that uses fire spirits? The corpse of the dog would be a handy nearby vessel. Pretty twisted one, though."

Professor assenses the body of the dog for any impressions, or for a trace of it being 'prepared'.

3 hits.


"Poor dog. Poor kid."

[crizh]

Taking the prints is no problem but matching them might be. Unless it is one of the contractors or the residents of the target's home. I have all of their bio-metrics already.

[pbangarth]

[OOC - I assume that since it is a couple of days since our various perambulations, we are all relatively accessible to each other.]

"Right, Cruze. I'll get the collar to you right away so you can compare. Can Blackie get us into some fingerprint databases, or is that too dangerous?"

[Chrysalis]

The Professor examines the dog for any kind preparation. It does not seem so. Although cutting its neck and then breaking its neck seems a bit overkill. Most possession vessels have to be prepared well in advance. Often taking days if not weeks to prepare. There is only one tradition in a small East African tribe that claims to resurrect the dead. There is a partial thumb print on the collar in blood.

[pbangarth]

Professor has found Cruze, and she has the collar with the bloody, partial fingerprint. Possibly other prints are on it that could fill out the print. Reminiscing about ancient television shows he has read about, Professor imagines Cruze listening to a pounding rock beat in a poorly-lit, cavernous room, holding up the collar and gazing at it meaningfully.

[SincereAgape]

Toreador held off on the supremacist propaganda

"Running those fingerprints through a database would be an excellent idea. If Blackie is unable to complete this task, I can see if some of my contacts from the Tir can assist us. If anyone else has contacts with either Knight Errant, Lonestar, or another investigative task force we maybe able to through them as well. Other then that, I will spend the rest of the day enhancing the astral security around Karkoff's apartment. I will be using some of our funding to purchase the materials for this process. If I am needed do not hesitate to call."

[ Spoiler ]

1. Not sure if we have any money left from the team funds given to us by Mr. Johnson. If we do he will be in search of a local talismonger who would be able to sell him the items needed to bind a force 5 spirit. The items should cost around 2,500 nuyen according to the RAW (page 180).

[pbangarth]

<<This is interesting. I find myself wondering, however: Why is our good doctor so nervous? Does he suspect what is coming for him? And if so, why is he sticking around?>>

Dick sends the group as he strolls down the street wearing another randomly selected face. This time, his disguise is coupled with a dog on a leash that he borrowed from a friend across town.

Because he knows he can't hide? Because he is despondent without his wife and doesn't care?

[OOC: Sorry, this should have gone in the OOC thread.]

[pbangarth]

"So what does this mean, Toreador? I'm not sure yet. I can imagine a number of reasons why someone might want to eliminate a set of siblings who may be clones.

"The ones we know about are all involved in research into matters pertaining to epidemics and such. Someone may be clearing away those who can lead the defense against a coming plague.

"They could be plants, and their usefulness has come to an end. Or their nature is threatening to be revealed, and evidence must be destroyed. Fire is notoriously good at destroying biological evidence.

"Perhaps one sibling is tired of being one of many. He may wish to be the only one.

"The real meaning may be something else entirely."

[SincereAgape]

Toreador digested the Professor's theoretical cooking. It tasted like cooked eel or fried calamari. An interesting texture and a favorable taste. Re-viewing the information on William Bradly aka Mr. Aegis, some of the Professor's ideas had a greater potential to formulate into analytical truths.

He was on his motorcycle, heading towards Georgetown.

"So where exactly does Mr. Aegis and his representation fit in? What possible reasons could an organization such as AEGIS be involved in such scenario as this? And if Conrad Tyrell is correct, then I refuse to believe that any entity which has as great of pull with governments and corporations acts on altruism and benevolent in nature."

He comes across a traffic light, somewhere on the outskirts on Wisconsin Ave heading north. From where he is there is a great view of the Potomac River.

[ Spoiler ]

<<Text to Matrix 1&2.
Database scan required as well as information regarding a query.

Requesting to have a set of fingerprints scanned through the database to see whether or not we can find a profile match.

Putting in an application to have information on a Dr. Robert Karkoff disclosed.

-Agent Crey.
-For the Tir. End Text>>

[crizh]

Having towelled off and tied her hair back Cruze was all business when the Prof returned with the evidence.

She used Latex gloves to examine the blood-stained collar before running it past her newly acquired biomonitors.

On the off-chance that someone careless enough to leave a fingerprint might have left the odd skin cell she ran it past the DNA scanner she had bought as well.

Playing on a hunch she texted her fixer for good measure.

Bonjour Michel it's Liz Crane again. I'm almost sure that minx Cindy has been up to no good on our priceless Afghan rug. Is there any chance you could get me some of that Luminol stuff they use on cop shows? Love ya, chow.

[Chrysalis]

Coucou Liz, sure I can get you luminol tonight. Bisous.

There are several finger prints on the collar, but several good ones on top of the blood. There are also all sorts skin cells on the collar, especially on the inside. You identify one dog, two female and two male sets.

[Chrysalis]

Coucou Liz, sure I can get you luminol tonight. Bisous.

There are several finger prints on the collar, but several good ones on top of the blood. There are also all sorts skin cells on the collar, especially on the inside. You identify one dog, two female and two male sets.

[pbangarth]

Coucou Liz, sure I can get you luminol tonight. Bisous.

There are several finger prints on the collar, but several good ones on top of the blood. There are also all sorts skin cells on the collar, especially on the inside. You identify one dog, two female and two male sets.

"Hmmm... One dog, a mother and daughter, assume a father, that leaves one male unaccounted for. Don't know how fast DNA testing works these days, but one male is probably related genetically to one of the females. The other male could be the perpetrator of the canicide. Along with the fingerprints, this is some good evidence for ID."

[pbangarth]

"Toreador, will these magical defences you set up be affected by any of us walking through them? Both Dick and I are magically active, though between the two of us only I can perceive astrally. And I currently am sustaining one of your spells. Will this be a problem?"

[SincereAgape]

"That's a negative Professor. Astral Security will consist of myself and two spirits of water. The wards are to much of a risk for a multiple number of reasons."

[Chrysalis]

It is 0830, Karkoff went to work at 0800, he walked past the receptionist and went into his lab, had a look at things there and walked out. He told Sally, the receptionist, that he would be going home for the day. He also phoned up his daughter on the commlink in his car.

"Hi Emily, look I have a couple things coming up. Is it possible that we don't meet for our monthly dinner?"

A woman's voice comes over the comm channel. "Pops. You getting funny in your old age? Besides Frank wants to come and see you, and he doesn't get many options to do that. Besides I have made time to come and see you and you want to see the other grandkids too."

"Alright, I have just got a bad feeling."

"Hah! You tried that one last year. See you at six."

The woman hangs up the phone.

Karkoff goes back home. At 11 AM the maid comes in and they end up chatting about all sorts of things, until she excuses herself to actually doing the necessary shopping.

[Mickle5125]

Dick looks over from his position monitoring the surveillance equipment and frowns, setting aside the slice of blueberry pie he picked up from the diner as he hacks out a message to the team.

<<Any word on IDing the person who offed the dog? If not, fire what we have towards me and I'll have some o' my friends look over it. Additionally, be on your toes today. Our friend has a bad feeling today and I'm sharing it.>>

[pbangarth]

"Conveniently, all six of us are now in the vicinity of our friend. And he has a bad feeling about today."

[pbangarth]

Invisible Professor tours around the condo unit being aware astrally. He will do this on a roughly regular basis. When not outside, he will take his share of duty monitoring the video feeds from the condo in our stakeout.

[bmcoomes]

"If you send the data my way I have a friend that can get what we need"

Following the flow of the group Warrior takes his turn watching the feeds and doing physical perimeter check discreetly.

[ Spoiler ]

If I get the data I'll call John (ERT Team Leader) and have him run it through the FBI databases

[pbangarth]

"If you send the data my way I have a friend that can get what we need"

Following the flow of the group Warrior takes his turn watching the feeds and doing physical perimeter check discreetly.

[ Spoiler ]

If I get the data I'll call John (ERT Team Leader) and have him run it through the FBI databases

[OOC: Let's assume Warrior and Dick get the data.] Professor messages the group:

"What do you think about one of us follow the maid as she does her shopping. I know this is a bit paranoid."

[Chrysalis]

The maid continues her shopping buying a nice selection of fresh vegetables to make a rather expansive salad, pasta and desert for six dinner guests. The maid pays for the whole thing on Karkoff's account with the supermarket. She also buys other food not on the shopping list.

Running a DNA sample through the open databases has a waiting time of weeks. Running it through police databases is behind expensive license fees or a good contact.

John gets back to Warrior with some information. The half finger print raised a flag with the death of a certain doctor and the burning down of a pub. There was a polite electronic request from the detective in charge to interview the felon in question.

Karkoff mostly sits around home, looking nervous and apprehensive.

The maid comes back and starts making dinner, leaving one bag in the trunk of the car. Karkoff comes and helps out with dinner. At 6PM a car rolls up to the driveway.

A woman with too much make-up and a badly concealed smoking habit comes out of the car. Her husband wearing slacks and a polo, and a clean shaven chiselled face looks a little bit out of place and hesitant.

He looks around the area before openign up the back door for two girls to come screaming out.

[Perception 5]

"Now, look how many times have I told you not to bother your cousin like that. You know how he gets."


A big 6 foot troll steps out of the other door, he's wearing a trainers, slacks and a straight shirt. he fidgets with his hair and hir horns.

he looks at the kids, confused and is genuinely grinnign when he sees the old man in the doorway "Hello, grandpa." He moves stiffly and puts out his hand for a heavy handshake.

"Strong grip you have there, kid."he says as he shakes out the excess of the grip.

"Come in, come in."

[pbangarth]

[Perception 5]

[OOC Does this mean make a Perception test with a threshold of 5? Whoa!]

Professor scans the family in physical space and then astrally.

Physical ==> INT 4 + Perception 6 + active search 3 + vision enhancement 3 = 16 dice ==> 1 hit !!!
[OOC: Duh... dey be hewmann, no?]

Astral ==> INT 4 + Assensing 5 + active search 3 = 12 dice ==> 5 hits !!!
[OOC: Don't ask me!]

If it's easy to do so, Professor will sneak inside while the door is open. If he manages to get inside... seeing as he is invisible... he will subvocalize his whereabouts to the rest of the crew.