Retreat! (RP)

Jun 17, 2025 3:17 am

- Emma -

You appear back in ... in our world (? Is that an appropriate distinction? It feels like it?) —pulled back here by something that feels both beautiful... and scary ... wild; something that is both very much like you, and also very, very different.

A few seconds/minutes later your phone starts to go off, dozens of messages and missed calls, from Henry and the hotel, mainly; all crammed into the space of the few minutes you were 'down there'.

It seems Henry was worried. You don't know what he saw, or what he thinks he saw, but the blue lights probably mean he called the cops, expecting them to sort it out.

What do you do?

Emma

Delirium

Jun 17, 2025 3:40 am

Retreat! (RP)

Emma blinked against the rain as her phone buzzed to life in her hand. A flood of messages and missed calls lit up the screen, far too many to read in this downpour. She stared at it for a moment, then slipped her phone back into her purse, which was just as soaked as the dress plastered to her skin.

Still barefoot, she crossed the street without thinking, stepping directly into a wide puddle that soaked her up to the ankles.
Once she reached one of the parked patrol cars, she gently knocked on the window, and waited for it to slide down just an inch; enough to carry a short conversation without letting the rain in.

"Sorry; I’m... a bit disoriented" her voice was hoarse, and faint "Could someone give me a ride back to my hotel?"

Persephone

Drgwen

Jun 17, 2025 3:51 am

Retreat! (RP)

Persephone nodded as Emma turned and headed back. She followed, but doubling back put her next to the demon again. As they walked side by side, she turned and said, "Hey. I'll show you mine if you show me yours. Your true name, I mean. OK? Mine is Persephone Mei Zhang. What's yours?"

The demon utters something that Persephone struggles to understand. He repeats it and she tries to replicate it. After several attempts, she finally gets it right. "Kal’verrak'thurazel. Kal’verrak'thurazel. OK, got it. I'll stick with Kal, for short, when we're just chatting, k?"

Suddenly Persephone realized that Emma had gotten a good distance ahead of them, so she hurried after. When she caught up with her, she found her face to face with someone who must be Choudry, flanked with two demons! Emma quickly ran, but Persephone wasn't sure she wanted to do that, not just yet, at least, so she stepped into the room.

Persephone

Drgwen

Jun 17, 2025 3:57 am

Retreat! (RP)

Persephone sauntered in, her eyes of flame smoking, her moth wings flexing, and her translucent skin sliding across her sinews and bones. She adopted a power pose and raised her voice, saying, "Chaudry. You summon minor demons to do your bidding, but I am an agent of a major power, one known as The Whispered One. I wish to speak with you, perhaps to make a mutually beneficial arrangement. My master's power is vast; you would be wise to consider this offer. Will you speak?"

Rolls

Persuade an NPC (+Heart) - (2d6+2)

(35) + 2 = 10

vagueGM

Jun 17, 2025 4:05 am

Retreat! (RP)

- Persephone -

"'"Persephone Mei Zhang. Persephone Mei Zhang."'" Kal chants. "You sure? That's a seriously weird name." You have heard this before, but never from someone whose name is so much stranger than yours.

"Oops! There's the boss." Kal says in a way that is so reminiscent of 'office work' that it borders on the satirical. "Uh... Grr? Argh? Oh, forget it. I did my best."

"Come back, you fools!" Chaudry calls after the demons chasing Emma, but they already have their orders and are gone. Chaudry looks around for an advantage, but sags when he sees you in all your glory.

"You the one that's been messing with my business?" He asks, pulling out a pack of fags and offering you one as he lights up. "This was supposed to be simple."

What do you do?

Persephone

Drgwen

Jun 17, 2025 4:29 am

Retreat! (RP)

Persephone smiled at Kal, patted his shoulder, and said, "Aw, you did good, big guy." She was being sincere, too. She liked the demon, for some reason. It suddenly occurred to her that this might be what her sister Circe meant when she once accused Persephone of having the worst taste in men.

Then she turned to Chaudry and crossed her arms, and said, "You should know by now that nothing of value is easy to attain. If it were, every fool would possess it. Now, what was your goal here?"

vagueGM

Jun 17, 2025 4:44 am

Retreat! (RP)

- Persephone -

"What's it to you?" Chaudry says defensively, he is not in the habit of giving away information and has no reason to share with you.

He halfheartedly makes to hide some of the evidence of obvious sacrifice prep, but gives that up as a lost cause. He does not even bother with 'it was like this when I found it, guv'nor' lie.

What do you do?

oopsylon

Jun 17, 2025 4:50 am

Retreat! (RP)

Benji leaps back out of the way as Emma bolts past him out of the room, pursued by two demons. He hesitates, glancing back at Chaudry, but decides that stopping the demons from catching Emma is the priority. Besides, Persephone is advancing on Chaudry with a scary expression on her very scary face that makes him think she can probably handle the wizard just fine on her own.

He chases after the demons and, upon catching up with them, pounces on the slower of the two with his teeth and sword bared.

Rolls

Turn to Violence (+Blood) - (2d6+1)

(26) + 1 = 9

Persephone

Drgwen

Jun 17, 2025 4:59 am

Retreat! (RP)

Persephone approached Chaudry, the fire in her eyes flaring. "You crave power? You wish to call upon infernal forces to serve you? Then yes, you must make a sacrifice. Agree to serve my master's interests, and I will ensure you gain the power you deserve. Let us strike a bargain." She drags her talon across her hand, drawing blood, which she bathes in the smoke pouring from her eyes. She offers the smoky, bloody hand to the wizard.

OOC:

She is attempting to offer a Dark Bargain! So yes, I will press my luck and roll...

Rolls

Dark Bargain - (2d6+2)

(12) + 2 = 5

vagueGM

Jun 17, 2025 7:17 am

Retreat! (RP)

- Benji -

The trailing demon goes down in a flurry of teeth and sword, they are not that tough, but still rather rocky for your teeth. As it dies it falls and grabs for whatever it can, clutching at its fellow's legs and causing it to trip and fall as well, kicking you on the way down (Take 1 Harm, a Minor Injury that you can decide the details of).

The other other demon, the one that was sent to look for the sacrifice, sees this and looks on the scrum in confusion. It was sent to look for a helpless victim, not a vampire with a sword!

What do you do?

vagueGM

Jun 17, 2025 7:28 am

Retreat! (RP)

- Emma -

"What's your name, ma'am?" The officer in the car ask while looking at a picture of you... from one of your books, of all places(*).

Once you confirm your identity they radio in: "We have the missing person. Proceeding to The Lanesborough."

The female officer gets in the back with you. "Can you tell us what happened?" She asks gently. She does not explain anything, waiting to see how your side of the story line up.

What do you do?

OOC:

(*) I am assuming, given how you look, that your books have your picture? Else forget that part. :)

Emma

Delirium

Jun 17, 2025 7:50 am

Retreat! (RP)

Emma leaned back in the seat, trying to focus as the police car begins to move. She was still trying to get her bearing, but even in her discombobulated state she knew better than to tell the whole truth.

"I’m... not totally sure. I was at this dinner, and there were drinks. Not that many, but... enough, I guess."
She looked out the window at the rain falling
"I remember walking. I think I wandered into the park for some sort of game. There was this thing—like a raised platform, a gazebo or something? With a roof and steps? I don't know how I ended up there. Maybe I've fallen asleep? I don't know" she lowered her voice and looked back at the woman riding with her at the back "I'm sorry; I didn’t mean to make anyone worry."

Her shoes were now resting on her lap. Her stockings were too soggy, and she didn't want to walk in them right now. "I just want to get back to my room"

OOC:

Her book has her picture on the back, sure (she would never miss an opportunity to get a picture of her out). There should be one on the Independent webpage as well

vagueGM

Jun 17, 2025 8:15 am

Retreat! (RP)

- Emma -

You see the officer write what looks like 'bandstand' and 'toilets' as she notes down what you say.

It is not far to the hotel, but the car is driving very slowly, giving them time to asks questions without the need to detain you. "Are you sure you don't need the hospital?" The officer asks gently, looking over your torn clothes as well as your cold and wet condition. (You do feel a little feverish, and chills at the same time, but that has been all evening.)

"Let's go through the one more time." The police say, and you know from research that they will go round and round in circles if given the chance, this has proved to be the most effective way to catch people out in a lie. "Tell us about this 'game'."

What do you do?

Emma

Delirium

Jun 17, 2025 8:26 am

Retreat! (RP)

"No… no hospital" she shook her head slowly "I just want to go back to the hotel. I need a hot shower and my bed"

She rubbed the side of her arm to try to warm herself up, as if that would somehow be enough to stop the shivers. "Can we not do this now?" she pleaded once they tried asking her about the 'game' "Please. I’m cold, I’m soaked through, and I can barely keep my eyes open. I’ll tell you anything you want—just… tomorrow morning. Let me lie down first."

vagueGM

Jun 17, 2025 8:31 am

Retreat! (RP)

- Emma -

"Yes, of course." The officer says, in a way that sounds a lot like, 'no, not just yet'. "What about the woman who was with you? Where is she? We need to find her before we can rest." Technically they need to find her before they can rest, but including you in the 'saving' is meant to motivate your caring instincts.

• What about Persephone? They did not mention Benji, maybe Henry did not know about him? Did you just abandon your friends? Your friends who were only down there to help you?

What do you do?

Emma

Delirium

Jun 17, 2025 8:37 am

Retreat! (RP)

""She’s....missing?" she didn't need to feign concern. She really was worried about Pers. She didn't know how long has passed, but she hoped she managed to find her own way out. In her mad dash to escape the demons, she couldn't stop and see if she was following her.

"I told you… " she furrowed her eyebrows "I had too much to drink. I barely remember how I even got out there. I don’t even know who I was with."

vagueGM

Jun 17, 2025 8:43 am

Retreat! (RP)

- Emma -

"I understand." The officer says, you obviously look distraught and vulnerable. "No one seemed to know her full name. Can you provide any information to help?"

Henry introduced Persephone by her first name only, maybe he does not know more? Persephone was having a whole conversation about sharing or not sharing names... with a demon... if any of that went in, maybe you don't want to tell the police more? Besides, what can they really do to help her?

What do you do?

Emma

Delirium

Jun 17, 2025 8:48 am

Retreat! (RP)

Emma shook her head slowly, water dripping from her hair. "No" she barely whispered. A lump was already forming in her throat. If something happened to Pers… she wouldn’t even know about the cult if Emma hadn’t told her.

She leaned her head back against the seat, shutting her eyes as she tried to breathe through the sudden exhaustion.
"I just want to go back to my room. Please."

vagueGM

Jun 17, 2025 8:54 am

Retreat! (RP)

- Emma -

The cops share a look, a nod, and then bring the car to a halt outside The Lanesborough. There is another cop car out here, though not showing blue lights, so you might not notice. There are also cops in the corridor outside Henry's room.

Henry, it seems, has been pacing, you can see the muddy track on the expensive carpet, and he is still in his wet clothes. "Are you alright?" He asks as soon as you enter, giving the cops a 'shoo' look and looking like he wants to give you big hug. He does not demand to know what happened, even though he clearly wants to.

What do you do?

Emma

Delirium

Jun 17, 2025 9:02 am

Retreat! (RP)

She had every reason to be furious with him. He brought another woman to dinner tonight. All the scars she still had from their toxic relationship. But he did call the police after she was gone. He obviously still cared about her. But what was more important than all of that is that he was there. Solid. Real.

Stepping forward, and collapsed into his chest. Her shoes fell from her fingers, and her arms went around him, face pressed into his shirt as she started sobbing quietly. She hated being so weak, but right now she wanted someone to hold on to. Someone with a pulse. Someone who didn't look like a nightmare from hell and smelled of rotten eggs.

So she held on to him for a long while, trembling, until she would find the power to say something.

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