AS ABOVE (game thread)

Fact: Each exorcist is issued one (1) melee weapon, one (1) firearm, and sufficient ammunition for execution. All weaponry is CAT 0 and has seen previous use. Your blade has seen more than you have.

Fact: The air around the hospital is thick and sour. It is overcast. It smells like a dry mouth. This is evidence of the presence of an OGRE's miasma. It has touched this place.

👁 Miasma: A phenomenon generated by an active OGRE. It will degrade architecture, trigger the spread of mold and rot, corrode technology, disintegrate human decency, and sicken the world. It will spread as the OGRE grows. Shambling things lurk in it. Exorcists are advised to act quick, before it swallows the world.

Standing from his seat within the bus Salem will slide his requested weapon, an axe with a purple haft and black grip, into his back pocket. Mary Poppins, of all things, comes to mind as the weapon disappears and Salem sits back down comfortably.

Erasmus' combat knife and pistol was tucked within his coat, and the Binder took the lead in walking off the bus. Notably, both he and Orion twisted their noses in the same expression of distaste once the smell hit.

"The infection, rotting at the world. We will see what I may find." Erasmus muttered vaguely, tracking the unpleasant miasma with Orion dogging his heels to see if he couldn't glean any insights into where the Ogre might be.

Fact: The fog here is thin, the sky not entirely clouded over. The air is sour, but does not quite assault the senses. The streetlights are still on, the roads still traversable. The OGRE's miasma has begun to spread to this place from elsewhere, but does not yet entirely envelop it. The OGRE's palace may not be here at all.

20XX-03-13 07:43:04 | XY077 begins initial perimeter sweep.
20XX-03-13 07:44:01 | XY077 notes that hospital is currently open, parking lot is semi-occupied.
20XX-03-13 07:44:58 | XY077 concludes that miasma has not yet taken root at hospital.
20XX-03-13 07:48:08 | XY077 notes two police cars stationed in parking lot.
20XX-03-13 07:50:37 | XY077 concludes perimeter sweep.

"The infection is not here. I smell pus, but not rot. I hear the drooling of open wounds, but not the squirming of maggots." Erasmus said after walking in a casual arc around the hospital's outskirts, Orion occasionally sneezing and shaking his head in distaste. Pausing, he knelt to wipe at the blood dribbling from the dog's eyes with another handkerchief, adding in a casual voice,

"Two cruisers in the parking lot. We may need to get their approval to interview the orderly. But our subject is elsewhere. I will send Orion out on a hunt later. For now, let us see what this orderly can tell us. It is most unwise, after all, to give our subject more of a fighting chance."

I'm gonna pet that dog. For the moment, Lycaon just watched the beagle go. He grabbed two drinks amd headed to the bus stop, pausing to put on the duffle bag cross body. On the bus, Kyle just sat quietly. Granted, he was slouched down in his seat (and between the duffle and the posture, made sure no one could sit with him) and scowling, but he kept his mouth closed.

At the mention of names, he shrugged. "Lycaon."

Making sure everyone had their weapons before approached the hospital, he pulled his spiked glove -- a variation of spiked brass knuckles worked into a glove -- on his dominant hand and tucked his pistol into his waistband at the small of his back.

"No silver tongue here, but I can make sure whoever talks t' th' scrubs ain't alone." The large man shrugs, but lets the offer stand.

As the team dismounts their chariot, Bonham hits the ground without breaking stride. It doesn't take a seer of great acumen to tell that the air is relatively uncontaminated, but worsening by the hour. There's time to act, but not all the time in the world. Thankfully, they're used to working under a time limit. As they advance, their steps shift from the menacing clomping to a smooth heel-toe while they adjust the pin of their cape upwards back to where it should be under their collarbone to hopefully seem more approachable.
"Duly noted." As they pass Lycaon, they tap him firmly on the shoulder with a finger. "Lycaon, on me." As for Salem and Chloe..."Salem, Miss, I recommend ya taken your own initiative for the moment." If they wanted to be covert for the moment, two people in the group was fine. Three was workable, but maybe a little much.

Entering the lobby of the hospital likely with Lycaon in tow, Bonham approaches the receptionist, flashing a thin "hearts and minds" smile that makes them seem considerably more approachable, almost overwriting the impression of their menacing appearance. Well, when the situation doesn't involve "surrender the insurgents within the hour or we flatten your village", a bit more tact is warranted.

"Mornin'." They greet the receptionist, arm on the edge of the counter. Leaning just slightly, but not enough to put their weight on it. "I'm Agent Page, from SETH division. This is Agent Jones. I believe some friends of ours were here earlier. We've received orders from higher up to follow up on the testimony of one...Elmer Graves regarding the incident that occurred two days ago? We're not pointing any fingers, but we really would like to get to the bottom of this as soon as possible, as much as you all do. A life was lost unduly...we all know how tough that is..." They take a moment to play on the receptionist's heartstrings. "Could you perhaps direct us to where Mr. Graves is recuperating?"

The receptionist seems momentarily taken aback, scanning Bonham and any others, but after he takes a few seconds to process the request he nods slowly.

"Mr... um, Elmer's working today. He's not- I mean, he's working today, yeah. He's already talked to the police, but if you're..." He takes another second to take the exorcists in. "I can see if he's not dealing with a patient right now. If you'd just like to wait, um, over there?"

The receptionist leans back from the counter, dialing a number, and begins speaking quietly for a few seconds. After maybe half a minute of conversation, he looks back up. "He'll be available in around five minutes, if that's alright?"

"That is very much alright. Thank you for your cooperation." Bonham straightens back up, their gesture prompt and as much of an acknowledgement as a nod would be. Rather than taking a seat (though Lycaon has his own prerogative), Bonham turns to the side and stands holding their elbows instead of fully folding their arms, allowing others space to speak to the receptionist.

Lycaon follows along, a bit impressed at this kid's way with representing himself.

Shit. Get this guy a labcoat an' a clipboard, he'd probably get anywhere he wants.

He starts to chuckle at his own thought, which he turns into a forced cough before taking a drink of the now cold chai he had brought. Eyes scanning the people present, and the layout of the room, he does his best to commit it to memory. If shit went sideways, knowing where to turn when being chased could make the difference between getting away and getting caught.

Meanwhile, Erasmus wandered back from his patrol to enter the hospital. Glancing back at Salem, he nodded to the others. "Help them. Or come with me. They will find what the hospital is willing to give us. I will find what the hospital is not."

Thus saying, he would begin to amble casually away, towards the direction of the morgue. At unspoken command, Orion began to trot further out forward of his master.

Nodding back to Erasmus, Salem begins to follow. "So, Erasmus, does he know any tricks?" He chuckles.