“Two of my officers are dead as well as a prisoner under my watch. I want an explanation as to what that…thing…was, and I want it now.”The five investigators stare at Perry at his demand. He seems panicked and you do see his hand on his holster. Having seen the spirit take the form of others, Webb scowls at Perry in suspicion.
[[GENERAL check versus Webb's Perception. Results:
Perception ability: 68 - Rolled 61 (SUCCESS) ]] Webb doesn't notice anything unusual about Perry's mannerism, and that stifling flower scent isn't in the air anymore.
"That thing is what happens when an investigation fails to find a victim!" Hal shouts while grasping and slowly moving Parry's finger out of face.
"That was a spirit bent on revenge, and it looks like she's doing a fine job of it, so far. You've lost a few, we nearly lost one, and that thing is on the loose.[[SPECIFIC check versus Perry's "NPC Receptivity" (page 51) to see if he now believes in the supernatural. Results:
Keeping the numbers and rolls hidden, he's no longer a disbeliever, but he is doubtful. ]] "You saying that thing is...a ghost of some kind?" Perry asks as he removes his hand from his weapon.
"Yes, that's precisely what we're saying," Webb says.
"We are very sorry about your men, but I can’t muster any sympathy for Baxter – they’re as much his victims as that poor woman was."Lucas clears his throat as he clutches his shoulder.
"Damn, the bright idea guy of the team just about lost his head in the first episode. Then you guys'd really have been up a creek without a paddle," Lucas says with an ironic smile. Jack asks Perry for a first aid kit and Perry wordlessly points to a medical station mounted to the Interview Room wall. Magnus and Jack use some found bandages and antiseptic to close and bind Lucas' injury. It's a good cut, but not dangerously so. The bindings will hold nicely without the need for professional attention (for now).
[[Lucas is healed for 9 STA points and one wound.]]"Quite a show...I have to admit not seeing anything quite like that before," Magnus says as he helps Lucas to his feet.
"Chief, our interview with Baxter and the spirit's actions seem to indicate she was an unfound and unidentified seventh victim of Baxter's. Can we have access to your missing persons records? We can start around the time of Baxter's original crime."[[SPECIFIC check versus Perry's "NPC Receptivity" (page 51) to see if he now believes in the supernatural. Bonuses are in play. Results:
Keeping the numbers and rolls hidden, he's no longer doubtful, and has moved to "open" to the idea. ]] "Yeah, when I ran off, I went to get the missing persons database. Here." He hands you a portable hard drive.
"I dropped the files onto this for you. Don't know why I did, but with everything that's going on, it sounded like you guys knew what was going on."Perry crosses through the Interview Room to the rear door, glancing sadly at the bodies as he passes them.
“Look, I don’t know if I believe any of this, but I’ll be damned if I have any better ideas as to what happened here. But you're right. That…thing…will kill again if it ain’t stopped. I've got to deal with...this in the meantime. State reinforcements have been called in and they're in route. They'll be here any second, and they're going to be looking for a murderer for this slaughter. I don't think they're going to believe a ghost did this."He opens the rear door.
"Don’t leave town because you’re all witnesses…or suspects. Hell, I ain’t too sure which right now. But somehow I think you’re better equipped to deal with this than we are. So go out the back door. I’ll be in touch.”Perry ushers the players out the rear entrance, adding:
“And don’t come back to the station. Too many questions need to be answered and it sounds like we don't have the time to answer them.” Perry shuts the door, leaving you in the rear parking lot of the station. In the distance, you can hear the wail of an approaching siren as the reinforcements approach.
Lucas takes a moment to ask:
"What's up with that nauseating floral scent she carries with her? That's gotta be some clue about where she's buried right? ""Yeah, and Baxter mentioned burying her under a gold rock, didn't he?" Jack adds.
"Guys, we all have questions, but first we need to find who that person was and we need to honor her so that she will be remembered, or this slaughter is merely the beginning," Hal says.
"We need to find this woman," he says, holding up the picture on the phone.
Let me know where you'd like to go and what you'd like to do with the information you now have. Hanging around the police station is probably a bad idea...