Marco turns and runs in the direction of the man crying murder.
After a moment of indecision Dunstan follows Marco.
Sorry ma'am we've a murderer to catch.
Derrick pauses for a moment and points to the direction of the man's shout. "You go for the murderer, I'll run for the thief." Even as he says it he darts off down the alley in the direction the woman pointed.
"Understood." Khalid nods to Derrick and gives chase behind Marco.
Wyatt no wanting Derrick to go off on his own, runs off towards the purse snatcher.
You race down the alley through the mists. The alley stops at a T intersection.
The mists obscure sight but you hear footsteps fading away.
Around the corner down another of the twisted alleys of Blackchapel you see a man staggering down the alley holding a small furry body by the tail.
He looks up and spots you all smiling gleefully he chortles, "I've committed murder!"
He lunges forward toward you all cakling, "Da rats'll bite your tootsies if ya don' cover yer feet"
Derrick pauses as the group comes to the split. "B*ll*cks, which way did he go...?" he murmurs, not wanting to let the criminal run free, but also not wanting to go the wrong way. "Wyatt, you hear him?"
Marco draws his shortsword and points both weapons at the whackjob.
You ought not be screamin' murder 'round 'ere. Crawl back into yer hole, or you'll be wishin' ya had.
Dunstan gives the man a look of utter disgust and puts away his pistol.
On your way wretch - and call out no murders in this part of town lest you swing for them
Racing around the corner, the mists hide the source, but he can still hear the fading footsteps in the distance, and impassioned he gives chase.
As soon as the strange halfling runs off in one direction, Derrick follows.
The sounds of many footsteps around the corner catch your attention.
Marco looks to the others.
Let's look around the corner. I hear footsteps.
Marco peers around the corner to see what makes the noise.
Gavin continues to pursue the unseen criminal, weaving easily through the cluttered, foggy back alleys of this unknown landscape.
Acrobatics
Perception
Before the purse snatcher can round the corner Derrick has him cornered as Wyatt and Gavin are close on their heels.
The man freezes in the corner, "I surrender, there is murder about and here ya' are chasin' down a lousy thief. You ought to be ashamed a yerselves..."
Marco, the fog is too thick for you to see anything.
Kensington calls back to the rest of you, "I see a few hooligans out for the night. Shall we roust them? Their very presence makes light of the tension on the streets and our work!" He seems rather steamed by the young men, or at least what e thinks are young men.
Coming Kensington old cock - we'll soon put them aright. Muttering he redraws his pistol and moves to rejoin his old commrade in arms.
Marco shakes his head at both the fog and the two soldiers. He nevertheless heads in their direction, urging Khalid as he runs by.
Come, Khalid, we best be after Dunstan.
Khalid nods to Marco. "I suppose. Seems strange to go after a bunch of hooligans when a killer is about, but it's best if we don't split anymore than we have."
Marco looks back over his shoulder at Khalid as he chases after Dunstan.
My thoughts too!
The four of you race after Dunstan down the alleyway. You come upon four men, likely in their late teens. They all wear masks with a skeleton face. They stand at the mouth of an alley which leads to one of the main thoroughfares in Blackchapel.
They turn towards your groups arrival, "What's all this then? You invadin' our turf?"
Again Marco draws both weapons.
Ya mites really wanna' be tanglin' with the likes of us?
I don't acknowledge any 'turf' - we're going from one place to another. If you are wise you'll stand aside and let us keep moving, Dunstan says bringing his pistol up and pointing it directly at the thug who was speaking.
Gavin eyes the 'gentleman' suspiciously, "Seems a dangerous night for mischief. I mean, what if someone thought ye were the murderer? But, yer not, an' I s'pose if'n we be lettin' ye go, ye'll be eadin' over to the local orphanage... to feed all the lads an' lasses, 'm I right?"
Derrick shifts his weight and holds his tongue for a moment. He raises an eyebrow at the man as Gavin speaks, and internally decides he rather likes the strange, short fellow.
The lads take a look at the weapons arrayed before them by hardened men and the air seems to come out of their chests.
"We was just tryin ta make sure no one was killin anyone is all, Sirs", replies the biggest one his voice slightly quivering.
The man hangs his head in shame, "Alright. I'll do it, I'll give the coin to the orphanage. I grew up there after all. Can I keep a few coins to feed meself? Times are tough here in Blackchapel..."
Then good work stout fellows - keep the streets safe but you'll let us by now, and with that the soldier moves past them and onwards[/b].
Marco nods at the kids, then follows after Dunstan.
Perception
Perception
"Uhm." Derrick pauses, caught slightly off guard by the man's sudden change of... heart? "Keep only what you need. The rest to help your fellow man."
Both groups hear a brief shrill scream that ends abruptly with the sound of a body falling heavily to the ground.
Athletics
Khalid bolts off toward the sound of the shriek.
The shrill cry echoes through the alley, spurring Gavin into action. He darts off swiftly into the night, seeking the source of the cry.
Perceiving the shriek with his keenly honed senses, Derrick springs off, easily vaulting over obstacles and climbing what cannot be jumped. Again, his years on the street--as well as training with the Apex, turning his body into a coil of fast, lean muscle--serve him well.
Coming from separate alleys in the maze that is Blackchapel you all reunite to see the body of a young woman lying in a heap on the ground. The dim light reveals anotehr figure, standing stiffly and looking down at her.
The figure then turns and with a heavy clanking footstep strides purposefully down the street.
As that figure walks into the light of a street lamp you can see that it is in fact a woman. The face gleams with an odd sheen. Her movements are jerky and unnatural. Strange creaking noises emanate from her body.
It seems you have all located the creation of the Metalworkers Guild but what it has done to the woman now lying motionless you cannot discern from your current vantage points.
Away - after the murderer!, he orders.
I think it likely the figure ahead found the body but let's be sure. It may be on the trail.
Marco draws both weapons.
Ok boys, let's dance wi' the monster.
Marco moves out into the street, attempting to get the attention of the thing.
C'mon back an' answer for yer crime!
No wait!, thats a construct - it may be after the real killer.
Perception
Wyatt nods at Dunstan's comment, "Agreed, this is not a fight worth undertaking. The woman's chest rises and falls, it seems she is not dead!"