You do not have to post your attacks in order. Just indicate which round and I will recap when everyone has posted.
Reagan's eyes flash as she narrows them, judging the necessary angles, then lobs her bomb into the soon-to-be melee, where it crashes into the ground, filling the room with flame, smoke, and sound; first the bang as it detonates, then the tinkling of shrapnel bouncing off walls and ceilings.
Standard: Throw a Bomb, safe-squaring up to 3 friendly-occupied squares from Splash
Move: Back away from enemy, as many squares as possible
Fitzroy stands protectively over Lucretia. Feeling ridiculous, and wishing that he'd brought some sort of firearm, he raises the only ranged weapon he has; the large silver shaving mirror. "Back, Jack." He calls, while pointing the mirror at Jack, and his walking stick at the creature.
Charles, whimpering, licks furtively at Lucretia's face.
Honestly no idea.
Charles is now at his feet (no hands) and can be considered 'in combat'.
Fitzroy's standard action is to use the mirror on Jack.
If the giant tries to CDG Lucretia, he'll provoke AoO from Fitzroy. Ideally Fitzroy would be in the way.
Realise this isn't that useful, but Overprotective should kick in here.
Jack takes off down the far tunnel into the darkness. Reagan's bomb goes off as loudly as it did before, restoring consciousness to the prone Lucretia, but more importantly rips the left clawed hand from the Zulu golem. Altair's razor card zips through the air at amazing speed and accuracy cutting into the neck of the creature and thus damaging a significant part of the creature. Both his attack and Reagan's enough to take out six men, but this creature, this thing of unseats angrily curses you, ready to deal more wrath upon the friends of Lord Walker.
Perhaps the lingering pain causes Edgar to swing wildly against the supernatural being just before he is soothed by Thomas's healing hand.
George's action as sincere as it could be proved futile against the fleeing Jack. The garlic strands and mirrors that were useful against the spawn seem of little consequence to the disturbing construct attacking you.
The sharpened bony fingers of the shambling corpse's right hand rake Edgar again in an attempt to get him out of the way so he can get at Lucretia.
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Brother Thomas watches as the monstrous corpse rakes deep furrows in Edgar's body. My healing can't keep up with that! He thinks to himself.
Thomas reaches out and grabs Edgar by the shoulder again. "May the Lord be a shield around you, and lift your head in this dark hour!" Power flashes as Edgar is surrounded by a nimbus of blue light for a second, and then fades.
Thomas casts Protection from Evil on Edgar. He should gain a +2AC bonus against evil, among other bonuses.
Lucretia tries to get to her feet next to George.
Edgar shoots Altair a glance, indicating the Zulu with a nod if his head before turning his attention back to the enormous warrior. He raises his fists in a defensive posture and begins bobbing back and forth, looking for an opening.
I think we need to invest in a shotgun once we get back home.
Reagan pulls out her uncle's pistol and takes aim, looking down the barrel before pulling the trigger. It goes off with a bang, narrowly missing those in closer melee with the creature and slamming into it.
Altair attempts to slip through the Zulu's guard and take up a position on the other side of it, bringing his knife up and attempting to catch the massive foe across the spine.
Standard Action: Stab it in the back, like a true rogue.
Fitzroy holsters the mirror, and helps Lucretia to her feet. "You're the target." he says quietly. "Don't get too close." He takes a step back, switching to latin "Perhaps we can lure it into some sort of trap?"
Not sure we need a map for this, so long as positions are made clear in recap. Unless I've missed the map?
looking for a place that gives tactical advantage. Examples include: an large solid box that could be stood on to gain the advantage of height, boxes on top of boxes that could be toppled onto the creature, a box of something like marbles or grease, or some sort of occupational health and safety hazard (like live wires, gas lines, scissor lifts and so forth.)
Thomas divine call produces protection for the battered Edgar, who feels a sort of tightening of skin before his next move.
Edgar is ready to strike when the Zulu shamble gives him opportunity.
Not wasting any time, in the matter-of-fact manner typical of Reagan Faolan, she employs her uncle's pistol to discharge a round into the creature. It flinches slightly, but remains upright eyes fixed upon Lucretia.
George looks around for anything useful and does spot some wrenches and a 55-gallon barrel of rail grease in the corner of the square room.
Altair wows the group once again with his acrobatic move to help Edgar flank the creature.
The creature, missing a hand, begins to realize that its goal may be achieved at a better time looks quick for the tunnel that Jack used to escape. It makes a quick bolt to follow him, provoking attacks by Edgar and Altair with its movement towards that tunnel.
Altair brings his knife back around and attempts to hook the curve of the blade around its ankle and knock the creature on its ass rather than try and kill it directly, disabling its ability to flee but leaving himself open to retaliation.
Stone grunts in satisfaction as Altair makes good on his earlier claim and assists against the Zulu with a tumbling display. A slippery one, 'e is. The bobby lashes out with a right hook the moment the warrior is distracted by Altair and follows it up with a left as it attempts to lurch away.
+1 from Grudge Fighter feat, +2 from flank.
+1 from Grudge Fighter feat.
+1 from Grudge Fighter feat, +2 from flank.
+1 from Grudge Fighter feat.
Altair's attempt to trip up the shambles misses the dexterous creature as he drops his kukri on the stone floor.
On the other side, Edgar swings early missing his target, but catches it good with a vicious left hook the nearly causes the creature to lose its footing before it takes off, one-handed down the dark tunnel ahead.
Altair retrieves and stores his knife before he rubs his wrist, which is sore from the unexpected disarm that the creature managed while it ran off. "Running into a dark tunnel after a mysterious creature of the night that we've backed into a figurative corner doesn't sound like a good idea. Stone's looking unsteady and Lucretia fainted. Not to mention it doesn't look like Jack wants our help, and Lord Walker might be in danger immediately." Having summed up the situation fairly accurately, he tugs his sleeve over the knife in its sheath, hiding it from casual view. "I think we should get our friendly neighborhood bobby some medical attention and make sure Lucretia and Lord Walker are both fine. No offense, miss, but fainting is rarely the sign of a healthy constitution, and you might've hit your head on the way down."
Slightly out of it, Lucretia nods her head in agreenest with Altair.
"Forgive me, the sight of that creature was horrendous. I should like to speak more with Dr. Van Helsing anyway."
She accepts George's help and slowly begins to head out of the tunnel towards the Thames and the service entrance.
"But is giving it more time a better idea?" asked Fitzroy, indecision in his voice as he escorts Lucretia. "Still, who knows what traps lie beyond - and Lord Walker does need to be warned immediately. Perhaps we are better off seeking reinforcement. As for Mr Stone and Ms Wyld, I'm more than happy to attend, but daylight would make that job far easier."
As they pass Fitzroy's decapitated "request" he stops. "I would quite like to autopsy one of these things. Perhaps we can identify more weaknesses."
Stone grunts at the comments regarding his well-being. "Needn't worry 'bout me. If Fitzy 'ere can stop the bleedin', I'll keep up right 'nuff - I'll not be the reason we call it off should Lor' Walker ask."
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"I doubt they'll stay here now that we've outed them. We need to know where they are going, and having someone tail them to find out where they flee would be great. I'm not sure about all of us going though. What if it's an ambush? For all we know there could be several of those huge...whatever they are waiting for us." Thomas says. "If they intend to attack Lord Walker's house we would have another problem as well."
If we are chasing the enemy...
If we are done
George, I have a healing kit if you don't, and you'll get a +3 Bonus to your skill if you use treat deadly wounds on Edgar because I passed the Aid Another Skill check. You have a slightly higher heal skill than me, so I figured it was wiser to aid you than attempt it myself. Benefits of being a doctor I suppose.
'It was a brutal surgery' reflects Fitzroy, as he finishes washing his hand in the now-red water of the basin.
"I commend you on your constitution, Mr Stone. Those wounds would have finished a lesser man. I've stitched the cuts and iced the bruises. There's little I can do about the blood loss. I'd order bed rest, if I thought I there was any chance you'd listen."
"I doubt we can tail them safely - though I have a method that might work. Some of the superstitions regarding such creatures talk of mind control and possession - too dangerous to send a lone scout."
"Regardless, you're correct, brother Thomas. Let us away to Lord Walker immediately. We can report, and I can start surgery on Mr Stone."
"Could I trouble you gentlemen" he looks meaningfully at Thomas and Nikos to help me in packing my subject here up in a crate and moving him outside."[/b]
[spoiler=Whisper to Nikos]
"Your friends from earlier. We need to make sure they don't follow us. I dare say we'll be seeing them again."
Altair agrees wholeheartedly with George's assumption; "As the likely candidate for being that lone scout, I can agree I'd rather not risk being mind controlled and/or possessed while out on the streets, alone." He responds to George in a level, normal tone of voice. "You act like none of us were there. I'm paranoid, but not about the people who fought those monsters with me. If ever there was a time to turn traitor that was likely it. The Ravens aren't following us, they're following me."
He'd turn to the group and sketch a bow, sweeping an imaginary hat from his head. "Gentlemen, Ladies, it's been brought to my attention that we probably still have a tail, and given that my delectable arse is the one they're attached to, I'll endeavor to shake them afore rejoining you at Lord Walker's in the space of, say, two hours." Perhaps that was layering it on a touch thickly, but still. Coping with humor had gotten him far in life.
"Assuming we still have the tail tonight. It's entirely possible, if unlikely, he was cocky enough to leave off without leaving a watcher. Since everyone's stable, if uncomfortable, give me three minutes' head start to check for watchers, if you would."
If they turn out to be watching Altair and the rest of the party we may need to find a different plan.
"Ye made a right job of it, Fitz; thanks." Edgar sits up and gives a few experimental twists and stretches. "If ye're of a mind to, ye could stay 'ere and see t' the dressings 'n such. Lor' Walker got me a stint o' leave while I work for 'im, so I plan to hang about while I recover, just in case trouble comes t' find 'im at home."
Lord Walker paces with worry as Edgar's surgery takes place. He is equally worried about the fate of his son.
This is all my fault. Is he suffering? I wonder if things would have been different if I would have been around more. Did he even resist? What if he has killed? What if he is responsible for The Ripper murders?
The worry gets to him as he begins to get dizzy from the swarm of thoughts, he takes to an easy chair and requests a scotch from his maid. Not long after , he calls for Mr. Zhou to deliver an invite to Dr. Van Helsing for dinner "on the morrow."
Embarrassed by her fainting spell, Lucretia is in the cellar of the residence in her knickers drinking Irish whiskey and smoking a marijuana cigarette and sweating furiously sawing off one of her uncle's double-barreled shotguns from the hunting case into a more easily-handled, close range weapon.
She is determined to not embarrass herself ever again, but also preparing herself for what she sees as the eventual outcome of discovering what has happened to her beloved cousin.
Try as he might and despite his superior stealth skills, Altair is unable to catch anyone tailing him. He has walked by his home and hid, spent countless hours outside No. 9 Upper Belgrade to no avail. He just doesn't get it. Either they were bluffing or they already had the information that they needed.
With Edgar recovering in an upstairs bedroom, Mr. Zhou returns as the rest prepare to dine with a pre-supper cocktail in the study. Lord Walker has went to the cellar to check on Lucretia, when sneaks some sort of small package to Brother Thomas. He quickly calls the others as to gain their attention to hand each one heavy envelopes. Inside each envelope is 500 Pound notes.
Mr. Zhou begins, "Before dinner, Lord Walker wanted me to express gratitude for your efforts in finding his son. Given what has happened to Edgar, he understands if any of you do not wish to continue. You are welcome to join us for supper regardless. However, he is meeting once again with Dr. Van Helsing here tomorrow to discuss a plan to capture his son alive. If you are interested in helping, there will be more reward, but he cannot guarantee your safety."
At that, the bell chimes and a maid comes in to direct you to the dining room.
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Thomas does his best to assist George in the surgery, providing clean water and sheets, helping to hold Edgar's wounds closed so George could sew them shut. Thomas sighs in relief when the surgery is done, glad to be working with a doctor who knows what he is doing. Edgar looks decidedly better; some of the color is returning to his cheeks.
Thomas heads to the kitchen, to pick up a bowl of hot beef consomme (a hearty fortified broth) and brings it back, handing the bowl to Edgar. "Here, drink this. It will help restore some of your lost blood."
As the Hansom cab clattered down the road towards the Seminary, Thomas sighed in relief. It feels like I've spent more time outside of Seminary than in lately. He thinks to himself. As the cab clatters to a stop, he hops out and pays the cabbie sitting up at the back of the coach, and then heads inside.
After grabbing a loaf of bread and a cup of wine from the kitchen, he heads to the library to study for his classes. He spends a few hours reading his assigned texts on Church History, Theology, and Ecclesiology, then he grabs some books on Exorcism and heads back to his room to study; in hopes of learning something that might help with the demonic creatures he is facing.
After Thomas attends his classes in the morning and afternoon, he heads to Lord Walker's manor, and goes inside. He slightly nods in thanks to Zhou as he pockets the pouch, and thanks him openly for the envelope with the money in it. If the pouch is what I think it is, I'll have to be sure to pay him for it later. he thinks to himself.
He quietly follows the maid into the room, ready to listen to Lord Walker's plan, and eager to share what he has discovered.
Lord Walker extends an invitation to his new employees.
"Edgar needs to rest here and recover. Should any of you need to recover, or not wish to return straight away to your homes, I have ample lodging and would be willing to host you here." He glances a moment at Altair and remarks. Mr. Nikos, you are welcome to stay here as well. I extend to you the benefit of doubt concerning your troubles with those street hooligans.
Fitzroy sits silently through pre-dinner drinks, only speaking expected greetings and asking for a second timber-doodle. Preoccupied with his own thoughts he stares out the window - or into the gas-lit reflection of his own eyes.
At dinner he finally speaks up. "You have here the sort of adventure I had always dreamed of as a boy. My time abroad showed me that the glory-tinged tales of warfare were frosting on a cake of mud. I see now that even my wildest fantasies render down into blood and violence when one dissects them."
He sighs "Yet, I cannot walk away. I might live to be ninety, only to lie on my deathbed lamenting the day I did so. I am your man, Lord Walker. I do not think your son can be restored, but I am willing to concede my understanding of the barriers between the possible and impossible have been shattered. Perhaps Van Helsing may have some better idea than I."
Worked up, the doctor stands "But I must be honest - my first priority is to prevent this great darkness. I have seen the horrors of war, and no true born son of England would see them visited upon England's green, let alone war with the forces of darkness themselves."
Apparently a trifle tipsy, he sits again "I fear I intend to use my physician's prerogative to ensure Mr Stone stays with me, for a time. The man is fit as a horse, but I have seen men as fit as him undone by a wound gone septic. Mr Stone, you may stay here, or return to my residence, as you prefer. I dare say Lord Walker's spare bed is a damn site more comfortable than mine." Glancing at Reagan, he winces "With apologies for my language to the fairer sex for my language."
Just to check, is this the same day as Edgar was wounded?
Yes, it is. It is just evening.
Altair is spending the majority of his focus riddling over the Ravens. If he didn't have a stake in this now... but that vampire and that other creature knew his face now, and just disguising himself wouldn't exactly help much if they had some sort of vampiric hoodoo that could find him by magic. The main problem being; he had no idea what magic could do, and skipping out on these people might be the easy choice, but he didn't care to count all the ways this could backfire.
Plus, almost despite himself, he finds himself enjoying the company of exceptional individuals. Things are more interesting here, and he doesn't feel the need to lie quite so keenly to make his life more interesting.
The main problem, as he sees it, is a lack of information, and time with which to get it, for both the Ravens and Jack.
With regards to the invitation to stay, Altair nods an affirmative. He'd already thrown his possessions into a bag when he'd passed by his apartment, unwilling to leave anything out for some Raven thug to bust down the door and swipe. "I'd appreciate that. I'd be loath to leave Mr. Stone alone, and I've some thinking to get done. The night is long and I'm wary of Jack, or that thing he had with him, coming for some sort of payback or other." He thinks over the combat capabilities of the Ravens, coming to a conclusion. "Most of Crowley's thugs haven't an ounce of finesse to them, so they worry me a lot less. Honestly, they're not smart enough to be a threat if they don't luck themselves into standing directly where we need to go like today."
5 January, 1891, 4:00 p.m.
The party settles into the study as Edgar is still convalescing in the house. Mr. Finch is also being looked after in another room and maintains semi-conciousness as he fights a fever. They have brought in a tub full of ice, but Dr. Westcott is baffled. He has not arrived yet as he is in his office pouring over medical texts and journals to try and understand what is wrong with him. Edgar seems to be improving nicely.
Lucretia is dressed up in her black lace bodice and dress. She is enjoying a whiskey, seated next to Dr. Van Helsing on the lounge. She listens to his every word as if taking notes for an exam.
Dr. Van Helsing is discussing limited details about a fairly recent trip that he took to Romania and some of the cryptozoological encounters that he escaped from there.
Lord Walker listens along, nervously for the hint of a solution to help Jack. He has taken in a young orphan boy named Timothy. You have seen him communicate messages before for Lucretia in the streets, The charity makes him feel good, however, in doing so Lucretia believes that he is trying to fill a hole left by Jack.
As the dispenses with the small talk and pleasantries, Lord Walker addresses George. "George, that specimen that you brought piqued great interest in my friend Dr. Westcott. He will be arriving later. His expertise as a reknown coroner and surgeon may help you find some clues to this mess," he adds.
"Dr. Van Helsing was just telling us about his trip to Romania",he suggests you all listen and ask any questions that you may have.
Edgar appears in the doorway, leaning against it slightly for support. ”Aye, doctor, tell us what we’re facin’,” he says and slowly makes his way to a large armchair, wincing as he lowers himself into it. He hears Dr. Van Helsing out, his brow furrowed in thought. ”So young Jack ‘n these blokes of ‘is are, what, under some sort o’ blood curse?” Sounds like somethin' me mum would be on about.
"I'd be delighted to have a colleague to assist." Dr Fitzroy adds, not-so-subtly implying he considers it his specimen.
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Thomas walks quietly into the study and sits down in a chair. He listens with interest to Dr. Helsing's account of his adventures in Romania, eager to discover if there is anything that can shed light on their current predicament.
"Where there any local clergy involved? How did they deal with these problems?" He asks, looking for any clues that might be unique to his own skills and gifts.
The doctor answers Thomas's question before finishing his account of his experiences in Transylvania. " I did work in close proximity with a young priest in here in London at the time in preparation to my assistance to Mr. Seward, who lost his wife and his eventually his mind."
Van Helsing takes a quick sip from his red wine before continuing. " I gathered much knowledge from the affair in general and experienced much loss as well. My entire family left me for mad in my pursuit, nay I say obsession to rid the world of such a vile evil. One thing that I did learn was that although it seemed exorcisms of any kind proved futile, but holy items gave us an advantage. There was a count behind this plague that we sought to cure, and he used women as henchman. Some of the involved parties thought this to be cowardly, but in fact it proved as to the cleverness of the beast. You see, I myself was nearly charmed into submission by their false beauty and almost succumbed to being a servant of evil. The creatures can appear very alluring and charming, but when unmasked, their stench is horrendous.
My colleague first requested my presence in Romania when settling some business affairs with his new bride. She fell ill to some curious disease that he could not figure out, so I came for assistance straight away. Several lives later, we discovered that Lucy was enchanted by the count and in fact fallen into undeath, a sort of immortal existence, a cursed life. It was a grand distraction to keep us busy with her as the count came to London to buy up vast amounts of real estate and establish a colony of these undead creatures here. Beautiful as she was, Mr. Seward's young wife had to be subdued and I myself was tasked with the gruesome deed of performing the ritual of ending her undeath which included disconnecting her head. In the end, our group fought hard and when we had given to belief that the last creature that we had vanquished was the count himself, we were duped by dismantling a male underling, powerful as he was, but still a servant of the count, a slave to evil.
In my notes, I made special consideration that all holy items gave us an advantage over these vampiric creatures, they could not alone destroy them. We had to work in tandem, I with my holy items and Mr. Harker with his kukri to dismantle the beings. Holy water, garlic, and the symbol of the cross, all repelled the creatures but for only a short period. Interestingly enough, a circle of consecrated bread was enough to offer us protection from the creatures, but did little else.
In the end, all were lost but Mr. Harker's son and me. He is studying medicine at the university now. I am left to use what little life I have left to defeat this scourge and rid the earth of its foul existence."
”That’s all very interesting, Doctor…” Reagan begins, fidgeting in her party dress and struggling to find a comfortable position on her chair. ”...but had ya ever thought o’ gettin’ holy water...inside ‘em somehow? It’d take a bit o’ doin’, but I could get a bit inside firearm shells and deliver it that way. If that doesn’t offend our priest, o’ course. Think ya can get me some o’ that water?”
She pauses again. ”Either way, I think goin’ after that thing again is just goin’ ta get someone hurt for nothin’, unless we can figger a plan. So, let’s aim on some studyin’ and come back at the service tunnel later on, when we’re more ready.”
"We never tried delivering it the inside of a creature. I imagine that it might paralyze them for a time. It is certainly worth a try. " Van Helsing seems intrigued by the idea.
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”That’s all very interesting, Doctor…” Reagan begins, fidgeting in her party dress and struggling to find a comfortable position on her chair. ”...but had ya ever thought o’ gettin’ holy water...inside ‘em somehow? It’d take a bit o’ doin’, but I could get a bit inside firearm shells and deliver it that way. If that doesn’t offend our priest, o’ course. Think ya can get me some o’ that water?”
She pauses again. ”Either way, I think goin’ after that thing again is just goin’ ta get someone hurt for nothin’, unless we can figger a plan. So, let’s aim on some studyin’ and come back at the service tunnel later on, when we’re more ready.”
Brother Thomas pulls a vial out of his pocket and hands it to Reagan. "You're more than welcome to give it a try. I can make more, or pick it up at a nearby church if we need to."
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The doctor answers Thomas's question before finishing his account of his experiences in Transylvania. " I did work in close proximity with a young priest in here in London at the time in preparation to my assistance to Mr. Seward, who lost his wife and his eventually his mind."
Van Helsing takes a quick sip from his red wine before continuing. " I gathered much knowledge from the affair in general and experienced much loss as well. My entire family left me for mad in my pursuit, nay I say obsession to rid the world of such a vile evil. One thing that I did learn was that although it seemed exorcisms of any kind proved futile, but holy items gave us an advantage. There was a count behind this plague that we sought to cure, and he used women as henchman. Some of the involved parties thought this to be cowardly, but in fact it proved as to the cleverness of the beast. You see, I myself was nearly charmed into submission by their false beauty and almost succumbed to being a servant of evil. The creatures can appear very alluring and charming, but when unmasked, their stench is horrendous.
My colleague first requested my presence in Romania when settling some business affairs with his new bride. She fell ill to some curious disease that he could not figure out, so I came for assistance straight away. Several lives later, we discovered that Lucy was enchanted by the count and in fact fallen into undeath, a sort of immortal existence, a cursed life. It was a grand distraction to keep us busy with her as the count came to London to buy up vast amounts of real estate and establish a colony of these undead creatures here. Beautiful as she was, Mr. Seward's young wife had to be subdued and I myself was tasked with the gruesome deed of performing the ritual of ending her undeath which included disconnecting her head. In the end, our group fought hard and when we had given to belief that the last creature that we had vanquished was the count himself, we were duped by dismantling a male underling,...
Thomas frowns as Dr. Helsing continues speaking. He sighs audibly when he mentions the failure of exorcism. "I was afraid of that. I'm sorry Lord Walker, but that probably means there's not enough of your son left to fight off the evil that has consumed him.
At any rate, I've been studying up on exorcism, and I can tell you my faith isn't quite strong enough to attempt one yet. There are still some things I need to deal with in my own spiritual journey before I can attempt to take the battle to a more spiritual level, so to speak. When the time comes I will try, though, if we are able to."
Van Helsing added, " There is one more thing that I discovered quite by accident unfortunately. A rare strain of belladonna was able to treat those recently afflicted with vampirism by causing the recipient to enter a somewhat hallucinatory and catatonic state for twenty-four hours that somehow alters the bodies chemistry. Most cannot survive this treatment however, and I know of nowhere in London where we could acquire such a specimen."
"Uncle, didn't you know a Lady Lillith that built a herbarium in East Sussex? You used to take us there when we were children. Such fantastic specimens! Do you think that she may know of the specimen we seek?"
Lord Walker replies, "Yes, I had almost forgot. Lady Lilith Stonecraft. The most knowledgeable botanist that I have ever met. She does indeed have an estate in East Sussex. Perhaps I shall call upon her tomorrow afternoon."
At that Dr. Westcott arrives.
" I apologize for being late, I stopped by the office to check some literature before checking on Mr. Finch. He is not doing so well. This disease that Dr. Van Helsing speaks of, are there any physical deformities associated with it?"
Dr. Van Helsing replies, " Yes, but typically subtle. What have you witnessed?"
Dr. Westcott turns to Van Helsing, "As you saw for yourself, Finch was a man small in stature with large feet for his size. Now it appears as if his hands have increased in size, particularly his elongated fingers."
Van Helsing adds that that is a physical change linked to vampirism as he has experienced it. He asks if Westcott has checked his teeth. Westcott admits that he hasn't, but he will upon his return.
Then, Dr. Westcott turns to George, pausing for a moment before speaking. His brow expressive of a strange curiousness. I have met this man before, I just know it.
"George, I am afraid that I cannot assist you on the autopsy of your specimen as the current consumption epidemic has been keeping me much busier than I care to be. However, there is a young colleague of mine that I would love to introduce you to. He is brillian, but a bit odd and obsessed with this notion that he has discovered how to bring back the dead through galvanism. His name is Dr. Viktor Frankenstein. Here is a card with an address. He certainly would have more answers than I do."