Hereditary Problems

<>Demiurge says "Four-fifths of you were heading for the British Library. The other fifth was ambling thataway, via the tube."

<> Demiurge says "Kate-Lynn was at the wheel of the limo, having taken over from the chauffeur."

Justin is wedged in a corner riding out Kate-Lynn's driving stoically.

The car draws up to this large and impressive edifice that claims to be the British Library. According to the map.

Carlotta mutters something in Spanish about the wrong side of the road.

Kate-Lynn decelerates at a reasonable pace, out of consideration for people who live in the slow lane.

<> Demiurge says "(Like your GM.)"

The next ten minutes is spent in a search for a parking spot.

<> Demiurge says "Meanwhile, Gabriel is just emerging from the nearest Tube station -- Holborn -- and coming towards the British Library. He recognises a certain maneuvering limo."

<> Gabriel says "How?"

<> Gabriel says "I mean, limos all pretty much look alike. Does it have some marking?"

<> Kate-Lynn says, "My window might be rolled down."

<> Kate-Lynn says "Wind in my hair :)"

<> Demiurge says "Yup. Window down, familiar hair fluttering out of it."

<> Raquel . o O (Kate-Lynn is an Ofanite?)

<> Kate-Lynn has Ofanite blood. She keeps it in a jar under her ... wait, wrong quote.

<> Raquel cracks up.

<> Justin hee.

Gabriel decides to hide among the masses who are hanging around the front of the Library (along with the pigeons) and lets them go on in.

Justin gets out of the limo and holds the door for the women.

<> Raquel . o O (Wasn't Gabe a distinctive red-head?)

The pigeons descend en masse on a poor soul who offered them grain. Not, fortunately, Gabriel.

<> Demiurge says "I suspect Gabriel knows what that feels like. ;)"

Raquel climbs out of the limo.

Kate-Lynn clambers out, stretches, adjusts her sunglasses.

<> Gabriel says "Yeah, Gabe is red-haired."

<> Demiurge says "Per roll for heroes getting out of limo."

<> Kate-Lynn rolls the d666 and gets 4 6 CHECK: 4.

Raquel murmurs, "Now what? Do we look up the Templars and Plantagenets and see if anyone recognizes a sketch of the ring's design?"

<> Raquel rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 6.

<> Demiurge says "Raquel -- that's Gabriel over there behind the pigeons!"

Kate-Lynn says, "We seemed to do pretty well before by just wandering around acting oddly."

Long distance to Torquaret: Demiurge will shoo them onto you as soon as she can.

Raquel says, "Well, yes. But we may have gotten lucky. Oh, look, there's the reporter fellow!"

Kate-Lynn says, "However, those sections are a good place to start!"

Carlotta says, climbing out, "Oh no, is he back again?"

<> Gabriel suffers from the blow of deus ex machina. Ow.

<> Justin rolls the d666 and gets 1 2 CHECK: 4.

<> Raquel looks at her Per roll. "No, I think you suffered from a Per roll."

<> Demiurge says "Justin, you too have spotted a familiar ponytail."

<> Demiurge says "It's that reporter fellow!"

<> Demiurge says "Brief reminder: Gabriel left saying he was going to check up and do some investigation."

Kate-Lynn says, "I suppose we should bring him in, then." She looks around, not spotting Gabriel.

Justin squints into the sun, then bellows after the ponytail, "Heyo, Gabriel! Done wit' your readin'??!"

Justin strides on over towards the ponytail.

Gabriel just lights a cigarette.

<> Raquel bets Gabe was vague and didn't mean anything by it except getting away from the loons.

There is a big NO SMOKING sign just inside the Library doors.

<> Demiurge says "Indeed, that is accurate. ;)"

<> Justin <- Loony Scots Boy.

Raquel follows after Justin.

Gabriel also lifts his eyebrows at Justin's approach.

Gabriel . o O ( Christ. )

Justin says "Whatcha find, boyo?"

Gabriel says "Nothing of importance."

Justin sniffs the smoke, is it any good tobacco?

It's Marlboro. So that's a no.

The sky above clouds over. Ah, the traditional British weather. Ah, the traditional British freshening breeze. Ah, the traditional British rain-any-minute-now.

Kate-Lynn says, politely, "We should retire indoors."

Raquel eyes the clouds above, and stands upwind of the cigarette smoke.

You paged Raquel with 'Rain. Coming rain. A coming storm...'.

Justin says "Sure."

Carlotta just sort of looks at Gabriel, distrustful, and nods.

Justin goes for the museum door.

Carlotta grabs the stuff she's been carrying, and carries it more.

Kate-Lynn retires indoors.

Gabriel just wanders into the museum, after a deep drag and dropping the smoke on the concrete step.

Raquel mutters something about, "Going to storm..." She heads off after Justin. (Who is big and scary and protects her from nasty dead people.)

Inside, there's a small entrance hall, with a couple of security guards, an admissions book which requires signature, and several postcards for sale.

Justin holds the door for the women and drops in with Raquel, looking comfortable.

Beyond that, there's a large entrance hall, a number of helpful-looking librarians, entrances to a lot of stacks and rooms, and the entrance to the BIG reading room. The security guards require signatures, but don't give anybody particularly odd looks. One says, "Please ask the librarians if you require any particular subject," in a bored way.

Raquel pages: Oh! I have some questions -- the geneologies, were they line of descent, or were they from-child-to-ancestors? Which way did the "tree" branch?

Justin rubs a hand against his really short, purple hair, looking around, scrawls a completely illegable signature when it's his turn.

<> Raquel says "Would there be any scrap papers by any reference machines? Or are those American?"

Kate-Lynn says, "It would be cinematic if you had been checking with your disreputable news sources and pounding the streets in search of information."

You paged Raquel with 'The geneaologies in the briefcase were about three generations worth down the page, and a straight basic line of descent with all children at each level.'.

<> Demiurge says "Er, what are reference machines?"

Raquel writes her name neatly and legibly, alas.

Gabriel says "For what, an hour?"

<> Justin says "Hee."

<> Raquel says "Computers, usually."

<> Justin says "Instead of card catalogs."

Kate-Lynn scribbles a short, calligraphic signature after Raquel's; Kate-Lynn C, with various curliques.

<> Demiurge says "There seem to be both computers _and_ card catalogues."

Kate-Lynn says, "That would make it even more cinematic."

Raquel pages: So it was tracing a line of descent, not mapping up for ancestry? Hmmmm.

Carlotta writes her name in a practiced scrawl, only half-tamed by the nuns at her grammar school.

<> Raquel says "Any scraps of paper near the computers, for writing down the results?"

Gabriel says "It sure as hell would. That's nearly enough time to find the Underground, get a bite to eat, and to find Deep Throat."

<> Demiurge says "Some but not much. Apparently visitors are expected to bring their own notebooks."

Kate-Lynn smiles. "Well, perhaps next week at the same time."

Gabriel says "Yeah, maybe."

Raquel pauses to find a scrap of paper which could be used to make a rubbing of the insignia. And then another one, which could be used to trace said rubbing. Who, her, paranoid?

Kate-Lynn paces over to the computers.

Carlotta has a suitcase full of writing material, and passes out extra papers as necessary.

The computers look fairly standard.

Justin whispers to Raquel, "Uhm. What are we looking for here again?"

Kate-Lynn thoughtfully types into the 'keyword' field, or some other place for information input, "I would like to get in contact with the occult conspiracy headquartered at this location." And hits .

Raquel whispers back to Justin, "Information, I think. About the ring, maybe about the other papers he had in his briefcase."

<> Demiurge cracks up.

Gabriel follows Kate-Lynn. "Need help?"

<> Raquel too!

The computer helpfully states NO MATCHES FOR PARAMETERS FOUND.

Justin hms. "oh."

Raquel whispers to Justin, "We should make a copy of the ring's design, and ask a librarian if they know of any historical references to it, probably."

Justin says "Ask? Hm. Okay."

Kate-Lynn considers this.

Raquel whispers to Justin, "But I don't think we should show them the real ring."

Kate-Lynn types in "Plantagenet ring zombie "

The computer throws up a lot of matches for Plantagenet, some for Plantagenet and ring, none for Plantagenet and zombie, none for ring and zombie, some for zombie.

Justin whispers, "That sounds very smart, indeed." and watches Raquel with interest.

Kate-Lynn considers.

Kate-Lynn types "Plantagenet ring heir".

You paged Justin with 'Is it fair to say that Justin's never been anywhere near any big libraries or data stores, especially if he can help it?'.

Justin pages: Exactly.

Long distance to Justin: Demiurge grins.

Justin pages: Computers are like boring TV's.

<> Raquel wonders if our dead solicitor included a bibliography in his notes.

Carlotta wanders around the building, looking for things.

<> Demiurge says "Carlotta, the British Library is a BIG PLACE."

Kate-Lynn says, "The British Library has no references to zombie crime rings. I am most disappointed."

A helpful librarian asks Carlotta, "Can I help you, miss?"

<> Carlotta gets lost and hopes for a DI? *^_^*

<> Raquel cracks up at _Carlotta_ now.

The computer throws up loads of matches for Plantagenet and heir, though no crossmatches for ring.

Justin randomly meanders abou the card catalog, randomly opening a drawer and peering at the cards. He doesn't go too far from Raquel.

<> Demiurge says "Okay, Carlotta. For that one, give me a roll."

<> Carlotta rolls the d666 and gets 5 1 CHECK: 2.

Raquel comes up to Kate-Lynn. "What about sigil?"

<> Carlotta says "Mmm, no."

Gabriel looks vaguely bored. If it was just him, he could do this background research. But...

The librarian smiles helpfully at Carlotta. "Looking for a particular subject?"

Kate-Lynn says, "You would think that someone would have undertaken to write a brief treatise."

The cards riffle under Justin's fingers. In a way... it feels comforting. Relaxing.

Gabriel makes vague plans to come back later.

Carlotta nods, and names the professor, and some studies about rings and the Plantagawhatsis heir.

Kate-Lynn tries "Plantagenet sigil ring heir" cooperatively.

The librarian helpfully points Carlotta in the direction of English History books, Plantagenet section, stacks, along that way, up two floors, turn first right, keep on going.

Nothing particularly shows up on the search, except for one reference that makes it clear the Plantagenet symbol was the broom plant.

Raquel asks Kate-Lynn, "Can I borrow the ring quietly for a moment, and make a rubbing of the insignia? Then we could trace the rubbing, and show it to a librarian and ask what it was from."

Justin just meanders about, and keeps looking randomly, enjoying the physical feel of the cards rather than the boring TV screens of the stations.

Kate-Lynn ponders broom plants.

Kate-Lynn nods to Raquel, fishes the ring from her pocket, passes it surreptitiously along.

<> Raquel wonders if she knows what Broom Plants look like.

Raquel takes the ring in her palm and looks around for some quiet, out of the way place to do the art.

<> Demiurge says "Indeed, Raquel. They're this dark green shrub with bright yellow flowers, whose name in Latin is "planta genista"."

There's a phone nook over to one side convenient for scribbling in.

<> Raquel says "Do the flowers look like the flower on the ring?"

A Helpful Librarian, a young guy, asks Justin if he can be of any assistance.

<> Demiurge says "No, Raquel. They don't."

Raquel heads for the nook, fishing a pencil out of her purse.

Kate-Lynn types in ""British Library" "Tower of London" "Notre Dame" "Kew Gardens" "The War Rooms"", knowing that she's going to get a tour guide or nothing.

<> Raquel says "Frotz."

<> Demiurge says "The flower on the ring is something five-petalled."

<> Raquel says "Does it look like any flower Raquel knows?"

<> Demiurge says "Give me an Int roll."

<> Carlotta says "Hey, it's the sigil ring from Utena!"

<> Raquel rolls the d666 and gets 5 4 CHECK: 4.

Gabriel wanders through the Library, vaguely bored.

Indeed, Kate-Lynn gets many travel guides, historical information, and so on.

<> Gabriel says "Is the briefcase here?"

Kate-Lynn taps her fingers against the monitor's top, thinking.

Some scientific part of Raquel's brain ticks over, and informs her that if the flower looks like anything, it looks like a pimpernel.

<> Raquel falls on the floor and laughs.

<> Demiurge says "The briefcase is in Carlotta's hand, and she's just exiting the room in _that_ direction, Gabriel."

<> Gabriel says "Oh, well, that ends that idea."

Raquel makes her rubbing, then slips the ring onto the thumb of her left hand, and makes a quick sketch of the rubbing.

Carlotta pauses, and comes back to the rest of the group.

Carlotta says, "The librarian, he says that the Plantagenet books are that way. Why not just go and look at the books?"

Justin ponders the young man, "Well, I actually don't know. We're lookin' for info about families, a ring picture we have, and uh... hm... that's what I can think of right now."

Kate-Lynn says, thoughtfully, "I'm certainly not making any useful progress here."

Raquel then returns the ring to Kate-Lynn, and heads over to Justin, who has found a Helpful Librarian. She has the sketch of the rubbing in one hand.

Justin's eyes brighten on seeing Raquel returning.

Justin says to the young man, "She has the picture, I think."

The Helpful Librarian looks curious. "Any particular families?"

Kate-Lynn retypes in "Plantagenet ring" and memorizes or scribbles or something a few Dewey numbers for that; then looks up. "So sure, let's go."

Gabriel wonders, naggingly, what he's doing here.

Kate-Lynn smiles to Raquel. "Thanks," she notes, as the ring slips back into her pocket.

Raquel shows the sketch to the Helpful Librarian. "Any associated with the ring, please?"

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 3 5 CHECK: 4.

Gabriel therefore wanders out of the library to sit on the steps and have a smoke.

The Helpful Librarian frowns at the picture, and shakes his head. "It doesn't ring any bells offhand. Do you think it's a family coat of arms or seal?"

Raquel nods. "I had that impression, yes."

Outside, it's drizzling lightly, but there's plenty of room for Gabriel to sit under the canopy.

The Helpful Librarian says, "There's a room which specialises in that. Third floor, up those stairs, second on the left."

Kate-Lynn drifts to the helpful librarian.

Justin grins, "Thanks, man."

Raquel says "Thank you."

The Helpful Librarian nods to Justin and Raquel, then smiles at Kate-Lynn and the following Carlotta.

Kate-Lynn says, "Forgive the somewhat unorthodox question; I was wondering who the strangest librarian working here might be?"

Raquel pauses for Kate-Lynn, to see what's asked there.

The Helpful Librarian just blinks. "We're all a bit strange, miss."

Kate-Lynn says, faintly disappointed, "No one stands out?"

Kate-Lynn says, "Oh, well!" and brightens. "I've overheard your helpful advice to my friends, so I can thank you anyway in good conscience."

The Helpful Librarian blinks, nods, and goes to serve someone less astonishing.

Justin grins mildly and starts to move toward the room indicated.

Raquel suggests to Kate-Lynn, Carlotta, and Justin, "Should we go up there? All of us?"

Justin says "Sure."

<> Demiurge says "You appear to have lost Gabriel, people inside."

Justin turns back to say that.

<> Raquel rolls the d666 and gets 6 1 CHECK: 4.

Kate-Lynn shrugs to indicate that she has no dissenting opinion.

<> Raquel is probably oblivious to having lost Gabe.

<> Kate-Lynn is vaguely aware that Gabriel is not with us; this is sharpening a vague suspicion of Gabriel.

The four inside the British Library head up the stairs towards the indicated room.

Outside, a guy approaches the library steps. He's tall. He's bronzed. He's wearing a stylish trenchcoat and an out-of-date tie.

Gabriel looks up at the guy.

The guy looks down at Gabe.

Kate-Lynn ponders traps for occult librarians. She could switch the places of two books and then hide and watch.

Gabriel thinks steadily about ditching people to go find a darkroom.

Raquel trudges up stairs, muttering, "Pimpernel flower?"

Upstairs, the four approach the indicated room. Inside, there's an empty desk, and an enthusiastic young woman busy dusting some books.

Kate-Lynn blinks at that.

The guy says, "Gabriel Knight, I assume."

Justin just shakes his head and follows the women, looking around.

Kate-Lynn says, "Joy. We are here to rescue French aristos?"

Gabriel says "Maybe."

Outside, the guy nods.

Kate-Lynn says, "Good morning!" to the woman, regardless of the time of day.

Raquel blinks back. "Um. I don't know. But that's what it looks most like. A pimpernel."

Outside, the guy hitches up his trouser legs, and sits down next to Gabriel.

Gabriel smokes.

In the room, the woman smiles back. "Good afternoon! How can I help you?"

Raquel shows the little scrap of paper to the woman. "The librarian downstairs said that you might be able to tell what this insignia went to, historically?"

Outside, the guy says, "Uncommitted. I like that. Are you for hire?"

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 5 3 CHECK: 1.

Kate-Lynn says, "We're trying to solve one of those funky puzzle-book-type games. Sort of."

In the room, the woman blinks at the design, then smiles. "Oh, the Blakeney crest!"

Gabriel says "Maybe."

Kate-Lynn brightens. "Oh?"

Raquel asks, "Blakeney crest?"

Justin just watches, intent and quiet.

Outside, the guy says, "Good. I'm hiring you."

Gabriel says "No you're not."

In the room, the woman nods enthusiastically. "Of course, I believe the line's been extinct for a while."

Raquel asks, "Line? Extinct?"

Outside, the guy says, "Why not? What do you want?"

Kate-Lynn says, "What were they? I mean, besides people named Blakeney?"

Gabriel stands up and brushes himself off. "Strange people don't just walk up to me on the street and hire me to shoot."

In the room, the woman says, "The family tree." She whisks along a shelf with her duster. "I believe it was cut off somewhere in the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. Why do you ask?"

Kate-Lynn says, "And do you have a genealogy available? ... I'm sorry. I don't mean to ask a dozen questions for each you answer."

The man looks up at him and smiles. "I've heard about you. You've got a reputation."

Gabriel says "I'm sure."

Outside, the man says, "No, you aren't."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 6 4 CHECK: 5.

<> Gabriel says "Hey, if someone walked up to YOU, would you just go, "Okay"?"

Kate-Lynn says, "Ah! We win a valuable prize if we figure out what in the world they have to do with the Plantagenets, Templars, zombies, and Notre Dame."

Outside, the man frowns slightly. "You want media connections? I can put you in touch."

Gabriel says "What kind of media connections?"

The woman just blinks at Kate-Lynn. "Notre-Dame?"

Outside, the man says, "Let's just say Media." He seems to capitalise the word.

Raquel says, "It's a puzzle."

Inside, the woman looks between the four, and frowns. "You wouldn't be ... new down here, by any chance?"

Gabriel says "Uh-huh."

Raquel taps her fingertips together, remembering the comments of the other fellow, and looks at Kate-Lynn to see if she's had the same thought.

Kate-Lynn says, "The last place we stopped asked something like that." She smiles ingeniously. "Is it a clue?"

Gabriel turns to walk back into the Library. Maybe he can get somewhere. Unlikely, though.

Outside, the man smiles. Charmingly, even. "And information."

Gabriel stops.

Gabriel says "What kind of information?"

Outside, the man says, "I know what you're looking for. Ultimately."

Gabriel says "Glad one of us does."

Inside, the woman frowns again. "No. No clue."

Raquel scribbles "Blakeney crest" on the piece of paper under the sketch.

Kate-Lynn mulls.

Outside, the man says, "How would you react if I could put you in touch with people who'd give you your own program. Prime time. Money. Cameras. Across the world."

Kate-Lynn says, "Does anyone mind if I say something indiscreet?"

Carlotta mutters something which might be, "Go ahead."

Raquel shrugs. "I don't mind."

Gabriel says "I'd say you're selling something, baby."

Gabriel then walks into the library.

Inside, the library is quiet, peaceful, very English.

<> Gabriel says "Media fuckers are after me!"

<> Raquel says "Hey, you already live their Word, right?"

<> Demiurge says "But they can give you what you want..."

Kate-Lynn says, "We have these bizarre genealogical charts, you see, that seem to trace the line to the current day." She thinks. "At least, if [a few names from the very top of *her* chart, the one she remembers] are Blakeneys; I don't know if they are."

Gabriel settles down at a terminal and, just for shits and giggles, starts to poke around at his own genealogy.

<> Demiurge says "No, none of yours are Blakeneys, Kate-Lynn, though it only goes back a few generations."

The woman says, "May I see these charts?"

<> Demiurge says "Gabriel, give me a roll."

<> Kate-Lynn says, "I wasn't expecting them to have the last name Blakeney :)"

<> Gabriel rolls the d666 and gets 5 6 CHECK: 4.

Justin just watches thoughtfully.

<> Gabriel says "That's a big no."

<> Gabriel says "Can I have Daimon do my research for me?"

<> Demiurge says "No more than Justin can have Sephar do his."

Kate-Lynn says, "I have ultimate custody of one of them, I suppose. If Carlotta does not mind?"

<> Raquel says "Do you _want_ Daimon to do your research for you? Really?"

Carlotta shakes her head, offers the briefcase.

<> Kate-Lynn | "Your family is really boring until we get up three generations to the Peruvian drug kings."

<> Gabriel says "I just want his 11 int."

Justin pulls his sheet out from the inside of his jacket pocket andhands it to the lady.

Kate-Lynn opens the briefcase, extracts her sheet, offers it as well.

Upon doing some use of the terminal, Gabriel finds that apparently he has relatives all over the place, with branches in England, Scotland, and all over America.

Raquel looks around the room for Anything Odd.

The woman examines the sheets thoughtfully.

The room itself is incredibly tidy. Almost too much so. It looks as if someone puts it in order every ten minutes, then dusts it some more.

Kate-Lynn says, "They have many lines and names on them, which I feel is their finest feature."

Gabriel determines this is worse than useless, and wanders after the voices.

The woman goes, "Hm." She takes the papers across to the computer terminal on her desk, and starts tapping.

Raquel examines the woman. Is she the dusting, tidy type, then?

A helpful librarian points Gabriel up the stairs and after the others.

<> Justin says "Well, she was dusting when we came in."

Kate-Lynn extracts Gabriel's sheet too, unless he took it, and offers it as well.

The woman herself is wearing a royal blue jogging suit and Nike trainers, and doesn't look quite like the normal librarian. But hey.

Raquel edges around the desk a little, trying to unobtrusively look over the woman's shoulder. (Does she have a nameplate on her desk?)

Kate-Lynn then hands the case back to Carlotta, closed.

<> Raquel says "Look, Kate-Lynn, here's the Weird One."

Gabriel wanders over to the voices.

<> Kate-Lynn says "I've already pegged her as a conspirator. Clearly, royal blue is the official Templar color."

There isn't a nameplate on her desk. The computer screen is rapidly filling up with family trees.

Raquel peers at the trees intently.

Justin gets bored, fidgets then starts looking at all the neatly organized books.

The woman says, without looking up, "I think the Blakeney data is in _Noble Families of England_, the 1810 edition, up on the second shelf there."

Raquel goes looking for that!

Justin blinks at the woman, looks at the second shelf, then his head cranes sideways as he somewhat painfully peers at the titles for what she said.

<> Demiurge says "Justin, you're feeling a curious... ability to spot the book. Yes. There it is. Just where it _should_ be."

<> Demiurge says "Just where every rule of logic would put it."

Gabriel's eyes sort of mist over with the screen filled with family trees.

Kate-Lynn says, "Ah, Gabriel!"

The woman looks up as Gabriel enters, and says, "I'm sorry, sir, I'm seeing to these people, you may have to come back later..." She pauses. "He's with you?"

Justin blinks in surprise, and then pulls it out, pleased at the find and rambles back to the woman with the book.

Raquel comes up to Justin and jounces eagerly at the book he holds.

Kate-Lynn says, "I'm not entirely sure. He seems to drift in and out like some sort of phone company worker on duty."

Justin grins at Raquel and hands the book to her.

Justin says "Uhm. He kinda started with us, so knows some of it and he has his own tree thingy."

Raquel smiles back and opens the book so they can both look at it.

Gabriel says "I'm with them."

The woman says, clicking up and down through family trees, "Hm. According to this Lord and Lady Blakeney died with no surviving heirs. Could be a cadet line, however -- that is, illegitimate, or cousin, or related."

Justin looked mildly fuddled at the smile but looks into the book obediently.

The book seems to be all about noble families of England. In small type. And not very well indexed.

Raquel looks for the Blakeneys, and anything about... "How did they die?" she asks, absently.

Kate-Lynn says, "Leaving some sort of quest unfinished, I take it?" Her voice is neutral. "Possibly with a dramatic speech at the end."

The woman says, "Bless you, I don't know everything."

Raquel continues looking through the book, attempting to glean information.

<> Raquel rolls the d666 and gets 2 2 CHECK: 4.

Kate-Lynn says, "Is there a standard disposition of their signet in such cases?"

The woman says, "It would have been handed down according to Lord Blakeney's will."

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 1 4 CHECK: 6.

After some searching, Raquel finds the relevant section.

Raquel . o O (Don't suppose the will is on record anywhere...)

Kate-Lynn looks thoughtful.

Kate-Lynn says, "Miss ...?" and trails off, unable to continue her statement properly without a name.

Gabriel says "Let me guess. The self-same will we were read."

Justin blinks at Gabriel.

<> Justin forgets, was the Will actually read?

<> Raquel says "Nope."

Gabriel says "It's like some annoyingly elaborate joke."

<> Gabriel says "No."

The section reads, "Lord and Lady Blakeney's death was attributed to Anarchist or Revolutionary workers, although the assassins were never caught. The assault on their coach with dynamite killed not only them, but also their good friend Sir Andrew Ffoulkes, and Lady Blakeney's brother Armand, visiting from France at the time. Naturally, the matter was prosecuted with the utmost vigour in the courts. No direct heir survived to claim the title, and their estates passed to the crown (see later section.) Truly, this was an appalling affair, and may indeed be traced back to Lord Blakeney's visit to France, during which it was feared that he may have given offence to certain parties (or should one perhaps say Parties?) It is to be trusted that the wild rumours which have surrounded his life will not pursue him after death."

Kate-Lynn says, "I find it unlikely that Lord Blakeney survived all these centuries and then became an attorney."

The woman says, towards Kate-Lynn, "Call me Elizabeta."

<> Justin sniffles. Andrew died TOO!

Raquel goes flipping to the Later Section.

<> Justin says "And Armand!"

<> Raquel pauses to ask if Sherlock Holmes is historical, or fictional, or does Raquel know?

The later section lists properties in Scotland, Brighton, and Devon.

<> Demiurge says "Fictional, fictional, and Raquel should know that."

Gabriel says "You've got every other conspiracy. Why not escaping and faking one's own death?"

<> Raquel goes hm.

Justin frowns mildly, "Was there a Will at all in the briefcase?"

Raquel sets the book down and makes notes about where the properties are, on the ever-handy scrap of paper.

Carlotta says, "No, there was no will, and I think the whole Will business was lies."

Gabriel says "Maybe."

Gabriel is starting to think it's all lies.

<> Raquel says "Except the Dead Guys."

The woman keeps on clicking away at the computer. "Well, at least Sir Andrew Ffoulkes had some surviving descendants, even if they were illegitimate."

Gabriel says "This is all a big game."

Justin says "Are any of those connected to any of us?"

The woman says, "I'm trying to find out. So far I've just got the Fulks and Knight families."

Justin nods at Elisabeta and looks at Gabriel, "Does that matter?"

Gabriel says "What about the Knight families?"

Kate-Lynn says, "Miss Elizabeta, let me employ candor. We have been attacked by zombies, accosted by talking ravens, and alerted to an occult and possibly benevolent conspiracy located at the Tower of London, the British Library, Kew Gardens, and other such unlikely places; to none of these things are we accustomed. We have been given a bizarre collection of artefacts by a lawyer who was then shot from across the street by an assassin who called to gloat. We have been told that the authorities governing the Tower of London will not help further until we know more, and referred here. Given that you asked the same question they did; are we 'new down here' ..." She frowns. "I am not going to register a complaint, you understand. You have no obligation to be of assistance. However, note that any means by which you might alleviate our confusion would be appreciated."

The woman blinks. "Not sure about the Knight family. It seems they moved to America. I'll have to access some Internet links to chase that one up. Why?"

The woman blinks again and listens to Kate-Lynn.

Gabriel says "No reason."

Justin gives Kate a grin.

The woman says, to Gabriel, "Give me a moment," then turns to Kate-Lynn, still working on the keyboard as she does so.

Kate-Lynn says, "There's a saying ... it's all a grand adventure until somebody dies. I didn't actually know the lawyer for more than a few minutes ... so it's still a *bit* of an adventure .. but I would like to keep it that way."

Gabriel says "What if I told you there's some guy downstairs who knew who I was offering to make me famous?"

Raquel looks over Elizabeta's shoulder to see if her family name showed up anywhere.

Justin hms, "Well, those zombies were already dead, does that count?"

The woman says, to Kate-Lynn, "Give me a moment." She says, back towards Gabriel, "Well, I never trust anything I'm sold in the street."

<> Demiurge says "Not at this precise moment, Raquel."

Kate-Lynn says, "I do not concern myself with the fates of zombies," to Justin. "I mean, they were probably glad to be at rest again."

<> Raquel darns, quietly.

Gabriel says "Second time I've heard that today. Twice in one day is a bit much, even for those peddling snake oil."

Gabriel says "Baby."

The woman says, to Kate-Lynn, "Yes, you are in trouble, aren't you? I sympathise. I'm trying to think what I can do about it."

<> Kate-Lynn steals viciously from a far cooler fictional character.

Raquel wishes, mildly, that they'd waited until they'd found if they were all in the lineage.

Justin grins at what the woman says, "Well, good, we know we're in trouble."

The woman's screen beeps, and she says, "Got it." She flicks through a set of just-appeared information. "Pittsburgh, Boston, DC... right, the only current living descendant of the Knight family in America is one Gabriel Knight. That any help?"

Kate-Lynn says, "There is no problem so big it cannot be run away from." She grins. "But, you know, that would leave things feeling so *unresolved.*"

Justin looks at Gabe at what Elisabeta says. "Hey, man, that's you."

Gabriel says, at the woman, "Not really."

The woman blinks up at Gabriel.

The woman sighs, shrugs, and goes back to the computer screen. "Fine, let me check the others."

Raquel perches on the edge of the desk. "How many illegitimate children did Sir Ffoulkes have?"

Elizabeta says, "Only the one recognized. Heaven knows how many not. Apparently he was a bit of a lad."

Raquel goes hm.

Kate-Lynn says, "We honestly don't mean to be a trouble." She thinks. "Well, I mean, I don't, not unless you're involved in, you know, a bad way."

Elizabeta says, "You are, but don't worry. What are we on earth for if not to sort out problems for -- for, well, other humans."

Justin grins at Elizabeta.

Justin settles into the floor, back to Elizabeta's desk, facing the way that they came in.

Raquel wonders what the criteria were, for sending the letters.

Elizabeta says, "This may take a while. Any of you care to get me some coffee? Outside, second room on the left, the machine's behind the door."

Justin says "Sure."

Kate-Lynn says, "Sure." at almost the same time.

Justin grins up at Kate-Lynn.

Elizabeta says, "Oh, and apparently Armand did get married, there was a daughter, I'm trying to track that."

Raquel giggles.

Kate-Lynn moves that way.

Justin stays seated where he is, then.

Raquel heads to the door, to make sure zombies don't make off with Kate-Lynn in the hall.

The whole place feels very un-zombielike. Calm. Cool. Collected. Alas, the coffee machine is modern crap and one of the sort that provides a polystyrene cup of unnamable brown sludge.

Kate-Lynn makes a clever attempt to fill a cup with coffee. It should surprise no one that she has considerable experience with this.

Kate-Lynn . o O ( Mm. Caffeinated brown sludge. )

Kate-Lynn gets coffee for herself too. Being at the peak of alertness is very important.

Kate-Lynn then moves back into the room at a sort of mobile lurk.

Raquel goes back to peering over Elizabeta's shoulder at the screen, looking for familiar names.

Elizabeta says, "Okay, we have several branches off from this daughter of Armand's. Intermarries into several other families. Currently at this generation I have Mithers, Dureson, Vernon, Achableu, Azure, and Fontenelle."

Raquel startles slightly.

Elizabeta looks around. "Any of those familiar or make any sense?"

Raquel nods, slowly.

Kate-Lynn says, "Bless you" and holds out the coffee after the "Achableu".

Elizabeta takes the mug, says, "Thank you," and drinks about half in one swallow.

Elizabeta says, "Unfortunately, there's no direct descent from the Blakeney's themselves. I can try following the family trees for the rest of you backwards, but I don't know how much good it'll be."

Raquel asks, "Is there a, hm, Guersson in there anywhere, yet?"

<> Demiurge rolls the d666 and gets 4 5 CHECK: 2.

Elizabeta frowns. "Guerson? _Guer_son, did you say?"

Raquel says, "I think that's the pronunciation."

Elizabeta says, "How's one of them involved in this?"

Raquel asks, "One of them?"

Elizabeta looks as if she wishes she'd bitten her tongue a second faster.

Kate-Lynn says, "Is there a picture of the Blakeneys?"

Raquel hovers a bit closer to Elizabeta, continuing to look mild and curious.

Elizabeta looks up at Kate-Lynn and shakes her head. "Not that I have. There might be something still in one of their properties."

Kate-Lynn nods.

Raquel asks, again, "One of them?"

Justin gets up off the floor to turns around to look up at Elizabeta.

Kate-Lynn gives Raquel a Tom Baker smile for a moment before sipping her coffee.

<> Raquel gets out the thumb-scr...*cough*

<> Demiurge says "What, a huge toothy one?"

<> Kate-Lynn nods. Lots of white!

Elizabeta taps her fingers on the desk, fast. Very fast. "They're like, um, a family."

Raquel says, "Most family names denote that."

Elizabeta says, "Well, there you go," and looks back at the computer hastily.

Raquel asks, "Why are they important?"

Justin just peers at Elizabeta. "You're hiding something. It might help us."

Elizabeta says, not looking up, "I don't really get on with most of them. They meddle a lot. Okay, so they're basically fighting for the right things, but ... not my style, you know?"

Raquel shakes her head. "No, I don't know."

Justin says "Ah. Hm. What if we're related to that family?"

Elizabeta says, firmly, "Impossible."

Raquel asks, "Why?"

She says, "You'd definitely know if you were." She pauses. "Did one of them get you into this whole mess?"

Kate-Lynn says, curiously, "How much trouble would you get into if you told us the whole truth rather than the bits of it you're generously looking for, incidentally?"

Raquel puts a knuckle to her mouth, and bites it gently, thinking.

Justin watches the librarian curiously.

Kate-Lynn says, "I mean, like, whack your head off trouble, demotion trouble, reprimand trouble, tsk tsk trouble, guilt pangs the next morning until you ate some chocolate?"

Elizabeta snorts. "I don't *know* the whole truth. Only God does that."

Justin mutters mildly about religious nuts and settles with his back against the desk again.

Raquel says, "Ma'am... I was in an accident. I don't remember anything from before it. I could very well be related to anyone and not know it."

<> Raquel applies the Guilt Trip.

<> Demiurge says "Hm. Raquel, gimme a roll for your persuasive skills."

Kate-Lynn says, helpfully, "There is a considerably larger bit of truth which you know which we may consider the whole truth for the purposes of this discussion."

<> Raquel rolls the d666 and gets 3 3 CHECK: 1.

Elizabeta looks to be softening. "And the, ah, Mr Guerson is dead?"

Raquel finally nods.

<> Raquel . o O (We didn't say he was a Mr., or that he was dead.... Though that's a reasonable conclusion. Died in the same accident...?)

<> Carlotta says "Lead poisoning."

<> Raquel says "Through the heart."

Elizabeta taps her fingers faster against the desk. "Okay. Okay. I belong to this charitable organisation. So do the Guersons. Sometimes things get, how shall I put it, a bit illegal."

Raquel listens intently.

Carlotta blinks.

Justin grins to himself.

Elizabeta says, "Sometimes we have to find, well, things, before other people do. There are criminals out there." She smiles, as if pleased by her choice of words.

Raquel nods, with her very best 'Do Go On' expression.

<> Justin just dies laughing.

<> Carlotta says "Madre di Dios, not only is it a conspiracy, but it's a NAIVE conspiracy!"

<> Demiurge laughs.

<> Raquel cracks up.

<> Justin just *loves* this version of Destiny's view of Wind.

<> Demiurge says "Who says it's Wind?"

<> Justin says! OOC'ly even! Hey, 'find things'.

<> Justin does love it, though.

Justin sighs, gets up a bit to peer over the edge of the desk at Elizabeta again.

Elizabeta says, "You want me to be honest? I'm not sure what's going on, but it looks as if you're all involved with something to do with the Blakeneys." She squints at Justin. "Where was your Guerson from, anyhow?"

Kate-Lynn says, "A charitable organization employing ravens, but opposed by zombies?"

Kate-Lynn says, "United Way?"

Justin says "Uhm... he was a lawyer, actually."

Raquel reminds Elizabeta, "How do we know we're not related? Or if I'm not related?"

Elizabeta sits up. "A _lawyer_? Are you sure?" She blinks at Kate-Lynn. "What's United Way?" She glances at Raquel. "I wouldn't know."

Justin says "Actually, I'm not sure."

Raquel frowns. "But you were so sure that we couldn't be related..."

Kate-Lynn says "He presented as a lawyer."

<> Raquel admires rapid-fire questions from all sides. Keep her confused!

Elizabeta says, "The ... Guersons ... don't tend to work in law."

Raquel asks, "Ever?"

She frowns. "It's been known, it's just not common. The Dominicans tend to have that one sewn up."

Kate-Lynn chokes.

Raquel blinks.

Elizabeta looks as if she wishes she could bite her tongue again. "Anyhow, the library's closing soon."

Raquel asks, "Who would want to kill a Guerson?"

Elizabeta snorts. "A lot of people."

Raquel asks, "Any major ones?"

Kate-Lynn says, "Well, perhaps we could discuss things at your place? I'm happy to recompense you for your trouble."

Elizabeta's face seems to close up. "No, thank you. I think you should be going."

Justin sighs mildly, looking at Elizabeta and nods at the closing of her face. "Thank you, ma'am."

Kate-Lynn meditates.

Raquel consults her watch and wonders when the library is going to be open again tomorrow.

Elizabeta nods. She says, in passing, towards Justin, "Apparently you've got French ancestry too, though it doesn't relate to Armand Saint-Juste."

<> Demiurge says "10 am, Raquel, according to the sign downstairs."

Justin blinks mildly.

Justin says "I do?"

Elizabeta smiles briefly. "As well as Scottish."

Justin grins at that. "That I'm prouda, but I never knew I was part Frog."

<> Demiurge laughs out loud.

Justin says "Who?"

<> Justin is always glad to amuse the GM.

Elizabeta says, "A lady called Anne Brinvilliers, married into your family at the end of the nineteenth century. I can't access the French records here, they're on paper in France."

<> Justin just falls over, OOC'ly.

Justin hms and asks Elizabeta to spell that and writes it on his piece of paper.

Elizabeta does so.

Elizabeta says, "I'm going to have to ask you to all leave now. The Library's about to close."

Raquel murmurs, "Thank you for your time."

Elizabeta looks somewhat relieved to be getting you all out of her hair. "No problem. Go in the grace of God."

Raquel replies, "And you."

Justin gets up off the floor easily and grins, mildly embarrassed by the parting exchange, but follows Raquel easily.

Carlotta just sort of stares at all of this.

Kate-Lynn says, "You have been personable, helpful, and pleasant, Miss Elizabeta, and only the pattern of when you felt you must stop talking makes me think that your organization is less than charitable. Thank you for your time."

Kate-Lynn says, "I hope you will understand that the compliment is meant to outweigh the rest of the statement." And grins, and turns, and leaves.

Elizabeta chuckles dryly. "And you, Ms Costello. I'd advise you to be careful about anyone who offers you something for nothing. Just so you do."

Elizabeta closes her study door behind the five with a click.

Raquel follows after Justin, and makes note of the advice...

Carlotta mutters something in Spanish.

<> Demiurge says "Go on. Make the GM happy. Translate. ;)"

As they begin to troop down the stairs, to the accompaniment of other people leaving the library . . . Kate-Lynn's celphone buzzes.

<> Carlotta says "Something along the lines of 'Mary, Mother of God, intervene for us poor souls in the unknowable actions of these really *annoying* heavenly beings.'"

Kate-Lynn picks up her phone.

Kate-Lynn flips it open.

Kate-Lynn says, "'Stello."

<> Demiurge giggles.

Her anti-secretary says, "Ms Costello, the police are looking for you -- and your friends, if they're still with you. They'd like to interview you about the goings on at the hotel."

Kate-Lynn closes her eyes. "Haven't seen 'em for a bit," she says, then opens her eyes again.

<> Demiurge snorts. ;)

<> Raquel giggles.

<> Justin admires Kate-Lynn's honesty.

Kate-Lynn says, "As for the police, your message is noted; inform them that I will speak to them tonight. Also, I would like to arrange for surveillance of two individuals."

The antisecretary says, "Okay. I'll see if I can locate some local private detectives. Where shall I tell the police you'll be?"

Kate-Lynn describes Elizabeta as she walks. "She's in the British Library at the moment, finishing up in a records room. The other," and she describes the guy in the Tower of London, "was last seen in the Tower of London, but may have moved on; I suggest that the detective stake it out as best he can and explain to any curious guards that he's watching for a husband running from alimony. Or somesuch. As for myself, I will speak to them at the station after dinner and a constitutional."

<> Raquel now knows why it's so much better to keep mundanes in the dark. Some of them have _resources_ and can be inconvenient.

Kate-Lynn says, "You may explain that I insist upon normalcy in my life after seeing a man's head blown in from across the street."

The antisecretary says, "Which station?"

Kate-Lynn meditates. "Which one looks the coolest?"

Raquel mutters, "Heart."

The antisecretary says, "The one directly concerned with the crime is Victoria Police Station. You'd better give me a time, Ms Costello, as they'll ask for one."

Kate-Lynn looks at her watch. Counts off 3 hours, rounds to the nearest 15 minutes, names the time.

<> Demiurge says "Approx 9pm. It's approx 6pm now."

Kate-Lynn says, "Nine at Victoria Station, then."

The antisecretary says, "I'll inform them. Over and out." The phone clicks off.

Justin frowns thoughtfully, murmurs at Raquel, "Is Victoria Station on da map?"

Kate-Lynn closes her phone.

Kate-Lynn pockets it.

Raquel asks Carlotta, "Where's the map?"

<> Demiurge says "It's not one of the marked locations, no."

<> Kate-Lynn says "Victoria Station is, but I think that's the train statio, not the police station."

Raquel adds, to Justin, "I don't think so, but I don't entirely remember."

<> Demiurge nods. The train station, not the police station.

<> Raquel will consult the map, and consider writing down all the places elsewhere, in case she has to re-create the map.

Kate-Lynn says, "We have been busted. They want to speak to us. I have only committed myself, as you may have deduced."

Kate-Lynn says, "Er, committed myself to talking to them."

Kate-Lynn smiles.

<> Justin says "Ah, hokay. That's how I got mixed up."

Raquel says, "If the nuns hear that I'm running from the police, that would be bad. Should I go as well, with you?"

Kate-Lynn says, "It might be wise."

Kate-Lynn says, "The more bizarre things we know, the more we have to either lie or tell them truths they won't believe."

<> Demiurge laughs.

Raquel nods. "I'll go, then. Do we tell them about the ring?"

Justin chuckles, "And I haveta rescue my Triumph, sometime, thou' I wouldn't put it past da hotel ta charge me an arm and a leg fer the parking."

Kate-Lynn says, thoughtfully, "And have it impounded by the police as evidence? I think *not*."

Kate-Lynn consides this.

Kate-Lynn says, "We found the rubbing of the ring."

Justin hm.

Raquel hands over the rubbing, and the sketch of the rubbing.

<> Demiurge says "You really, really don't want to lose that ring, Kate-Lynn. It's _yours_."

<> Kate-Lynn nods. Exactly :)

Justin says "Wouldn't they just believe we saw the killing and we ran to safety?"

Justin says "An' someone else came to rifle the stuff?"

Raquel says, sadly, "But we didn't run to _them_."

Kate-Lynn says, "Based on the many episodes of "Law and Order" I have seen, lying to the police never works. Of course, that was a genre convention."

Justin says "Law and Order?"

Kate-Lynn says, "A television show. Highly dramatic."

Justin looks really bemused.

Kate-Lynn says, "This is a murder; they will pursue every comment we drop and every bit of contradictory evidence."

<> Demiurge says "Justin, I suspect your connection with the cops is more "those bastards who hassle me and my mates all the time for suspicion of possession of illegal stuff, drunkenness, speeding, etc...""

Justin says "Lyin' ta the Bobbies often works if they believe the simplicity of whatcha say..."

<> Justin says "Exactly!"

<> Justin says "And they don't believe ya if you tell the truth *or* if you lie, but simplicity in a lie is always safer."

Justin says "... and you stick ta it like glue ta a shoe."

Kate-Lynn says, "I don't want any evidence to turn up -- someone who saw one of us at the station getting the stuff, say, if our pictures get shown -- that contradicts our story.

Justin says "Ah. Okay."

Justin rubs his hair.

Raquel asks, "Can we get photocopies of the material, that they'll likely want to confiscate?"

Justin peers back at the library doors.

Kate-Lynn says, "As it is, they will assume some sort of macabre fraud, but it could be perpetrated *on* us as well as by us. If we lie, we are hiding something we did."

The library doors have shut for the evening by now.

Justin nods at Kate-Lynn, "Well, I'll letcha do the talkin' then, lass. None of 'em ever believe me until I tell it ta 'em ten times."

Kate-Lynn says, "The fax in the car may have a copy setting. Some do. If not, we can find a place."

<> Raquel . o O (Kinko's? Staples? Mmm! Fax!)

Kate-Lynn says, "As for the ring ..." She meditates.

<> Kate-Lynn's family fax does copies. she dunno if that's rare or common. :)

Kate-Lynn takes it out.

Kate-Lynn puts it on.

Justin eyes the ring, is it Kate-Lynn's size? Or man sized?

Kate-Lynn says, "It is not uncommon for a woman to accessorize."

Raquel points out, "They'll guess the rubbings. Unless you tell them that you had it before, and we dispose of the rubbings, or something."

<> Demiurge says "I think it's doable, though of course you only get fax quality."

<> Demiurge says "The ring is sized slightly large for Kate-Lynn's hand, but should stay on if she's careful to keep it on."

<> Raquel says "Heirloom!"

Justin says "Let's dump the rubbings, then."

Kate-Lynn says, "The rubbings don't have his fingerprints on them, but we showed them at the library. Perplexing." She frowns. "Ah!"

Raquel nods. "I could keep the sketch, though. I do lots of sketches."

<> Raquel didn't show the rubbing, only the sketch. heh.

Kate-Lynn says, "It is a heirloom. When he gave us all the genealogy charts, we naturally used my oldest heirloom as a link -- *if* they ever ask about it, which we will hope they do not."

Raquel nods.

Kate-Lynn smiles.

Justin thinks about that then nods as well, "Right."

A light English drizzle drifts down from Heaven.

Kate-Lynn says, "We have time for one more search before 9 o'clock," as she starts moving quickly toward the car, "or we can have dinner and compose ourselves."

---

The League