North for the Summer: James

[Acanous]

You wake promptly at 8 PM and begin your usual routine.
The answering machine subtly installed next to the combination door speaker/telephone blinks slowly with a red light. You let it play while conducting your jumping jacks. It's mostly work, Dave from the day shift letting you know about a couple of new case files that will be on your desk when you get in tonight.
Dave has been a little slack lately, letting you pick up for him so he can go home early and be with his new wife. She's pregnant. About 3 months in, now. You know because it's always his excuse for leaving a pile of work for you to finish for him.

Usually, a man of your intellect and practices can get your work done in a couple of hours. You're ahead of the curve in most cases, taking a little longer to cover for your nightly activities.

You have never left anything unfinished for Dave. Machines working and evidence developing, yes, but the work is all done. These things sometimes take time. Leaving a case on the desk with just the prep done so you can leave early, though? Never.

A baritone voice you've never heard before makes you pause as you brush your teeth. You finish, then replay the message.

"There's a package for you at the Greyhound station. From Aiden. If you would like anything else, don't hesitate to give us a call."

Aiden is the Prince of the City. If he's sending you something, it's probably a body on ice. It is unusual for him to spring something like this on you, but that last line, "If you would like anything else", means he's willing to grant you any reasonable boon for taking care of it- not just your standard fee.

While going over your mail, you find a key taped to a business card.
Price Waterhouse Coopers
Aiden Locke
Vice President, Calgary Branch

Raised letters on thick printing card, eggshell white. The ink is reflective metallic. It's got it's own watermark.
The key is a Medico standard. Unmarked.

Spoiler

Show

Give me a D10 roll. Add 2. That's your starting Blood Pool. Workaholic, no herd, but you've got contacts and a little cash.

[Ascaloth]

"Hmmm."

Was all the response James had to the card, though his mind was already churning. Put all the pieces together - a package from the Prince, the "anything else", the key attached to the card - and it sounded like something he would need to take care of as soon as reasonably possible. Looks like he would be clocking in late for work tonight... not that it's much more than a speed bump in his night.

Making his decision quickly, James finished up the rest of his preparations, dressed, and left for Greyhoud Station, taking the card and key along with his usual work paraphernalia.

(1d10+2)[8]

[Acanous]

The drive to the station is quick and uneventful. It takes you a mere 7 minutes.
The time is now 9:37. Your shift begins at 10, and runs until 6 AM.

The Greyhound station is not busy, but it isn't empty, either. 14 bus departure gates line one wall, with a small arcade at one end, and a customer service desk at the other. There is a security station, manned by two guards, and a closed restaurant.

An aging blonde lady somewhere in her mid-fourties mans the service desk. She seems preoccupied with something on her computer. There is no line, although you can see a man to her right waiting patiently.

[Ascaloth]

No time to waste, though this evening's arrangement was highly irregular. He didn't think it was a trap - it was not like he had any enemies in this city - but better safe than sorry.

Keeping an eye out on the man waiting at the counter, James put a hand on the MAC-10 he had holstered in concealed carry, watchful for any hostile behaviours the man might suddenly exhibit. Nevertheless, behaving as normally as he could so as not to tip him off, James walked up to the counter lady, giving her a disarming smile.

"Good day m'am, I'm James Richter. I understand there is a package here for me?"

Perception + Alertness: (4d10)[2][9][3][4](18)

Wits + Stealth: (7d10)[7][9][6][5][8][6][8](49)

[Acanous]

"Certainly, just let me look that up for you."
She types away, while the man to her right seems a little frustrated.
"Yes, we have a priority express package, delivered by trailer. It's in Bay 4. I'll print you off a pass."
(4d10)[8][2][4][4](18)
She hands you a ticket, presumably for whomever is manning the door to Bay 4.

The man you're watching shifts a little, but does not make any threatening moves. When you leave, he does not follow you.

[Ascaloth]

So the man was no threat after all, or was he? No matter, he was not of concern for the moment. James moved towards Bay 4, ticket in hand to give to whoever was manning Bay 4 for access to the package.

At the same time, James kept himself aware of his surroundings. He had not unlived as long as he did by being careless, after all. Besides, with an arrangement as irregular as this, it pays off to be alert.

Perception + Alertness: (4d10)[10][2][6][4](22)

[Acanous]

The gentleman manning the bay door takes a look at your ticket, tearing off something from one of the corners. He unlocks the bay doors with a "Right this way, sir."
You notice he is armed. A single pistol, hidden under his coat.

"It's a rush delivery, private trailer right there. You're gonna need a key to get in. There's some paperwork for you to sign once you've gotten everything. If you need a dolly to unload it let me know."

He returns to his post, closing the door behind you.

The trailer is a two wheeled, rectangular thing with a pointed top and a scrolling metal door. Your medico key fits smoothly into the lock.

With a surreptitious glance around the garage to ensure you're the only one there (You're not, there's a running greyhound bus at the other side of the garage, but they're well out of view- you've got an empty bus parked on either side of you) James sneaks a peek inside.

There is what looks like it could be a human body. Maybe. Hard to tell, as half the trailer is full of ice, covering most of a large, black duffel bag.

[Ascaloth]

So far, so good, despite the unusual arrangements. He just might get things over with in time to get to work tonight, after all. Nodding, James beckoned to the man guarding the bay door.

"I'll take you up on the dolly, pal."

[Acanous]

"Sure. One minute."
It takes more like three, but he returns with a dolly.
"So, need a hand with it?"
He peers inquisitively at the trailer.

[Ascaloth]

"No, I can handle it. Thank you for your assistance."

James responded, looking at the other man, waiting for guard to leave him be and let him get on with his own business.

[Acanous]

The guard stays for a few moments, until it's apparent he's not wanted, then goes back into the bus terminal.

[Ascaloth]

When the guard had excused himself, James pushed the dolly out of the bay, and tried to lift it up, thinking to haul it by himself to the car where he can have a closer look at it in the privacy of his own vehicle.

Of course, once he began pulling on it, he realised it wasn't a great idea; this thing was heavy. Shrugging nonchalantly, James continued pushing the dolly with the duffel bag towards his car.

[Acanous]

(3d10)[3][2][8](13)
You raise a few eyebrows as you exit the terminal, but you get it back to your car without any trouble.
STR (1d10)[5]
Hauling it into your car, however, is going to take some time. Unless you want to spend some blood or willpower.

[Ascaloth]

No time to waste, and the few raised eyebrows he garnered along the way was already more attention than he was comfortable with. Steeling himself, James drew into his inner reserves, pumping up his strength for the great haul into the trunk of his car.

OOC:

Spoiler

Show

James spends 2 blood to haul the duffel bag into the trunk of his car.

[Acanous]

(3d10)[2][10][9](21)
James manages to put the bag into the trunk of his car, and returns the dolly.
Aside from a few odd looks, you seem to be in the clear. It is currently 9:43. Where to now?

[Ascaloth]

To where he could be reasonably assured that he could conduct his business in peace; one of the parking lots known to be relatively empty. It's known that they're inhabited by the local Nosferatu, but James was sure he could negotiate with them if it comes to it.

Making his decision, he gunned the engine, and set out for his destination. Once he was there, he would pop the trunk and inspect the duffel bag more thoroughly, assuming he wasn't interrupted.

[Acanous]

James makes it into the Underground Parking for the Petro Canada Center about a minute later.
The Parking lot is underground, and about 6 levels deep. Even this late at night, it's hard to find a spot on the upper levels.
As James goes deeper, give me a Wits+Alertness.

[Ascaloth]

James keeps his eyes open.

Wits + Alertness: (4d10)[9][9][4][3](25)

[Acanous]

Pulling down into the lowest level of the parkade, James sees a man in a wheelchair. He's sitting there, watching you. The man's face looks flat and mangled, like he got in a fight against a meat tenderizer a few months ago. One eye sits a little higher than the other. The rest of him is covered in blankets, scarves, and other, malodorous paraphernalia.
You can barely make out his hands, which are stained a dirty brown. His fingernails are black and chipped.
"Hay, Buddy! What'chu doin' down here? This ain' no place for you."

[Ascaloth]

Getting down from his car, James assessed the situation. The person before him could indeed be one of the Nosferatu... or it could be just a bum. He had to be careful not to blow his cover in case it was the latter, and he figured there was a way to do that.

Raising his hands in a gesture of peace, James responded.

"Peace, brother. I'm here on confidential business from the Prince, and I was hoping for some privacy. If you don't mind, may I impose upon your hospitality while I do my work?"

He said, presenting the Prince's business card to the man in the wheelchair.

Expression + Charisma: (3d10)[8][5][8](21)

[Acanous]

The man wheels over to take the card you're presenting.
"So, you work for the guys upstairs, huh? Fine. Do your 'business' and get out."

The man walks off into a darker part of the parkade. You hear a bottle smash. He disappears behind a support pillar.

[Ascaloth]

Well, it was indeed one of them, and that went about as well as one could expect. Keeping an eye out just in case the Nosferatu decided to snoop, James finally decided to make a more thorough inspection of the duffel bag's contents.

[Acanous]

James unzips the bag, finding inside a pallid corpse. Cause of death appears to have been a stake through the heart.

There's also a machette.

[Ascaloth]

That's it? The normal 'janitorial' work was all the Prince wanted him to do, after all of the hasty, irregular arrangements? This either meant that the Prince wanted James to either be especially thorough with tonight's task, or otherwise be prompt about it with no questions asked. Likely both.

Shrugging, James decided not to impose on the hospitality of the Nosferatu any longer than necessary, and got down to work. As he did so, he continued to pay attention to the inside of the duffel bag, looking to spot any clues he might have missed the first time round.

OOC:
James spends one blood point to use Destroy the Husk.

Perception + Alertness: (4d10)[4][5][4][4](17)

[Ascaloth]

Use of Destroy the Husk - Intelligence + Medicine: (4d10)[8][9][7][8](32)

[Acanous]

Your Perception tells you nothing. This is just another dead stiff, though it is a little unusual to have been Staked through the Heart.

That roll does indeed destroy the body. As it disintegrates into ash, there's a sudden eruption of black lightning, seeming to stem from the dead man's heart.

Spoiler

Show

Roll to soak one point of lethal

[Ascaloth]

"What the...?!"

Stamina + Fortitude: (2d10)[5][1](6)

[Acanous]

Spoiler

Show

THAT'S A BOTCH

The ashes are caught by a gust of wind, from literally nowhere. They billow up and the lightning catches them, igniting them into a Fireball.

Spoiler

Show

No aggrivated damage, it's a flash. But you do need to make a Willpower roll to avoid frenzy.

[Ascaloth]

"Oh, shi-!"

Willpower: (4d10)[1][7][3][6](17)

[Acanous]

You are just not having a good night.

James barely manages to keep his Beast under control, through his cast-iron self control. You are unsettled, however. What the **** just happened? That never happened before. Also your clothing is now a little dusty and very slightly singed.

The Nosferatu(?) you encountered before says nothing, seemingly still behind the pillar.

It is 9:47 PM.