Murder on the Victorian Express (OOC)

[Cubist]

Incidentally, if anybody has Medicine or Knowledge: Science, feel free to use them examining the corpse.

Jube will exploit the ever-lovin', blue-eyed heck out of his Jack of All Trades feat and Quickness, and Take 20 on both. Or that's the plan, anyway.

Medicine 'roll': 23

Knowledge/Science 'roll': 24

[Supercape]

Guy had his neck snapped, and then stabbed...

[KnightDisciple]

Well, there's not a single "Knowledge: Science" skill. But! I do have both Life Sciences and Physical Sciences. I shall make checks for both!

Life Sciences: 23

Physical Sciences: 20

[Aoiroo]

Carrie's not going to open her eyes, so she can't use said skills. She's not going to open her eyes because she can't take the sight of blood while double nauseated(from the Brit Machine, and than from the train).

[Supercape]

Nice touch Aoiroo.

As well as the HP from that complication, I'm going to award another HP for playing that well and being cool, if thats ok.

[KnightDisciple]

I hate to be "that guy", but I'm not sure that's a 2-Hero-Point situation. Since we're not in combat or something, having that complication activated is only brought out by, well, roleplaying it well. So "playing that well and being cool" is how we know she's undergoing the complication. Which means it's a singular HP. And yes, I'd expect the same standard to be applied to myself.

[Supercape]

I'm awarding that for roleplaying something I found entertaining.

As an aside, I am getting weary of second guessing the rules here.

By all means put your points across, help out with rules interpretations etc, but If I am going to be arguing my way through GMing this, then im not prepared to GM it. Apologies if this is blunt, I dont mean it to be, but I wont do something I dont enjoy and this thread has already have enough quibbles over mechanics without even getting into combat.

EDIT: Also feel free to refer to refs for Abitration. I am quite happy to stand corrected on rules, I dont profess to be an expert on M&M (merely have a working knowledge). Its just about me not wanting to personally GM a thread with lots of rules queries. If thats how this site plays, I dont think I can GM for it and no hard feelings. :D

[Aoiroo]

If it bugs him, I'm fine with just one HP, I honestly just don't really care.

[KnightDisciple]

Fine, I withdraw the complaint. Still waiting on results of those 2 Knowledge checks I made on the last page.

[Supercape]

Thanks, and sorry for being a dick about this. I was probably in pain and irritable when I made that post. I have a short patience for rules arguments - normally not too short, but Im not full of reserves personally at the moment post op.

Enough winging!

Medicine: again, as Jube notices, the cause of death has been strangulation. It was stabbed once it had died.

Physical sciences knowledge: not much to garner, other than the room is full of high grades technology. Nothing suspicious in regards to the murder itself, although it is valuable stuff.

[Cubist]

Jube will make one super-fast pass thru the entire train, running along the walls and/or ceiling so he doesn't have to fuss about obstructions, in order to see if anybody on the train has a scent that matches one of the scents on the body. He won't bother with a disguise, because even if someone does happen to see him, he'll be an indecipherable, momentary blur in their field of vision. This presumably calls for a Notice check for recognizing scents (1d20+9=15)... and I hope 15 suffices?

[Supercape]

It does. The middle of the carriage carries three scents you recognise, as does the lounge. The three people are currently all in the Lounge (with Constable Singh). The other two scents are in the carriage next to you.

For References the train is thus:

[ Engine / Driver ]

[servants quarters / bed ]

[Kitchen / Scullery ]

[Lounge] - 3 Scents in here

[1st Class cabiins]

[2nd class cabins]

[2nd class cabins] 2 scents in here.

[brit Machine equipment, murder scene] - you are here at the moment.

[brit Machine itself]

[Cubist]

Questions for the GM...

Of the five people whose scents Jube detected on the corpse, which ones look like they've got sufficient upper-body strength to be able to break someone's neck?

Also -- of those five, which ones had the corpse's scent on them? (this question assumes Jube managed to notice that when he was zipping thru the cars, which may or may not be a valid presumption)

The two "probably Sikhs": Were they wearing what Jube would recognize as appropriately Sikh attire? Turbans for sure, perhaps other stuff which Cubist is unaware of but might be covered by Jube's Knowledge: THeology & Philosophy (9) skill? And how about those traditional Sikh knives?

[Supercape]

ok:

They would all have sufficient strength to commit the deed, being men of at least average build and prowess. However, Lord Willowbreak is in particularly good shape (even though more elderly). Baron Ramstein is in exceptional shape (even stronger) being a sportsman.

All of them have the scent of Sir Crane on them - in Donald, Willowbreak and Ramsteins case this is not unusual as they were probably together in the Lounge Carriage. It dosen't explain why the Sikh men have that scent on them.

With that Theology knowledge, sure, the men are definately dressed as Sikhs, including carrying the traditional Sikn knife, the Kirpan.

[Cubist]

Scent-search of the train's outer surface: If Quickness-plus-Take-20 is applicable, Jube will Take 20 on this little feat. As noted in the post, there are some non-trivial negative modifiers on this roll, so feel free to just declare "nope, you couldn't smell anything other than the sharp tang of burned coal" or whatevder the engine's exhaust happens to be.

[Supercape]

Good call.

The two Sihk men, Drumbridge (the engineer/businessman), and Ramstein (the German Aristocrat/Sportsman) have been pretty much throughout the train, including the Brit-Machine.

Willowbreak has not, however, staying in the first class quarters. He has left the train, but not entered the carriages with the Brit Machine in, or the murder carriage.

NB: Sorry for being away, internet was failing.

I wont post these findings, so all feel free to post away.

[Cubist]

Okay, I caught Willowbreak's scent on the outer surface of the train. Coolness. Was the corpse's scent mixed in with it? (as in, if Willowbreak did the deed, his hands might have carried some of his victim's scent, and maybe he could have left that on the outer surface with his own scent)?

Also, *is* there sufficient clearance below the train for Jube to fit down there?

[Supercape]

Ill put the plug on getting the scent of the corpse too, Cubist! the victims scent is over all people, unsurprisingly in the case of the first three folks. The Sihks - perhaps suspicious.

There is enough underspace to crawl.

[KnightDisciple]

So, uh...what about Fenris's part in this little investigation?

[Aoiroo]

Right, Carrie is going to try some talking, and introduce herself, 19 diplomacy roll, and 11 notice roll, ehh, I think I'll take ten on her notice instead with skill mastery. Anyway, what does the notice roll give Carrie about who she might want to start talking too.

[Cubist]

I'm sure Supercape will address that, KD. THe man is recovering from an operation, after all... give him a bit of time, yes?

[Supercape]

So, uh...what about Fenris's part in this little investigation?

SOrry KD, probably my lapse after being offline for a week or two.

Ill post directly giving an intro to the first class lounge if you would like?

[KnightDisciple]

SOrry KD, probably my lapse after being offline for a week or two.

Ill post directly giving an intro to the first class lounge if you would like?

We're a bit further along than that, actually. Right now I'm wondering what story this guy is telling, and what, if any, reaction others may have to the Baron walking in.

[Supercape]

Posted:

Firstly Fenris indeed has no local money, although it would be easy enough to get some from Ms. Wells, or if he is feeling very persuasive, put it on credit!

Secondly, Carrie is searching the first class cabins themselves I guess? If so, search check.

Jubatus is all good for the moment, not posting in reply to that at the moment.

[Aoiroo]

7, err, reroll, so, lets see, 10, well that's under ten(cause it's four), so +10 for the reroll making it a twenty.