Vaylar Rising — IC

[Scratcherclaw]

"You know, I bet I could," Sven replies, considering the question. Probably easier than a museum security system too. "Assuming they even have a system. Place like this might still put reservations on napkins or something."

[BartNL]

"It should at least give insight in how many rooms are occupied. With a simple algorithm we should be able to narrow down our search."

[ratwizard]

"Looked like a simple operation," Antoine says. "Just a guy behind a terminal. Didn't get a look if he had a security cam or two, but I'd bet on it." He itches his arm, thinking for a moment.

"Worst case scenario, we get his attention to check out a problem with our room. Busted pipe or something, you know. Might leave you with enough time to pull what you need?"

[Scratcherclaw]

"Sounds easy enough then," Sven replies as Antoine details the operations inside the motel. "Definitely easier than the museum. Hell, there's a chance this guy's got his password on a sticky note... if he's even got a password."

[ratwizard]

"Alright, then we got a plan." Antoine turns toward Tristan. "Come with me to the room. I got an idea on how to keep this guy occupied for a minute or two."

He turns, making his way back toward the hotel and to the rented room.

[Namelessjake]

"Good plan," Jin says. "We'll wait a few minutes and head inside then."

With that, Tristan and Antoine disappear back inside the motel.

Tristan and Antoine

With Tristan taking the lead, you head back inside the motel where the man at the reception pays you no mind as you head towards the stairs, already transfixed once again by his puzzle game. At the end of the hallway you find yourselves at a T-junction where the corridor splits of to your left and your right, leading to the ground floor rooms. In front of you stands a rickety looking elevator and a door to the stairs.

Opting for the stairs, you step into the musty stairway and head up to the third floor, a short walk down the corridor and you are soon stood outside room 314. Swiping the keycard, the lock's indicator buzzes, turning from red to green, and you hear the click of the door unlocking.

Stepping inside, you find a fairly basic motel room. While you have no plans to actually stay here, the dated furnishings and décor are at least surprisingly clean. A freshly made double bed sits in the centre of the room, flanked by a pair of small metal side tables. In one corner of the room, next to a tall white closet, sits a small arm chair facing the bed.

Opposite the bed, a door leads into a small plastic cubicle bathroom with a combined shower sink and toilet set up.

[ratwizard]

Antoine sets his pack on the bed. "Alright," he says, sighing in a resigned manner. "Got a parlor trick for him. Just bear with me, okay?"

He steps over to the nightstand, picking up the phone and dialing for the receptionist. Pick up, fella. Your damn so-ku-da game can wait.

[Namelessjake]

Antoine and Tristan

The phone rings a couple of times before the reception picks up. "Hello?" The man asks in a flat tone.

OOC

You would have seen a couple of small cameras covering the hallways of the motel.

[ratwizard]

"Howdy. 314 here," Antoine says into the receiver. "Yeah, so, look, we just got into the room and the lock's busted. As in I can't get the hell out. Something wrong with the key — or damned if I know — maybe it's locking us in from outside. My business partner's having a... he's really having a shit fit over it." He glances up at Tristan, nodding and giving him a beckoning signal to shout in the background. "Really need you to get this door open. Can you get here quick?"

[Namelessjake]

Antoine and Tristan

"Oh ok, that's not typical" the man replies, as you hear the sound of rummaging through drawers over the phone.

"I'll be right up," the man says, hanging up the phone. With that, Tristan texts the others to let them know the coast should soon be clear downstairs.

Everyone Else

A few minutes after Tristan and Antoine made their way back inside, your compads buzz with a text from Tristan saying the coast should be clear.

Stepping inside the motel, you find its interior is as dated and dilapidated as its exterior. The décor doesn't appear to have been updated since the invasion and it is in dire need of a new lick of paint and some reupholstering. You find yourselves in a small lobby dominated by a reception desk that sits empty, the chair behind it still swiveling slowly as if someone just left in a hurry. An old terminal sits atop the counter, its screen facing away from the entrance.

In front of the desk a distressed couch sits across from a couple of vending machines - their offerings ranging from condoms and cigarettes to some questionable looking seafood bars. A little past the desk, a signed corridor leads the way to the rooms, while a doorway off to the right is labelled as the hotel bar, though hanging streams of ocean blue beads shield the drinkery from any prying eyes.

[Scratcherclaw]

"Guess that's our cue," Sven says, seeing the vacant swivel chair still continuing its momentum as they step inside. Not wasting anytime, he makes his way to the terminal, taking the seat. Goddamn, this dude needs a new chair. Did his ass eat all the cushioning? He shakes his head, checking to see if the terminal is on and logged in.

[Namelessjake]

Sven

You find the terminal on, but awakening the screen your are prompted for a user ID and password.

[Scratcherclaw]

Dammit, either this dude was slacking off or he's smart enough to log. He sighs, pulling out his dataslab and plugging it into the terminal. Whatever. Should be easy. 

Mechanics

Get General Information on guest reservations/occupancy
Program/Int: [3d6c1+2]=9+2=11

[ratwizard]

"He bought it," Antoine says quietly to Tristan after he puts the phone back down. "Now all we gotta do is wait, and hope the others got their shit together."

[FinalTemplar]

Tristan, once he's in the room, begins taking a quick look around the room, looking for any obvious signs of cameras or listening devices. As he hears Antoine refer to him, he begins making noise, and shouting angrily. As he hangs up the phone, Tristan turns toward Antoine mildly confused, but he decides not to question him at this time.

mechanics

Notice: [2d6-1]=9-1=8

[Namelessjake]

Antoine and Tristan

A couple of minutes after your call to the reception, you hear the sound of footsteps in the hallway outside, which grow louder before coming to a stop outside your door.

"I'm going to try opening the door from out here," the man from reception says after a quick rap on the door to alert you to his presence. You hear the beep and click of the door unlocking before the man tries the door handle.

Tristan

While waiting for the motel receptionist to come upstairs, you turn over the room, checking drawers, light fixtures and air vents for any hidden cameras or listening devices. You come away from the search feeling confident the room is not bugged in any form.

Sven

You run your programs, adjusting them on the fly as needed to bypass the system's security software. This proves tricky, but ultimately you are able to crack the basic anti-hacking measures and pull up the motel's reservation and booking system, which lists future reservations along with current occupancy. It appears many of the short term bookings, made for just one night or even by the hour, have no guest information saved, however the longer stays appear to have names associated with the bookings.

[Scratcherclaw]

"Kay, got what we need, I hope," Sven says, unplugging his dataslab from the terminal and pulling up the files for those around him. "Occupancy records. Got names for the longer stays too. Seems like most people just stay a few hours or the night though, without much info. I can respect the discretion, but uh... maybe don't touch the sheets then if we're staying overnight?" He grimaces, wondering how thoroughly the rooms even get cleaned with such a rapid turnover. The whole fucking room would glow under a blacklight.

He shudders at the thought before turning to Stamps. "Alright, do your algorithm nerd stuff and see what you find."

[Namelessjake]

Stamps

Roll an Int/Administer check please

[ratwizard]

Antoine stands, his arms crossed, brow furrowed as the door opens. "As simple as that, huh? Damn. Free again."

"Ain't yanking your chain though, try it from this side." He beckons the man in, stepping aside to give him ample space to test the lock.

Mechanics

If the guy closes the door to try to open it, I will Commit Effort for this scene, and silently and motionlessly use Telekinetic Manipulation to hold the door in place with up to 200 kg of force.

This seems reasonably legal based on my read of the limitations, since I'm not affecting something the guy has worn or held.

[BartNL]

Mechanics

Int/Administer: [3d6c1+1]=11+1=12

[Namelessjake]

Antoine and Tristan

"Weird," the man says, closing the door and trying the handle, however he finds it won't budge as Antoine is easily able to hold the door in place with his telekinesis.

"Very weird, this has never happened before," the man says, trying again this time putting more and more effort into his attempts, to the point where he appears to be using all his strength. As he does, the door moves slightly, but Antoine is able to keep it shut.

Mechanics

Motel Clerk Str/Exert: 9 vs 10 DC = fail

Everyone Else

John is able to quickly sift through the data, ruling out any stays that are incorrectly named, too long, too short, or the wrong dates. This narrows down the potential rooms until you are left with just one. No name given, a check in date compatible with the timeline of events given to you by Thoras and the system shows them as yet to check out. Room number 214.

[Scratcherclaw]

"Nice work," Sven says with a grin, looking at the readout of John's algorithm. Bet all the office drones ask him for help with spreadsheets. He pulls out his compad, sending a text to the other two. Got what we need, so they don't need to buy time anymore.

Text to Antoine & Tristan

meet us on 2nd floor? found our guy 

[ratwizard]

He glances at his compad, reading the message. That's down one floor, he reminds himself.

"Oh, damn," Antoine comments, noticing the door budge a bit as the man throws his body weight into it. "Looked like you almost had it that time. Maybe try that again?"

Mechanics

Lessening my telekinetic grip on the door to just about 10 or 20 kg, enough to give some resistance so he doesn't eat shit, but enough for it to be trivial to push open. Once open, drop the power completely.

[BartNL]

"All in a days work."

[Namelessjake]

Antoine and Tristan

The man nods at Antoine's encouragement, the exertion clearly starting to take its toll. He psyches himself up for a moment as he catches his breath, before he grabs the handle ready to try again. With a firm yank, the door flies open, catching the man a little off balance.

"There! Well if you'd like I can move you to a different room? I'll have to get our maintenance guy to take a look at this in case it happens again," he says, quickly reverting back to a customer service role.

[ratwizard]

"Don't worry yourself about it," Antoine says with a reassuring wave. "I'll just keep the door cracked while we're in. Thanks for the help."

He gives the man a thin smile as he leads him to the door.

OOC

Assuming the guy leaves, Antoine will grab his backpack again and head downstairs to regroup with the others.

[Namelessjake]

After sending the text, the group downstairs head up to the 2nd floor and a couple of minutes later see the receptionist walk downstairs, returning to his desk. The man is followed not long after by Antoine and Tristan.

"Sven and Stamps here got us a potential room number," Jin says as Antoine and Tristan approach. "214."

[ratwizard]

"214?" Antoine repeats. "That's funny. Must be just below our room, 314."

He looks around the motel hallway cautiously. "What's the play here? Knock and give the word? Might be smart, sending a pair outside in case our friend gets spooked and makes for a window escape."

[Namelessjake]

Anotine

Based on your knowledge of the motel's room numbering, you also realise the woman who you met in the bar downstairs is in the room next door, 212.

[Scratcherclaw]

"Huh, what are the odds of that?" Sven asks rhetorically, giving a slightly amused smile. "That could work, but also might make him panic even more. Don't really know much about our guy, but a cornered animal can get kinda dangerous." He shrugs. Next thing we know, he's swinging a desk lamp at us like a fucking flail.

[Namelessjake]

Jin nods knowingly at Sven's animal analogy. "He should be expecting someone to make contact, so hopefully that'll mean he's a bit less on edge," he says.

[ratwizard]

"If I was this fellow, I'd be mighty worried if a half-dozen people including a VI showed up. No more than two, I'd say." He nods toward Sven. "You mind taking point? I'll be right beside you."

[Scratcherclaw]

"Uh, yeah, sure," Sven says back to Antoine as he's volunteered for the task. Hope this guy's still got his marbles then. But Jin's right, he should be expecting us. Giving the others a nod, he makes his way toward Room 214 and knocks on the door.

[Namelessjake]

The others step back from the door at Antoine's suggestion, backing up down the hallway before Sven knocks. A few moments of silence follow the rapping on knuckles on the door, followed by a few more, and a few more after than.

"They don't seem to be in," Jin says after about a minute with no response from within the motel room.

[FinalTemplar]

Tristan holds back his laughter at the clerk's failure to open the door until they are well out of earshot, finally letting out a soft chuckle.

After he approaches the others with Tone, he listens to the plan and moves down the hallway, keeping out of sight. He lets out a sigh, almost wishing he could have an excuse to use his weapon again.

[ratwizard]

"Damn," Antoine mutters, scratching his chin as he thinks what next to do. He steps back toward the others with Sven.

"Either they're out, or they're gone. Should leave a message in any case. I'll be right back, got a pen and a pad upstairs. In the meantime, figure something else out," he insists to the others.

He heads up to the rented room. I wonder if that gal downstairs heard anything. Hope this fellow wasn't abducted, but it's a growing concern at this point.

Mechanics

Gonna write "Wayside — Rm 314" on a slip of paper with the intent of sliding it under the door to 214.

[Namelessjake]

Antoine makes his way back up to the room he and Tristan rented, returning a minute or so later with a handwritten note which he slides under the door.

"So what now? We wait?" Jin asks. "Or should we try to take a look around inside, see if we can work out where he's gone?"

[ratwizard]

Antoine saunters up to the others after leaving the note.

"So, what'd you all come up with?" he says, before casting a wary glance over his shoulder.

[greysigil]

No actionable plan in place. Formulating.... Complete.

Jug steps towards the door. "Suggestion: We should check the room. Reasoning: Our contact may have already departed, or misfortune has befallen him. He may have left information for us in his place. Any disagreement?" They monotone, keeping their vocal output low.

If no one stops them, Jug will try the door, checking if it is locked.

[ratwizard]

"As good a start as any," Antoine agrees. "If the door gives us trouble, I could see able reaching the window from outside."

[Namelessjake]

Jug grips the door handle in their iron grasp and is able to gently push the door open. As the doors opens you are able to see that the lock has been damaged, as if forced.

The room is deathly silent save for the dripping of a tap in the bathroom and a rhythmic metallic rattle coming from an air vent above the bed. There is no sign of Matthias Blackwood or any other person. However there are signs of a struggle, the room's tv has been smashed and an alarm clock and lamp lay scattered on the floor, knocked from an end table beside the bed. All the drawers in the room have been opened, and a worn backpack lays on the bed, its contents strewn about the mattress, as if someone had been looking for something

[ratwizard]

"Ain't good," Antoine says in a near-whisper. "Ain't good at all."

He steps over to the bed, picking through the belongings that were once inside.

Mechanics

Anything noteworthy?

[Scratcherclaw]

"Well fuck," Sven says bluntly, looking over the wreckage in the motel room. "Shit. I guess, uh, let's look around? See if any clues were left behind? Or whatever those crime shows do when this happens." He steps into the bathroom, curious what state it might be in compared to the rest of the room.

[FinalTemplar]

Tristan steps into the room after Sven, pulling out his revolver. He carefully examines his surroundings, looking for any place a person might hide. "How's the bathroom? Anything in there?" He asks.

[Namelessjake]

Belongings on Bed

Picking through the belongings on the bed, you find enough clothes to make up two or three outfits. They are fairly neutral in design and colour as if chosen for blending in.

A few basic toiletries - deodorant, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a rare sight in the form of a bar of soap - along with a couple of prepackaged meals make up the remaining items, along with a muli-trip transit pass for the city's public transport. A digital counter on the card shows 7 trips remain out of an initial 10.

Bathroom

Heading into the bathroom, you find it to be a small room only just big enough for the toilet, sink and shower inside. In appears untouched by the chaos in the bedroom, with towels still hanging neatly on their rail. The shower, while the glass appears smudged, contains nothing but a motel branded shower gel dispenser. A mirrored medicine cabinet sits above the sink, which has a leaky tap, the source of the dripping sound. Save for a partially used up blister pack of some basic painkillers, the medicine cabinet appears empty, as one would expect in short stay accommodations such as these.

[Scratcherclaw]

Hmm. Sven considers, looking around the bathroom for anything noteworthy. "Pretty ordinary so far," he replies to Tristan, frowning at the mundane transience. He eyes the mirror, an idea hatching. Moving over to the shower, he turns on the hot water. "Saw this in a movie once." He shrugs earnestly. "Maybe he, I dunno, left a message on the mirror?"

[ratwizard]

"Transit pass," Antoine says, picking it up with a sense of familiarity. He slips out his compad and holds it nearby, hoping to pair with the device. "Back in my day, used to see a lot of these. Let's see if Isille makes them the same way."

Mechanics

Looking to pair the device with my compad to search Usage History, to gain any idea of what our contact may have been up to.

Int/Work: [2d6]=7

[Namelessjake]

Antoine

Being familiar with these passes, you are able to easily access the history stored on the device, quickly making a dummy transit account to grant you access to the trips taken. The first entry shows that the pass was purchased at the Isille Landingpads transit station, presumably shortly after Blackford's arrival in the city and on Terai.

The first trip taken was a couple of minutes later, to the station you just exited via on your way to the motel. There is then a gap of 32 hours, a little over the length of a day on the moon, before Blackford makes the second journey, this time to the central hub station you passed through on your way from the docks. The final entry then shows a return journey some 8 minutes later.

Bathroom

Sven turns on the hot water and the room slowly begins to fill with steam over the next couple of minutes. The medicine cabinet mirror fogs up, but no hidden message is revealed in the condensation.

However, as Sven goes to turn the water off, opening the shower door, you see that what had looked like simple smudges on glass was in fact a hidden a message of its own. Seemly written in soap, repelling the water that clings to the rest of the pane, are the numbers "1806".

[Scratcherclaw]

Sven frowns as the fogged mirror fails to reveal a hidden message, knowing it was a long shot but still wanting to believe. Dammit. He lets out a sigh, turning off the water in disappointment. Then, his eyes dart to the smudges on the shower's glass, more readily visible against the misty condensation. Well damn, the fucker actually did it. Just not in the mirror. He points out the smudge to Tristan before peeking his head back into the bedroom.

"So, uh, does 1806 mean anything to you guys?"

[ratwizard]

"No," Antoine admits, raising his hands in a shrug. "Should it?"

"Check this out, though," he says, nodding to his compad, where he has a local transit app pulled up to show a series of recent trips taken. "Found a transit pass that was our friend's. Looks like they bought it two days ago at the landing pads, must've shipped in from another planet or station. Took one ride here. Nothing for 30 hours. Yesterday, quick trip to the central hub and back. Nothing else since."

The psychic sighs, glancing around the room fruitlessly. "Seems things must have went south, not sure about the time though. Hang on." He narrows his eyes at the alarm clock on the floor.