The Prologue (1941) - Part I

[BowenSilverclaw]

"If we want to save time, we could split up. Me and Eisen can take care of our equipment, and the rest of you can take care of Bones' errands. Assuming that's okay with the rest of you guys ofcourse." John says, trying not to talk too loud in case anyone is trying to eavesdrop on them.

He then beckons towards Dr. Loder to fill him in on everthing.

[j0lt]

Padre says in a gruff voice and a shrug.

Looking at Russo's drink, Loder shrugs.  "Bueno."

After accepting the drink from the barkeep, Henry moves over to the booth to see what all the hubbub is about.

[spoiler]Fort Save = 21[/spoiler]

[Nanshork]

Richard nods.  "Fine, lets get this taken care of."  He picks up the package for the fortune teller and turns to leave.

[BowenSilverclaw]

"How 'bout the rest of you guys? You okay with this?"

[Flay Crimsonwind]

"Either way I'm needed, I can go. I'm the guy who ordered the equipment, so the nazi's wont suspect me picking up a load of stuff; I think I made a decent impression on one as well. I'm ready to go, and I agree, we shouldn't spend any more time in the town than we absolutely have to." Taking a huge drag on the cigarette, holding it in, then slowly breathing it out, he props it in his lips and speaks without it falling out. With that, he moves towards the door, looking out and waiting for John to leave.

[BowenSilverclaw]

John quickly follows Eisen, appreciating the German's professional attitude, not waisting any time.

While he walks out, he says to his other travelling companions:
"See you guys here in a couple of hours?"

[Nanshork]

Richard heads off towards the fortune teller's.

[Tarotdragoon]

[spoiler][/spoiler]

Russo pulls deeply on his drink, he spits it out immediatly, it does not suit his finely attuned itallian palate at all "great pilots of the black! what the hell it this!?" he wipes his mouth and takes another sip mainly because he paid for it and winces powerfully

((Fort=20))

".....I've had worse" he mutters, "so we all go off to the north road (after we finish our tasks) and wait for you guys with the baggage? hold on that guy on the boat said he could get us mules and a guide- not that we need a guide but....

[jacemachine]

[[ Eisen and Kestrel will be posting again in the B thread until you all meet up again. The rest of you, keep posting in this thread, and decide what needs to be decided, and I will be back!

[spoiler]Got ninja'd by Jacemachine Just waiting for Jolt's answer and then I'll continue my posts in the B thread [/spoiler]

Heh heh heh, oops!]]

[BowenSilverclaw]

"Yeah, mules or horses might come in handy. Doc, think you can come with us? We could use the help of Paco and Esteban and their horse, but neither me nor Eisen speak Spanish." John says just before he is about to leave the inn.

[spoiler]Got ninja'd by Jacemachine Just waiting for Jolt's answer and then I'll continue my posts in the B thread [/spoiler]

[jacemachine]

[spoiler=Drink Fort Result]Russo takes the drink known as a "Mexican Madras" like a man.  . Easily passing the Fort save to withstand it's intoxicating nature.  So does Dr. Loder for that matter. Hurray for drinking![/spoiler]

[j0lt]

Dr. Loder nods to John and downs the rest of his drink, depositing the empty glass back onto the bar with a few pesos.  "Eso era bueno, gracias."

Loder leaves the bar and catches up to the others just outside.

[jacemachine]

[[ Nanshork has posted that Richard is ready-- And Loder, Esien, and Sgt Kestrel have departed to collect the group's gear. What's going on with the rest of you? ]]

"Well, it seems that your gear is being looked after for you. Now, don't forget this envelope for Reggie. You need to give him this, and tell him that he is fat, otherwise he won't believe I sent you." Harrison takes another healthy swing from his amber-colored drink, while waving the envelope around in the air. "After all that is done, you guys meet me back here so we can get going together, Right?" He checks his watch. " It is just about noon. Hurry it up so we can start looking for this lost city the Nazis are after, alright? We've got between two to three days travel before we get to Orino Perro..."

[jacemachine]

"Right." Russo says grabbing the envelope up in his hand, then stuffing it into his pocket. "So we're meeting you here before we all leave... this is the plan?"

'Bones' nods, his brim selling the gesture since his face is hidden once again in shadow. Back-lighting him is the noonday sun shining through an ornate stained glass mosaic.

Russo goes to join Richard by the door. "Are you ready? Which place do we hit first? The Palm Reader lady or the Curio Shop fatty?" Then when Russo realized that Max wasn't right behind them... "I know that the two of you probably have a lot of catching up to do Max, so if you want to stay that's up to you. "I have the envelope, and Richard has grabbed the package." [[]]

[Nanshork]

At the inflection that Russo put on grabbing the package, Richard just turns and looks at him.  He then turns around, heading for the fortune teller.  "We're going to see the fortune teller first.  Don't say anything insulting."

[jacemachine]

Located southward and down a series of short alleys, a simple sign proclaims: Les fortunes~ lecture de Paume. A painted hand adorns the door. It's unlocked and hanging ajar.

[spoiler=Look Inside]
Inside there is a strong smell of spoiled fruit and meat over-layed with a heavy scent of incense. It is nearly enough to make a man gag. [[ Fort Save 13 not to gag. ]]. The smoke makes your eyes water.

The room is draped from ceiling to floor with tapestries in a variety of colors and geometric designs. Many include woven figures playing musical instruments. A number of shelves contain innumerable occult items. A series of shrunken heads run across a shelf near the ceiling.

A striking young black woman sits on a large black pillow with her eyes rolled so far back into her head; all you see are her whites. I little bit of drool drips from the corner of her lips. She is dressed in traditional Haitian clothes. Her hair is done back in thick dreads, and tied with a yellow handkerchief. The woman makes no motion to acknowledge you.
[/spoiler]

A phonograph plays softly from the corner of the room; a slow jazz tune sounding tinny from the speaker cone. A female vocalist sings the song in French.

[Nanshork]

Richard ignores the smoke, having other things on his mind.  He is reminded of Vodun practitioners in Africa and so respectfully sits cross-legged on the ground and waits for her trance to end.  For the first time since Russo saw him Richard removes his rifle and places it on the ground with the barrel pointing away from the woman to be non-threatening.

[spoiler]
Fort save: 15

Jace, you might see Richard actually say more than a couple of lines in the next few posts of mine.   
[/spoiler]

[jacemachine]

Russo waves his hand at the incense smoke around his head. He watches as Richard places his rifle to the side after sitting down. Then... nothing.

From the corner the tune played on its woeful melody. Russo cleared his throat. Then again slightly louder.

The woman's trance continued through the rest of the first song, and through the second. As the needle reached the end of the record, her eyelids began to flutter.

She says, asking Russo who was still standing. It took Russo a moment to understand her Haitian-Creole accent, but when he did he went to the corner, and lifted the needle and arm off to the side. Then he flipped the switch and the record slowly ceased its revolutions.

She brings a wooden box around, opens it and withdraws a long-stemmed bone pipe. From a small leather pouch she places a gob of green matter into the bowl.

[Nanshork]

Ignoring Russo, Richard sits there patiently until the woman comes out of her trance.  He obviously has had experience with people of her type before.

When asked why he is here, Richard pulls out the package and hands it to her.  "This is from Harrison."  His normally brusque manner seems to have disappeared.

[jacemachine]

*koff* *koff* Russo tries to hide his coughing behind his hand. He openly leered at her cleavage. "Sorry. I'm just going to get myself in trouble in here... I need to get a breath of fresh air. I'll be just outside." Russo dips out of the doorway, and out of sight. Outside he could be heard coughing heartily.

"So mon ami, ou es Bone's go-get bey?" She says to Richard, accepting the package. She blows rings of smoke into the air. It infuses with the already thick incense smells. "Dis meen uo es here to take de Bones him his parcel?

"Since ou know Bones, how 'bouts me give ou a readeng? Uo may be needing et!" She reaches forward with her hand gesturing to Richard to place his own hand in hers. "Afta me give ou de parcal."