With the Police presence and the Royal Family, none of you brought firearms to the theatre. Hal and Sam carried small blackjacks, but the rest of the group will rely on fist and feet.
Leaving the bathrooms, It is apparent that the show has started. Ching Lung Soo is on stage, addressing the audience, promising "a magical experience like nothing you have ever seen before", while performing his on small illusions and sleight of hand tricks.
James knows the layout of the theatre, so leads the group to a staircase that leads to the basement and the changing rooms.
"There's a staff room at the bottom of the stairs. Perhaps some ushers uniforms might help us blend in, especially given the back stairs will likely have Ling Soo's people around, " he whispers.
Sure enough, you find the staff room and a cupboard full of laundered staff uniforms. Hal, Henry, James and Spanners quickly dress. The Monsignor finds a large suit to fit, presumably one of the management's. the five then hurry through the hall toward the dressing rooms. A number of oriental's bustle about the corridor, carrying boxes from a door at the foot of the stairs to a staircase leading to the stage. They pay you no heed as you stroll confidently down the corridor to a staircase leading to the stage. The exit doors are further down the corridor and you spot a couple of police officers stationed outside.
At the top of the stairs, the familiar music that accompanies The Amazing Karl's Ducks and Tub trick is playing, as the trick ends the place fills with applause. The orientals have now finished their work and have disappeared as Ling Soo announces an interval.
Ducking into a storage cupboard under the stairs, you hear Lung Soo and Weiss rush down the stairs and there's a bustle as the orientals rush back up to the stage, presumably to set up the new trick.
Several minutes pass and the applause begins again, indicating the curtain has opened. Lung Soo is performing more tricks and seeing the coast is clear, you creep out and quietly head up the stairs to the back stage. Lung Soo in standing under archway, announcing he is about to undertake a brand new trick, never before performed anywhere in the world.
James nudges Hal and points up to the rafters. Sam is up top where the pulleys for the curtains are, ready to release and drop the curtain.
Ling Soo calls for complete silence from the audience. The Chinaman begins his patter. telling the story of how, back in his native China, the people of his village used to gather..etc.
A number of the Chinese henchmen appear from the other wing of the stage, each dressed in identical robes decorated with the Chinese dragon motif of Lan-Shi, and stand in a circle around the arch. Lung Soo himself stands in the centre of the circle and the henchmen begin a low, hypnotic chant in a barely audible, indistinguisable tongue. Lung Soo begins to chant, and you hear the name Lan-Shi. Hal signals to Sam who drops the sandbag holding the curtain. As the curtains close, you charge across the stage.
Suddenly there is a bang of displaced air, throwing you backwards. Oblivious to the curtain drop, Lung Soo has continued his chant and the audience remain in silence aside from quiet gasps, assuming this part of the trick. As you get up, you see the man fitting the description of Leclair, seemingly hanging in the air, suspended above the arch. He screams in agony, wisps of smoke drifting from his clothes.
The Monsignor is quickest the react and rushes at Lung Soo and as he dives to grapple, he trips on a rope and hits the deck. Hal runs past him, blackjack drawn, and cracks Lung Soo across the back of the neck, knocking him to the ground and disrupting his chant. There is a loud thump and Leclair drops to the ground. Henry, James and Spanners take on a henchman each. Sam climbs down to take on a fourth. The remaining two leap at Hal, one kicking him square in the back, knocking him to his knees. The other tries a roundhouse kick to the head but Hal ducks in time.
The Monsignor grabs a bucket of sand from back stage, and tips it on the smoking body of Leclair.
The fracas continues and the henchmen, clearly skilled at martial arts, outmatch you and you are only saved as police rush the stage and break up the fighting. It is only then that you notice Lung Soo is nowhere to be seen.
After a day in the cells at his Majesty's pleasure, you are released. Initially the police didn't believe your story of Lung Soo kidnapping Leclair but this is corroborated by Howard Horne. You choose not to relate the true events, which none of you fully understand. Lung Soo seems to have fled along with Weiss. His belongings have vanished from the Brotherhood headquarters and none of his henchmen reveal what happened to him.
Days later you visit Leclair in hospital. He is recovering from severe burning and seems severely traumatised. Horne tells you he'll likely be committed to an asylum for recovery. Whatever actually happened to him none of you will know.
The End
Leaving the bathrooms, It is apparent that the show has started. Ching Lung Soo is on stage, addressing the audience, promising "a magical experience like nothing you have ever seen before", while performing his on small illusions and sleight of hand tricks.
James knows the layout of the theatre, so leads the group to a staircase that leads to the basement and the changing rooms.
"There's a staff room at the bottom of the stairs. Perhaps some ushers uniforms might help us blend in, especially given the back stairs will likely have Ling Soo's people around, " he whispers.
Sure enough, you find the staff room and a cupboard full of laundered staff uniforms. Hal, Henry, James and Spanners quickly dress. The Monsignor finds a large suit to fit, presumably one of the management's. the five then hurry through the hall toward the dressing rooms. A number of oriental's bustle about the corridor, carrying boxes from a door at the foot of the stairs to a staircase leading to the stage. They pay you no heed as you stroll confidently down the corridor to a staircase leading to the stage. The exit doors are further down the corridor and you spot a couple of police officers stationed outside.
At the top of the stairs, the familiar music that accompanies The Amazing Karl's Ducks and Tub trick is playing, as the trick ends the place fills with applause. The orientals have now finished their work and have disappeared as Ling Soo announces an interval.
Ducking into a storage cupboard under the stairs, you hear Lung Soo and Weiss rush down the stairs and there's a bustle as the orientals rush back up to the stage, presumably to set up the new trick.
Several minutes pass and the applause begins again, indicating the curtain has opened. Lung Soo is performing more tricks and seeing the coast is clear, you creep out and quietly head up the stairs to the back stage. Lung Soo in standing under archway, announcing he is about to undertake a brand new trick, never before performed anywhere in the world.
James nudges Hal and points up to the rafters. Sam is up top where the pulleys for the curtains are, ready to release and drop the curtain.
Ling Soo calls for complete silence from the audience. The Chinaman begins his patter. telling the story of how, back in his native China, the people of his village used to gather..etc.
A number of the Chinese henchmen appear from the other wing of the stage, each dressed in identical robes decorated with the Chinese dragon motif of Lan-Shi, and stand in a circle around the arch. Lung Soo himself stands in the centre of the circle and the henchmen begin a low, hypnotic chant in a barely audible, indistinguisable tongue. Lung Soo begins to chant, and you hear the name Lan-Shi. Hal signals to Sam who drops the sandbag holding the curtain. As the curtains close, you charge across the stage.
Suddenly there is a bang of displaced air, throwing you backwards. Oblivious to the curtain drop, Lung Soo has continued his chant and the audience remain in silence aside from quiet gasps, assuming this part of the trick. As you get up, you see the man fitting the description of Leclair, seemingly hanging in the air, suspended above the arch. He screams in agony, wisps of smoke drifting from his clothes.
The Monsignor is quickest the react and rushes at Lung Soo and as he dives to grapple, he trips on a rope and hits the deck. Hal runs past him, blackjack drawn, and cracks Lung Soo across the back of the neck, knocking him to the ground and disrupting his chant. There is a loud thump and Leclair drops to the ground. Henry, James and Spanners take on a henchman each. Sam climbs down to take on a fourth. The remaining two leap at Hal, one kicking him square in the back, knocking him to his knees. The other tries a roundhouse kick to the head but Hal ducks in time.
The Monsignor grabs a bucket of sand from back stage, and tips it on the smoking body of Leclair.
The fracas continues and the henchmen, clearly skilled at martial arts, outmatch you and you are only saved as police rush the stage and break up the fighting. It is only then that you notice Lung Soo is nowhere to be seen.
After a day in the cells at his Majesty's pleasure, you are released. Initially the police didn't believe your story of Lung Soo kidnapping Leclair but this is corroborated by Howard Horne. You choose not to relate the true events, which none of you fully understand. Lung Soo seems to have fled along with Weiss. His belongings have vanished from the Brotherhood headquarters and none of his henchmen reveal what happened to him.
Days later you visit Leclair in hospital. He is recovering from severe burning and seems severely traumatised. Horne tells you he'll likely be committed to an asylum for recovery. Whatever actually happened to him none of you will know.
The End
Skill Increases
ReplyDeleteHal
Blackjack +5 (45)
Henry
Fist +6 (61)
Sam
Climb +7 (47)
Blackjack +3 (43)
James
Fist +8 (58)
Conjuring +2 (62)
Spanners
Drive Auto +3 (63)
Monsignor
Pursuade +9 (89)