"Hm. Do you think a visit to the constables office would yield any information?" Mused Jake aloud.
I think I can get somethings done at the Pub any one wish to join me?
"A trip to the pub might be just the ticket after the night we've just had." Commented Jake ruefully. "Count me in!"
At the pub, Jake lights up a Lucky Strike and schmoozes without shame.
"You know Mary Pickford, right? Tiny little thing, but she can be terrifying! I remember one time we were filming on the planes of Saskatchewan..."
"The pub's a great idea, guys. Good luck hunting rumors there. I'll go with Chang to the church. There may be interesting information in the cemetery, but the local clergy will probably know even more in a small town like this."
"Sense my talking is limited, perhaps I shall explore the church graveyard for anything suspicious, and keep an eye you while you two explore the church".
Venturing away from the train platform the investigators split up as they move out into the drizzly afternoon. Forest and Jake (followed by Hank and Spencer) head for the sounds of laughter coming from the pub, whilst Chang, Guthrie, and Kwan head for the church's graveyard. Father Murphy hesitates before braving the rain and temporarily stays under the overhang at the platform.
The Laughing Horse Pub
A warm glow from the fireplace and the sounds of laughter greets the investigators as the push their way into the pub. Considering the size of the village, it looks like a large portion of the adult population have taken refuge from the weather inside the establishment. The conversation quiets a bit as the strangers are noticed by the crowd but then after a quick look picks back up at its previous level.
Hello gentlemen, the bartender greets you as you approach the bar. Welcome to the Laughing Horse. I don't believe I've seen you before. What'll ye have?
Ordering pints, a crowd quickly gathers around Jake as his inborn charisma combined with his interesting stories attracts the attention of the patrons. The crowd listens in wide-eyed wonder as Jake regales them with stories about Hollywood.
Forest meanwhile slips through the crowd, nodding his greeting to any that make eye contact as he listens for useful information. Hank and Spencer take a table near the fireplace and proceed to partake in pint after pint of the good, dark English beer. Their morose countenance combined with their single-minded determination to drink as much as they can as quickly as they can draws the attention of the locals but in typical English manner they are too polite to question the behaviour.
At the cemetery
Unlike the pub, the cemetery is quite deserted on a dreary late afternoon. You quickly discover two new gravestones.
Lydia Perkins; 1904-1925; A Loving a Daughter Taken too Soon
George Osgood; 1874-1925; Husband, Father, Friend, Farmer
The surprisingly modern church building adjoining the cemetery has a few lights lit in the back of the building.
At the pub
Forest overhears one table of elderly gentlemen mention that the killings di'nt start until young vane returned from schooling
Jake has most of the up Niger patrons of the pub gathered around him laughing uproariously to his stories about Mr. Chaplin. Several of the young women seem particularly fascinated by the star.
Young Vane Im not sure who this is I will have to talk to the other about him.
I begin looking for the people who mentioned Young Vane and try to find where they are and if I can talk to them privately.
Young Vane Im not sure who this is I will have to talk to the other about him.
I begin looking for the people who mentioned Young Vane and try to find where they are and if I can talk to them privately.
The oldsters are more than happy to welcome you to their table and pepper you with questions like, What's a Yank doing in our little valley? How long are you staying? Is that man really a movie star? What do you do for a living? And so on and so on... It's not at all an interrogation, they are just generally interested in you and your friends as it's something new and different.
Makes a note of the names, and glances over at the church and the lights.
"Shall we move on?"
The back door of the church isn't locked. Inside you find yourselves in a short hallway that has an open door to your left which reveals an office with a man sitting at a desk reading a very old looking book. He's engrossed in what he's reading so doesn't notice you...
Though the conversation and small talk I answer the questions, switching up buying them rounds throughout the conversation
What's a Yank doing in our little valley? Looking in to some odd occurrences in the big city sent me an my Mates out here in this beautiful valley
How long are you staying? As long as we need.
Is that man really a movie star? Yeah he is a star and some times I think an even bigger one in his head then he really is With a chuckle
What do you do for a living? I am what you might call an acquirer of rare things, some call me a grave robber others call me a treasure hunter I am a trained archeologist to be specific.
Through Out the discussions I ask
I heard you speaking about some killings and a young vane I hate to pry but I think that might be the same thing the big city sent us out here for, do you mind elaborating on the subject? With a smile and a drink
Who is this Vane you were speaking of?
Total 7
After the previous experience with a person engrossed in reading, Caine tries to get a better look at the book itself...
Notice 1d8
wild notice 1d6
Once he is noticed...
"Pardon us Priest, we just arrived in town."
Chang notices that the book appears to be a hand written journal written in Classical Greek and that the priest seems to be slowly translating the text into English.
The man in front of you is a distinguished looking older gentleman with white hair and a well-trimmed beard. He nods a greeting to Chang and then says, Welcome strangers, I'm the Right Reverend Jeremy Stratton, the Vicar of Lesser-Edale. What brings you gentlemen to the Lord's house?
Though the conversation and small talk I answer the questions, switching up buying them rounds throughout the conversation
What's a Yank doing in our little valley? Looking in to some odd occurrences in the big city sent me an my Mates out here in this beautiful valley
How long are you staying? As long as we need.
Is that man really a movie star? Yeah he is a star and some times I think an even bigger one in his head then he really is With a chuckle
What do you do for a living? I am what you might call an acquirer of rare things, some call me a grave robber others call me a treasure hunter I am a trained archeologist to be specific.
Through Out the discussions I ask
I heard you speaking about some killings and a young vane I hate to pry but I think that might be the same thing the big city sent us out here for, do you mind elaborating on the subject? With a smile and a drinkWho is this Vane you were speaking of?
[dice=Persuasion (spirit?)]1d6
[dice=Wild]1d6 [dice=Ace]1d6 Total 7
The old men are fascinated and charmed by your story and make comments like Imagine that, a treasure hunter, and a real movie star, who would have thought?, etc.
However, the smiles fade from their faces as you ask your last question and glance at each other clearly uncomfortable with the turn of the conversation. At last the oldest of the men leans in and says no offense young man, but it's inappropriate to talk about the Vane family with strangers, you really should talk to Sir Author directly. The other men nod in agreement and then one adds, of course, it's not really speaking out of turn to say that young Lawrence normally pops into the pub for a wee nip most evenings.
Welcome strangers, I'm the Right Reverend Jeremy Stratton, the Vicar of Lesser-Edale. What brings you gentlemen to the Lord's house?
Wilson steps forward and extends a hand in greeting. "Reverend, my associates and I are interested in learning a bit about your town and certain...recent... events.
This may sound hard to believe, but we are investigating a number of disappearances and murders that have occurred on both sides of the Atlantic - New York City and in Britain. We saw a report about the recent deaths here in Lesser-Edale and thought we might see if they were related to our own investigations. Would you be able to spare a little of your time and help us understand this mystery?"
Welcome strangers, I'm the Right Reverend Jeremy Stratton, the Vicar of Lesser-Edale. What brings you gentlemen to the Lord's house?Wilson steps forward and extends a hand in greeting. "Reverend, my associates and I are interested in learning a bit about your town and certain...recent... events.
This may sound hard to believe, but we are investigating a number of disappearances and murders that have occurred on both sides of the Atlantic - New York City and in Britain. We saw a report about the recent deaths here in Lesser-Edale and thought we might see if they were related to our own investigations. Would you be able to spare a little of your time and help us understand this mystery?"[dice=Persuasion]1d6
[dice=Wild]1d6
Stratton looks at you in puzzlement, "Murders in New York? Oh my, I see no way that those could have been related to our recent, hmm, recent unfortunate happenings. In fact, I am quite positive that anything that happened in New York would not have been related to Lesser-Edale.
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"So the recent events here are only related to people here and none of them have any ties to New York? What can you tell us about the series of unfortunate events here?"
Steps a bit closer...
Notice
wild notice
"Ah Translation, it can be a difficult task. I have several scrolls in Japanese. People often fail to realize the translations are so inaccurate. Hip for example...the word is actually this region."
"But somehow it just becomes hip."
"Oh yes what can you tell us about the recent events here?"
Wilson at first look at Caine, not sure where he is going with the translation reference, but as the conversation settles in, he speaks up, "We have come all this way, Reverend, and even if you are correct and your situation is not related to ours, we may yet offer a bit of our help in solving it."
At the pub
Forest and Jake spend a comfortable evening enjoying good beer and conversation. A bit to the old geezers' surprise Lawrence Vane doesn't show up for his evening drink. As the hour grows late, you arrange with the tavern owner to rent a large room over the garage that you can use as an apartment while you're in the valley.
At the church
The Reverend Stratton continues to deny the possibility of the New York attacks being related to the events in the valley. He does listen with interest to any stories you may wish to share about your adventures so far.
Stratton obviously takes a liking to Guthrie and answers any questions about what happened a month ago and also provides you the addresses of the victims. While the reverend is a bit distracted by Guthrie, Chang takes advantage to get a closer look at the book. Unable to read the Greek, he is able to read part of the translation and learns that the book is called Being a brief history of the valley 1500s to 1700s and notices several references to Vane Castle.
Kwan getting a bid bored with the conversation, excuses himself to step outside and keep an eye on things.
Notice
WD
And notices that is is a beautiful evening, with a light fog rolling in.
Kwan getting a bid bored with the conversation, excuses himself to step outside and keep an eye on things.
1d4 Notice
1d6 WDAnd notices that is is a beautiful evening, with a light fog rolling in.
Kwan hears a quite unsettling howl (scream? roar?) come from further up the valley. In his wide travels, he's never heard anything like it.
@Reverend Stratton
"If you insist they are unrelated, can you at least tell us what has occurred here?"Chang holds his notebook open with a pencil in hand.....
I'm sure that you heard that we had a tragic animal attack on a couple of residents a month ago...but our good constable shot the animal which no doubt wondered off somewhere to die. In fact... Reverend Stratton stops talking and turns two shades paler as you hear an unearthly howl come from somewhere outside.
As Forest continues to chat it up with the locals and trying to pump them for information do I hear the Roar?
As Forest continues to chat it up with the locals and trying to pump them for information do I hear the Roar?
[dice=Forest's Notice]1d6
[dice=Forest Wild Notice]1d6
Between the rowdy singers crowded near the piano and another crowd roaring with laughter at Jake's jokes at the bar, you have no chance of hearing anything smaller than an explosion occurring outside the pub.
Kwan breathlessly bursts back into the room.
"Kwan heard something not right further up the valley. Let us go and see if someone needs help. I'll go get the others".
Kwan takes off to the tavern to give the rest of the crew the same warning.
Wilson gets up, ready to head our from the church, and says, "I think we may have just found some doubt that the animal slunk off to die, Reverend. Or maybe there is more than one. Either way, I think it would behoove us to cooperate. I think we had better fetch your constable."
"Well it sounds now like you have an animal stalking from beyond the grave, what more can you say of this. Where did the attacks happen, who was killed, who was wounded and recovered, when did it happen, and who saw the animal?"
"Well, most unfortunately George Osgood, one of our local farmers and a schoolgirl Miss Lydia Perkins were killed on consecutive nights. It seems like a large wolf must have come down from the hills. On the third night, wheelwright Harold Short was nearly killed but managed to drive off the grisly creature using a flaming torch. Then later that night Constable Tumwell, shot and almost certainly killed the beast."
Kwan breathlessly bursts back into the room.
"Kwan heard something not right further up the valley. Let us go and see if someone needs help. I'll go get the others".
Kwan takes off to the tavern to give the rest of the crew the same warning.
It doesn't sound very close
Wilson gets up, ready to head our from the church, and says, "I think we may have just found some doubt that the animal slunk off to die, Reverend. Or maybe there is more than one. Either way, I think it would behoove us to cooperate. I think we had better fetch your constable."
"By now, he's likely either at the pub or on he's way there."
Wilson, finding the Reverend a little frustrating, says, "Well, you heard that howl as surely as we did. Are you coming to find the constable with us, or not? I'm sure your word would go a long way to convince the constable of the situation if he is not inclined to believe a group of strangers."
Stratton clearly is not thrilled to leave his comfortable office to venture into the chill night air but, with a put-upon sigh, stands and pulls on his heavy tweed jacket and a warm hat and leads the way out of the church, across the street, up an incline and through the back door of the pub. He calls out to the first patron he sees, "Tumwell in here?" and is directed towards the dart board where a short, heavyset man is tossing darts with practiced skill.
Stratton points and says, "that's Constable Tumwell," and then turns his attention to the bar.
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The fog that has taken up residence in Fr. Murphy's head clears to a thin soup, and he comes up with the idea that if he could convince the priest to simply ask the constable to come with them, that would be the easiest option.
"My good man, perhaps it would be best if-"
Connor is immediately interrupted by a coughing fit, and blows his nose, loudly, into his kerchief.
Jake continued to hold forth at the tavern.
Wilson closes in on Jake and speaks lowly into his ear so none of the pub patrons will hear. "The Reverend thinks the town's problem isn't related to ours, but whatever it was the constable shot, he either didn't kill it or there is more than one. Something's howling up the vale."
"Seems the howling has yet to interest the constable."
Checks his notes from the priest
Stratton turns back to you for a moment, "likely because wolves are not uncommon in the vale," he says before ordering a pint.
The fog that has taken up residence in Fr. Murphy's head clears to a thin soup, and he comes up with the idea that if he could convince the priest to simply ask the constable to come with them, that would be the easiest option.
"My good man, perhaps it would be best if-"
[dice=Persuasion]d4
[dice=Wild Persuasion]d6Connor is immediately interrupted by a coughing fit, and blows his nose, loudly, into his kerchief.
The loud honking sound temporarily silences the crowd and draws the attention of the waitress, "my good sir, would you care for some soup?" she asks the obviousness I'll man.
Jake begs off and goes to whisper to the Constable.
"Sir, There is some manner of howling off in the distance. We think there may be more than one." He muttered into the man's ear.
|
|
Murphy takes his soup next to the constable and takes a seat. "Confoundable cold night. Half the town seems to have sense enough to stay indoors, though the other half is near to riot with that infernal howling going about. Seems that some brave soul should take a gun and do something about that before whatever it is eats someone."
Jake begs off and goes to whisper to the Constable.
"Sir, There is some manner of howling off in the distance. We think there may be more than one." He muttered into the man's ear.
[dice=Persuade]1d8+4
[dice=Wild]1d6
Constable Tumwell looks sadly at his beef and kidney pie and then up at Jake. "Howling you say...confounded wolves come down from the hills this time of year. Oh well, can't have them getting at the livestock." That said, he leverages his generously sized physique out of the chair and grabbing his yellow slicker heads out into the cold night.
If you choose to follow along, you'll find yourself at first at the small municipal buidling where Tumwell grabs a shotgun and then heading up a winding road that heads deeper into the vale. The howling grows in volume.
Ill be happy to join
Don't leave me behind im tired of all the drinking and not doing anything